Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection

Rooms and decor

Picture all-white suites perched on the highest ridge above the caldera, where opening your door reveals the volcanic crater mid-sea with nothing in the way — that's the first hook of Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection. All 21 suites are finished in minimalist white Cycladic style, clean-lined and uncluttered, soft curved walls set against pale wood and white-grey furniture. The effect is chic, airy, and quietly calm. Most suites open onto a private terrace facing the caldera head-on, and several add a plunge pool or compact jacuzzi on the ledge so you can soak while looking out across the Aegean blue. Beds are deep and comfortable, and small details — arched alcoves, deliberately framed windows — make every corner feel designed rather than decorated. Nothing here screams luxury; it whispers it, letting the view and the natural light carry the room.

Food and amenities

The centerpiece is the infinity pool, a long stretch of water running flush with the cliff edge that visually merges with the Aegean below — you genuinely can't tell where pool ends and caldera begins. The afternoon rhythm here is simple: float, cocktail, watch ferries crawl across the horizon. But the headline experience is Varoulko, the Michelin-grade restaurant by chef Lefteris Lazarou, one of Greece's most celebrated seafood chefs. Contemporary Greek seafood, precisely plated, served on the cliff edge with the sunset playing out behind your plate — guests routinely call this the meal that justified the whole trip. Pair it with local Assyrtiko wine grown in Santorini's volcanic soil. Breakfast is delivered fresh to the suite terrace or poolside with the full caldera view, no rushing. There's also a sunset bar, in-suite spa treatments, and the Auberge-level service that — in a boutique of only 21 suites — translates into staff who actually know your name by day two.

Location and getting there

Location is the trump card. Grace sits at the highest point of Imerovigli, the village ridge that climbs higher above the caldera than either Fira or Oia. The result is one of the widest, furthest-reaching views on the entire island — the full volcanic crater, the small uninhabited islets, and the skyline curving all the way to Oia in the distance. Imerovigli is also markedly quieter than Oia or Fira, so the whole experience leans private. Right outside the hotel is the white-paved cliff-edge promenade that becomes the famous Fira-to-Oia walk — perfect for early-morning strolls past whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches. Santorini has no metro; everything moves by rental car, taxi, or hotel transfer. Fira town center, the island's main hub for shops and restaurants, is about 3 km south, an 8-minute drive. Oia is a bit further north. Santorini Airport (JTR) is 20-25 minutes by road — use Grace's transfer service since Imerovigli's lanes are narrow and parking is tight.

Things to know before booking

Honest notes to help you decide. First, Grace trades action for view and quiet — Imerovigli is genuinely sleepy, with few shops, limited restaurants outside the hotels, and no nightlife to speak of. If you want to wander into bars, browse boutiques, or eat at a different place every night, you'll be taxiing into Fira or Oia daily. Second, pricing is at the upper end. Santorini is already expensive; Grace and Varoulko both sit at the premium end of that. Suite rates run roughly $700 to over $1,800 per night depending on season and category, and in-resort food and drink are priced accordingly — plan your spend accordingly. Third, the property climbs the ridge, with stairs and steep ramps connecting the suites, pool, and restaurant. This is the natural shape of Santorini cliff hotels, not poor design, but it does mean older guests or anyone with mobility issues will find the climb tiring. Flag this at booking — request a suite closer to the entrance, and ask for help with luggage. Finally, the vibe is firmly couples-leaning and adult — small children aren't really at home here.

Our take

After working through dozens of real guest reviews, Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection clearly owns a distinctive corner of the Santorini luxury map: widest caldera view + chic minimalist quiet + a Michelin-grade dinner on the cliff edge. If your trip picture is waking up to the volcanic crater filling your window from the highest point of the island, floating in an infinity pool over the caldera in the afternoon, then closing the day with seafood at Varoulko as the sun drops behind the sea — well clear of the Oia crowds — this is one of the most polished options on Santorini. If you'd rather stay in the middle of the action, walk to a different restaurant every night, optimize value per night, or travel with small children, the quieter ridge location and the cliff-side stairs are real tradeoffs. Overall we'd give it 9.1/10. Best suited to couples, honeymoons, and view-first luxury travelers who want the caldera unobstructed in a private, quiet setting.