Why go?
Pnoé Breathing Life is a paradisiacal haven for the discerning traveller, where the art of wellbeing is elevated to an extraordinary level.
Honeymoon style
If you’re looking to recover and rebalance after your wedding, look no further. Pnoé Breathing Life – which quite literally means “breath” in Greek, will leave you reborn and radiating with energy. Here breathing life meets Greek delight; you can dip into a plethora of wellness offerings or choose a path of indulgence with the delicious Cretan menus. The beachside setting is stunning, located on the sun-kissed shores of Crete it’s as though the Aegean Sea kisses the heavens, and every inhalation is an ode to life itself.
Set the scene
As you enter the ethereal world of Pnoé Breathing Life, you’ll be met with a warm breeze carrying the whispers of ancient olive trees, their leaves caressing the sky in a dance that has lasted for centuries. The setting itself is a work of art, with the ever-blue Aegean waters on one side and the mountains on the other – a tapestry woven by the gods themselves.
Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly welcomed with a softly scented towel and refreshing drink, a taste into the hospitality Crete is renowned for. There are nods to the elements in the main entrance; the airy open-planned space, the almond-shaped pool at the centre and open fire pits surrounding it.
Food and drink
The dining experiences at Pnoé Breathing Life are nothing short of a gastronomic revelation. With a commitment to excellence, sustainability and an unwavering dedication to celebrating Cretan flavours, this boutique hotel takes the farm-to-table, sea-to-table experience to a whole new level.
The Anasa Restaurant puts on an incredible spread to start the day, with a vast selection of baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, cold cuts and cheeses. Their decadent A La Carte offering includes scrambled eggs, salmon and black truffle butter as well as mushroom toast with grilled “apaki” pork loin, caramelised onion, rocket and cherry tomatoes. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner with a variety of steaks, seafood and delicious salads and vegetable dishes.
For a pre-or-post lunch libation head to Uranos bar, a beacon of sophistication and style with panoramic views. The cocktails here reflect both the island’s spirit and contemporary trends; I adored their Spicy Mango mezcal cocktails and their Greek Style Martini. There’s also a delicious selection of sushi, if you’re looking for a lighter dining option.
Thymesis, the hotel’s fine-dining option, is open both lunch and dinner. The dishes at Thymesis dance with tradition, yet a dash of innovation sets them apart. At lunch you can find a smaller menu of pastas, salads, seafoods and meats. Dinner is something of a showstopper, the menu created by Peskesi’s Panagiotis Magganas, is celebration of fresh Cretan ingredients which sourced from Peskesi’s organic, biodynamic farm, transformed into mouth-watering Greek dishes. Even the humble Greek Salad is something otherworldly, each bite evokes the essence of the Mediterranean. Other highlights include the dolmades, fresh shrimps or Mochlos followed by the bream grilled in fig leaves and the Syglino, pork chops smoked at your table. Pair these with a crisp glass of Great King – a local Muscat – for an ambrosial combination.
Nearby restaurants
Speaking of Peskesi, our day trip exploring their farm is an essential for foodies. Here they grow more than 120 varieties of fruit, vegetables and fruits, olive trees, herb banks, beehives and animals. Everything here is cooked using traditional methods. Some of the vegetables are cooked simply with salt, lemon juice and sunshine. Most dishes – including their freshly baked barley bread and kleftiko – are cooked over an open fire. We also enjoyed snails and lamb cooked “antikristo” on the fire.
In addition to their delicious feasts, they offer cooking classes, olive oil tastings and those visiting in the autumn season can indulge in Raki harvesting and production.
If you’re looking to lunch with the azure Aegean sea as a backdrop, head to Cicada Seascape Experience. The stylish beach restaurant also owned by MK Hotel group is a long walk or short car journey away. Here you can indulge in a wide range of cuisine including sushi, juicy burgers and freshly caught Aegean seafood and fine cuts of Cretan meat.
Rooms
There are 60 luxurious suites, each with its own private pool. The modern design has been carefully considered with dark, earthy tones and textures that reflect the rocky landscape and blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.
There’s a choice of three suite categories; Breeze, Breathe and Signature. Breathe Suites have large terraces with an outdoor table to dine on and an embedded jacuzzi. The larger Signature Suites also have a large walk-in wardrobe, a steam and sauna room, as well as some fitness equipment. You’ll never need – or want to – leave it.
The story
Pnoé Breathing Life is the latest opening by Cretan hotel group MK. The aim is to create an all-new hospitality experience with wellness at the heart of it. The ethos of the resort is all about being “home grown” and reconnecting with your surroundings. Even when it comes to the 120 welcoming staff, most are Cretan or Greek and proud to be part of the movement. Here you’ll find luxury and pure living in perfect harmony.
Spa
Pnoé Breathing Life is home to a state-of-the-art spa with a wide range of facilities for your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. You’re encouraged to pace yourself as you arrive into the spa, slowly entering one foot at a time on their stepping-stone walkway. At its core, there’s a large salt relaxation zone with illuminated pink Himalayan salt bricks which then follows onto a hydrotherapy pool, glass-fronted sauna, steam room, water paradise showers, ice fountain and ice bucket.
The gym is in harmony with the hotel’s aesthetic with a range of neutral-toned equipment. There’s also a large wooden outdoor deck for those who want to partake in outdoor yoga or practice breathwork with Pnoé Breathing Life’s onsite experts. Honestly, just a few classes with Gina Poulou and your post-wedding tensions will melt away.
At the spa there’s a curated menu of holistic and natural treatments designed by Dr. Barbara Sturm and Germaine de Capuccini. There are also recovery programs including their Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy pod infuses the body with 50 percent more oxygen which can speed up healing, aid sports recovery and reverse the ageing process.
Eco-friendly
Pnoé’s dedication to sustainability and eco-friendly tourism is truly commendable. There’s no single-use plastic in their restaurants and the farm-to-table and back-to-farm practice where all waste is reused as compost or animal feed. It’s entirely regenerative and offsets the restaurants’ carbon dioxide emissions. This includes both food waste from preparation and from each guest’s meal.
Thymises restaurant is supplied by Peskesi Organic Farm (28km from the restaurant) and for all other ingredients, the hotel operates a 100-mile (161km) radius policy.
The hotel isn’t totally free of single use plastic, there are water bottles offered in rooms and on the beach, but we were told they are working on an alternative.
Location
Pnoé Breathing Life is set on the northern coast of Crete, just 8.5km from the vibrant capital city, Heraklion. There are also some landmarks locally including Knossos – the Minoan ruins recognised as ‘Europe’s Oldest City’ – which the hotel can arrange visits to – as well as day trips to the world famous Elafonissi beach.
It’s worth noting that the hotel is located close to Heraklion airport. This means that you can really savour every second of your trip with minimal transfer times. You can, however, see and hear planes. Much of this noise is masked by the gentle noise of relaxing music, but not all.
Prices at Pnoé Breathing Life start from €415 per room per night, including breakfast.
Address: Karteros Beach, Heraklion, Crete, TK 71500
To book visit: pnoe-breathinglife.com
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