Imerovigli is the quiet high point of Santorini's caldera rim, a whitewashed village between busy Fira and photogenic Oia that locals call the island's balcony. Grace Hotel sits right on that balcony, stacked down the cliff in layers of white cube rooms, terraces and stairways, with nothing between you and the volcano but a thousand feet of air.
With just 23 rooms, Grace is small enough that staff learn your names on day one, but it carries real star power. Its infinity pool, regularly described as the largest in Imerovigli, is one of the most photographed in the Cyclades. Dinner is in the hands of Lefteris Lazarou, the Greek seafood chef whose Athens restaurant Varoulko earned a pioneering Michelin star. The cocktail bar is named for its altitude: 363 meters above the sea. Run by Auberge, the American luxury brand behind some of the most romantic small hotels in the world, Grace is polished and intimate. It is designed squarely for couples who want the caldera without the crowds.
Highlights at a glance
- Just 23 rooms on the caldera rim in tranquil Imerovigli
- One of the largest and most photographed infinity pools on the caldera
- Varoulko Santorini by pioneering Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou
- Craft cocktails at the 363 Bar, 363 meters above the sea
- Heated plunge pools on many terraces
- Steps from the Fira-to-Oia caldera trail
Imerovigli, the Balcony of Santorini
Imerovigli sits at the highest point of the caldera rim, which gives it the widest views on the island. From Grace you look west over Skaros Rock (a craggy headland once crowned by a medieval castle) and across the water to Thirasia. The sun sets in front of you. Because the village is calmer than Oia, you can enjoy it without jostling for space.
The famous caldera footpath between Fira and Oia passes just above the hotel, so you can set out on foot in the cool morning and reach Firostefani and Fira in well under an hour. Restaurants, wine bars and small galleries are a short walk along the rim. The drive to the airport is roughly 20 minutes.
Rooms with a Plunge-Pool Habit
Grace offers about nine room types, from deluxe rooms of roughly 345 square feet to suites of up to around 750 square feet and a three-bedroom villa. Interiors are minimalist and calm: clean white lines, natural materials, marble bathrooms with rain showers big enough for two, plus a menu of scents for the in-room diffuser.
What matters most is outside. Every room faces the caldera. Many deluxe rooms, junior suites and suites come with a heated plunge pool on the terrace, while one suite has its own private infinity pool. For a honeymoon, the plunge pool is close to essential; slipping into warm water as the sun drops behind Skaros is the Grace experience in a nutshell. Because the hotel is built into a cliff, some terraces sit near neighbors or stairways, so ask for one of the more secluded rooms.
Varoulko and the 363 Bar
Chef Lefteris Lazarou opened the original Varoulko in Piraeus in 1987. Its Michelin star in 2002 is credited as the first for a chef cooking Greek cuisine. At Grace, Varoulko Santorini serves his modern take on Greek seafood with the caldera spread out below: think crayfish tartare with yuzu, squid with herby pesto and sea bass with fennel risotto, matched with a thoughtful list of Greek wines. Dress is smart casual. Sunset-hour tables are the ones to book.
Before or after dinner, head to the 363 Bar, named for its height above sea level. Its cocktail list was created with the team behind Athens' Baba Au Rum, a regular on international best-bar lists. Breakfast is served as a multi-course, a la carte affair with a menu that changes daily, a lovely slow start to each morning.
Why guests fall for it
The Pool, Wellness and Island Adventures
The infinity pool is the social heart of the hotel, a long sheet of blue that seems to spill straight into the caldera. Loungers line the edge and cafe service runs through the day. The view from the water toward Skaros is the shot everyone is after.
Wellness here is personal rather than sprawling. Massages, facials and body treatments can be arranged, including in your room. There is also a well-equipped gym plus yoga and Pilates sessions. Beyond the hotel, the concierge can line up a sailboat cruise around the caldera with swims near the hot springs, a visit to the Bronze Age ruins at Akrotiri, wine tastings at volcanic vineyards, or an afternoon on the island's red and black pebble beaches.
What Guests Keep Talking About
In guest reviews, staff and service score as highly as anything at Grace. Travelers describe a team that is warm, attentive and quick to anticipate needs, from restaurant bookings to small surprises for anniversaries and honeymoons.
The views are the other constant refrain; guests often say the sunsets from their terrace or the pool were the highlight of their entire Greece trip. The infinity pool itself gets plenty of love, as do the breakfasts and dinners at Varoulko. Couples also appreciate how calm the hotel feels compared with Oia and how beautifully kept the rooms are, with spotless white interiors and thoughtful touches like pillow menus and premium bath products.
Good to Know
Grace is seasonal, generally open from mid-April through October. Book well ahead for summer, as 23 rooms go quickly. Plan on three or four nights here; that is enough for a sail, a winery afternoon, the caldera walk and a couple of slow evenings in your plunge pool.
Be prepared for stairs. The hotel cascades down the cliff over several levels and has no elevator, so it is not ideal for anyone with limited mobility; porters carry your bags from the drop-off point, which is above the hotel since cars cannot reach the entrance. The hotel is not set up for young children, which keeps the atmosphere peaceful. Rooms vary quite a bit in size and privacy, so if a spacious terrace matters, budget for a suite. If you book through a luxury travel advisor, look for perks such as breakfast, an airport transfer or a welcome drink at the 363 Bar.
Who Will Love Grace
Grace is ideal for couples who want a small, stylish hotel with big-name food and drinks and who care more about the view than a sprawling resort. It works especially well as part of a two-island honeymoon, paired with a beachier stay in Mykonos or a quieter island.
It is less suited to anyone who wants a large spa, sandy beach steps from the room, or a hotel without stairs. But if your idea of romance is a warm plunge pool, a glass of Assyrtiko and the whole caldera turning pink at dusk, few addresses in Santorini do it better.
Insider tips
- Choose a room or suite with a heated plunge pool; it is the single biggest upgrade to your stay.
- Book a sunset table at Varoulko when you reserve your room, then move to the 363 Bar for a nightcap.
- Walk the caldera trail toward Oia early in the morning, then arrange a taxi back to the hotel.
- Pack light or in soft bags; the hotel has many stairs and porters carry luggage down from the road.
