Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel Review
Staying in a hotel with a rooftop view in Crete can elevate your entire experience, especially when there’s a rooftop pool involved. This review focuses on my stay at the Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel in Elounda. And whether the rooftop genuinely adds value or is simply a nice extra.
This is no ordinary rooftop. Perched on the hotel’s on a clifftop, it delivers sweeping sea views and a sense of total escape. If you love the idea of a rooftop nightcap, dinner under the stars or sunset swims without leaving your hotel. This review will help you decide if it’s also your kind of stay. And whether the rooftop is worth booking for.
⭐ Quick verdict
Best for: Rooftop retreat lovers seeking quiet, calm and sustainable luxury
Not ideal if: You’re looking for nightlife or a party vibe
Rooftop value: Amazing
Who this hotel is for: Adults only
Overall feel: Small, private and elegant
🛏 Room Details
Type: Standard Twin Sea View
Size: Small
Bed: Comfy
Table: Yes
Blackout curtains: Yes
Air con: Good
View: Sea view – we arrived late and the view wasn’t as good as we expected, but they happily moved us the next morning
Balcony: Yes
Water in room: One bottle for the stay
Kettle: On request
Coffee machine: Yes
Mini bar: Yes
Any extras? Wine in the room and a cake for my birthday (sadly I’m gluten free!)
🛁 Bathroom
Style: Modern
Shower pressure: Good
Shampoo & conditioner: No shampoo
Bath robe: Yes
🏨 Hotel Logistics & Practical Info
Distance from airport: 1 hour by taxi
Location: North east Crete (Google Map)
Getting around: Taxi: 5 minutes to Elounda
Hotel size: Approx. 90 rooms
Communication prior to arrival: Good
Welcome drink: Lemonade… at an adult only hotel?
Local supermarket: Small mini market 5 minutes away by taxi (just above Plaka)
Staff: Some were excellent, others lacked true five-star polish
🏖️🏋🏼♀️ Workout, Rest and Play
Gym: Yes
Spa: Yes
Pool: Yes (many rooms also have private pools)
Beach: Yes, private to the hotel
🍽️ Restaurant & Bar
Breakfast: Good and buggies will collect you from your room with good humour
Bubbles at breakfast: No
Bar / restaurant: Yes
🥂 Rooftop
Size: Good. Mainly centred around the pool
View: Stunning sea views
Bar: Small
Restaurant: The restaurant is actually further down the hill but when you are sat cliff side it feels like you are eating on top of the world
Pool: Yes – the pièce de résistance opens at 10am
Shade: Yes – umbrellas and the staff made sure I was never in the sun, moving mine with the sun.
Best for: Lazy days dreaming of never going home
Read my full rooftop restaurant review
💰 Cost & Value
Cost: Pricey then and even more now
Worth the money?: Yes then – not sure now
Would I stay again? Yes, for the pool. But there are so many incredible hotels nearby I’d be tempted to try somewhere new.
✍️ Royal Marmin Boutique & Art Hotel Review Summary
If you’re looking for a getaway filled with sunshine, sea views and very little effort, Royal Marmin Bay delivers. Built into the hillside, this eco focused hotel feels wonderfully remote. However the charming village of Plaka, with its excellent tavernas, is just a short walk away. Elounda town is a five-minute taxi ride south or a 30 minute stroll. Though in the height of summer, walking can be too hot. The main roads aren’t ideal for pedestrians, but taxis were quick and easy.
I absolutely loved staying here, though it wasn’t without a few small details that missed the mark. One bottle of water for the stay felt an oversight of being 5 star! Because the hotel is set on a steep hill, anyone with mobility issues may struggle. A golf buggy service is available and fantastic, unless you need it at peak times! The hotel also offers a boat for the day, at an expected additional cost. This was a highlight and runs from their own jetty so incredibly convenient.
Choosing between the rooftop pool and the private beach felt like the ultimate first world problem. Both are heavenly. The beach restaurant felt like an upscale taverna with fantastic service, while poolside service was slower. Cocktails were pricey but as an alternative there is blue wine – a Greek speciality. (Tastes like a slightly sweeter white wine!)
A big bonus for sustainability seekers: Royal Marmin was the first certified energy-efficient hotel in Greece. Though as the hotel is all about the outdoors, if it was a rainy stay it would feel a waste and may get bored. Read more about what to do and where to eat near the hotel.
But all in all, this was an absolute treat. If you only stay in ultra polished five star resorts, the service may occasionally miss the mark for you. But if you’re looking for a smaller, peaceful hotel with one of the most incredible rooftop pool views in Crete, this is a special place. And was the rooftop worth booking for? Absolutely yes.
(If you’re after livelier evenings, there’s even a rooftop disco in nearby Agios Nikolaos — highly recommend.)
📝 Admin
Date stayed: 2018
Information checked/updated: 2026
Hotel website: Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel
