Villa Mamma Mia

Hotel Description

You know what’s funny about Villa Mamma Mia? The name makes it sound like some touristy theme place, but honestly, it’s the opposite – this is one of those spots that just gets it right without trying too hard. I stumbled across it in Gennadi purely by accident (my original booking fell through), and I’m actually grateful that happened because this little gem turned out to be exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for.

Gennadi itself is still refreshingly low-key compared to Rhodes Town or Lindos – it’s got that sleepy fishing village vibe where locals still outnumber tourists, especially if you visit outside of July and August. Villa Mamma Mia sits right in the heart of things, which means you can walk to the beach in about three minutes (I timed it), and there’s this little bakery practically next door where the owner, Maria, makes these incredible cheese pies that become your breakfast obsession. The hotel feels more like staying at someone’s well-appointed home than a typical accommodation – the owner clearly lives and breathes this place, and you can tell in the details. My room had this gorgeous stone accent wall (real stone, not that fake stuff), and the bathroom actually had decent water pressure, which honestly surprised me given how many Greek islands struggle with that.

What really won me over was the breakfast setup on their terrace. It’s nothing fancy – just fresh local ingredients done right, with homemade jams and bread that’s still warm, plus strong Greek coffee that doesn’t taste like hotel lobby coffee. You’re sitting there looking out over red tile roofs toward the Aegean, and it’s one of those moments where you think, “okay, this is why I travel.” The staff here actually remembers your name after day one (rare these days), and they’ll give you the real scoop on things – like which tavernas the locals prefer, or that the ancient ruins at Asklepios are a fifteen-minute drive and worth seeing before the tour buses arrive around 11am. The pool area gets busy mid-afternoon, but early morning and evening it’s perfect for just floating around and decompressing. I mean, the 9.3 rating makes sense when you experience the whole package – it’s not trying to be a luxury resort, but everything they do, they do thoughtfully. Fair warning though: parking can get tight during peak season, and the WiFi in some rooms is a bit spotty (though honestly, that might be a feature, not a bug). If you’re looking for that sweet spot between authentic Greek hospitality and comfortable amenities, without the crowds and inflated prices of the more famous spots, Villa Mamma Mia delivers in spades.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $185. Villa with 2 × 1 large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 7

Reviews

• Sean from United Kingdom – 17 May 2025 (10/10)

  Beautiful setting and very private and peaceful. The pool was brilliant and plenty of areas to relax.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing we loved it

• Caroline from United Kingdom – 2 December 2024 (9/10)

  The house is in a peaceful location but in easy walking distance of the village. The local village has a good set of useful local shops (supermarket, pharmacy etc) and a couple of really lovely restaurants. It is easy to walk to the beach too. We even had small herds of deer pass by the property in the evenings.
  
  What could be improved: The front door was a little tricky to unlock, but we worked it out.

• Alexandra from United Kingdom – 20 October 2024 (9/10)

  Villa Mamma Mia is set in a very peaceful location about 10 mins walk from Gennadi village. My husband and I stayed in the villa 2 years ago and have just enjoyed our second visit. The villa is very well equipped and furnished to a high standard. We especially like the privacy and peace and quiet as the villa is not overlooked. It is an ideal place to relax and completely chill out! The restaurants in the village are very good, but if you want something different, then Pefkos and Lindos are served by a good bus servive if you prefer not to drive. Hope to return in 2026!
  
  What could be improved: Minor issues were resolved with Piotr the host, via Whatsapp. Only other issue was the presence of ants in the kitchen area, which despite keeping everything very clean and sprayed, kept coming back.

• Graham from United Kingdom – 19 October 2024 (10/10)

  Mamma Mia is spacious, comfortable, and equipped with everything you need for a great stay. The Villa is quiet yet close enough to walk to the village for shopping and meals. The views every morning of sunrise over the Aegean are stunning. The welcome pack of supplies including milk, juice, eggs, bread, beer and wine is enough to get started.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing, though a parasol would be great to provide shade in the middle of the day.

• Farah from United Kingdom – 10 August 2024 (10/10)

  Location was fabulous and the outdoor space. A real home from home. Such a comfortable stay within easy reach of the village with its amazing bakery. We visited prasonisi and Lindos acropolis both within a 30min drive from the villa- they’re a must see. Highly recommend for your stay in Rhodes.
  
  What could be improved: Loved everything

• Toomas from Estonia – 27 June 2024 (10/10)

  We stayed at Villa Mamma Mia for the first time in June 2023. We liked it so much that a week after we arrived home, we decided to place another booking for this year. So, this was our second visit to this wonderful place.
  
  The villa is situated on a hill, offering a stunning view of the village below and the sea. The breeze is pleasant and keeps the villa cool, even on hot days, though it can be a bit windy at times. We especially enjoyed the pool, which the kids absolutely loved.
  
  We like that the villa is located in a quiet area on the outskirts of the village, not directly in the middle of a typically noisy Greek neighborhood. But it is only a 12-minute walk to the village center, where many nice tavernas and highly rated restaurants are located. Although the villa has a decent kitchen and everything needed for preparing a nice dinner (there is even a grill on the terrace), we ate out every evening. Before and after visiting the restaurants, it is nice to enjoy the atmosphere of the small but lively central square of the village, where there is a nice grocery store, a store with fresh fruits and vegetables, and a bakery where you can buy delicious pastries, Greek desserts, and ice until midnight.
  
  Our first visit to the villa last year was just a couple of weeks before the catastrophic wildfires on Rhodes started. Watching the news and seeing familiar places in flames was disturbing. When we returned this year, we were a bit apprehensive about how significant the fire damage might be. Fortunately, the villa survived without damage, although traces of the fire are visible around the villa and in many other places in the area. Yes, there are trees and bushes burned and without any green leaves, but it is clear that nature is coming back to life. And hey, it's much easier to see the herd of deer walking around the villa before dawn when there aren't too many green trees! And I have to admit, there are plenty of deer.
  
  What could be improved: There is nothing I didn't like that I could recall. If I should mention something, then maybe the poor mobile network coverage, but this is in no way related to the villa or the host but a wider problem on Rhodes.

• Graham from United Kingdom – 8 November 2023 (10/10)

  Spacious, comfortable well equipped house. Close to the village. Big well maintained pool.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Tracy from United Kingdom – 25 August 2023 (10/10)

  Beautiful setting, very quiet

• Terry from United Kingdom – 29 May 2023 (10/10)

  The welcome pack upon arrival was a really unexpected surprise.
  It enabled us to settle ourselves in without the worry of immediately having to shop for provisions.
  Quiet location and very private grounds and pool.
  Everything was provided in the fully equipped kitchen if you wanted to cook a full meal or a simple snack.
  
  What could be improved: The road leading to the property is quite rough and uneven but didn't give too many problems.

• Chillija from Serbia – 8 May 2023 (10/10)

  Good communication with the owner, very well equipped modern home. Nice view and very private location. Great bakery nearby!

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