Monastery Estate Venetian Harbor

My husband and I went for dinner to the Mon.es restaurant while visiting Chania. We were greeted by the server, Fanos, who immediately made us feel welcomed. He was able to quickly recommend a wine based on our usual liking and it was amazing! From the atmosphere to the best desert I’ve ever had, this place needs a Michelin star!

This is a really nice hotel in the old part of Chania. It is on a charming little street. The lobby and breakfast area are very quaint, with old exposed stone walls. We had a room with a rooftop seating area. We had dinner here which was very good, and breakfast was also very good, with a choice of eggs any style, plus breads, etc. The staff is very helpful. The only downside I would say is that they have gone over the top on trying to make the controls for lights, rooftop opening, temperature very sophisticated, making them actually hard to use. Overall, a really nice stay.

We stayed at the Monastery Estate Venetian Harbor hotel in Early June 2023 and we were very happy with our stay. The staff, to a person, were extremely polite, helpful, and attentive. We are told that the hotel was originally the home of a wealthy Venetian merchant (c. 1400), and then the home of a Turkish general (c. 1600), and now, beautifully restored and updated to modern standards without losing any of its old world charm. The building is beautifully and tastefully appointed with modern fixtures and there are some very clever solutions to space and interior design challenges stemming from the age of this lovely structure. The building's entrance, like so many buildings in Chania, is located in an alleyway which would be challenging to find (the first time) without assistance. But the staff came to greet us at our taxi so we had no issues there. The Monastery Estate is located in the old Venetian city and very close to the harbor (mostly, the restaurants that ring the Harbor are of low quality, but the Hotel staff can help you with better options), so one doesn't need any transportation to get around except a good pair of walking shoes (ladies - there are lots of old cobblestone streets). I'm sure I'm leaving out many details (like the amazing breakfast), but it suffices to say that we were very comfortable at the Monastery estate hotel and sad to leave. If we return to Chania, we will stay there again without hesitation.

Monastery Estate was the first hotel that my wife and I stayed at on our honeymoon and we had a great experience. We arrived late in the evening our first night and were treated to a complimentary glass of wine upon arrival. The staff brought our bags to our room and made sure that we were able to be accommodated for a late – and delicious – meal at their MonEs restaurant. On our first full day at the hotel, we signed up for massages, which were up there with the best we’ve ever had. One of the hotel highlights for us was the daily breakfast – everything was prepared fresh with clean ingredients and was incredibly tasty. These breakfasts really helped to properly fuel us for our activities each day. We also enjoyed using the hot tub on the rooftop we had access to. The views from there were fantastic. Overall we had a very positive experience. The staff was friendly, the accommodations were comfortable and the location in the heart of Old Town was convenient.

we stayed 3 nights here after arriving from the most magical place elsewhere on the island. This was supposed to match it in terms of quality and comfort and style. well it looks great, but sadly thats where the good bit ends. I was very disappointed. The whole experience was one of style over substance. Outwardly attractive it is. Sleek even. But it lacked heart and felt a bit desperate, like it was aware it was wearing expensive designer clothes but didnt feel comfortable in them and as a result felt awkward. As for the food, breakfast was included and was ok but portions of everything were meagre, meaning one has to ask for more, which the staff are very happy to give but because of how it is managed it simply causes a certain embarrassment and discomfort. The teas/coffees and juices were all substandard for a high end hotel and we daily sought out other coffee shops to make up for this lack. We ate one evening dinner there and it looked great but honestly the main course still makes me feel slightly squirmish to think about it: Squid ink pasta with marmalade. So, ok I should have known, you might say, as it certainly sounded odd, but I want to trust a chef in a place like this to open my mind about food and help me experience something new and special. It was not special... quite the opposite. It was as bad or worse even than it sounds: sweet and sickly and fishy all at once. The rooms were elegant but self consciously so. To be fair, the front desk staff were very helpful and friendly and I have no complaint about them, but the whole ambience and heart of the place leaves something to be desired im afraid. Im genuinely sorry to have to leave such a disappointing review but I cannot in good conscience say more honestly my experience.

Amazing location in Chania .. we loved the easy access to the shopping and dining district. Beautiful comfortable rooms. Would definitely recommend

We stayed in one of the newly decorated rooms with indoor hot tub. The hotel had a lovely family feel and the building is full of history. Breakfast was great and service was good, infact all staff were helpful, polite and welcoming. Only 4/5 because there is no parking and directions to find the hotel were lacking, meaning the day of arrival was quite stressful. The spa is a fairly small plunge pool, and steam room but is private use for the time that you book it. The parking in the old town is very limited, but it is easy to park in the car parks in the new town and walk to the hotel.

Do not hesitate to book this hotel, it’s absolutely stunning. The whole hotel is so beautiful, from the rooms, the restaurant, the spa, just everything was amazing and full of character. The staff are all so friendly, on hand to help with anything you need, make you feel so at ease. Breakfast was great, loved the different breads and pastries, jams and honey given with it. Dinner was beautiful! So much flavour, would definitely recommend eating, such a beautiful setting too. Cocktails were also 10/10. Room service was great, always so quick and very easy to order. 10/10 stay, would definitely come back!

We just spent two amazing nights at the monastery estate in the Venetian harbor. The hotel is small- just 11 rooms and is a little tricky to find. The minute you go inside, the minimalistic decor and the general peacefulness of the place immediately calms you. The check in process was quick and efficient and the room was beautiful. Again - the decor is very modern and minimalistic and atypical of most hotels in the area. Two things made me give this place a 5 star review. 1 - Theodore (teddy) at the front desk. He works the afternoon/evening shift and is always available to make your stay as comfortable as possible. However, what we loved best was conversing with him and getting an idea of the hotel and its history and how it all came to be. Teddy is highly insightful and in conversation, we were able to understand so much more about recent greek history. Thank you Teddy for sharing so much of your knowledge with us! 2. The breakfast. This was one of the best breakfasts I’ve had (and I’m not a breakfast person). The staff were extremely pleasant and helpful and the food was absolutely delicious. Do not pass on the freshly squeezed orange and grapefruit juices! A section under the hotel is a ruin from the 1st century AD and it’s lit up and covered in glass so you can peer into it. It was surreal. The only things I’d change are as follows: - Maybe heat the pool in the colder months - the pool area is small and quaint and needs to be reserved. There is a bathroom and a steam room. The pool is cold though so beware. - add a vent fan in the bathroom. If there was one in our room, I didn’t notice it. - the kid beds - tend to be a bit flimsy and not very comfortable