Snap up a stay in this luxury villa with ravishing views of one of the most magical bays in Corfu. Villa Bliss in Kalami is a relaxing hideaway, with glorious infinity pool, just a few minutes from the picturesque coves and villages of Corfu’s north-east coast.
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Disclosure: I visited Corfu and Villa Bliss as a guest of Ionian Villas on the understanding that all opinions expressed in this blog post are entirely my own.
Why visit Corfu?
It’s one of the most popular holiday hotspots in the Med, yet Corfu, the capital of the Greek Ionian island group, still has blissful stretches of unspoilt coastline to discover. We flew from London and just over three hours later we were winding north along the little coast road that clings to the contours of the hills. To our right we could catch glimpses of the dazzling blue sea. The shadowy hills of Albania shimmered on the skyline.
My son and I were heading to the north-east of the island, once the home of the famous Durrell family, now the secret retreat of many A-listers. Away from the busy holiday resorts of the south this timeless coastline is still relatively undeveloped. Steep forested hillsides drop sharply to crystal-clear coves and tiny fishing villages.
A Villa in Kalami, Corfu
I’d been invited by Ionian Villas to stay in Kalami bay, Corfu. I’ve known about this particular spot for years, ever since I read the books by Gerald and Lawrence Durrell. Lawrence lived here in the 1930s and wrote lyrically about Corfu and his former home, The White House in Kalami.
Back then the Durrells enjoyed island living without mod cons. In contrast we were going to be staying in much more luxurious surroundings. Villa Bliss nestles high on the hillside with spectacular views of the Corfu coastline.
Why you’ll love Villa Bliss
Villa Bliss is serene and chic with three tiers of floors and terraces and a glorious infinity pool. It combines sleek interiors with an easy, relaxing vibe and its four large bedrooms will comfortably cater for families and groups of friends.
Although it’s only a five minute drive from Kalami, your first impression is that this villa is private. It lies alongside a tiny country road and is clustered around with olives and kumquats. The hillside below it drops steeply down to the glistening azure sea.
And this of course means Villa Bliss has fabulous views. In fact the first thing we noticed when we stepped inside were the blue views through the French doors that lead out to the terrace.
The main terrace of the villa cantilevers out over the steep hillside with an uninterrupted panorama. The sparkling Ionian sea stretches out to the skyline in a blur of blues, with the contours of the Albanian mainland in the distance. At your feet are not one but three little bays, scooped out of the coastline below.
Kalami bay lies centre stage, with the distinctive sugar cube of the Durrell house standing to one side. Beyond to the right you can see the curve of Agni and to the left the headland that shelters Kouloura’s fishing harbour. It all feels quite timeless, without any jarringly large hotels or apartment blocks on the forested slopes, just a jumble of ochre tiled roofs and the occasional turquoise wink of a villa’s pool.
Villa Bliss’s own gorgeous infinity pool lies beside the terrace and shares the same outlook. It’s heatable too which will help to take the chill off at the beginning of the season. And behind the pool is another of the villa’s standout features: a raised terrace like a turret with a barbecue and round table for memorable meals with panoramic coastal views.
Inside Villa Bliss
We arrived, put down our bags and felt instantly relaxed. A calming cohesive palette of whites, ivory and greige envelop the interior from the large cool floor tiles to the bowl of decorative pebbles on the coffee table. Mirrors and paintings lend silvery accents, whilst turquoise shutters and whitewashed beams give a nod to the villa’s island heritage. It’s pared back, cool and serene.
I’ll just add as well, because it’s so important, Villa Bliss is utterly spotless. We met Kiki the housekeeper a couple of times and the visitor’s book sings her praises. She loves the villa and takes good care of it.
The living spaces of the villa form the ground floor. It’s an open-plan area that flows smoothly between the sofa with large wall-mounted TV, a dining table and the sleek, white gloss kitchen and breakfast bar. A utility room with sink and washer-drier and a cloakroom both stand to the side by the stairs. And most importantly, multiple French doors lead out to the broad sun-washed terrace and pool.
Up on the first floor are two double bedroom suites, whilst a cream spiral staircase leads down to two more on the lower ground floor. All the bedrooms have shower rooms and built-in wardrobes and they all open onto terraces facing the bay. As you’d expect the beds are well-dressed with super-comfortable mattresses. I fell asleep easily and woke to birdsong.
Everything you need to relax
This is a high spec, well-stocked villa with everything you need, effortlessly within reach. Efficient air-con and wi-fi, no-fuss insect screens that slide neatly across all the doorways, pool and beach towels, yoga mats rolled ready in a corner.
The well-equipped kitchen has shelves of white tableware and a proper range of cooking utensils too. For relaxing evenings there’s a big Smart TV, a cupboard full of books and magazines and another of board games, plus useful touches like a reading lamp by the sofa.
A welcome pack was waiting for us after our drive from the airport. We discovered feta, tzatziki and olives in the fridge along with milk, juice, water and a bottle of wine. In a basket on the table was a loaf of fresh bread and packets of crackers and crisps. We quickly put together a picnic and carried it out to the terrace.
