Side-by-side
Deplar Farm vs Amanzoe
Deplar Farm and Amanzoe land neck-and-neck at 17.5/20 — Deplar Farm leans stronger on location, Amanzoe on design.
Scored across five dimensions — Service, Design, Location, Dining, and Wellness — from signals across luxury travel communities, editorial publications, and verified guests.
Scoreboard
| Dimension | Deplar Farm | Amanzoe |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Fat Favorite | Fat Favorite |
| Overall Fat Score | 17.5/20 | 17.5/20 |
| Service | 18.5 | 18.0 |
| Design | 17.0 | 19.0 |
| Location | 18.5 | 16.5 |
| Dining | 15.0 | 15.5 |
| Wellness | 18.0 | 18.0 |
The Verdicts
Deplar Farm
Deplar Farm is Chad Pike's Eleven-brand flagship, a converted turf-roofed sheep farm in a remote Troll Peninsula valley that guests keep comparing to Aman for its intensity of service — with one crucial difference: staff here aim for 'part of the family' warmth rather than silent anticipation. The formula is genuinely singular in Iceland: 16 rooms, roughly 75 staff, all-inclusive pricing that folds in a private guide, most alcohol, and a rotating slate of heli-skiing, e-biking, horseback riding and whale watching against a backdrop of glaciers and lakes. The geothermal pool with its swim-up bar is the property's signature image for good reason, and the spa, sauna, and cold plunge sequence draw consistent praise. The communal dining table is the hotel's most polarizing feature — many guests come around to loving it, but couples seeking privacy resent being charged extra to opt out, and a persistent wine-upselling habit at a supposedly all-inclusive property has irritated repeat visitors. Heli-skiing, the marquee winter draw, is notoriously weather-dependent, with Iceland's brutal winds meaning powder days are far from guaranteed despite heli-ski pricing. At $5,000+ a night this is not for everyone, but for those who want adventure-lodge intensity married to genuine five-star execution, it has few rivals anywhere in the world, let alone Iceland.
Amanzoe
Amanzoe stands as one of Aman's most architecturally striking properties, with its neoclassical temple design perched above the Aegean creating an almost mythical presence. The resort delivers on the brand's promise of space and serenity — rooms are genuinely enormous at 2,200 square feet with private pools, and the hilltop setting provides sweeping views across the Peloponnese. Service consistently impresses with the intuitive anticipation Aman is known for, from staff remembering coffee orders to seamlessly handling special occasions. The main weakness remains dining, which multiple guests find inconsistent for a property of this caliber — stick to breakfast and the beach club restaurant Nura. While the remote location requires commitment (3-hour drive from Athens), it's precisely this isolation that makes Amanzoe feel like a true sanctuary.
Strengths & trade-offs
Deplar Farm
Strengths
- Personal guide paired with every room for the full stay
- Geothermal pool and swim-up bar set against dramatic valley peaks
- Staff cultivate a genuine 'part of the family' warmth rather than formal distance
- All-inclusive structure covers meals, most alcohol, and guided activities
- Remote Troll Peninsula setting delivers a sense of total escape
Trade-offs
- Communal dining is a forced experience some guests resent, with steep fees to opt out
- Wine upselling persists at an all-inclusive property despite repeated complaints
- Heli-skiing conditions are weather-dependent and powder days aren't guaranteed
- Extreme wind can shut down or diminish planned outdoor activities
Amanzoe
Strengths
- Stunning neoclassical architecture with Aegean views
- Enormous 2,200 sq ft pavilions with private pools
- Exceptional intuitive service and staff warmth
- Beautiful beach club with water sports
- Comprehensive spa and wellness facilities
Trade-offs
- Inconsistent dining quality, especially Japanese restaurant
- Remote location requires 3-hour drive from Athens
- Food pricing doesn't match quality level