Best for: A chilled-out, peaceful hotel
Lovely, low-key Lindos, on the southeast coast of Rhodes, tends to be known for two things: the hilltop acropolis with its fourth-century BC temples and the fact that Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour used to have a house here. Beyond that, the fishing village has remained largely the preserve of summering Greek families taking over crumbling villas, so when this bohemian hangout opened quietly last summer, it turned heads. The former nightclub had been abandoned for more than a decade, and architect Vana Pernari found it by chance. Her studio specialises in big projects such as Casa Cook half an hour north and Cretan Malia Park on Crete, but when she began the restoration in 2019, the plan was to create a holiday home for friends. And that remains the spirit of seven-bedroom Casita Casita—the vibe is more house party than hotel stay. Its subtle and knocked-back palette ensures that the richness of the surroundings takes center stage, and the barren, rocky landscape is broken up only by heady-smelling herbs and gnarled olive trees under which breakfasts of fresh fruit, homemade cakes, and Rhodian honey are served.
As you lie by the swimming pool looking up to the castle within the acropolis, the only sounds are the rustling leaves, the cicadas’ sonata and bleats of goats and, if you listen very carefully, the waves—sandy Palestra Beach is a three-minute walk away. Inside, each room references Pernari’s travels around the world; there are carpets from nomadic tribes, Suzani throws, ceramics, and vintage vases from various bazaars. The styling is as much about form as function, with crisp cotton sheets, organic mattresses, and Apvita bath products made with medicinal plants. Time slows down here, and things just feel simpler—it’s a sensation that makes you wish summer would stretch on and on. —George Lagoudakis