Andronis Arcadia
1. Andronis Arcadia, Oia
Step into Andronis Arcadia and the slick vibe hits you straight away: exclusive beach club, with a sprinkle of the all-week party scene in neighbouring Mykonos. By day, float above the infinity pool on an overwater sunbed, and by night sip sundowners as the DJ provides the soundtrack for the hip crowd to soak up the sunset in style. Rooms are spacious, with private plunge pools; potent cocktails are served from a swim-up bar; and a filling, brunchy breakfast is served until 11am. The pool and room terraces all face the sunset and the guests taking in these striking views are young, tanned, and not shy about downing a Santorini spritz before midday. Head underground to the Evexia Spa and try The Water Path — a treatment that involves walking around the Kneipp pool with a herbal tea to drain and detox. Up on the rooftop you’ll find the Pacman Sunset Restaurant’s sushi menu — a novelty in this island’s largely Greek dining scene — while Opson’s Ancient Greek feast is a classic lesson in banquet form. This hotel is in tourist-magnet Oia (famed for its sunsets) but on the flatter, quieter side of town, rather than Santorini’s iconic caldera — putting you close enough to the action but nowhere near the crowds that cluster on top of Oia Castle as the mercury dips.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
Main photo: Santorini (Getty Images). All other images from Expedia
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Omma
2. Omma
Perfectly positioned high on a clifftop between Thira and Oia is Omma: one of the island’s newest and most exciting offerings. There’s little need to trek to Oia for its marmalade skies with a stay here — you’re opposite the Aegean and in prime position to soak up the Santorini sunset. Omma feels akin to being part of an elite members club. Guests are treated like close friends; rugby players and models parade around the slick sea-facing infinity pool; and white, minimalistic suites ooze style — expect huge cave-like shower rooms and plenty of high-end touches such as Molton Brown smellies and Moet in the minibar. Staff will happily organise anything you ask of them, whether it’s a vineyard tour or a catamaran around the caldera, they know the best operators and they’ll make sure come the end of the holiday that you do too. Each room feels different, but all retain that grotto feel with smooth arches and white-washed walls. Check in to the villas nestled away at the back of the resort for the most exclusive pads of them all; each comes with a private pool and huge terraces that put you in prime position for sunrise.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
Grace Hotel
3. Grace Hotel, Imerovigli
The only thing better than a cliffside infinity pool is a cliffside infinity pool facing Santorini’s caldera coast. Instagrammable tiers of blinding white terraces, champagne-sipping romantics, and a turquoise infinity pool overlooking sunlit Skaros rock — flashy doesn’t begin to cover it. As most hotels here only have plunge pools or hot tubs, the Grace Hotel’s number, big enough to swim laps, is an instant upgrade on all other hotels on the island: a jagged gem of brilliant aquamarine, with meditative views of Aegean waters and intense sunsets. The honeymoon suites come with their own private pools, a king-sized bed with a goose-down duvet and a choice of no less than seven pillows. But this newlywed magnet, open April to October, doesn’t come cheap. For the lowest prices, book four months ahead and arrive during September and October.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
Andronis Concept
4. Andronis Concept
Keep Andronis Concept under tight wraps — it’s one of the most exclusive pads on the island and after a visit you’ll be keen to keep it that way. Head to its hillside in sleepy Imerovigli and you’ll feel miles away from the crowds you can find in Oia and Thira. That’s partly due to the fact the five-star boutique has just 28 exclusive suites, each dressed in gun-metal greys and with slick cave-style showers. Some suites have private infinity pools, while others are split over two levels — and you can upgrade to a four-bedroom villa if there are more of you. Stretch away any niggles from the plane with a yoga session, or head on a guided hike to Oia for show-stealing views of the island. Fill up afterwards at Throubi: the sleek, sunset-facing restaurant serving up fresh ingredients from the hotel garden — don’t miss the feta and tomato spaghetti. But the biggest treat of all? The spa. After all, this is a wellness retreat designed to leave you feeling lighter, brighter and with that Santorini glow. Start in the glorious cave pool, then head for a wellness analysis with Dr Zulia. Using just one strand of hair, she’ll be able to examine exactly what you’re lacking and provide nutritional tips and a wellbeing programme for the rest of your stay.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
