Maison MeltemAgia Pelagia · Crete
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In pictures

Maison Meltem in photographs

Maison Meltem sits on a slope: the grounds step down towards the Aegean in terraces, and every level opens onto the same horizon. These photographs follow that descent — the white walls and dry-stone stairways, the infinity pool whose edge merges into the bay, the sunken lounge and its fire pit, the hot tub set among the shrubs, the Finnish sauna and its round window onto the coast.

Then come the six suites with their private terraces and backlit round mirrors, the panoramic room and studio with their blue-green zellige, the breakfast buffet under the pergola, the terrace where Giannis serves dinner three evenings a week, and the hosts themselves. Every image carries a written description in each of the six languages on this site: this is what you actually see on arrival, in daylight and at dusk.

The Aegean Sea

The house’s defining view. From both the terrace and the hillside, the bay fills the whole horizon: it is the first thing you see in the morning, and the last before dark.

  • Two black rope chairs and a terracotta jar on the terrace, in front of the infinity pool merging into the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A large Cretan jar planted with a cactus and a wooden lantern on the terrace, in front of a built-in bench dressed with blue striped cushions, a low stone wall and the Aegean Sea stretching to the horizon, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A secret cove on the Cretan coast: a crescent of sand at the foot of the cliffs, clear turquoise water, and the mountains on the horizon
  • A pine tree clinging to the hillside above a small rocky cove and the Aegean Sea, on the coast at Agia Pelagia
  • The terrace of the panoramic room: two grey fabric armchairs seen from behind, a low table hewn from a tree trunk, a jar and an aloe, overlooking the headland and the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

The sunsets

A recurring theme in our guests’ reviews. The sun drops behind the hill, the pool turns pink, and the fire pit in the sunken lounge is lit: the day’s closing ritual.

  • The outdoor bar and its red stools beside the infinity pool, furled parasols and a tall palm, against the hillside and the sea at sunset, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The still surface of the infinity pool mirroring pink and orange sunset clouds, the headland in silhouette, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A daybed and a bottle of champagne on the private terrace of a suite, in front of the infinity pool and a blazing orange sunset over the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Daybeds and the sunken lounge beside the infinity pool, the sun setting behind the hill above the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A woman at the outdoor bar counter, a pink cocktail in hand, in front of the pool and the Aegean Sea at blue hour, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A man standing at the edge of the infinity pool at dusk, beside the sunken lounge and its lit fire pit, facing the headland and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The sunken lounge and its fire pit lit at dusk, striped cushions and a cactus jar, beside the infinity pool facing the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • From the terrace, under the timber-and-bamboo pergola: olive trees, cacti and cycads lit above the dry-stone wall, and the orange sunset sky behind the headland, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Two sun loungers and a white side table holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses, beside the private pool, before an orange sunset over the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • From the terrace of the panoramic room, behind the glass balustrade, a grey beanbag, a woven stool and jars before an orange sunset over the cove, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A table laid at sunset: white wine glasses, water carafe and terracotta champagne bucket, under the reed ceiling of the terrace, facing the sun touching the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

The infinity pool

The heart of the house, with its outdoor bar and red stools. The water’s edge merges into the sea; each suite also has its own private pool on its terrace.

