Newsroom
By Wiz Guide
Just like the Michelin stars that honor the world’s best restaurants, the Michelin Key is now shining on the planet’s top hotels, and two of them are right here in Cyprus.
Both have just earned 1 Michelin Key, a brand-new distinction by the Michelin Guide celebrating hotels that deliver a “very special stay.” One sits by the sea, and the other is tucked into the mountains -- two completely different worlds, but both proudly Cypriot.
The M Boutique Hotel in Paphos carries a sweet touch of nostalgia. Built on the bones of the old Daphne Hotel, one of the town’s first post-war accommodations, it’s now an adults-only retreat dedicated to the memory of Maria, the matriarch who once ran it. Her son, Anthimos Economides, redesigned it into a cozy, minimalist escape where some suites even come with private plunge pools. Its restaurant, Geppetto, draws inspiration from nearby mountains, serving local wine and seasonal Mediterranean dishes just steps from the sea and harbor.
Up in Lefkara, meanwhile, The Agora Hotel breathes new life into the village’s former central market. Designed by its Danish owners, who, fun fact, came from completely different professions before diving into hospitality, this boutique adults-only gem has just 15 rooms and three suites, but each feels special. Guests lounge by a saltwater courtyard pool, sip drinks at the hotel’s stylish bar, or gather at Novél, the all-day Mediterranean bistro known for its desserts and charm.
Surrounded by Lefkara’s stone alleys, lace shops, and those famously photogenic blue doors, The Agora captures everything that makes rural Cyprus magical.
The Michelin Key, still a relatively new concept, mirrors the Michelin stars in spirit, rating hotels not by luxury alone, but by architecture, design, service, personality, value for money, and contribution to the local environment or neighborhood. Hotels can earn one, two, or three Keys:
- 1 Key for a very special stay,
- 2 Keys for an exceptional stay,
- 3 Keys for an extraordinary stay.
And while Cyprus’ two winners proudly take home one Key each, the Michelin Guide also lists seven other hotels on the island as “Selected”, marking them as noteworthy stays worth checking out.
Two Keys or not, it’s safe to say Cyprus is finally making its mark on the global luxury map, one boutique hotel at a time.
*Read more at Wiz Guide
