Our opinion on… Amara, the new face of luxury in Cyprus

The pitch | The rival of Greece's finest hotels

The third-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia, Cyprus seduces visitors with its contrasting landscapes, its dual culture of Greek heritage and Turkish influence, and its insolently mild climate, with over 300 days of sunshine a year. On the south coast, a new address has shaken up the codes of the Cypriot hotel industry. Designed by David Rockwell, Amara boasts restaurants run by renowned chefs, a pool facing the sea and a 3,000 m² XXL spa, and rivals the finest hotels in Greece.

Mediterranean design and nods to Cypriot history

Long a port for sailors and merchants, Limassol has become Cyprus' most vibrant city. A few minutes from the center, Amara, the latest addition to the Stademos group, unfurls its contemporary silhouette facing the sea. The architecture, designed by SB Architects in collaboration with Rockwell Studio and WA Interiors, revisits Mediterranean codes in a contemporary version. The quality of the materials used is impressive: stone, wood and, of course, copper, a nod to the island's history as the cradle of this metal, which has been mined since Antiquity. The flowing circulation extends this impression of mastered harmony. Art is also present, with ceramics, paintings and installations by Cypriot and international artists subtly integrated into the spaces.

While this luxury hotel ticks all the boxes: private beach, dream pool... the centerpiece remains the sumptuous spa, one of the most accomplished on the island. A mineral sanctuary in dark hues, it houses a 25-metre indoor pool, two saunas, a seawater pool lined with cypress trees and designer cabins where rituals based on olive oil and carob seeds are lavished. The same high standards apply to fitness, with state-of-the-art machines and three rooms dedicated to Pilates reformer, spinning and training with a private coach.

Rooms open to the horizon

Own your horizon : more than just a slogan (and the password to your wifi), it's a promise kept. With 207 sea-facing rooms and suites, Amara gives you the feeling of having the horizon all to yourself. Sand tones, touches of blue and green: the rooms reflect the changing palette of the Mediterranean. The comfort is hushed, the soundproofing perfect. Amara offers a wide range of accommodation, from suites with rooftop or Jacuzzi to seaside cabins with garden and private chef on request.

The room to book?

The 45 m2 Deluxe with king-size bed, driftwood furniture, marble bathroom and sea-view terrace.

What's the table like?

The spa certainly impresses, but it's on the plate that Amara most clearly expresses its ambition. Not that Cyprus isn't a great place to eat - there are plenty of tavernas on the island where you can enjoy local classics such as grilled halloumi, mezze, octopus and freshly caught fish. But here, the cursor goes up a notch. By welcoming international signatures such as Nobu's Matsuhisa, Giorgio Locatelli's Locatelli, and Monte-Carlo's very own Beefbar, the resort is breathing new life into the Cypriot culinary scene and anchoring it in an international arena. And let's not forget the flavours of the island with Nereia, the Mediterranean table where seafood is selected before being grilled minute by minute.

What to remember?

A five-star address located on the seafront just a few kilometers from vibrant Limassol, Amara has immediately established itself as one of the most luxurious resorts in Cyprus. Designed with a cosmopolitan clientele in mind, its contemporary architecture, sea-facing rooms, competitive spa, private beach and unbeatable gastronomy will win you over.

5 things we loved about the Amara Hotel in Cyprus

• Modern, demanding luxury, resolutely focused on experience
• The four-hand menu, devised by an Italian Michelin-starred chef and the resident chef
• Minibar included, champagne on arrival, smart TV, intuitive home automation: so many attentions that elevate the experience
• For sweet tooths: French pastries served in the lobby or slipped into the room at bedtime
• A kids' club for 4-12 year-olds, with baby-sitting on request

Not to be missed in Cyprus

• Kolossi, a 13th-century fortress built on the ruins of an ancient Byzantine castle
• Aphrodite's Rock, where the goddess of love is said to have been born from sea foam
• Paphos and its mosaics: some of the finest Roman frescoes in the Mediterranean, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• The Blue Lagoon: a turquoise cove where sea turtles can be observed
• Caledonia Falls: a shady trail leading to a hidden waterfall
• The Zenobia: a 172-metre wreck off the coast of Larnaca