Imaret

Kavala has one of the most dramatic settings of any Greek city, built on the slopes of the towering Mt. Symvolo which drops suddenly into the Bay of Kavala. Imaret sits in Panagia, the city’s old town, surrounded by similarly historic Ottoman buildings.

Drawing on the building’s Ottoman heritage, Imaret’s rooms and suites have a traditional yet luxurious feel, and period features abound, including chandeliers, fireplaces, handmade Oriental carpets and rich velvets and silks. They are atmospherically lit by lanterns nestled in wall niches, and divided by large arches.
 
The Dome Rooms are housed beneath the building’s original domes and sit in an orange garden, with views over Kavala’s harbour, while the Water Garden Suites are nestled in the water gardens, overlooking the pool and the sea. In the Treasure Rooms and Suites you’ll find an Aladdin’s cave of comfort, with plush cushions piled high in cosy alcoves. The luxurious Imaret and Zeinab suites in the Ottoman gardens feature lavish living rooms and private terraces. Throughout, the traditional design extends to the bathrooms, which feature copper washbasins and octagonal marble bathtubs.

The hotel’s restaurant serves wide-ranging Mediterranean cuisine, using fresh local ingredients. At breakfast, enjoy freshly baked pastries alongside eggs from the hotel’s own coop, while lunch and dinner see home-grown vegetables paired with locally sourced meat, game and seafood. You can choose to dine in the glass-fronted dining room or in the gardens, which also make a lovely spot for afternoon tea. In the evening, have a cocktail in the elegant bar, amongst oil paintings and original antiques.

Imaret’s heritage status is best enjoyed in the original hammam, which has stood for centuries. The traditional hammam treatments use traditional ingredients like olive oil soaps, almond, myrrh and rosewater. A relaxing milk and honey bath, with lavender and rose, is another option, while other treatments on offer include massages and aromatherapy.

Panagia is full of beautiful historic Ottoman buildings, including the pink Halil Bey Mosque, which has been restored to its former glory. The Mehmet Ali House, the former home of the Ottoman ruler of the same name, is an atmospheric space decked out with antiques and artefacts.
 
Other Kavala highlights include the Tobacco Museum, which tells the story of the area’s long tobacco production, and the Archaeological Museum, which is full of interesting finds from the ancient Greek and Byzantine eras.