Review: Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas, Santorini

January 23, 2023 0 By travelyoutopia

Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas are located on the outskirts of Santorini’s most popular village, Oia, just a 15-minute drive from the airport. The resort has been designed in the style of a Santorinian village, with a design concept that combines traditional Cycladic architecture with unpretentious, contemporary multi-ethnic design. Travelling as a family with older children – no under 12s are allowed here – we stayed in one of the hotel’s private two-bedroom villas. And what a villa it is. You can’t help but fall instantly in love with the Greek-inspired design of the place, with its domed Cycladic-style roofs, white walls and natural elements including wood and black volcanic rock sourced from the island’s landscape. The minimalist architecture sits perfectly against a backdrop of the brightest blue sky.

With two double bedrooms, two bathrooms crafted out of forged cement, lounge and kitchenette, indoor sauna, gym, terrace and outdoor swimming pool with huge sun loungers, there really isn’t anything not to like about the villa. Furnishings are minimal and stylish with earthy tones, a nod to the simplicity of Greek design and the beauty of Santorini. Inside all is cool and calm; I can imagine retreating into the villa during the scorching hot summer months to find respite from the sun.

Alongside the two private villas there are 63 suites across the resort, each with its own Jacuzzi or private pool. Separated into five sprawling neighbourhoods named after the North Sporades, Dodecanese, Cyclades and Ionian Greek island complexes, some suites face the sunset, others face onto a swimming pool or towards the sea. The hotel is big enough so you have plenty of privacy but small enough to know that you’re never far away from the hotel pool, bar, restaurants and spa. Golf buggies are on hand if you don’t feel like walking. There’s a secret pathway that takes you into Oia, made famous by influencers the world over. Just make sure you avoid visiting at sunset when coach loads of tourists arrive desperate to get the perfect shot for their social media feed (more on that in another post coming soon).

Once we were able to tear ourselves away from the villa we enjoyed food and drinks at the Akratos Pool Bar. The all-day grazing menu serves local specialties such as Gyros (our favourite) and Greek salad as well as pasta, burgers and sharing plates. Cocktails and drinks are expertly mixed by attentive bar staff. The bar aims to send zero waste to landfill by upcycling produce from the kitchen, composting and working with local suppliers and distilleries.

For a more sophisticated affair, try the tasting menu with wine pairing at Alios Ilios restaurant, which uses local produce from Greece and Santorini, as well as herbs and ingredients from the resort’s kitchen garden. Executive chef, Vasilis Katsikas, wanted to present a modern version of Greek cuisine in a creative way and he’s certainly done that. Using local produce from Greece and Santorini, as well as herbs and ingredients from the new Santo Maris gardens, the vast wine list is made up of over 100 local wines. Breakfast is served al fresco by the pool and includes a hot and cold buffet.

If relaxation is on the cards during your stay, why not swim in one of the five freshwater pools in the resort or book a massage at the Anassa Spa where you can choose a Greek-inspired treatment. There’s also a fitness centre, indoor heated pool, steam room, sauna and an ice machine for a spot of cryotherapy.

If you’re planning a Santorini stay, talk to me today about putting together a personalised itinerary for your trip. I can help you find the best hotels, restaurants, beaches, things to do and places to see. And it won’t involve elbowing past the masses come sunset.

Prices start at £212.91 in a Pool Front Suite on a B&B basis. For more information visit the website here.