Hey

Hey
MTV. Welcome to my crib.

Since the age of 13, I’ve been wanting to say that. As cringe as
it sounds, growing up I had an unhealthy obsession with MTV’s
celeb-studded show and vowed that one day (and much manifesting
later) I’d own my own A-list-worthy crash pad. Fast forward to 2020
and I’m in Villa Soukillia. The mortgage may not be in my
name but, for a week, I get to pretend that the eight-bedroom
getaway rising from the cliffs of north-west
Corfu, is mine. Adolescent me would be pretty proud.

Painted in an arresting Hermès orange and decorated with
swoony-worthy creeping vines and blooms, Villa Soukilia, part of
Villa
Collective’s staggering portfolio of luxury pads, is the haute
couture of holiday homes. Driving through the wrought-iron gates
and up the steep driveway that leads to an open courtyard of potted
palms, prettily lit olive trees and sea views from every corner,
you get the same feeling I can only imagine Brad Pitt gets at the
Oscars when he sees Jennifer Aniston – one of lust, longing and a
pang of sadness when you realise this thing of beauty will never
quite be yours. Except for the seven-to-10 days you’ve booked it
for.

Sure, we know Corfu isn’t the most intrepid destination in the
world, but if you’re after sun, sea and a six-figure (to buy, at
least) villa filled with your nearest and dearest pals, then Villa
Soukilla is an absolute showstopper. Add in Kassiopi, a harbour
town brimming with bakeries, superb seafood restaurants and a
handful of Gray Malin-esque beaches, and it’s a surefire spot for a
great summer holiday with friends. After all, we love a good group
getaway as much as the next sun-seeking squad.

Rooms

With its eight individually decorated bedrooms, sleeping up to
16, Villa Soukilla could easily be a boutique hotel. Four of the
rooms are in the main house and another four in the annexe – an
ideal spot to base your rowdiest friends. All have marble-clad en
suites, are decorated with a well-curated selection of art and
nearly all rooms have bi-folding doors that lead out to
lavender-strewn terraces. It’s clear the villa owners are pretty
well-travelled; there’s plenty of rattan, metre-tall cacti in some
bedrooms, eclectic backlit paintings and an array of sculptures
occupying corners.

The largest (and only) room upstairs is the master equipped with
its own dressing room, micro-library and private terrace
overlooking the villa’s courtyard. If you’re holidaying with
friends, it’s worth elbowing everyone else’s suitcases out the way,
racing upstairs and calling shotgun.

As impressive as the master is, on our visit we snagged the
“second” master downstairs for the freestanding bathtub, the soft
glow of sunrise over the pool and the outdoor shower shaded by an
olive tree. It’s more than a worthy consolation prize should
someone beat you to the boudoir upstairs.

Amenities

Aside from the infinity pool and private beach? Let us begin
with the ample outdoor dining space. We’re talking three al fresco
dining areas – two overlooking the pool, one beneath a veranda
equipped with a stone pizza oven and built-in barbecue, plus a snug
that’s ideal for sneaking away with your significant other. All are
beautifully lit by either rattan pendant lamps or framed by
twinkling olive trees.

Inside, you’ll find a Michelin-star-worthy kitchen with an airy,
wood-beamed lounge filled with nautical touches, a well-stocked
library – including ladders for the harder-to-reach titles – a
selection of boards games, wall-mounted flat-screen TV (with
Netflix) and squishy sofa that overlooks the sea. Better yet,
there’s housekeeping staff that visit six days a week, a chef in
high season and a 24/7 concierge should you need restaurant
recommendations, someone to take delivery of your food shop before
you arrive or to fill the fridge with supplies.

Where should we go for a food shop?

The family-owned Nikos Food Market is a five-minute walk away.
It’s a little bit pricier than the bigger name supermarkets but the
spanakopita (spinach and feta pie) is worth the extra splurge.

What about if we want to eat out?

There’s plenty of options in nearby Kassiopi. Opt for Porto
Nuovo for seafood, Tavernaki for a traditional Greek taverna dinner
– it’s the oldest and most respected in town – you can’t beat
Gyros! for, you guessed it, gyros. We developed a soft spot for
Grandma’s meatballs at Taverna Levanda. It’s owned by the same
family as Porto Nuovo, though it’s a little more low-key and away
from the harbourside.

Who should we bring?

The same friends that you’d host Come Dine With Me dinner
parties with back home. Or anyone else that’s a dab hand in the
kitchen and will know how to fillet a just-caught fish to smoke on
the barbecue. It’ll be a shame to let that stocked kitchen go to
waste.

Any essentials we need to pack?

Except for your holiday wardrobe? Not a thing. Everything from
recipes books to blenders, saucepans to sushi-making kits can be
found in the chef-approved kitchen that’s stocked with more
crockery than a wedding-present list at Liberty. There’s even a
stash of local wine in a temperature-controlled fridge that our
housekeeper said we could help ourselves too (we did). We had as
much fun rifling through the cupboards and spice racks – all neatly
labelled and highly appealing to my OCD – as we did working out
what to rustle up for dinner each night. You’ll also find a stack
of Korres toiletries, dressing gowns, bath towels and beach towels
in each bathroom.

Things you should know

Corfu’s coast is best explored by boat. Hire one from Filippos Boats
who’ll set you up with a map and lots of recommendations for your
day at sea. Don’t miss lunch at Taverna Agni but book ahead, it
gets pretty busy.

Within a short walk, you can find…

Your own private beach. Come summer 2021, Villa Soukilla will
have its own jetty for mooring one of the speedboats on for the
duration of your trip. Walk a little farther and you’re in the
lively harbour town of Kassiopi.