  • The infinity pool and sunken lounge facing the Aegean Sea, framed by palm fronds and sun loungers, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The outdoor bar and its red stools beside the infinity pool, under a fringed parasol, facing the headland and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Two terracotta jars planted with cycads frame the infinity pool, whose water line seems to merge with the Aegean horizon, with the rocky cape beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The full moon above the hillside and the pink clouds of late day, both mirrored in the still water of the infinity pool, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The infinity pool merging into the deep blue of the Aegean Sea, the arid headland to the right under a cloudless sky, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The overflow edge of the guests' infinity pool at dusk, the sunken lounge and its cactus jar beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A swimmer seen from behind in the infinity pool, level with its edge, facing the vast blue of the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A woman lying on a daybed under a fringed parasol, a straw hat resting over her face, beside the infinity pool facing the headland, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Private terrace of a suite: grey sunbeds on the terracotta floor, private infinity pool, dry-stone walls and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The infinity pool of a private terrace, between two pale parapet walls, the terracotta floor and the backs of the armchairs in the foreground, facing the headland and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A man standing at the far end of the infinity pool, beside the sunken lounge and its cushions, facing the horizon of the Aegean Sea in the late afternoon, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The private terrace of the suite: grey sun loungers and a white cylindrical stool along the stone wall, the infinity pool and the Aegean Sea out to the headland, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Between the sheer curtains of the suite, the private terracotta terrace under a reed ceiling, its grey sunbeds, the infinity pool and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A guest lying on a sun lounger beside the private pool of the suite, on the terracotta terrace striped by the shadow of the pergola, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A swimmer leaning on the edge of the private pool of the suite, seen from behind, facing the blue expanse of the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Five friends in swimwear standing by the private pool of the suite, under the wood and reed pergola, in front of the stone wall and the jars, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The infinity pools stepping down in terraces, clad in green stone, a cycad in the foreground, the arid hill and the rocky headland dropping into the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

The hot tub

Set among the shrubs below the pool, it has nothing but the sea for a horizon. It is freely available and best enjoyed at dusk.

  • A couple sitting opposite each other in the bubbling hot tub, nestled among the vegetation at the lower end of the grounds, with the Aegean Sea and the headland at dusk, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A bubbling outdoor hot tub, with a bottle of sparkling wine and three glasses set on the rim, between the pines and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Two guests at the outdoor hot tub, one sitting in the water with a glass in hand, the other on the rim, under the olive trees, looking out over the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The outdoor hot tub at dusk, with the wooden barrel sauna and its shower behind, among the olive trees, overlooking the hill under a pink sky, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

The Finnish sauna

Slatted benches, a stone-filled heater and a large round window onto the coast. Open from October to May, on request: the best reason to come out of season.

  • Inside the Finnish barrel sauna: slatted pine benches, a stone-filled heater, bucket and ladle, and a large round window onto the coast and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A man sitting on the bench of the Finnish sauna, a glass in hand, looking out at the coast through the round window, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A guest sitting cross-legged on the wooden bench of the barrel sauna, facing the stove and the large round window opening onto the cove and the headland, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Two guests sitting opposite each other on the benches of the barrel sauna, the stove and its wooden bucket between them, the round window opening onto the turquoise cove, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

The rooms and bathrooms

The six independent suites pair terracotta floors and wooden ceiling fans with glass doors opening onto their own terrace and backlit round mirrors. The panoramic room and studio are in the hosts’ villa, each with its own entrance; both use blue-green zellige in different ways. All eight rooms and suites face the sea.

