"It has been a week since we returned from our ten-day stay at Grecotel Daphnila Bay, and we deliberately gave ourselves a little time to settle back into normal life before writing this review, rather than being swept away by that immediate post-holiday glow.
Having had the chance to reflect properly on our experience, we can honestly say that our stay was exceeded our expectations in almost every way.
We are a small family and tend not to spend all day in a hotel, we like to go out, and Corfu is a stunning island, so we normally view our hotel as more of a comfortable base from which to explore. However, Daphnila Bay changed that mindset. We enjoyed the resort so much that around half of our holiday days became "hotel days", finding we were perfectly content to spend the day there, enjoying its facilities, relaxing by the private beach, and soaking up the lovely atmosphere.
And that is perhaps the greatest compliment we can give. Daphnila Bay was not just somewhere we stayed while visiting Corfu, it became a destination in its own right and a place we genuinely looked forward to returning to at the end of each day.
First Impressions
Arriving at the hotel, we were immediately struck by the lush grounds which surround the resort. The main hotel building itself may not be the most ultra-modern in terms of its exterior design, but it possesses a character and charm that feels entirely in keeping with its surroundings. Step inside, and the hotel is more contemporary in style, and everywhere was exceptionally clean and well presented.
Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by a member of staff who helped us through the check-in process and assisted us in setting up the hotel's app, which proved incredibly useful throughout our stay and is something we would recommend you set up before you arrive.
Once checked in, we were invited to sit near the rear terrace and were brought a welcome drink. It was here that we experienced our first real "wow" moment of the holiday. The view from the upper terrace is breathtaking. The resort is built into a small, sheltered valley that opens onto its own bay, with the main hotel positioned at the top, and the curved brown roofs of bungalows cascading down the hillside towards the private beach below.
Looking out across the bay, the sparkling sea, and the surrounding green hills and the sight of mainland Greece and Albania in the distance, we knew immediately that we had chosen the right place for our holiday. It was a view that never lost its impact, no matter how many times we saw it over the following ten days.
The Room
We and our luggage were then taken to our bungalow in one of the resort's electric buggies. At this point it is worth offering some practical advice for future guests. We absolutely loved the resort's location and layout, but it is built into a fairly steep hillside. Depending on where your room or bungalow is situated, the walk back up to the main hotel building can be quite a workout, particularly in the heat. Guests who have mobility concerns may want to bear this in mind when considering the hotel.
To assist with this, the resort operates some electric buggies that can carry several passengers at a time, and they travel up and down the hill throughout the day and evening. If a buggy is passing and has space available, the drivers are always happy to stop and offer a lift. If not, you can request one from reception using the phone in your room, or at any bar or restaurant. Every driver we encountered was friendly, and accommodating.
That said, the service can be a little sporadic, and this is probably the only area where we felt there was room for improvement. If there was one suggestion we would make to the hotel, it would be to invest in a few more buggies and operate a more frequent shuttle-style service between the beach area, the bungalows, and the main hotel building.
To be clear, this was never a major issue for us, and we managed perfectly well throughout our stay.
When we arrived at our room, we found it charming and equipped with everything we needed for our stay. The bathroom was spotless, the drencher shower hot and powerful and the beds were comfortable. The AC unit was new and effective, with a remote control to operate.
The room itself had the signature Corfu stone flooring, which not only looked lovely but also helped keep the room cool when returning from the heat outside. Everything felt clean, well maintained, and thoughtfully designed. There was plenty of storage and hanging space, along with a fridge restocked with soft drinks daily, a coffee machine and cartridges, kettle etc.
The standout feature, though, was the balcony.
Our bungalow was situated halfway up the hillside, giving us a spectacular view across the bay and surrounding landscape. During the day we were treated to birdsong drifting through the trees, while in the evenings we spotted hedgehogs wandering through the grounds and bats swooping overhead as the sun set. It created a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere and gave the resort a feeling of being immersed in nature rather than simply overlooking it.
In truth, the balcony became our little sanctuary during the holiday—a place to relax, unwind, and appreciate just how beautiful the setting of Daphnila Bay really is. We have a younger son and did not always attend the outdoor evening entertainment, so the balcony became a place to listen to the entertainment whilst playing cards, with that view as our backdrop. Heavenly.
Also, in May we encountered no troublesome insects, mosquitos or wasps.
