A new luxury boutique hotel is set to open this spring on the Greek island of Folegandros. The Gundari Hotel promises a peaceful retreat for visitors seeking a break from the busy tourist destinations of Santorini and Milos.
Located on Folegandros’ southeastern coast, the hotel sits on a protected wildlife reserve. Gundari, meaning “rocky place,” is the island’s first luxury boutique hotel, offering a mix of suites and villas that are inspired by the natural surroundings.
The hotel’s spacious villas are designed for comfort and stunning views. The three- and four-bedroom, cliff-front villas feature nearly 6,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including private, solar-powered infinity pools and hot tubs with sweeping views of the Aegean Sea and the rugged cliffs.
In addition to the villas, Gundari’s Phase 2 opening this summer will include three clifftop villas and a wine bar, housed in a restored farmhouse.
Designed by Athens-based studio Block722, the property is EarthCheck Certified, featuring modern, minimalist designs such as unpolished marble floors, linear lines, and seamless indoor-outdoor spaces.
Dining and Wellness at Gundari
Guests can enjoy world-class dining at the hotel’s Orizon restaurant, overseen by Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou. The menu highlights local ingredients, including fresh seafood and produce from the hotel’s own organic farm. Guests can handpick their ingredients from the farm and enjoy a farm-to-table dining experience featuring sun-ripened tomatoes and wild herbs.
The hotel also offers a variety of amenities, including a sunken swim-up bar, a main cocktail bar, and a subterranean spa. The spa hosts an array of wellness treatments, including sound bathing, energy healing, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, and massages with heated herbal compresses, provided by international practitioners.
The property spans 100 acres, with limestone cliffs framing the land. Guests can take in sunset views of Milos to the west and Santorini to the east. The island’s main village, Chora, is just 2 miles away.
Exploring Folegandros
The hotel provides a range of vehicles for exploring the island, including six Fiat 500e Cabrios, a Jeep Renegade, an electric Mini Moke, 12 electric bikes, and a Cool Jub 250S e-motorbike.
Guests can enjoy local activities such as visiting the hilltop Church of Panagia, scuba diving, snorkeling, and hiking along 35 miles of trails around the property. Gundari also offers private excursions, including trips to nearby islands like Polyaigos and Sifnos, sunset cruises with cliffside dinners, and wine-tasting tours on Sikinos.
For a unique experience, guests can participate in a private cooking class at Irene’s Restaurant, a local favorite for over 70 years. Owner “Yia Yia” Irene teaches guests how to prepare regional dishes, such as rice-stuffed tomatoes.
The Gundari Hotel is also committed to preserving the endangered Eleonora’s Falcon, one of the island’s rare native species.
Gundari opens for the season on May 16. It is accessible via daily high-speed ferries from the port of Piraeus in Athens and Santorini.
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