  • Bedroom with terracotta floor, ceiling fan and a green armchair, its sliding glass door open onto the private terrace, the pool and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A bed set with rolled towels beneath a wooden ceiling fan, facing the picture window onto the terrace and the private infinity pool, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The panoramic room: a bed set with rolled towels in front of two corner picture windows onto the terrace, the headland and the Aegean Sea at dusk, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Sitting corner of a king-size suite: two green bouclé armchairs, an oak side table, a framed photograph and round wall lights, terracotta floor, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The coffee and minibar corner of a room: green marble counter, espresso machine, kettle, cups and wine glasses, with the green-armchair sitting corner beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The antique wooden desk of a room, with espresso machine, kettle and glasses, a caned chair, a framed photograph and a column of green glazed tiles, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Bathroom fully clad in blue-green zellige tiles, with a backlit round mirror and a wall-hung white basin, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Open-plan bathroom area in the king-size suite, with a white basin and backlit round mirror on a board-formed concrete wall, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Rolled towels on the bed of the suite, in front of the large window opening onto the terrace, its bottle-green sunbeds, the infinity pool and the sea under a cloudy sky, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The white bed of the suite and its two green bouclé armchairs, a framed photograph on the wall, the window open onto the stone wall and a tall jar, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The bedroom of the suite seen from the bathroom, past a wooden screen: white bed, green bouclé armchairs, green stone worktop and window onto the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The suite at dusk: two dark green armchairs and a wooden side table holding a lantern, the window open onto the terrace, the jar, the pool and a pink sky above the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The sitting corner of the suite: two round sea-green bouclé armchairs and an oak side table holding a wood and rattan lantern, the terrace and its jar beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Detail of the bedside in the suite: a suspended oak shelf with a drawer, fluted headboard, black adjustable reading light and a small bunch of dried flowers in a stone pot, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • On the oak tray in the suite, a lit terracotta-shaded lamp, a small bottle of olive oil bearing the house logo with an olive sprig, and a handwritten welcome card, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The open bathroom of the suite: a white wall-hung basin and a backlit round mirror against a board-formed concrete wall, wall-mounted taps and a basket of rolled towels, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A guest wrapped in a bath towel, hair in a towel turban, at the round mirror and wall-hung basin of the suite, against a board-formed concrete wall beside the open bedroom, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • From the bed of the panoramic room, the corner windows open onto the headland and the turquoise sea, with the terrace beanbags behind the glass balustrade, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The panoramic room as a whole: bed with blue cushions against a blue-green zellige wall, oak niche, wooden console and caned chair with coffee machine and kettle, window onto the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The coffee tray of the panoramic room in the foreground, the bed and the corner windows wide open onto the sea behind, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The desk corner of the panoramic room: turned-wood console and caned chair, coffee machine, kettle and glasses, against the blue-green zellige wall, beneath a framed photograph, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Detail of the headboard in the panoramic room: raised blue-green glazed zellige, pale oak niche and shelf, black adjustable reading light and sprigs of lavender in a woven pot, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • White towels rolled and folded on the bed of the panoramic room, a small bottle of olive oil bearing the house logo set on top, the terrace and the sea beyond the window, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The bathroom of the panoramic room: a walk-in shower with a rainfall showerhead, walls fully clad in deep blue zellige tiles, a glass screen and a pale wooden door, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The bed of the studio on its pale wooden frame, white linen and blue cushions, against a deep blue zellige wall, black reading lights and a large framed photograph, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The bed of the studio dressed in olive green linen and charcoal cushions, before a dark green zellige wall, the orange coat stand and the window open onto the garden, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Detail of the studio: the bright orange coat stand shaped like a stylised tree in front of the linen curtain, beside the olive green zellige wall and the grey cushions of the bed, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The extra bed of the studio: grey daybed and patterned cushions against a rounded black headboard, open oak wardrobe with a white bathrobe, framed photograph on the wall, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The oak table of the studio along the horizontal window opening onto the greenery and the sea, burgundy chairs, black vase on a woven mat, Persian rug and orange coat stand in the hall, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The kitchen corner of the studio: pale oak units and green stone worktop, coffee machine and small fridge, red chairs, and a large dark mirror reflecting the stone wall, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A long view through the studio, framed between two white sheer curtains: the oak kitchen corner, its red stool, the coffee machine and a framed photograph at the far end, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The bathroom of the studio: white wall-hung basin and backlit round mirror on a petrol blue zellige wall, basket of towels and reed diffuser, pale wooden door, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Detail of the studio basin: wall-mounted tap on turquoise zellige, woven basket of small rolled towels, olive green dispenser and beaker, reed diffuser, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

The table and breakfast

The Cretan buffet served each morning in the shade of the olive trees, and the dining terrace at dusk, where Giannis serves his set menu on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.

