Melenos Lindos

An exquisite boutique hotel on the quiet side of medieval Lindos with succulent views over the bay

The tiny town of Lindos hugs the hill; mansions built by the Knights of St John bask beyond stone walls (catch a glimpse though open doors), while the bluest of seas shimmers down in the bay (St Paul came ashore 2,000 years ago). A magical place – timeless, untouched. No cars, just donkeys that ferry tourists up to the Acropolis. Follow them up to the mellow stone walls of Melenos, where they stop to drink from a water trough at the front door.

Twelve years in the making and built over 4 terraces with the sea below and the Acropolis above, you arrive to find staggering beauty at every turn. Flowers float in wooden bowls, water sings in a small fountain, bougainvillea fans out across whitewashed walls. An open-air bar is lit by paper lanterns at night; the restaurant is shaded by Moorish tents to keep the sun at bay. Enormous bedrooms defy superlatives, with wooden platform beds that hold the comfiest mattresses in Greece. All rooms open onto private terraces; some have padded stone benches, one has a huge sofa, another has views that tumble down to the beach.

Highs

• Gorgeous watery views from the restaurant on the roof terrace
• Very soothing architecture – soft yellow stone and pots of colour
• Lovely hilltop setting tucked away from hustle and bustle
• Gracious welcoming staff
• Lindos itself, an ancient, largely unspoilt village. It's a warren of ancient alleyways, so bring a ball of string

Lows

• Lindos can get pretty busy in high season
• No pool, although the beach is a 5-minute walk away
• Ultra-cool hotels come with ultra-high prices