The Vasilicos
5. The Vasilicos, Imerovigli
Spacious sunny terraces are yours to sprawl on at this boutique cave hotel in Imerovigli village — seven roomy suites barnacled to the lip of Santorini’s caldera. White grottoes are interiors-mag fresh (marble tables, concrete washbasins, monochrome showers), but somehow still homely, and it’s one of the few hotels locally to have a full-size lap pool for morning workouts with a view (it’s also heated — perfect for early spring). Being tiny, everything the Vasilicos does is tailor-made: pay attention to that first breakfast as you’ll be brought a little of everything they serve, on shiny pristine Burleigh china, then asked to choose your favourites for your stay. As for drinking, there’s a sister winery for private tastings.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £
6. Mill Houses, Firostefani
The suites at Mill Houses perch at the edge of the cliffs in the village of Firostefani, floating 300m above the azure waters of the Aegean. Each has a terrace, all the better for enjoying the view. Inside, the decor is all whitewashed simplicity, with vaulted ceilings and furniture built into the walls. Don’t miss a meal at the in-house restaurant Mylos, built around an old mill. The tasting menus are big on seafood, flavoured with bold Asian ingredients and spices that’ll compete with the view for your attention at sunset.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price ££
Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa
7. Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Oia
Santorini’s all about the sunset — but enjoying it in peace can be rare when you’re staying on one of the most tourist-filled islands in Greece. The Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa is a prime spot to immerse yourself in the fading rays of another glorious day without the oohs and aahs of the hoi polloi. Wait for the shimmering moon to light your way along the path into Oia. Or a short walk through the hotel grounds will bring you to a clutch of restaurants serving net-fresh seafood dishes from the ocean’s larder, along with a host of other tempting Cycladic dishes.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
8. Tsitouras Collection, Firostefani
It may take you a while to get to your suite on arrival at this five-suite hotel as you’ll be immediately drawn to the terrace and outdoor pool to take in the astonishing caldera views. The rooms put up a good battle for your attention though — foregoing the simple white-and-aqua scheme favoured by many hotels on the Greek island, the accommodation here is individually decorated and adorned with antiques and artwork. Service goes the extra mile, from the free pick-up from the ferry terminal or airport to the breakfast delivered to your suite. There’s no spa, but you can book in-room treatments and massages.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price ££
9. Katikies Chromata, Imerovigli
The Katikies Chromata tumbles down the cliffside in a series of higgledy-piggledy terraces — each step you take down the worn stone staircase reveals another room or a pool or a different framing of the view. Rooms and suites are cool, all-white affairs, with private verandas, pools and hot tubs added the further up the price bracket you go. Mediterranean dishes are taken at the restaurant by the pool, and there are three bars to choose from: champagne, aperitifs and for the sunset. The concierge can arrange a variety of luxury experiences, from wine tastings to yacht tours.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
Iconic Santorini Hotel
10. Iconic Santorini Hotel, Imerovigli
Ignore the dubious name: this romantic hideaway hewn into the cliff-face is a delight. It embraces naturally formed caves and each suite could pass for being carved by a Greek goddess. Indulge in private grotto indoor swimming pools, slink across the volcanic rock floors to your private terrace and take in the views of the caldera from your Juliet balcony. There’s a snug spa, dinner in the traditional tavern restaurant comes with moonlit-bay views and there are free airport transfers for those staying in the Caldera Suite. There’s just 19 rooms, including 14 suites, so it never feels overrun, even in peak season.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
11. Perivolas, Oia