  • The breakfast buffet under the pergola: cured meats, cheeses, smoked salmon, fruit compotes, green stoneware bowls and a carafe of orange juice, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Breakfast laid on the terrace: fried eggs and bacon, tomatoes, olives and smoked salmon, peach compote and orange juice, in front of the dry-stone wall and the bay, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A guest enjoying his coffee at breakfast, under the bamboo pergola, in front of the dry-stone wall, the headland and the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Two grilled flatbreads topped with crushed avocado and peppered poached eggs, smoked salmon, cherry tomatoes and half a lemon, with coffee and a soft-boiled egg in green stoneware, at breakfast, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Breakfast served on the terrace: stoneware carafes with the Maison Meltem medallion, coffee, orange juice, a soft-boiled egg and a plate of salmon, cheese and cherry tomatoes, in front of the dry-stone wall, the cacti and the Aegean Sea, Agia Pelagia
  • The dining terrace at dusk: tables and woven chairs under the timber pergola, around an olive tree, facing the headland and the Aegean Sea under a pink sky, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A plate of fish carpaccio with olive oil, coriander and pink peppercorns, served at dinner alongside glasses of red and white wine, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A plate of green olives and grilled herbed flatbread triangles, a glass of white wine and a fork on a linen napkin, on the terrace at dusk with an olive tree, cactuses and the hills beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The dining terrace at dusk: an olive tree uplit among the square tables and rope chairs, under the wooden pergola, facing the headland and the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The dining terrace at golden hour, laid tables and rope chairs under the wooden pergola, between an olive tree and columnar cacti, overlooking the headland and the still sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The long dining terrace under its wooden pergola: square tables, woven rope chairs, an olive tree, a stone wall and columnar cacti, with the bay beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Guests seated for dinner with their hosts at sunset, on the covered terrace facing the bay, glasses and carafes on the tables, the hill and the sea behind, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A stoneware bowl of tomato gazpacho with golden croutons, crumbled fresh cheese, a drizzle of olive oil and green shoots, on the terrace in low sunlight, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A carpaccio of white fish marinated in olive oil, fresh herbs, pink peppercorns and chilli, served in an earthenware dish, with grilled flatbread and a bowl of olives, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A Greek salad with feta, tomatoes, olives, red onion and capers in a pink dish, a glass of rosé and a small bowl of olive oil with thyme, on the wooden table, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A dish of gemista ready for the oven: hollowed and stuffed tomatoes, red and green peppers and courgettes, surrounded by rolled vine leaves, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Breakfast seen from above: two plates of avocado toast with poached egg, a bowl of red fruit, a plate of cured meats and cheeses and two glasses of orange juice, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A Cretan breakfast served in green glazed stoneware: flatbreads with crushed avocado and poached eggs, smoked salmon, cherry tomatoes, coffee, orange juice and a soft-boiled egg, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Breakfast laid on the terrace: ceramic carafes stamped with the house mark, coffee, orange juice and a plate of poached eggs with avocado, against the stone wall, with the cacti and the sea beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The breakfast buffet: a large white cactus flower in bloom in a house carafe, jam jars with wooden lids, orange juice and a glass cloche over biscuits, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

The house and its terraces

White walls, dry stone, stairways and passages: the house steps down the slope. After dark, the wall lights trace the path down to the pool.

