Domus Ariadne, Heraklion

Pros

• Owner Giannis manages the hotel with his brother and offers a warm hospitality that makes all feel welcome.
• Enjoy the chic and modern design of the rooms that varies based on color and includes elements of de Chirico's style.
• Easily explore Heraklion and its most famous sights from this central location.
• Four rooms have kitchenettes, which makes this an appealing option for longer stays or for anyone who wants to cook at home.
• The hotel is open year-round, so folks visiting Crete in the off-season can take advantage of its great location and rooms.

Cons

• Only one room has a balcony, while the rest have access to the outdoor patio overlooking the atrium of the building. If you want more privacy, book Rosso, the room with the balcony.
• The building doesn’t have an elevator and there are steps to get up to reception and the rooms, so it’s not an appropriate option for those in wheelchairs or with mobility issues.
• There’s no parking but guests can grab a spot in a nearby paid city parking lot or at the port.
• The hotel doesn’t have common facilities like a restaurant or bar but it works with a local café so that guests can order food to their rooms if they’d like.

Authenticity

The Domus Ariadne takes its name from two different sources. “Domus” refers to the ancient Roman houses that had atriums, similar to this hotel’s peaceful courtyard that all of the rooms surround. Greek mythology buffs may recognize Ariadne as the mistress of the labyrinth of Crete, who helped Theseus kill the minotaur. Ariadne is present in the arch design that you find all over the hotel, which comes from a 1913 painting of her by Greek-born Giorgio de Chirico.

Perhaps that’s a labyrinthine explanation but in fact, there is a thread through it all: the clear vision of owner Giannis and his brother. There is a high level of thoughtfulness throughout this hotel, from its name to its concept to the details of the rooms like that arch motif or different color schemes or representations of de Chirico's arches of Ariadne on the walls.

Location

Those looking to explore Heraklion will find easy access to the city from this hotel, which is right next to the Archaeological Museum. Walk to Lion Square in five minutes or head towards the water and enjoy the epic views from the Rocca a Mare Fortress in under 15 minutes. The Palace of Knossos is a 20-minute drive, while the port is a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

There are six rooms in this hotel, which all follow a design theme based on a different color and combine clean lines, warm materials, and bold images like renderings of the arches from Giorgio di Chirico’s “Ariadne” painting that gives the entire space its concept. Five of the rooms have access to patios in the atrium or courtyard area, while the Rosso or red room has a private terrace overlooking the city in addition to a patio. 

Four rooms have kitchenettes for folks who want to stay in. The standard room is the smallest but it still feels spacious and has a nice layout. All of the rooms sleep up to two people except for the Grigio or gray room, which can accommodate up to four. Note that the extra two folks will have to use a sofabed in the living room.