Family-run Perivolas is a welcoming cocoon of a place, with cave-like suites offering escape from the heat inside and terrific views of the sea from their terraces. The interior design in all levels of accommodation is a delight, with low-slung beds and sofas built into the curved whitewashed walls. You might be tempted to spend your entire holiday in the infinity pool, but make time to take the boat tour offered by the hotel, or book one of its tailormade island tours to discover unexpected sides to Santorini, from its history to its wine.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
12. Winery Hotel 1870, Fira
The 1870 offers something completely new to Santorini. As you might guess from the name, it occupies a 19th-century winery; the conversion highlighted many elements of the original heritage building to create one of the most atmospheric and characterful boutique hotels on the island. Rooms feature cellar gates, enormous wine barrels and the old winery walls, married to great effect with modern elements such as mezzanine bedrooms and private Jacuzzis. You might find yourself spending a lot of time at the pool; snaffle one of the double day-beds for ultimate lounging.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price £
Canaves Oia Suites
13. Canaves Oia Suites, Oia
At this lavish adults-only hideaway you’re steps from the heart of clifftop town Oia, for restaurants, bars, jewellery shops and Greece’s most-photographed sunset. Everything from the pool-side loungers to the signature treatments in the spa purrs luxury. The tanned, toned yuppie crowd is here to drink, lounge and take sunset selfies. For a really special meal, book the Panorama Balcony — a candlelit private terrace for two. This is a suite hotel, and all have their own infinity or plunge pools.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price £££
14. Aria Suites, Fira
It’s not always easy finding a stylish, family-friendly hotel on adult-oriented Santorini, but Aria Suites is a notable exception. Its suites offer living spaces and small kitchens and some have two bedrooms, with extra beds and cots provided on request in the others. The pool will be a hit with adults and kids alike. Breakfast is served in the suites; there’s no restaurant here, but it’s only a short walk into Fira, which has all the meal choices you could wish for. In the evenings plonk the children in bed and enjoy a glass of wine from the pool bar on the terrace.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price £
15. Istoria, Perivolos
If you’d like sea views but want to escape the hubbub of Santorini’s west coast, the Istoria might just be the place for you. Situated on the southeast coast and overlooking a black-sand beach, the hotel is a very grown-up affair, with muted, elegant decor and a general atmosphere of serenity permeating everything from its 12 suites to its spa. Food is served alfresco beneath a canopy of sails in the hotel’s Mr E Restaurant, and, unusually for Santorini, you have a choice of two places to swim — the beautiful 30m lap pool or the sea itself.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
16. Kivotos Santorini, Imerovigli
The uniquely designed suites and villas at Kivotos Santorini are how Karl Lagerfeld would fashion a Santorini pad: a classic cave hotel, but in jet black and smoke grey, not white, with fine dining and unobscured clifftop views. Five exclusive-feeling rooms each have different perks (indoor pool, split-level design, sunset balcony). Tourist-central Imerovigli is not as crammed with Instagrammers as Oia in the north, and is home to a popular footpath down to Skaros Rock. Your fellow guests are affluent couples looking for champagne-stoked luxury. An architect’s-dream pool and bar, plus cavernous rooms with quirky lighting, Jacuzzis and top-spec speakers keep ’em happy. Allow time to watch the sunset from the terrace, even if you’re dining elsewhere. You won’t find a more tranquil view of this island’s mesmeric ruby skies.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
17. Kapari Natural Resort, Imerovigli
The exceptionally accommodating and friendly service at Kaparini Natural Resort is one of the highlights, but there is much to enjoy here. There are several room categories to choose from, each offering supreme comfort, neutral decor and excellent views. Premium rooms are split across two levels and have their own private balconies; spa premium rooms also come with a hot tub; and suites are vast, with separate living areas and small kitchens. Cuisine at the restaurant is big on seafood and local ingredients, and is best enjoyed on the sweet little terrace.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price £££
Take me there
Inspired to visit Santorini but yet to book your trip? Here are the best Tui Holidays and British Airways breaks to the Greek island. And if you’re still unsure of where you want to go or what type of holiday to book, get in touch here and one of the Designer Travel experts will be in contact to help you arrange your perfect tailor-made break
Source: thetimes.co.uk
