Infinity pool, spa*, fitness area, Wi-Fi
*Denotes local charge
Infinity pool, spa*, fitness area, Wi-Fi
*Denotes local charge
Dramatically nestled on a hillside in charming Imerovigli, with spellbinding views of the caldera, glistening waters and volcanic cliffs, this boutique hotel is perfect for a peaceful escape. Built in typical Cycladic style, the Regina Mare has friendly staff that help create a lovely home-from-home atmosphere. After waking up and admiring the views, head to the breakfast room where a buffet of home-made delicacies and pastries awaits. The pool is the next natural stop to lay back on a comfortable sun lounger and gaze out over the waters. Dinner is a glorious affair with home-made Greek dishes and traditional recipes created with locally sourced ingredients. If there’s a dish you fancy that isn’t on the menu, just let the chef know and he’ll do his best to create it for you. Choose to dine in the candlelit restaurant or on the privacy of your balcony for a more romantic evening. Once the sun has set, Fira is a magical place to spend an evening. Closer to home, Imerovigli has some lovely bars and tavernas as well as some shops to stroll around. Junior Suites Sea View have been beautifully refurbished and if you opt for one of these you’ll be welcomed with a basket of fresh fruit and a bottle of local wine on arrival. For the best views, choose a Honeymoon Room with Whirlpool Sea View. These suites are set on the highest level of the hotel, have a heated whirlpool on the balcony and overlook the sea, Thirassia Island and the town of Oia.
Carved out of a clifftop and set on different levels, Grace Santorini is an architect’s dream. Sleek and minimalist, its white-washed colour scheme leaves the exceptional quality and spellbinding views to do the talking. After waking up and taking in the jaw-dropping scenery, enjoy a decadent late morning Champagne breakfast before spreading out on one of the double loungers and soaking up the sun. There’s an award-winning heated infinity pool, which runs along the hotel front and overlooks Skaros Fortress. Light snacks and chilled cocktails can be enjoyed from the poolside bar. You might not want to eat too much during the day though, as dinner at the hotel restaurant is a real treat. On the clifftop, the Santoro restaurant is intimate and open-air and has magnificent views of the infinity pool, the caldera and the ocean. Indulge in Mediterranean fusion creations from the daily menu or simply ask the chef to prepare a dish of your choice – accompanied by the signature Grace cocktail designed by renowned mixologist Salvatore Calabrese, of course. The 363 Champagne lounge is the perfect spot to soak up the famous Santorini sunsets. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation. Scattered down the hillside, with all mod cons and pure white décor from the walls to the crisp cottons, all of the rooms, suites and the villa have sunset views. And some of the rooms come with their own private plunge pool on the terrace.
With characterful features and a private plunge pool and spa tub in every room, it’s no wonder that this luxury boutique hotel is renowned as one of Santorini’s ultimate escapes. The architecture here is particularly impressive, with old and new coming together to create something super sleek, and the quiet location is still within easy reach of livelier parts of the island by car or taxi. As well as the private pools, the hotel has an expansive infinity pool surrounded by a large sun terrace with plenty of loungers. For uninterrupted relaxation and rejuvenation, pay a visit to the Wellness Thelma Spa and enjoy a detoxifying massage or facial. If you’re too relaxed to move, a therapist can even come to your suite or sun lounger. Omega3 is one of Santorini’s most sought-after restaurants, with an elegant poolside setting and carefully crafted Greek dishes. Fresh fish and seafood dishes, served with the freshest local ingredients and hand-picked artisan products, are exquisitely presented. Ask the resident sommelier to choose the perfect accompanying wine from the extensive wine list. Spacious rooms and suites have white-washed walls and traditional vaulted ceilings in keeping with local design, but you won't be without mod cons or short of luxury amenities here. Every room has custom-made furniture, sea views, its own private pool and spa tub. Superior Deluxe Rooms offer something a little unusual – carved into the volcanic rock and accessed through a tunnel. For more space, there's a range of Luxury Suites, while the Infinity Cave Suites – accessed by a steep tunnel through the rock – are the perfect choice for honeymooners.
Peace, privacy and refined luxury surround this boutique hotel – an all-white Santorinian retreat in central Fira. This elegant getaway is a Small Luxury Hotel of the World, and is distinctive thanks to its impeccable personalised sevice and innovative modern design. Original houses have been stripped back and transformed into an island escape that charms with a contemporary soul – a soothing palette of whites, greys and blacks add to the interior’s calming atmosphere, and large windows majestically bathe the expansive spaces in natural light. Outside, a large freshwater pool sits on the hotel’s lower level; hand-tiled with local stones, it’s a charming setting surrounded by beautiful bougainvillea vines and romantic day beds. The spa here may be small but it’s a holistic refuge that you’ll love if you’re craving the utmost in indulgent pampering. There are just two private cabins, one that can be used by couples, and expert therapists offer tailor-made therapies, intensive detox programmes and state-of-the-art facilities. For food, there’s just one restaurant at the hotel which offers a great introduction to the island’s delicious local delicacies. Providing a feast for all the senses, expect ingredients on the menu like wild saffron, local black figs and Grecian honey sourced from wild thyme flowers. The rooms are refined and minimalist in style – each one designed to be a calming sanctuary that provides a wellbeing respite from the island’s tourist hot spots. Natural hues flatter vibrant colour splashes and dark wood accents, while large flowing curtains frame huge windows looking out to garden, pool or island views. The Classic Double is a sophisticated retreat, located on the lower level of the hotel with a furnished outdoor patio. Add more luxury to your stay and choose a Junior Suite to enjoy access to a shared pool – or opt for a Honeymoon Sky Suite to enjoy a retractable open roof and a bathtub in-room.
Privacy is a rare privilege in Santorini. This stunning hideout breaks the mould. Old stone walls wrap around Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, in the medieval town of Megalohori. Olive trees and huge ceramic pots line the outdoor pool; bright pink clouds of bougainvillea cascade over a pergola, sheltering the handful of low-slung sofas and day beds beneath. An outdoor hot tub, shaded by olive trees and bougainvillea, is next to a tiny bar serving drinks to guests in the bubbling whirlpool. A cluster of wooden-shuttered villas and low-rise houses are dotted around an old mansion and 400-year-old cave wine cellar, which has been turned into an atmospheric restaurant – all rough stone arches and flickering candles. All suites open onto a terrace, with interiors that could be plucked from a glossy travel magazine. Think traditional Cycladic architecture complemented by Berber rugs and Aztec cushions, and finished with original antiques and original artwork; it all feels thoughtful and personal. Pick an Aegean Suite for an outdoor hot tub or go all out with a Presidential Villa for your own private pool. Elsewhere, sunken pathways lead to a spa, a cosy cocoon sculpted into the volcanic rock. Guests can take the complimentary shuttle to Vedema’s sister hotel for epic Santorini sunsets. If it’s these views you’re desperate for, you can hire out the Nafsika Estate, with a five-bedroom villa poised on the volcanic caldera. Here, you can watch the sun drop seaward in a whorl of lilac and pink, right in front of your own pool and terrace. Sleeping up to ten, it comes with a private butler and Executive Chef, an outdoor barbecue and fully equipped kitchen.
Regina Mare Hotel
Grace Santorini, Auberge Resorts Collection
Ambassador Aegean Luxury Hotel & Suites Santorini
Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites
Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort
