Alcanea Boutique Hotel, Chania

• The hotel is in a 500-year-old Venetian building in Old Town, showcasing original stone facades and woodwork.
• All rooms have furnished balconies with views of landmarks like the Chania ("Egyptian") Lighthouse and Venetian Port.
• Stays include breakfast on the terrace and an afternoon tea in the interior courtyard's "hidden" garden. 
• You can dine on light fare during the day or dinner with waterfront views at the attached café and wine bar.
• Alcanea's central, car-free location allows easy walking access to many of Chania's historic attractions.
• Rooms are a nice mix of traditional Cretan-style decor and modern furnishings.

• You won't find a pool, spa, or gym, but it's location and warm historic vibes more than make up for it.
• Given the hotel is in a car-free zone, you'll need to park near Talos Square, about a 7-10-minute walk from the hotel.
• Open seasonally, the hotel operates from the middle of March to mid-November. 

Authenticity

Alcanea Boutique Hotel is a 500-year-old Venetian building that once served as the office of Eleftherios Venizelos, a Greek revolutionary. While undergoing restoration in 2011, many of its historic features were thoughtfully preserved, including original hand-carved stone facades and detailed woodwork, as well as elements like a fireplace-turned-desk nook in one of the bedrooms. Each of the eight rooms has terraces with views of city landmarks like the Egyptian Lighthouse and Venetian Port, with all but one room overlooking the sea. You're made to feel at home by the local staff, such as Eva, the hotel manager, who has run the small hotel for over 14 years.

Location

Located within the Old Venetian Port of Chania, the Alcanea is surrounded by dining and shopping options, as well as historic buildings and experiences. Nearby attractions include the Maritime Museum of Chania, Kucuk Hasan Mosque, Municipal Art Gallery, and Folklore Museum of Chania, all within a 10-minute walk. Local beaches are slightly farther away, but both Nea Chora Beach and Koum Kapi Beach can be reached 20 to 25 minutes on foot. As the hotel lives in a pedestrian-only zone, travelers can enjoy a car-free environment bustling with people strolling the streets. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

No two rooms are alike; each of the eight has a different layout, though all are warm and inviting with some vintage pieces, giving the impression you're staying at a friend's place and not just a hotel. They blend traditional Cretan decor with modern comforts (pillow menu, robes, and slippers!), featuring high wooden ceilings, large wood-framed windows, stone or wood floors, and colorful Greek-patterned rugs (often as hanging wall art). Options range from the compact Double Room, perfect for two, to the spacious Superior Double Room on the second floor. Bathrooms are chic, with black-tiled walls, natural stone bowl sinks, and walk-in rain showers. Then there are the balconies. Most overlook a mix of the Old Port and the Egyptian Lighthouse, and all but one, the Standard Double, has sea views.

Amenities

Guests can make use of the quaint inner garden courtyard, decorated in Cretan style with flowers and plants, a quiet spot for a respite. The Alcanea café and wine bar serve breakfast (included in your reservation), snacks, and drinks throughout the day, as well as a light dinner in-room, in the lounge area, or on the vine-covered terrace that looks out to the Venetian harbor. While there isn't an in-house spa, you can book a treatment or massage to your room for a fee. 

Family-Friendliness

With helpful staff and spacious rooms (and laundry service), Alcanea is accommodating to those with kids in tow, where kids 12 and under stay for free (using the existing bedding), and complimentary cribs are available upon request. That said, the two-floor historic building is without an elevator, which can pose a challenge for parents with stroller-aged kids. The Superior Double Room with Terrace and the Superior Double Room with Sea View sleep up to four people, while the connected Standard Double and Superior Double with Balcony is another four-person option.