On the Terraces at Villa Bliss
I’d happily spend all day on Villa Bliss’s glass-panelled terraces. Nothing obstructs the gorgeous views and there are plenty of combinations of shade and sun. You can sit together for meals at the verandah table, then sit or snooze on sun-loungers, the cabana bed or the easy chairs grouped around a low table. More loungers flank the pool and there are big umbrellas for shade.
The bedrooms have their own terraces with tables and chairs too, and they all share the same wonderful, relaxing coastal panorama.
An Evening with a Private Chef at Villa Bliss
Although Villa Bliss has a well-equipped kitchen who wouldn’t want a break from catering on holiday? Luckily for us Virginia and her husband Vasilis stopped by one evening to cook and serve us a feast of traditional Greek recipes.
This talented couple ran a popular family taverna for decades. They’re modest too: check the guidebooks and you’ll see Taverna Karbouris listed as one of the best on Corfu. Now Virginia is an in-demand private chef on the north-east coast. She sent me a menu of options a couple of days before her visit and then whisked quietly and efficiently around the Villa Bliss kitchen as delicious scents wafted out to the terrace. Villa Bliss is a regular port of call for Virginia and tables are laid, food served and washing up done with the minimum of fuss.
Virginia magicked up some Corfiot specialities for us: fresh tzatziki, tasty courgette balls, baked feta, deliciously rich beef sofrito, prawn saganaki and lemony potatoes. Plus a light and lovely local dessert called Ekmek that you’ll rarely find in restaurants.
We ate at the round table on the top terrace that evening, high above the pool with the glow of the villa’s terrace lights below us and dramatic views across the Ionian sea. You can book memorable meals like this by Virginia through Ionian Villas.
Things to do nearby
You can spend a truly relaxing holiday on Corfu’s north-east coast. Hire a boat to putter along the coast or follow old footpaths that meander from bay to bay past gnarled olive trees surrounded by nets for the harvest. Stop off at tavernas that serve fresh fish on pebbly shorelines. Taste the local wines and the island’s kumquat liqueur.
It has a similar vibe to the quieter islands of the Ionian like off-the-radar Meganisi, or peaceful Paxos. You won’t find much in the way of nightclubs in these parts, but you can catch a taxi boat to take you for supper at a little taverna on an out-of the way beach. Back at Villa Bliss you can sleep soundly through the night to wake to a ravishing pink dawn.
I’d say pretty much every visitor relies on a hire car to get around this area, simply because of the steepness of the coastal hills. And a car gives you the freedom to explore further afield. You can do as we did and drive from Kalami to neighbouring bays and then walk the coast paths, or head out to more commercialised Kassiopi or inland to the nostalgic village of Old Perithia.
Local walks from Villa Bliss
One morning we walked down to Kalami bay from the villa. We followed flights of steep steps down through the olive groves, strolled along a country lane flagged with wild flowers, and then a further stretch along the verge of the main coast road. The views are lovely, though you do need to be sound in wind and limb for this. And not wearing flip flops.
It took us about 30 mins downhill though I didn’t time the uphill stretch home again. But here’s a clue: the step counter on my phone said I’d climbed 66 flights of stairs. That’s why the views from Villa Bliss are so glorious!
Stay with Ionian Villas
This family-run specialist villa company has decades of experience in the Ionian islands. Based in the UK, the Watrous family have an in-depth knowledge and love of the islands and offer a true personal service. They have a great range of villas to suit all tastes and carefully select each house and apartment on their books.
Ionian Villas will tailor-make your itinerary to allow flexibility of arrival dates or island-hopping trips. You can be perfectly independent or rely on them for meet and greet services, transfers, car hire, boat tours or villa chefs. Contact them here, mention Map&Family and let them help you plan your next trip to the Ionian islands.
Please note that all visitor information here is for guidance only. Please check the relevant websites for the most up to date information eg. accommodation details, tickets, entrance requirements, opening times etc.
What to read next about Greece
- The Ionian islands are ideal for a sunny September break, check out Where’s hot in September in Europe.
- Explore our 6 favourite beaches on Lefkada
- This guide to Vasiliki in Lefkada has our tips on best things to do and where to stay
- From Lefkada catch the ferry to beautiful Meganisi island, for a day trip or two-centre stay
- Discover our guide to things to do on Kefalonia
- And check out the chic fishing village of Fiskardo Kefalonia plus the villa we stayed in
- Explore pretty and unspoilt Paxos
- Find a Paxos villa with beautiful sea views
- And take a day trip from Paxos to explore the white beaches of Anti Paxos
About the author Nancy Roberts is a former women’s magazine editor and writer. She lives in London and is mum to two 20-something boys. In Map&Family she shares info and inspiration for curious travellers: singles and couples as well as families travelling with teens and young adults.
All photos are all rights reserved. Please do not reproduce these photos without prior written permission
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