A wellness retreat cradled within the dramatic natural beauty of the Cyclades, The Rooster is a back-to-nature hotel embracing slow living on the lesser-known Greek island of Antiparos. With 17 different suites, villas and houses of different sizes, each home is designed with its own unique character, with all villas featuring enchanting private gardens, outdoor showers and jaw-on-the-floor views of the Aegean Sea. Unlike some of its flashier siblings, head here for an unpretentious, mindful escape rooted in nature.

This eco hotel in the heart of Hermoupolis, the capital of the Cyclades island of Syros, kicks “boutique” hotel up a gear. With nine individually designed suites, each offering a harmonious combination of mod-com amenities and restored furnishings, this is the sort of place you’ll feel right at home even before you’ve laid your head down on the pillow. Guilded with nine different types of marble throughout the hotel, Aristide combines old-world elegance with well-considered design for a contemporary yet opulent feel. Plus, it's eco credentials are top notch – leftovers are churned into compost, trees as planted to help guests offset their carbon emissions and you won't find a drop of single-use plastic.

Coming for the crown of Cavos Tagoo, these sugar-cube suites (25 in total, with two villas) stagger down the cliff towards Ornos Bay guaranteeing both sunrise and sunset views from each room – a rarity usually reserved for superyachts found bobbing in the Aegean. Supposedly modelled on a traditional Mykonos village – arguably the most bougie we’ve ever seen – every room has its own private pool (the only hotel in Mykonons to offer this), an al fresco shower, terrace for entertaining and Sonos surround sound. Forget Nammos, this is your newest post-Scorpios party pad.

Skirting Plaka Beach, this grown-ups only boutique hotel is a great getaway spot. Decision making for the day peaks at seaside sun loungers or alfresco spa tub. At Naxian on the Beach a good seat at the hotel bar (positioned by the shoreline) is as sought after as the mod-Greek restaurant,Tortuga. Long wooden tables clouded over with wicker-shaded pendant lights take a central position, and are best piled with seasonal Greek salads, tuna ceviche tacos and olive-oil-drizzled baklava.

Given that most hotels on the Greek islands have white, undulating walls and minimal decor, Zannos Melathron stands out. Once an 18th-century mansion, Melathron’s sense of grandeur endures, giving guests a taster of Santorini’s aristocratic past. Maximalist exteriors are offset by minimalist interiors and most rooms are fitted with a simple kitchenette, meaning that there’s no excuse for not picking up some feta, olives and sun-ripened tomatoes from a nearby market and enjoying them on your private veranda.

The sea-spying outdoor pool at Kenshō Ornos is a major talking point. Shielded by a glass wall, adjacent to the bar and flanked by elegant sun loungers, it's a triple threat. If you like your swim a little more naturalistic, Ornos Beach is a few minutes walk away. This aside, there'll be little want to stray beyond the confines of your Grecian base. Fill you case with ethereal draperies and reset your pace to slow. To really unwind head to the Cave Spa for treatments. Clay-and-cucumber body mask anyone?

Located 20 metres above the rocky shoreline, this hotel inhabits a prime spot on Mykonos and offers epic views of the Aegean. With hammocks dotted around every corner, a locally sourced menu, rejuvenating spa (complete with wellbeing talks and meditation sessions) it’s hard to believe that the hedonistic beach parties at Scorpios and Paradiso are just a stone’s throw away. This is perfect holiday equilibrium.

Olea occupies a dreamy spot amid olive groves and lush verdure close to the town centre. Killing it in the understated luxury stakes, its stripped-back aesthetic is offset by extravagant water features. With 93 terraced suites, three restaurants, two stylish bars and a spa, you’d be forgiven for being overwhelmed by choice. One of the easier decisions to make is where to sunbathe and swim – the best beaches in Zakynthos are just minutes away.

Located on the island of Serifos, nicknamed the "Iron Lady of the Aegean", this mining town-turned-luxury-campus offers a hearty slice of Greek history. For a holiday filled with natural beauty and zen levels of relaxation, Coco-Mat Eco Residences is an excellent choice. All about eco-friendly elegance, the hotel's roomy two-storey apartments have been crafted with an eye towards blending into the surroundings. Come for the Cycladic design and sophisticated eco-friendly construction - stay for the soothing sound of the waves.

Famed for its Insta-worthy infinity pool spilling over a volcanic caldera, this five-bedroom retreat is all about escapism. Situated on the dozy little island of Thirasia in the Santorini group of the Cyclades, the hotel prides itself on peaceful seclusion. Reachable by boat or helicopter, the main building was built from the ruins of a former pumice mine – suffice to say rustic charm is something this place does very well. In the unlikely event that you want a change of scenery, actual Santorini is only a short ride away – but we’re pretty you won’t want to leave this idyllic islet.

This small hotel comprising of just 12 suites is cocooned among tumbling vines and fragrant gardens. The hotel’s whitewashed and sandstone buildings feel like a village within a village, making it an ideal spot for those who say they like totally secluded getaways but are secretly thankful for their not-too-noisy neighbours next door. Balanced on top of an acropolis on the coast, Melenos Lindos is a hive of creativity. Every corner here is awash with colours and art, heavily influenced by the Ottoman Empire. With elaborate woodwork, hand-painted ceramics and impressive medieval-style tents, this is a whimsical spot to spend a long weekend.

If you can no longer tolerate the party animals of Mykonos or selfie-stick-wielding hordes of Santorini, laid-back Paros is your island. Embodying the serenity of the island through its calming Cycladic design, Mr and Mrs White is as minimalist as the name suggests. Despite its secluded feel, it is in fact just a short drive from the centre of Naoussa – a small town laden with restaurants and bars along the port. The rooms are generous in size, the breakfast buffet is extensive and the atmosphere is distinctly romantic.