Katikies Santorini

Cliff-top, sea-view haven for luxury-loving honeymooners and romantics.

• First-class service—nothing is too much trouble
• Candlelit dinner on a hidden veranda
• Tasting award-winning wines on the terrace at sunset

Katikies enjoys a prime position overlooking Santorini’s spectacular caldera. A cluster of whitewashed buildings connected by stairways, arches, and bridges cascades down the cliff (the steps are steep, so ask for a room near the top if necessary.) Each room is unique in style and size, but all abide by a typically Cycladic aesthetic with a contemporary twist: white-on-white interiors kitted out with Jacuzzi bathtubs, iPod docks and mini wine cellars.

Apart from lounging around the three infinity pools, there’s little to do but allow the attentive staff to indulge you by delivering champagne breakfast to your room or plying you with basil mojitos from the pool bar. Kirini restaurant—with an outstanding wine list curated by local vintner Paris Sigalas—gets rave reviews, but the most exclusive dinner spot is the property’s secret veranda with just four tables. The elegant restaurant features sophisticated dishes like an olive oil parfait with cherry tomatoes and sea salt, and is best reserved for a big night out. Guests can also use the hammam, heated pool, and spa at the nearby Kirini Suites, the Katikies’ more affordable sister hotel.

Besides the expansive sea views, the standout feature is the service. Unflappable staff will arrange everything from a catamaran cruise to an aerial tour in the blink of an eye. Uber-swanky and ever so slightly snobbish, Katikies is all about feeling pampered.

Honeymooners. Single travelers are likely to feel squeamish, and children under 13 are not allowed.