As summer temperatures rise, so do our cravings for the cooling shores of the Mediterranean. Saltwater dips, a gentle sea breeze and seafood so fresh it practically jumps off the plate – what more could you want?
If you’re after a coastal getaway that’s anything but basic, the Med is your starting line. Sun-basking, spritz sipping and leisurely lunches of fresh local produce that stretch on into hazy, rosé-soaked afternoons are just how the warmer months unroll around the glittering Med – from Santorini’s postcard-perfect whitewashed streets to the French Riviera’s effortless chic.
With that in mind, we’ve selected some of our favourite hotels in the region for your next getaway. From serene thermal spas with Michelin-starred dining to secret coves backdropped by captivating architecture, these are the places promising coastal bliss.
If you’re after a coastal getaway that’s anything but basic, the Med is your starting line. Sun-basking, spritz sipping and leisurely lunches of fresh local produce that stretch on into hazy, rosé-soaked afternoons are just how the warmer months unroll around the glittering Med – from Santorini’s postcard-perfect whitewashed streets to the French Riviera’s effortless chic.
With that in mind, we’ve selected some of our favourite hotels in the region for your next getaway. From serene thermal spas with Michelin-starred dining to secret coves backdropped by captivating architecture, these are the places promising coastal bliss.
A private terrace at Cap Rocat
Chill in a private seaside cove or swim in the saltwater infinity pool, cleverly built within the fortress walls (and offering panoramic sea views). The hotel’s La Fortaleza restaurant champions island cuisine, with dishes created from sun-kissed local ingredients, while the waterfront grill is the place to go for Mallorcan classics cooked in a traditional wood oven.
The spa, carved into the fortress’ limestone depths, features a saltwater pool sunk 12m below ground, as well as a treatment menu designed to restore balance.
caprocat.com
Cap Rocat
Mallorca, Spain
If privacy is high on your summer wish list, Cap Rocat delivers. Set within a 30-hectare nature reserve, this former 19th-century military fortress redesigned by architect Antonio Obrador offers uninterrupted views over the Bay of Palma and guest-only access to those sparkling waves.Chill in a private seaside cove or swim in the saltwater infinity pool, cleverly built within the fortress walls (and offering panoramic sea views). The hotel’s La Fortaleza restaurant champions island cuisine, with dishes created from sun-kissed local ingredients, while the waterfront grill is the place to go for Mallorcan classics cooked in a traditional wood oven.
The spa, carved into the fortress’ limestone depths, features a saltwater pool sunk 12m below ground, as well as a treatment menu designed to restore balance.
caprocat.com
Les Roches Rouges | Credit: Benoit Linero
Sun, sea and an effortlessly chic clientele define Les Roches Rouges – the always-in-demand Beaumier group outpost on France’s Saint-Raphaël coastline. This modernist gem – all 1970s-inspired furnishings, with canary-yellow sun loungers set across its pebbled shoreline and around its famous saltwater pool, which is tucked seamlessly into the salt-sprayed granite rocks – recently expanded, with 25 new sea-view rooms, a brand-new gym and fragrant Mediterranean gardens joining the property’s already celebrated offering. As for dining, new head chef Alexandre Baule has been drafted in from the group’s Michelin-nodded alpine outpost L’Alpaga for a summer resident at Récif, spotlighting Provençal flavours and fresh-from-the-sea ingredients.
beaumier.com
Les Roches Rouges
Saint-Raphaël, France
Sun, sea and an effortlessly chic clientele define Les Roches Rouges – the always-in-demand Beaumier group outpost on France’s Saint-Raphaël coastline. This modernist gem – all 1970s-inspired furnishings, with canary-yellow sun loungers set across its pebbled shoreline and around its famous saltwater pool, which is tucked seamlessly into the salt-sprayed granite rocks – recently expanded, with 25 new sea-view rooms, a brand-new gym and fragrant Mediterranean gardens joining the property’s already celebrated offering. As for dining, new head chef Alexandre Baule has been drafted in from the group’s Michelin-nodded alpine outpost L’Alpaga for a summer resident at Récif, spotlighting Provençal flavours and fresh-from-the-sea ingredients.
beaumier.com
The beach at Dexamenes | Credit: K-Studio / Claus Brechenmacher and Reiner Baumann
Activities on offer are similarly forward-thinking. Head for drinks at the experimental cocktail laboratory, kick back in the cosy tavern that serves modern takes on local favourites, or book in for a theatrical dining experience in the hotel’s silo tank – a circular space that’s previously hosted celestial-inspired wine and dining events. When not horizontal on the beach, you’ll find plenty of day trips to enjoy, too, including Olympia’s ancient ruins, which are just a short hop away.