Food & Drink
With an all-inclusive resort, you would expect a good variety of food and drink, and Daphnila Bay does not disappoint. Across the resort there are several bars, a main buffet restaurant, a number of à la carte restaurants, and two cafés dedicated to sweet treats, meaning there is always somewhere different to try.
One piece of advice we would offer future guests is to download the hotel app before arriving and book your à la carte restaurants as early as possible.
Antica Cucina
The main buffet restaurant, located in the central hotel building, was consistently impressive throughout our stay. While the core offerings remained familiar, there were enough daily changes to keep things interesting. The salad bar and bread station were particularly extensive, while the hot food options offered plenty of choice. The various slow cooked meat dishes were a firm favourite, with my husband becoming particularly fond of the fried squid. The dessert section was equally impressive, offering a wide selection of sweet and savoury treats. This restaurant is also where breakfast is served from 7.30am, with extensive fresh hot and cold food served.
Asia Oliva
The Asian-inspired à la carte restaurant near the beach, which doubled as the less formal buffet snack bar during lunchtime, was a real highlight. Guests are presented with a selection of starters before moving on to the main courses, and the quality throughout was exceptional. The portions were generous, and dishes such as sushi, duck, pancakes, and katsu curry were beautifully presented.
Il Gattopardo
The Italian restaurant, situated on the main terrace overlooking the pool, offered a wonderful atmosphere alongside excellent food. Dining outdoors with views across the bay created a lovely setting for the evening. We sampled the pizza and the stone cooked lamb chops, both of which were excellent.
Tavernaki
If we had to choose a favourite, it would probably be the Tavernaki. We already love Greek cuisine, but the combination of authentic food and an incredible location made it a standout experience. Shirley Valentine style, it is situated right beside the beach and pier, it provides one of the most picturesque dining settings in the resort. On the evening we visited, we watched the sun set over the bay while enjoying dessert. It was one of those perfect holiday moments.
Danilia Village
As Grecotel owns the film set village where The Durrell’s was made, you can enjoy an evening and complementary meal there. Three courses, with the mains cooked on a BBQ, the food and service were impeccable. The meal is free, the small coach transfer direct (15 minute drive) from the hotel cost 8 euros each, and was well worth it. After eating you are allowed to move freely around the quaint buildings and small museum. A real holiday highlight. Book it asap at reception.
Crêperie-Gelateria
A very welcome addition to the resort, particularly during the warmer afternoons. The selection of crêpes and ice creams was excellent, and everything we tried was delicious. The only slight drawback was its popularity! As there is often only one member of staff serving, queues can occasionally build up, but it was always worth the wait, and the staff were always friendly.
Patisserie-Chocolaterie
Located within the main hotel building and open during the evenings, this offered a lovely selection of pastries, chocolates, cakes, and other sweet treats. It became a regular stop for us after dinner and was a wonderful way to end the day.
The bars and cafés throughout the resort were equally impressive and ensured there was always somewhere pleasant to sit and relax. Whether it was a cocktail overlooking the bay, a cold drink on the beach, a coffee between activities, or an ice cream while wandering through the grounds, every venue maintained the same high standards of service and quality.
Also, if you can, book into a complimentary wine tasting session. The sommelier really knows his stuff, and provided a nice variety of roses, whites, reds, and dessert wines.
The Staff
Of course, without great staff nothing else matters. Fortunately, the people at Daphnila Bay are one of the resort's greatest strengths. Every member of staff made us feel genuinely welcome. They were consistently professional, friendly, and attentive, and at no point did we feel that any request was too much trouble.
We noticed that staff often rotated between different areas of the resort, which seemed to help maintain a consistently high standard of service wherever we went. We would also like to give a special mention to the red-haired waitress (apologies, we unfortunately didn't catch your name) who kindly took two wonderful sets of family photographs for us, both at Tavernaki and later at the terrace bar. The photos turned out brilliantly and have become treasured memories of our holiday. Clearly a hidden talent!
Final Thoughts
Daphnila Bay gave us something few hotels have, it made us want to stay in the resort rather than rush out and explore. That is perhaps the highest praise we can offer.
Beautiful surroundings, excellent food, comfortable accommodation, wonderful facilities, and above all, genuinely outstanding staff combined to create one of the most enjoyable holidays we have ever had.
Thank you to everyone at Daphnila Bay for helping create such wonderful family memories. We will be back! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
