You haven’t really seen Santorini until you’ve sipped chilled Assyrtiko in a plunge pool, suspended somewhere between volcanic sky and caldera sea, toes wrinkling with joy as the sunset performs its nightly opera across the Aegean. At Andronis Boutique Hotel, the most charming little jewel tucked away from the bustle of Oia, perched like a swan-dive into the drama of the steep cliffside, you get a front-row seat to all of it and then some.
Location is everything, they say. So let’s first talk about that. We just have to describe it as a spectacle. Andronis Boutique Hotel hangs off the edge of Santorini’s famous caldera like a best-kept secret told to only the savviest of OutThere travellers. It sits within the whitewashed maze of Oia, and from the street, you see nothing but its reception building. Step outside and you’re back in the frenzy: flip-flopped Instagrammers hunting blue domes, newlyweds choreographing elaborate selfies and the odd donkey contemplating early retirement. Step back in, and you’re in a fragrant oasis of balconades, bougainvillaea and bliss. And the duality is delicious.
The hotel itself is carved into the volcanic cliffside – quite literally. The suites are former storage caves turned Cycladic cocoons, linked together by meandering stone paths where white-washed stairs twist like an Escher sketch. The bones may be ancient, but the design is all clean lines and quiet glamour: a monochrome symphony of whites, creams, greys and brushed concrete, each suite an ode to minimalist elegance with just the right amount of Santorini soul.
Our suite was a curved, cool cave of calm, coming with its own plunge pool overlooking that iconic view. You know the one: endless blue stretching until it falls off the planet and fiery skies come eveningtime. Inside, a stylish open-plan cave bedroom and a curvaceous bathroom, with hand-laid stone, locally sourced products and towels fluffier than a Greek grandmother’s loukoumades. The décor, much like the staff, is understated, upscale and unfailingly polished. There’s no gaudiness or intrusive opulence in its luxury – just an understanding that when your suite hangs off the side of a volcano, you don’t need much else to impress.
In fact, the biggest issue we encountered during our stay was whether or not to ever leave our plunge pool (we didn’t, not much). Morning, noon and golden hour, we floated, toasted and marvelled – and as the sun started its slow descent, casting molten shadows across the water, it was as if time paused just for us.
Breakfast at Andronis Boutique Hotel was served in its restaurant, where a light sea breeze flirted with our napkins. It was a drawn-out, sun-drenched affair. There’s no buffet in sight – thank the gods – but rather a curated à la carte menu of farm-fresh eggs, Greek yoghurts with honeycomb the size of our fists, warm baked goods and the sort of coffee that could revive a sun-weary Adonis. Other couples, from the hotel’s just 25 suites, linger in the morning revelry, their knowing looks hinting at the promise of another unhurried day.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Escapist | JTR | GMT +3 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Just a short stroll down the winding paths of the caldera, you’ll find the small port of Amoudi Bay. It’s a charming, intimate harbour tucked below the cliffs, famous for its colourful fishing boats, waterfront tavernas, and dramatic sunset views. From here, you can take a private sunset catamaran cruise that offers an unforgettable way to experience Santorini’s caldera from the water. Glide past the iconic cliffs of Oia, volcanic rock formations, and hidden sea caves as the Aegean shimmers beneath a descending sun. Your private crew can arrange everything for your charter: champagne and fresh seafood are a must, making it an indulgent, intimate escape from the throng of Oia. |
Dinner at Lauda, the hotel’s award-winning poolside culinary experience, is an absolute must. The tasting menu here was a Greco-Roman epic of edible storytelling. Each course was a revelation – from delicious octopus that practically danced off the plate to the most tender lamb dish we’d ever tasted. The wine pairing was equally spellbinding, featuring bottles from Santorini’s ancient, volcanic vineyards that have somehow survived millennia of lava, sun and passionate discourse.
There was a seductive quietness to Andronis Boutique that made it feel like our very own Santorini secret. Sure, Oia is busy (and we mean busy!) outside the gated door, but within the confines of the hotel, there’s a sacred sort of stillness. There isn’t a lot of communal space – just one main pool, more showpiece than splash zone, and a few loungers (not enough for everyone). But who needs a crowded pool when your room comes with its own slice of infinity?
That said, this hotel is not for those craving raucous Mykonos-style revelry. While it is “adults-only”, there was no DJ spinning poolside, no bottle service, no influencer stunts over breakfast. After all, we came to Andronis to exhale. To toast the setting sun in our robes. To read a book with one eye, while the other remains stubbornly glued to the Aegean.
Andronis Boutique Hotel is more than ideal for couples seeking quiet intimacy but still wanting access to Oia’s bustling boutiques and candlelit clifftop tavernas. Whether it’s a proposal, a honeymoon, or just a well-earned escape, Andronis sets the mood for romance without ever trying too hard. But let’s not ignore the solo jet-setters, those OutThere adventurers for whom luxury is a mindset and a plunge pool is non-negotiable. There’s plenty of ‘special’ for them too.
Who it is not for is travellers with accessibility needs. Call it a quirk of location, the hotel’s charm comes with many narrow flights of stairs, winding paths and uneven terraces that aren’t exactly mobility-friendly. Guests who require easier access might find the terrain challenging.
For those who crave spa time, the nearby Andronis Luxury Suites, part of the same group, offers a cave-like spa just a short walk away, and can arrange treatments in-suite, should the walk prove too far a pilgrimage.
Andronis Boutique Hotel isn’t the flashiest, biggest, or newest address in Santorini – but it’s undoubtedly one of the most evocative. It’s where Cycladic simplicity meets sheer luxury, where privacy and passion collide above one of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth.
A few nights here and you’ll understand what it means to live suspended in magic, held gently between sea and sky. And if that doesn’t earn it a place on your OutThere bucket list, we’re not sure what will.
Photography courtesy of Andronis
