Spotlight on Greece: This Summer Staple Offers a Wealth of Hidden Gems

One&Only Aesthesis

A javelin’s throw from the Acropolis—six miles, to be precise—is where you’ll find One&Only’s European debut. It sprawls across 52 acres of the former Asteria Beach Club in Glyfada, revived as a love letter to the swinging Sixties, composed in marble, glass, and the heady aroma of Mediterranean pines. A trio of Greek design talent—AUDO, A6Architects, K-Studio—have crafted a paean to retro chic glam and modern opulence. Ninety-five luxe accommodations now stand where Asteria’s coveted bungalows once lounged, creating a spiritual and literal bridge to the past. Muza Lab’s interior design complements this approach with a color scheme that draws from the local environment. Native timbers and marbles in neutral tones provide a base for custom textiles, while touches of blue and white, olive wood accents, and bespoke Greek linens add depth and local character. The dining venues each offer a distinct aesthetic. Ora features eye-catching backlit booths set above tri-color terrazzo flooring, while Alelia’s cocktail bar centers around an olive tree trunk installation complemented by live olive trees. The just-opened Manko Beach Club also makes a statement with its grand arches and rope-decorated walkway. Despite its Peruvian-inspired menu, the overall atmosphere—from the layered architecture to the beachfront location—remains authentically Greek.

91 Athens Riviera

South of Glyfada in Voula lies 91 Athens Riviera; designed by Athens-based Chadios Architects for Domes Hotels, the property pays homage to the 1970s camping site that once occupied the site. The centerpiece is its collection of 28 cocoon-like structures that embody the resort’s ethos, offering both shelter and a close connection to nature. Inside, the decor evokes midcentury aesthetics with a material palette focused on natural harmony, primarily warm woods and Greek marble.

The main buildings take a different, yet equally considered approach: Beige brick cladding gives the structures an earthy, organic feel. Wooden pergolas and bespoke wood trellises envelop the buildings, highlighting the project’s meticulous attention to detail. This flowing, organic design reaches its apex in the spa compound, with its smooth, curved walls and ceilings, and extends throughout the reception and lobby areas. Enhancing the resort’s appeal is the Barbarossa restaurant, an import from the island of Paros. Set along the waterfront, the thoughtfully designed space is divided into four distinct areas, including a private dining room enclosed by curved wooden bookshelves and an outdoor pergola section featuring custom marble flooring.

The Roc Club Vouliagmeni

At the core of this Tropezienne-inspired Grecotel property is a skillful harnessing of Athens’ famed light. The 34 suites, rooms, and apartments act as luminous vessels, their interiors melding pristine white decor with thoughtful details that bridge design and art. Each accommodation offers sweeping views from Astir Marina to the Vouliagmeni peninsula and Laimos isthmus, where the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel resides. The Roc Club’s design language is a study in eclectic cohesion. White marble, natural oak paneling, and ethereal fabrics harmonize with carefully curated antiques, collectible pieces, and artwork. The geometric and mathematical patterns in Greek artist Angelos Gouladris’s paintings are particularly striking, lending the property a unique aesthetic signature that could exist nowhere else.

The eponymous Roc Pool embodies the hideaway’s design philosophy. Sunbeds dot private terraces, shaded by ancient pines that whisper of the site’s history. The “club-maison” concept infuses the property with exclusivity and personalization typically found in private members’ clubs. For those venturing further along the coast, The Roc Club’s freshly overhauled sister resort, Cape Sounio Hotel, awaits at the Riviera’s tip. Here, modern luxury coexists with the ancient Temple of Poseidon, offering a harmonious blend of historical gravitas and contemporary comfort.

Deos Mykonos

Deos, a boutique Myconian Collection property, eschews the island’s typical flashy luxury for a more understated, barefoot elegance. GM Architects, the Lebanese architecture firm founded by Galal Mahmoud, integrates the hillside resort with its surroundings using on-site quarried rocks and indigenous flora. This sensitivity to place extends to the materials: local stone walls ground the property, while abundant native plantings blur the line between built and natural environments. Guest rooms diverge from the typical hotel grid, featuring large terraces with shaded areas and private plunge pools that epitomize indoor-outdoor living. Bathrooms showcase marble slabs and washbasins inspired by the sacred baths of Delos, weaving local history into the design. Common areas feature bespoke furniture crafted from recycled wood and local stone, while an ethereal ceiling installation mimicking wind adds artistic flair.

Kea Retreat | Kea

Kea Island has emerged as Greece’s latest culinary hotspot, thanks to yoga-focused Kea Retreat and its acclaimed Lygaria restaurant. Awarded two stars this year in the FNL Guide Awards (the Greek counterpart to Michelin) and recognized as one of the country’s top five restaurants, Lygaria has put this once-overlooked island on the gastronomic map. Chefs Uriel Eshet and Jakub Ziemann craft innovative, ever-changing tasting menus showcasing hyperlocal ingredients from the retreat’s organic farm and local fishermen. Kea Retreat’s holistic approach to sustainability extends beyond farm-to-table dining to the production of tsipouro and ouzo in collaboration with a Lesvos distillery.

Olvos, Koufonisia

Olvos marks a turning point for Koufonisia, a gem in the Small Cyclades known for pristine beaches and laid-back atmosphere. As the island’s first true luxury hotel, Olvos reimagines an existing property with minimalist Cycladic sophistication. Natural elements like stone, wood, and linen feature prominently, while expansive windows and private balconies frame Aegean vistas. This development signals Koufonisia’s emergence as a destination for discerning travelers seeking authentic Greek island experiences without sacrificing comfort. Olvos not only sets an elevated standard for the Small Cyclades but also has the potential to reshape the region’s tourism landscape.

Gundari, Folegandros

Folegandros, long considered one of Greece’s last unspoiled islands, enters a new era with Gundari, its first true luxury accommodation. Spread across 80 acres of rugged coastline, Gundari introduces unprecedented sophistication while honoring the island’s raw beauty. Block722’s design, organically extending from the island’s cliffs, establishes a benchmark for sustainable luxury in the Cyclades. Combining Cycladic simplicity, wellness offerings centered on Greek rituals, and gourmet dining by a Michelin-starred chef, Gundari positions Folegandros to compete with established luxury destinations while maintaining its off-the-beaten-path charm, attracting an unexpected traveler archetype this to rock in the Aegean.