  • Aerial view of the infinity pool lined with parasols and sun loungers, and of the sunken lounge around the brazier, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The house’s illuminated terraces step down towards the lit infinity pool above the bay at dusk, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The round engraved metal sign reading "Maison Meltem", fixed to a rock above the track, at sunset, Agia Pelagia
  • Outdoor stairway flanked by a dry-stone wall and wall lights switched on, under an orange sunset sky, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Narrow sunlit passage between a long stone wall and the white walls of the house, a figure at the far end, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The hosts’ villa seen from the pool, its two white storeys opening onto wide glazed bays, fringed parasols and sun loungers lined up along the turquoise water, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The suites’ walkway in raking light, between a high drystone wall and the cream volumes of the half-buried building, whose planted terraces step back one behind the other into the hillside, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Floor cushions and beanbags beside the infinity pool, a barrel cactus in its jar and a carpet of red and fuchsia ice plants in flower in the foreground, the rocky cape and the sea beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • An abstract weathering-steel sculpture standing on its plinth in the gravel and cactus garden, before the Aegean Sea and a rocky islet, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The large white flower of a night-blooming cereus, open for a single night, in front of the sunken lounge with its blue and white striped cushions, the house lit at dusk, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The hosts’ villa and its pergola seen from the dry garden, among agaves, dwarf palms and carpets of fuchsia ice plants, the Cretan hillside behind, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Round rope chair and a daybed on the terrace, under a timber pergola, facing the Aegean Sea in the late afternoon, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A man in a yoga pose on a mat, on the terracotta terrace beside the infinity pool, facing the Aegean Sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The private terrace of the suite seen from outside: sliding door open onto the bed, stone wall, two large terracotta jars, a pot of basil and grey sunbeds, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The flat roofs of the house and the long pool running along the flank of the Cretan hill, bordered by a gravel garden of cacti and agaves, under a broken sky, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A corner of the covered terrace: three terracotta jars and a columnar cactus at the foot of a blue-grey stone wall, under a reed pergola striping the floor with light, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The separate entrance of the panoramic room seen from the terrace: windows reflecting the wooded hills, glass balustrade and pale beanbag on the stone floor, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The garden-level terrace of the studio: woven rope armchairs and bench on the gravel, round low table, Mediterranean planting, stone wall and the sea on the horizon, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The outdoor lounge of the studio among grasses, lavender and aromatic plants: woven rope armchairs and bench on the gravel, against a dry-stone wall, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The wooden frame of the pergola lit by warm spotlights at nightfall, above a Cretan dry-stone wall and an olive tree, under a deep blue sky, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

Giannis and Olivier

The hosts of the house, and the subject our visitors mention most after the sea. Giannis, trained in Mediterranean cooking, with a spell at the Institut Paul Bocuse, is also the one at the stove.

  • Olivier and Giannis, the hosts of Maison Meltem, standing side by side and smiling in polo shirts against the white wall of the house, below the tiled roof edge, with a green shrub beside them, Agia Pelagia
  • Olivier and Giannis behind the outdoor bar, under the timber and reed pergola, Giannis in a chef’s jacket embroidered with his name, a row of wine glasses set on the counter, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Giannis, host and chef at Maison Meltem, in chef whites at the stove, against the stone wall, Agia Pelagia
  • Giannis, host and chef of the house, in an embroidered chef’s jacket, smiling as flames rise from his pans in the summer kitchen set against the stone wall, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • Giannis, host and chef of the house, in profile in his chef’s jacket, searing food in a pan under the pergola of the summer kitchen, the cypresses and hills behind him, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

Massages and excursions

The massage table set up in the open air in the shade of the olive trees, and Arkadi Monastery, one of the outings people gladly make from Agia Pelagia.

  • The Venetian façade and bell tower of Arkadi Monastery seen through a stone arch, a terracotta jar on the sill and a cypress in the courtyard, Crete
  • A therapist giving a massage on a table set up outdoors, in the shade of the olive trees, the Aegean Sea beyond, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • A champagne bucket filled with ice and purple ice-plant flowers, two flutes set beside the bottle, on a wooden side table in front of the terrace and the sea, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia
  • The welcome gift laid out on the bed: rolled white towels, a raffia-tied bottle of olive oil with an olive sprig and a card bearing the logo "Maison Meltem — a house with a sea view", Agia Pelagia
  • The gym of the house: squat rack, weight benches, red-accented plates and dumbbells, cross trainer and multi-station in front of a large wall mirror, Maison Meltem, Agia Pelagia

Come and see for yourself

The eight rooms and suites can be booked online. Breakfast is included every morning; Giannis’s dinner should be booked in advance for Monday, Wednesday or Friday evening.

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See the rooms and suites

Discover the pool, the sauna and the hot tub