Yvette Thomson uncovers a slice of Aegean paradise at NOŪS. Discover more about the blissful Greek retreat where architecture and design take centre stage.
I thought I knew Santorini. The cliffside sunsets, the whitewashed houses, the crowded lanes of Oia. Then I arrived at NOŪS. Within an hour the caldera view, once the island’s star attraction, faded into the background. This is not about chasing postcard clichés, it is about slipping into a slower rhythm, where design, light, and atmosphere quietly coax you into staying a little longer.
Santorini has a way of stealing your breath before you have even unpacked, but NOŪS takes that to another level. I arrived in Mesaria expecting another caldera chasing boutique. Instead, I walked into a low-rise village of earthy textures, hidden courtyards, and private pools glinting under the Aegean sun.
This is not the Santorini of Instagram queues and cruise ship crowds. NOŪS feels grounded, expansive, and unapologetically in tune with the island’s real heartbeat. The Donkey Hotels team, who gave Athens the art led NEW Hotel, clearly brought the same creative boldness here but softened it with the kind of stillness you only find when you are off the tourist trail.
Design here is more than pretty walls, it is storytelling. The resort sprawls like an old Cycladic village, all burnt timber, whitewashed curves, and volcanic stone, with paths that meander rather than march.
Inside, it is all terracotta, muted greys, and textured plaster, punctuated by serious art. One minute you are looking at a contemporary Greek sculpture, the next you are leaning against a piece of furniture that could hold its own in a gallery. At night, soft lighting wraps the whole place in amber, and you find yourself moving slower, speaking softer. It is seductive in a way you do not realise until you are halfway through your wine.
Mornings start at the Pool Restaurant, where breakfast is as much about mood as it is about food. I alternated between Greek yoghurt with Santorini honey and more decadent plates like thick cut French toast dripping in syrup. One morning I had a chia pudding topped with figs so ripe they tasted like jam.
Lunch meant Greek classics with a twist, think chermoula baked aubergine with a minty sheep’s yoghurt, taramasalata with citrus marmalade, or a seafood pasta so light you forget it is pasta. Evenings at Elio’s were my favourite. The menu moves between Italian and American influences, but everything still whispers “Aegean.” I had a beef tartare moussaka that should not work but does, spectacularly. Cocktails are not an afterthought either, the 'Salty Skin' tastes like the ocean at sunset.
Pro tip: the Vitamin Bar is where you go after a morning swim. Fresh pressed juices and smoothies mean you can balance the indulgence without feeling like you are missing out.
Mine had its own plunge pool, a sunbed, and enough space to host a small party, not that I would share. The palette mirrored the landscape, volcanic greys, muted browns, and natural wood.
There is a tactile pleasure to everything, the roughness of the stone floor under bare feet, the weight of the linen curtains, the coolness of the bathroom tiles in the morning. Even the lighting feels curated to make you look good in the mirror after a day in the sun.
I slept like I had not in months, partly because the bed was indecently comfortable, partly because Mesaria at night is silent except for the occasional rustle of wind through the olive trees.
The Ef Zin spa is worth blocking out an entire afternoon for. I booked a massage that used locally sourced oils, then floated between the indoor-outdoor pool, sauna, and cold plunge. Five treatment rooms mean it never feels crowded, and if you are with someone special, the couples suite with a private jacuzzi is a no-brainer.
Outside the spa, the hotel arranges experiences that take you well beyond the usual sunset in Oia routine. Imagine wine tours that wind through family run vineyards, and private sailing trips to hidden coves. If you ask politely, they may even assist with setting up a flying dress photoshoot for a main grid, main character moment.
NOŪS Santorini is not a place you simply visit. It is a place you fold into. The design encourages you to pause, the food lingers on your palate, and the staff create the sense that you belong there. It is luxury without noise, indulgence without excess, and it connects you to the island’s soul while still offering a chilled glass of Assyrtiko by the pool. I left sun-warmed, camera roll brimming, already planning the day I return.
https://donkeyhotels.gr/nous-santorini/
Epar.Od. Firon-Ormou Perissis, Mesaria 847 00, Greece
The Airline: Greece’s flag carrier, voted Best Regional Airline in Europe by Skytrax for 13 consecutive years
From the UK: Direct flights to Athens from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Edinburgh, with easy onward connections to Santorini
Lounges: Athens business lounges offer marble and wood interiors, Greek coffee, local snacks, and panoramic runway views
Seat Tip: Choose a window on the Santorini leg for a spectacular descent over the caldera
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