Katikies Santorini, Greece – hotel review

Katikies, a member of the esteemed Leading Hotels of the World collection, is top of the hot list for moneyed visitors looking for high-end chic on Greece’s whitewashed isle of Santorini.

The volcanic island is one of the most Instagrammed places in the world and Katikies, in Santorini’s popular sunset spot of Oia, combines all the winning ingredients in one hotel, or “village” – steep, flower-lined staircases, white Mamma Mia-esque rooftops and crystal-blue infinity pools with all the luxury trimmings.

Where is it?

On the cliffs, just steps from the main promenade in Oia, Santorini’s elegant clifftop town at the northern point of the island. By taxi, it’s a 20-minute drive from the airport and it’s just a short eight-minute stroll from the bus stop. For exploring the town, Katikies is perfectly located – at the quieter end (away from the hordes of sunset-seekers that gather at the northernmost tip of town every night), but still in the thick of things. Step off the hotel’s main staircase and you’re bang in the middle of Oia’s boutique-lined streets.

(Katikies)

Style

For Katikies disciples, the brand’s main Santorini outpost boasts the same familiar luxury as the rest of the hotel collection on the island and nearby party isle Mykonos – glistening white rooftops, pristine turquoise pools and bronzed staff all in white and designer sunglasses. Expect the brand’s chic, elegant vibe with added Santorini touches – soft pink blankets, candlelit rooftop terraces overlooking the caldera and perfectly manicured pink Bougainvillea in all the right places.

Which room?

Staff call Katikies a “village”: the chic white hotel begins just off Oia’s main street and spills down the cliffs of the caldera to 300 feet above sea level. All 34 rooms – scattered down secret secluded staircases on both sides of the main steps – have a terrace with a sea view and each has a different feel, from two-storey honeymoon apartments with a hot tub to luxury master suites with private plunge-pools built into the rock. Inside, there’s a bright, cave-like feel with sloped ceilings and rocky whitewashed interior walls. Each comes with a walk-in wardrobe and spacious bathroom featuring a walk-in rain shower, miniature manicure sets and Bvlgari bath products. Staff leave chocolates on the pillows each evening, plus a fruit basket and bottle of wine to welcome you on your first night.

(Katikies)

Food & drink

Dining at Katikies is high-end, even when it comes to a simple soft drink at the pool bar (attention to detail is so precise you’re even given asked to choose your number of ice cubes). At Mikrasia, the hotel’s Greek Anatolian restaurant, three-courses will set you back over €200 for two, but the food is exquisite, from oregano “perfume” sprayed on your tomatoes at the table to caviar-topped yellowtail tartare and fish paste dip infused with squid ink. By the upper pool deck, there’s Seltz Champagne Bar and Restaurant, which serves modern Mediterranean feasts, champagne bites and a full sushi menu. Stop by for a nightcap and watch the twinkling lights of Oia town – the pool is also lit-up with starry lights like the night’s sky.

Facilities

There are three sea-facing infinity pools, each surrounded by an elegant sunbathing deck – select your lounger and staff will lay out fluffy blue towels, hitch up your umbrella and serve you an array of iced goods from Aperol Spritz to cooling flannels – even the Ligne St. Barth sun cream, brought round by spa staff, is iced. The spa itself can be booked out for private treatments and offers everything from restorative massages to rejuvenating facials, while an on-site boutique sells an array of hats, jewellery and perfume.

What to Instagram

The hotel’s main infinity pool, looking out over Oia and the caldera. There are elegant white loungers for sunbathing, chilled-out soundtracks brought by a DJ and bright pink Bougainvilleas for the ultimate Insta shot. Work your way around the pool (and pools) for a different view each day – Oia town to the west; the rocky caldera and distant capital Fira to the east. Stay for sundowners and you’ll catch the orange-pink hues of the sunset over the crystal blue waters of the Aegean.

(Katikies)

Best for?

Instagram-addicts and couples looking to splash out – honeymoon suites are kitted out with indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and sundecks overlooking the caldera and staff can arrange a candlelit dinner on a private terrace with 180 degree views over the Aegean. Unsurprisingly, it’s a popular proposal spot.

How to get there

Fly direct to Santorini if you can – the island’s (small) Thira airport is just a 20-minute drive away and there are direct flights from Gatwick and Heathrow daily starting from £251. Combine it with a visit to the brand’s newest property, Katikies Garden in Santorini’s nearby capital, Fira, for ultimate indulgence: the five-star sister hotel opened this month and is set in a converted monastery with private garden suites and a modern-meets-vintage style designed to echo Epicurus’ garden in Athens.

When should I go?

The climate in July and August is a pleasingly consistent 27 plus degrees and (most importantly) full sun – staff print you the next day’s forecast for your room each evening. We didn’t see a cloud for five days.

(Katikies)