The Best New Culinary Experience in Greece This Summer

Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in Imerovigli, Santorini has unveiled a transformation to its Villa and refreshed experiences program as well as opened a brand new restaurant and bar that bring Athens’ most celebrated culinarians permanently to the Greek Islands.

Greek cuisine’s first Michelin starred chef, Lefteris Lazarou (who has held a star at his Athens restaurant every year since he was first awarded in 2002), has opened his second restaurant at the hotel + Athens’ most lauded cocktail bar has now taken over the mixology program at 363 Bar. For the first time, Grace Hotel’s culinary experiences are now open to non-guests.

• A Michelin Star Voyage Into Mediterranean Cuisine: Introducing an exploration of the Mediterranean’s most exquisite flavors, Varoulko Santorini combines genuine respect for gastronomic tradition and cutting-edge creativity. The new restaurant features an entirely Mediterranean menu balanced by organic produce, local grains, herbs and spices, but primarily driven by fresh seafood. Chef’s signatures, such as squid with pesto Genovese and crayfish tartar with fresh basil and zesty yuzu, are plated with the island’s highest quality, freshest ingredients. Varoulko Santorini also boasts the island’s most exceptional vantage point for sunset views in a completely reimagined contemporary space for indoor and outdoor dining.
• Elevating Santorini’s Island Vibes with Creative Mixology: The hotel’s 363 Bar has been reimagined by Thanos Prunarus, the founder of Baba Au Rum, which has earned international acclaim as a regular on the World’s 50 Best Bars list and is known as the birthplace of Athens’ cocktail culture. Prunarus has curated a new avant-garde menu, featuring some of the best spirits from around the world, exclusively for Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection. The collaboration celebrates Santorini’s island vibes by placing a heavy emphasis on rum. Guests and other travelers to Santorini can now enjoy unconventional tiki and rum cocktails from Baba Au Rum’s original menu as well as libations crafted just for the hotel.
• A Look at Santorini’s Local Culture: Proving that the island offers much more than fantastic sunset shots for Instagram, Grace Hotel’s more remote location and new offerings provide an authentic look at Santorini’s agriculture, artisanship and history. A 20 minute drive from Oía, Santorini’s village of Imerovigli is a respite from the hustle with hiking trails, a medieval Venetian fortress and the best views from the highest point on the island. Guests can explore local traditions like honey tastings with a local apiarists, cooking classes with a Greek yaya and lessons in sandal or pottery making.

Whitewashed abodes, cobalt-domed churches, and black- and red-sand beaches mark the isle of Santorini, an alluring Mediterranean oasis mired in mythology. Believed to be the remaining link to the Lost City of Atlantis, rest in splendor during a luxurious stay in our clifftop retreat in Imerovigli, a village home to Santorini’s most emblematic views. Legend has it Euphemus, son of Poseidon created the island following a dream where he made love to a nymph – and after you enjoy your first sumptuous sunset from the infinity pool overlooking the Caldera, you will experience for yourself how easy it is to become entangled in the spell of Santorini.