Santorini, Greece · Five-Star · #2 in Santorini
"The Imerovigli Auberge Collection property, 21 suites, the most-expansive caldera views on Santorini."
Why this rank, Grace Hotel Santorini sits in Imerovigli at 300 meters above sea level, the tallest cliff village on the caldera. The Auberge Resorts Collection has operated the property since 2018; Grace was the first Auberge property in Greece. 21 suites only, all caldera-direct, with the Imerovigli elevation producing the most-expansive caldera views on Santorini, broader than even the Oia properties south of Skaros Rock. Grace Restaurant under chef Andreas Tsiknias runs the property's signature program with Cycladic ingredients and French technique. The Champagne Lounge is the property's defining sunset ritual, with Champagne service at the cliff-edge pool deck nightly. The Grace Suite at 150 sq m has a 17-meter heated pool with west-facing sunset orientation. The smaller scale and the cliff-direct elevation differentiate Grace from the larger competing Imerovigli properties. Best for honeymoon couples wanting Imerovigli over Oia and the most-expansive caldera-view configuration.
Best room: Grace Suite, 150 sq m, 17-meter heated pool.
"The Imerovigli Auberge Collection property, 21 suites at the island's highest cliff village, the Champagne Lounge."
Why this rank, Grace Hotel Santorini opened in 2008 in Imerovigli, the cliff village 4 km north of Fira at 300 meters above sea level, the highest cliff village on the caldera-edge. Auberge Resorts Collection added Grace to its portfolio in 2018, applying Auberge's San-Francisco-based luxury service standards to the existing Imerovigli property. 21 suites only, with the Imerovigli elevation producing the most-expansive caldera views available on Santorini. Grace Restaurant under chef Andreas Tsiknias operates on the property's main terrace with caldera-edge views; the menu draws on Cycladic ingredients with a French technique foundation. The Champagne Lounge, the property's signature aperitif setup with daily Champagne service at sunset hour, is the most-photographed Grace ritual. The Grace Suite at 150 sq m is the property's flagship, wraparound terrace, private heated pool of 17 meters, west-facing for sunset. The Auberge Premier loyalty program applies to stays. Best for honeymoon, anniversary, and stays prioritizing the highest caldera elevation.
Best room: Grace Suite - 150 sq m, 17-meter heated pool, west-facing.
"Imerovigli's highest address, quietest atmosphere. The Michelin restaurant Varoulko and 180-degree caldera views make every other meal on the island a disappointment by comparison."
The Grace Hotel, now part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, sits at the highest point of the caldera rim in Imerovigli, the quietest, most elevated of the caldera villages and the one with the most commanding view of Skaros Rock and the submerged volcanic crater. Perched at 300 metres, the hotel offers a 180-degree panorama of the Aegean that many Oia properties, despite their fame, simply cannot match in scope. The light here is different: more northern, more austere in the mornings, more dramatic at sunset than anywhere below.
The twenty-one rooms and suites follow white stone Cycladic architecture with a level of design restraint that sets the property apart from the more showy offerings elsewhere on the island. Rooms feature hammam baths in several categories, a detail that becomes a daily ritual within 24 hours of arrival. Upper-category suites include spacious terraces with private plunge pools positioned to face the caldera directly; the Junior Suite and Two-Bedroom Suite are the hotel's most requested accommodations for couples and small groups respectively.
The Varoulko Santorini restaurant, helmed by acclaimed chef Lefteris Lazarou, is the hotel's defining feature and one of the most serious kitchens in the Cyclades. Lazarou, who has held a Michelin star at his Athens restaurant for decades, brings a Greek seafood tradition to the caldera terrace with exceptional results, the raw fish preparations, the grilled octopus, and the kakavia (Greek bouillabaisse) are dishes that justify the flight to Greece. The sunset dining experience, with the terrace positioned to face west, is a meal with a built-in second act.
The spa offers a thoughtfully curated programme of treatments combining Greek herbal traditions with contemporary wellness methodologies. The infinity pool is positioned at the cliff edge with a horizon line that merges seamlessly with the Aegean below, one of the great pool situations on the island. Service at Grace is among the most consistent in Santorini, reflecting both the Auberge Collection standards and a genuine warmth that distinguishes Greek hospitality at its best.
Grace's quietness is the point. Imerovigli lacks Oia's crowds but gains privacy, altitude, and atmosphere. A hammam suite with caldera terrace, Varoulko's Michelin tasting menu at sunset, and the spa's couples' ritual is a honeymoon day that goes beyond what any itinerary could plan. The hotel's small size (21 rooms) means the pool terrace never feels shared; you can spend an entire morning without seeing another guest.
The altitude of Imerovigli, and the hotel's deliberate quiet, creates conditions for a wellness stay that caldera-edge properties in Oia cannot replicate. The spa's programme is more than decorative, and the kitchen at Varoulko works with exceptionally clean, Mediterranean ingredients that make healthy eating feel like an aspiration rather than a restriction. For solo wellness stays, Grace is the best-positioned hotel on the island: quiet, serious, and without the social pressure of a resort atmosphere.
The Grace is one of the few Santorini luxury properties where arriving alone is not merely acceptable but actively suited to the hotel's atmosphere. The caldera terrace at breakfast, the spa that operates on its own schedule, the wine programme that rewards careful attention, these are pleasures that improve without an audience. The concierge team is genuinely good at guiding solo guests to the quieter corners of the island, from the Akrotiri archaeological site to the black sand beaches on the southeast coast.
Rates sourced from Booking.com and hotel direct. Prices vary by date.
Editorial · #4 on the Top 20 Santorini Hotels 2026 list
Grace Hotel Santorini ranks #4 as the highest-elevation luxury property on the caldera-edge. Imerovigli at 300 meters above sea level is the tallest cliff village, and Grace's position produces the most-expansive caldera views available on the island, broader than even the Oia properties south of Skaros Rock. Auberge Resorts Collection has operated the property since 2018, adding brand-standard service recognition to the existing Imerovigli boutique.
For Santorini visitors, Grace is the address for travelers who want Imerovigli's elevation over Oia's village density. The 21-suite scale is the smallest of the Imerovigli luxury hotels. The Champagne Lounge daily sunset ritual is one of the most-recognized Santorini hotel traditions. The Grace Suite with its 17-meter heated pool and wraparound terrace is the property's signature accommodation. For couples preferring Imerovigli's quiet over Oia's village atmosphere, Grace is the working answer.
Editorial · #15 on the Top 20 Honeymoon Hotels 2026 list
Grace Hotel Santorini ranks #15 for honeymoons because the Imerovigli elevation at 300 meters above sea level produces the most-expansive caldera views on the island and the Auberge Resorts Collection has operated the property since 2018. The 21-suite scale and the cliff-direct positioning produce a more-intimate stay format than the larger competing Imerovigli properties.
For honeymoon couples preferring Imerovigli over Oia, Grace is the address with the strongest brand standard. The Champagne Lounge daily sunset ritual is one of the most-recognized Santorini hotel traditions. The Grace Suite at 150 sq m with 17-meter heated pool and west-facing sunset orientation is the most-requested honeymoon category. The Auberge Premier loyalty program applies to stays. Seasonal operation runs late April through early November.