A Blissful Week at the MarBella, Corfu
Family-friendly hotel with gorgeous sea views, a private beach, and a kids club, MarBella Corfu has everything for a relaxing beach holiday.
After an adventure-filled few days in Old Town Corfu, we had a blissful week at the Mar-Bella Corfu for some R&R. Nestled on a hillside with panoramic sea views, the 5-star family-friendly Mar-Bella Corfu is as picturesque as it can get. Built on a slope, the hotel has numerous terraces, all with spectacular views across the Ionian Sea to mainland Greece.
Beautiful Hotel Nestled in the Hills with Sea Views
Newly refurbished and renovated during Covid, MarBella Corfu updated its grand lobby and all rooms with a minimalist chic earth tones and soft furnishings. Everything is immaculate with morning staff meticulously cleaning and dusting before sunrise. The Superior Double Room was perfect for our family of three with contemporary furnishing and blackout shades. The stone-tiled bathroom was small and lacked hooks for extra towels. Otherwise, we had a very comfortable stay. For an extra dose of luxury, MarBella Corfu has suites with private plunge pools, all facing the Ionian Sea and swoon-worthy.
Beach, Pools & Waterpark
There are three pools to enjoy across the hotel. Each day we would alternate between the one of the three pools or the beach to mix up the scenery. Vacation mode on!
Perched high on the hill, families will make a beeline to the new Splash Park. There are no less than four tubular waterslides and several shorter slides for younger children. Admittedly, even the thrill-seeking parents had fun going down these waterslides. There is also a beautiful infinity pool and full-service bar where parents can also enjoy some downtime and cocktails.
On the main level, there are two large pools: a freshwater pool and saltwater pool, all flanked with ample sunbeds and umbrellas. If you are feeling peckish, a food truck is nearby for finger foods and sandwiches. Across all the pool area, there is a self-service ice cream bar. A bit hit amongst the kids!
Mar-Bella Corfu sits on a private beach on Agios Ioannis Peristeron on the southeast coast, accessible by an underground passageway or via the beautifully manicured garden. At the beach, there is a large deck with sun loungers and deck chairs with several platforms to jump into the crystal clear water. Non-motorised activities such as paddling boats, SUP, canoes are included in the all-inclusive package.
Six Restaurants from Greek, Pan Asian and French
In terms of dining, there are plenty of options with six restaurants, two food trucks, and optional dining at a local taverna. With the Ultra All-Inclusive plan, you can visit all the dining outlets once during your stay. We alternated between various dining venues so we were never at the same place twice on any given day. For fussy eaters, there is a dedicated Kids Menu with all the favourite items such as fish fingers, burgers, and pizza.
La Terrazza is the all-day buffet restaurant located in the main building with daily themed nights. Kum Kuat is the Pan-Asian restaurant serving a relaxed breakfast buffet by day and a la carte Pan-Asian entrees of Thai curries and teriyaki salmon by night. Comodo, a trattoria-style Italian restaurant, is open all day for a la carte dining. Located by the main pools, we ate here a few times for lunch, but not for dinner. Starters consist of fresh salads or croquettes, whilst mains were mainly pizzas and pasta. A big hit with kids.
Desk Bar & Grill, beachside restaurant overlooking the Ionian Sea, with a stylish breezy atmosphere. Our go-to lunch spot after a morning at the beach. Personal favourites were the shrimp caesar salad and grilled octopus for starters. Platea, traditional Greek food in a taverna setting with all the Greek classics such as tzatziki and saganaki. Celeste, French restaurant where we had a kid-free meal serving up provencal-style dishes such as nicoise salad, ratatouille, grilled octopus, and steak frites.
Five Bars from Terrace Bars to Pool Bars
The poolside bars Cascade Bar and Anemelia Bar kept the refreshments coming for carefree days at the pool. The massive terrace at the Belvedere Bar with panoramic sea views was our favourite spot for pre-dinner drinks. A chic atmosphere with all white decor and feel good music. The outdoor Eleonas Bar was our the post-dinner spot where there is live music or an outdoor cinema. Greeks love children who are often dancing near the stage or running around. M-Bar is the main lobby bar with plush seating and neutral decor. With a spectacular thunder-and-lightning storm one evening, all the guests retreated indoors for a cosy evening playing card games or relaxing with a cocktail – my go-to was always the G&T.
Health & Fitness
We try to keep active on beach holidays with morning runs, gym sessions, or fitness classes. There are numerous classes organised throughout the day from HIIT, pilates, yoga, aqua gym, and cross fit. For avid runners and hikers, there is a weekly running and trekking club starting at 8am. On top of the hill, tennis courts are available if you fancy a game of tennis.
Kenz and I escaped for an 80 minute couples massage, leaving Lady Yeya at the Kids Club for the morning. It was utterly relaxing that we both dosed off to the smell of lavender and serene music.
Kids Club
Open Monday to Saturday from 10am-1pm and 3pm-6pm, the Grasshopper Kids Club is divided into two age groups: 4-8 years and 9-12 years. Booking is done via an online app though don’t be surprised if you are put on a waiting list. Activities range from talent shows, arts and crafts, crazy bingo, and water games. In the summer months, there is also a weekly movie night for kids. There is a daily mini-disco at the kids club, kicking off at 8:30pm. Yes, kids stay up late in the Mediterranean.
