Notos opened its doors in the summer of 1997 in the picturesque, remote village of Loutro, Crete, Greece. In the months preceding the grand opening, mother and son team Maria and Nikos Androulakakis worked tirelessly to build the business from the ground up. Together, they oversaw the construction of Notos restaurant on the Loutro beach strip (which to this day remains the only restaurant on the beach in Loutro), as well as the first two rooms of Notos hotel (located directly above the restaurant).
Within the first couple of years after opening, the success and popularity of the business grew rapidly. And so, the Androulakakis team responded by investing in their property and improving the capacity of the accommodations. With the expertise of skilled Thessaloniki carpenter Vaggelis Sdraka, they converted a significant part of their own family house (located just a few paces behind the restaurant) into three additional guest rooms. Around the same time, Maria and Nikos decided to incorporate the already thriving family garden into the business operation. For more than a decade now, the garden has supported the cultivation of the freshest produce for Notos guests to enjoy.
Just before the 2018 season, the Androulakakis family sadly suffered the loss of Maria Androulakakis, who passed away at the age of 76. During her working life at Notos, Maria had faithfully performed her duties as Head Cook, Room Manager, and Gardener. Notos will always commemorate Maria’s legacy, and the unwavering devotion that she gave to the business, her village, and her family to make it a success.
Today, Notos is still proudly run by the Androulakakis family, with Nikos as Manager, his wife Despina as Designer, and their two young sons, Pavlos and Mannolis.
