Discovering Cyprus through the design-led elegance of Thanos Hotels, where urban culture meets Mediterranean calm.
There are few places that can promise both the energy of a city break and the serenity of a coastal escape in the journey. But Cyprus, that sun-drenched island at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, manages to deliver both with effortless charm. It is an island of dualities—ancient yet evolving, sophisticated yet grounded, cosmopolitan yet deeply connected to the land and sea that surround it. And nowhere is this blend of modern design, cultural authenticity, and Mediterranean ease better embodied than in the destinations curated by Thanos Hotels and Resorts.
The heart of the island is Nicosia—the world’s last divided capital, and perhaps one of Europe’s most overlooked cultural gems. This is not the Cyprus of beach umbrellas and resort buffets. Nicosia is a city of texture and tone: a place where Ottoman arches meet Venetian fortifications, where the call to prayer mingles with café chatter, and where narrow alleys give way to vibrant squares humming with contemporary life. It is here, within the medieval Venetian Walls, that a new chapter in Cypriot hospitality has been written: Amyth of Nicosia, the latest opening from the Thanos family and a jewel in their growing Amyth collection.
Opened in spring 2025, Amyth of Nicosia is a design lover’s dream—an intimate, ten-room hideaway that fuses local heritage with quietly confident modernity. Housed in a listed villa dating back to the early 1900s, the building’s character has been lovingly preserved by interior designer Maria Neophytou and architects Eraclis Papachristou. The result is a masterclass in Mediterranean restoration: decorative ceilings and vintage tiled floors contrast beautifully with sleek, minimalist furnishings; soft neutral linens meet cool stone and warm wood; and a sense of calm sophistication pervades every space. The grand staircase alone, with its sunlit ascent and elegant iron balustrade, feels like a visual metaphor for the hotel’s ethos—heritage elevated by design.
The heart of Amyth is its central courtyard, shaded by olive trees and conceived as a living, breathing microclimate. It’s the kind of space that invites lingering—over a Cypriot coffee in the morning or a glass of chilled Commandaria at dusk. The hotel’s restaurant, Amyth Kouzina, led by Chef Andrew Michael Smith under the direction of Thanos Hotels’ Executive Chef David Goodridge, carries the same sense of intimacy. The menu draws inspiration from seasonal Cypriot ingredients: fresh herbs from the Troodos Mountains, local halloumi grilled to perfection, and slow-cooked lamb drizzled with native olive oil. Dining here feels like being welcomed into someone’s home—albeit one with a quietly luxurious sense of taste.
Stepping outside Amyth’s walls, Nicosia unfolds as a city that rewards exploration on foot. Laiki Geitonia, a restored neighbourhood within the old town, offers cobbled streets lined with artisans’ workshops and traditional tavernas. Ledra Street, with its blend of local boutiques and cafés, leads to the Ledra Street Crossing—one of the few places where one can physically pass between the island’s Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides. The contrasts are fascinating, from the intricate Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques, to the serene courtyards of the Büyük Han, a 16th-century caravanserai now alive with artists, galleries, and tea rooms. Culture lovers will find their curiosity rewarded. The Cyprus Museum houses treasures spanning millennia, while the Archbishopric of Cyprus and Museum of Byzantine Art reveal the island’s deeply spiritual past. Yet there’s also a youthful, creative pulse in the air. The redesigned Eleftheria Square, conceived by Zaha Hadid Architects, anchors the city with bold, sculptural lines—a visual statement of a capital reimagining itself. As evening falls, locals drift to the bars and terraces of the Old Town, with Lost + Found—ranked among the world’s 50 best bars—serving inventive cocktails to a stylish crowd.
Cyprus’s beauty has always been tied to its coastline. And so, after immersing yourself in the capital’s culture, we suggest that you follow the rhythm of the island south and west, trading terracotta rooftops for the open sea. The journey takes just under two hours by private car, through rolling hills, citrus groves, and glimpses of deep blue horizon, until the landscape gives way to the shimmering expanse of the Akamas Peninsula—home to Anassa, one of Europe’s most legendary seaside hotels.
Where Amyth of Nicosia embodies intimacy, Anassa is all about scale and serenity. Known affectionately as the “Queen” of the Thanos portfolio, Anassa sits like a gleaming white village along a secluded stretch of Cyprus’s west coast. The≈architecture feels both timeless and light—the sort of place where terraced balconies cascade toward the sea, where bougainvillaea drapes across stone archways, and where every path seems to lead to another spectacular view. Here, the Mediterranean doesn’t just frame the setting; it defines it.
Anassa’s reputation precedes it: a favourite of discerning travellers who seek privacy, elegance, and that elusive sense of effortless luxury. Days here unfold at an unhurried pace. Mornings begin with sunlight dancing on the newly transformed pool, followed by long breakfasts that stretch into midday. The Thalassa Spa, one of the most revered in the region, offers a holistic approach to wellness—drawing from the sea with thalassotherapy, detox rituals, and treatments designed to restore equilibrium. Dining is a pleasure in itself, with four restaurants offering everything from fine French-Mediterranean at Helios to Asian-inflected flavours at Basiliko, and open-air mezze feasts at Pelagos, where the catch of the day arrives straight from the nearby fishing boats. Evenings invite you to linger beneath the stars, perhaps with live music drifting through the warm air or a stroll along the private beach as the horizon fades to amber.
Anassa’s beauty is not only in its design but in its ethos. Despite its grandeur, it remains unmistakably family-run, with a warmth that feels personal. There’s an ease to its hospitality, a sense that every detail—from the scent of jasmine at dusk to the thoughtful touches of the Baby Go Lightly service for young families—has been considered with genuine care. For couples, solo travellers, or families alike, it manages to be both sanctuary and celebration. To experience both Amyth of Nicosia and Anassa in one journey is to understand the dual spirit of Cyprus itself. It’s an island where culture and calm coexist; where mornings might begin with an espresso in a sunlit courtyard surrounded by 19th-century architecture, and end with a swim in turquoise waters as the sun dips behind the Akamas cliffs. The contrast isn’t jarring—it’s intoxicating.
Thanos Hotels and Resorts has long been synonymous with Cypriot hospitality at its most refined. Founded over forty years ago by the late Alecos Michaelides and now led by his son Thanos Michaelides, the group has become a standard-bearer for Mediterranean elegance. With three flagship beachside properties—Anassa, Annabelle, and Almyra—and now the growing Amyth collection of boutique, design-forward hotels, the brand is not only defining luxury on the island but also evolving it. Amyth, in particular, distils the family’s philosophy into an intimate form: a home-from-home experience where the spirit of place takes centre stage.
In Amyth of Nicosia, the group captures the essence of urban Cyprus—its creativity, its layered history, and its quiet confidence. In Anassa, they preserve the island’s timeless appeal—the deep calm of the Mediterranean, the languid beauty of late summer afternoons, the enduring allure of life lived at a gentler pace. Together, they represent a journey that’s as much about design and experience as it is about destination.
As autumn settles over Europe, Cyprus still glows in soft golden light. It’s the perfect season to experience both sides of this remarkable island—to walk through the ancient gates of Nicosia in the morning and dine by the sea at Anassa by night. In a world where we often choose between city energy and coastal calm, Cyprus invites us not to decide. Instead, it offers both—each side enhancing the other, bound together by a thread of style, soul, and unmistakable Cypriot warmth.
And that, perhaps, is the true beauty of travelling from the city to the sea.
Click here to read the article in the The Rakish Gent Issue 8.