Sitting on a quiet stretch of Santorini’s Perivolos Beach, the Istoria Hotel is that stripped-down contemporary Greek retreat where Zen-seekers check-in for R&R, and the setting is as peaceful as it gets this side of Greece.

As you step through its small wooden gate, the architectural narrative of the Istoria Hotel dazzles. It’s all textured minimalism and privacy here, from the barely brushed cement walls in muted colours to the expansive outdoor area with its al fresco dining room and lobby. At the heart of the hotel is a gorgeous black-slate pool- possibly the largest pool on the island- surrounded by olive trees and tucked away within protective walls, making you almost forget the jet skis and beach life that lies just beyond. The same tranquility- cool Cycladic minimalism- also seem to be the name of the game up in the hotel’s 12 suites, where every surface has been hand-finished and the unfussy furniture feels perfectly right for a Greek island setting. There is nothing here to distract the eye from those blinding views of the Aegean Sea, and we are not one to complain… Just settle in your private plunge pool or hot tub, and the best of Santorini is yours to enjoy with a Zeus v. Dionysus cocktail in hand.