Bal Harbour

77-room Odera, its first five-star hotel. Tinos has been an insider favorite for a while—there's no airport, so only those who charter or chopper can access it—with a superb marble quarry that's long lured creatives; no wonder it hosts an outpost of the Athens School of Fine Ar ts. "Tinos has the cutest restaurant right on the water, called To Thalassaki," says Katerina Katopis, an entrepreneur and influencer from Athens. "You'll get splashed every time a boat goes by." (Katopis, who spends much of her summers on a yacht, is known for her eye-popping aerial drone shots of the ocean.) Likewise, tiny isle Folegandros will gain its first high-end hotel this summer, Gundari, which sits on an 80-acre plot next to a wild bird reserve and groves of citrus trees. It's adjacent to Santorini, that postcard-pret t y island that 's become a pitstop for day tripping cruisers, thanks to the glut of supersized ships often mooring in its caldera. Don't be deterred from a visit, though: It's easy to sidestep the crowds, even in midsummer, if you stick with the eastern and southern sides of the island. That's where you'll find the ancient set- tlement of Thera, a ruin that 's like a mini-Ephesus (wear comfy shoes and come early, as its exposed location on the hilltop makes it an arduous climb when the sun is at its hottest), as well as eateries like To Psaraki, a casual seafront bistro, or the buzzier, Mykonos- style Seaside, with its chill soundtrack punctured by the occasional champagne-cork pop. The newest hotel to know is Domes Novos Santorini, where every suite or villa has a private pool and terrace. ATHENS "It's like a beehive, with everyone moving together," says Katopis of the capital. "You can feel the revival of everything in the air, like a reward for get ting through the crisis." Cer tainly, the Athens of today is far di˜erent from the windswept, unrest–prone place of a decade ago. Take brand–new hotels like The Dolli, whose postage stamp – sized rooftop pool directly overlooks the Acropolis but , even better, also boasts several suites with bathtubs artfully placed in front of a window. Cocktail bars like The Clumsies and Baba au Rum regularly score spots on world's best lists, while local concept shops like Anthologist o˜er shopping with a focus on Greek design. Andria Mitsakos opened the appointment– only boutique featur- ing local ceramics and textiles, while there's also an assortment of works on o˜er at the grande-dame Hotel Grande Bretagne (call it "The GB" like locals do). The hotel's rooftop is a popular spot for see-and-be-seen sundowners. "You can get a sophisticated meal at Nyn Esti," raves Mitsakos, citing the restaurant at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, but her favorite spot is Ouzeri Tou Laki, a one–room taverna that's proven so popular the tables now extend across its alleyway. "Have Anna, the owner, just order for you," she recommends. Don't miss Guarantee, the beloved sandwich shop that's the local answer to Milan favorite De Santis, either. Ever y thing 's homemade, and there's a choice of bread, including low-glycemic loaves made from the ancient zea grain. "There's always a queue, so get there by 11." To take in the Acropolis, consider a stay at The Dolli, whose rooftop bar offers a view almost as spectacular as this one. 52 BAL HARBOUR MAY 2024 SPECIAL EDITION CO U R T E S Y O F T H E D O L L I

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