Back in situ, between the hotel’s maze of soft sand, concrete walls and curving tanks, guests can enjoy guided clay pottery and marble sculpture workshops, as well as honey-making and olive oil-pressing classes led by local artisans, allowing for a full immersion into the region’s culture.
dexamenes.com
Dexamenes
Kourouta, Greece
This converted 1920s-built winery sits on a stretch of beach in Kourouta, on the rugged Peloponnesian coast and, in keeping with its Design Hotels designation, forgoes traditional Greek looks for something altogether more futuristic. Rooms – stripped back, steel-rigged and glass-fronted – are housed in the industrial architecture of the former winery, but are softened by the wild dunes and sea grasses that surround them – as well as its endless ocean views.Activities on offer are similarly forward-thinking. Head for drinks at the experimental cocktail laboratory, kick back in the cosy tavern that serves modern takes on local favourites, or book in for a theatrical dining experience in the hotel’s silo tank – a circular space that’s previously hosted celestial-inspired wine and dining events. When not horizontal on the beach, you’ll find plenty of day trips to enjoy, too, including Olympia’s ancient ruins, which are just a short hop away.
Back in situ, between the hotel’s maze of soft sand, concrete walls and curving tanks, guests can enjoy guided clay pottery and marble sculpture workshops, as well as honey-making and olive oil-pressing classes led by local artisans, allowing for a full immersion into the region’s culture.
dexamenes.com
Mezzatorre Hotel’s beach club, left, and stay’s iconic peach exterior
Set in an ancient watchtower, the hotel has its own swimming cove, plus a gorgeous swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers shaded by peach-hued umbrellas and dressed in yellow-striped Pellicano hotel towels. The property’s 48 rooms and suites are tucked into seven hectares of parkland, offering lush greenery, privacy and knockout sea views.
Dining is big, bold and very Italian: think fresh island flavours at Ristorante La Torre and superlative seafood at La Baia. There’s also a beach club and sea-view tennis courts. But the real standout? The thermal spa, fed by a private spring and loaded with mineral-rich volcanic clay. In the birthplace of the mud bath, it would be rude not to give one a go.
pellicanohotels.com
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
Ischia, Italy
At Hotel Mezzatorre, a taste of la dolce vita awaits. Perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the Gulf of Naples, this elegant Italian stay is located on the idyllic island of Ischia. If the Amalfi coast is on your summer moodboard, you’ll love it here: the volcanic island, renowned since Roman times for its healing hot springs, offers all the sorbet-hued, sunny joy of a classic Slim Aarons-photographed summer destination.Set in an ancient watchtower, the hotel has its own swimming cove, plus a gorgeous swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers shaded by peach-hued umbrellas and dressed in yellow-striped Pellicano hotel towels. The property’s 48 rooms and suites are tucked into seven hectares of parkland, offering lush greenery, privacy and knockout sea views.
Dining is big, bold and very Italian: think fresh island flavours at Ristorante La Torre and superlative seafood at La Baia. There’s also a beach club and sea-view tennis courts. But the real standout? The thermal spa, fed by a private spring and loaded with mineral-rich volcanic clay. In the birthplace of the mud bath, it would be rude not to give one a go.
pellicanohotels.com
The view from Little Green Bay
littlegreenbay.com
Little Green Bay
Hvar, Croatia
Croatia is making waves this summer – again – and it’s easy to see why: from the crystalline Adriatic lapping against ancient walled cities to the slow, salt-sprayed rhythm of daily life, it offers a Mediterranean mood that feels both undiscovered and deeply rooted. Tucked away in a sleepy bay on Hvar’s northern coast, Little Green Bay – a converted farmhouse with just 16 boutique rooms – offers an intimate introduction to Croatian coastal life. Enclosed by fragrant pine forests, the hideaway might not have a sandy beach, but it makes up for it with its fresh Dalmatian cuisine (paired with a killer local wine selection). The friendly team will be happy to recommend – and help organise – boat trips along the coastline and to nearby islands. Of course, you can just as easily spend the day lounging on the hotel’s gently sloping beach in complete tranquility.littlegreenbay.com
The view from Andronis Luxury Suites
The hotel’s 39 luxury villas and suites all feature a modern minimalist decor and mesmerising views of the Aegean. For dinner, choose between a fine-dining experience at Lycabettus Restaurant or a traditional Greek meal at Miltos’ Greek Table. Throw in an infinity pool and a cave spa, and unwinding here is a breeze.
andronis.com
Andronis Luxury Suites
Santorini, Greece
Few can resist the dramatic beauty of Santorini’s whitewashed walls and bright blue domes. Perched dramatically on the caldera cliffs, Andronis Luxury Suites makes for a luxurious base away from the summer crowds.The hotel’s 39 luxury villas and suites all feature a modern minimalist decor and mesmerising views of the Aegean. For dinner, choose between a fine-dining experience at Lycabettus Restaurant or a traditional Greek meal at Miltos’ Greek Table. Throw in an infinity pool and a cave spa, and unwinding here is a breeze.
andronis.com
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