Hotel Snapshot

Grand Forest Metsovo is a five-star 62-suite alpine retreat, perched at 1,350 meters (4,430 feet) in the Pindus Mountains of Northern Greece. Founded by the Barmpagiannis family, who spent three decades turning this stretch of mountainside into a luxury hotel, it has a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, excellent dining, and a raft of outdoor activities to choose from.

Grand Forest Metsovo sits on its own private mountainside in the Epirus region, offering a very different vision of Greece, one of pine forests, mountain trails, and stone villages rather than beaches and islands. Hotelier Ellie Barmpagiannis, who grew up in the family business and took over the hotel at age 28 in 2019, leads a team where 63% of employees are women. Many staff members are from Metsovo or the surrounding area, and the service is warm and intuitive. It’s this connection to the local community that gives the hotel its sense of place. Between the spa, the infinity pool, and the many activities on offer, I found it very easy to spend a few days here.

Design & Character

The rooms are spread across eight buildings with stone façades, wooden balconies, and exposed beams. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the surrounding landscape, and the public spaces are filled with vintage agricultural tools, antiques, and colorful local textiles. A central fireplace creates a natural gathering point in the open-plan lobby and bar, while outside, terraces with fire pits and wooden chairs are ideal for a sundowner over the Pindus Mountains.

The Rooms

The 62 suites all have wooden floors, marble bathrooms, and tartan blankets on the beds. Junior Suites face the forest and garden, while Mountain View suites have private patios. Superior and Panorama suites add their own balconies and fireplaces. Every room comes with a bathtub and separate walk-in shower, plus a coffee machine and two small jars of local preserves. The Grand Forest Suite is the one to book, with its separate living room, two bathrooms, and unobstructed mountain scenery.

The Food & Drink

All food and drink is sourced from high-quality local suppliers. There are three places to dine. Metsovo 1350m, helmed by consultant chef Gikas Xenakis, showcases the region’s best produce, think wild mushroom ragout, Metsovo cheeses, and trout from the Aoos River, paired with equally impressive mountain scenery. The wine list includes a superb Traminer from nearby Averoff Estates. The Pines is a secluded lounge and bar for private dining. I thoroughly enjoyed my sea bass carpaccio and Ambrascian shrimp by the fire. The Lobby is more relaxed and informal, with both indoor and outdoor dining. The smoked trout on toast is the dish I’d return for.

Amenities

Nature is the star attraction here. Signature Experiences include off-road Jeep touring, truffle-hunting with dogs followed by a foraged lunch and river swim, horseback riding through the hotel's private reserve, hiking, cross-country skiing, e-biking, and SUP trips with Winter Olympian Lefteris Fafalis.

The Aspen Spa is the perfect counterpoint to the hotel’s adventure focus. I had a wonderful Valmont facial and massage. There's also a private sauna and steam room, gym, heated indoor pool, and an outdoor infinity pool surrounded by loungers and cabanas. The new Library Corner and ‘Silent Book Butler’ service offer titles on slow living, nature, travel, and introspection for guests to borrow. Families are well looked after too, with a kids' club and babysitting.

Location & Neighborhood Recs

The hotel sits between Ioannina and Meteora. Kalabaka and Meteora's UNESCO-listed monasteries are 55 minutes away and make easy day trips, as does the Zagori region, also UNESCO-listed. Metsovo itself is just across the valley and worth exploring for its local produce, vineyards, and restaurants. Take a tour around the Katogi Averoff Winery and the Folk Art Museum, then stop for cheese and wine at Το Γνήσιον (The Genuine).

Fast Facts

Address: Egnatia Motorway - Intersection - 7A to Anilio Metsovo, Epirus, Greece, 442 00

Neighborhood: Metsovo, Pindus Mountains

Nearest Airport: Ioannina Airport (JIO), 45 minutes

Star Rating: 5 stars (Leading Hotels of the World)

Starting Rate: Rates start around $320 per night for a Junior Suite with Garden View, including breakfast

Room Count: 62 suites

Vibe: Mountaintop luxury with Greek soul

Best For: Couples, honeymooners, families, adventure lovers, and foodies

Amenities: Aspen Spa, indoor and outdoor pools, gym, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, kids' club, babysitting, and 24-hour room service

Nearby: Metsovo town, Meteora and Zagori, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Pindus National Park

Our Favorite Thing: Truffle-hunting with dogs through the forest, then horseback riding into the hotel's private mountain reserve with a picnic lunch, the kind of personal adventure you can only have somewhere like this.