Ergon Beach House Nikiti

Ergon means “vocation,” and in this case, the profession is one of a culinary nature. The Ergon brand is responsible for dozens of high-end Mediterranean food shops and restaurants, including two food-oriented boutique hotels in Athens. Ergon Beach House is the latest addition to the collection. Eating well is a major focus here, and there’s no question the oceanfront restaurant and bar deliver on that promise. But the hotel is noteworthy on its own, not only for its location, on the Halkidiki peninsula’s Nikiti Beach, but for its glamping-style lodgings and inclusive, no-need-to-leave setup, where everything from morning yoga classes to open-air film screenings has already been thought of and provided.

Right on the sand is a picturesque beach club with neat rows of sunbeds and thatched umbrellas; set slightly back from the water, amid olive and pine trees, are tents, cabanas, suites, and villas that blend easily into the coastal landscape. No one’s roughing it here — even the simplest tent features air-conditioning, a large TV, a Marshall speaker, an espresso machine, a minibar with Ergon goodies, and an open-air shower. All tents have a private patio, garden, or pool, as do the larger cabanas, suites, and villas. The interiors are down-to-earth, outfitted in crisp whites and natural materials like linen and raffia.

The gourmet food bar turns out first-rate salads, sandwiches, iced coffee, and craft cocktails to guests lounging by the beach or relaxing under rustic pergolas, and a more formal restaurant handles evening meals, which are served communally at big wooden tables in the garden. Between eating and drinking, there’s little to do but doze, swim, and sunbathe, though an outdoor gym and playground await those with energy to spare. Under the stars at night, an open-air cinema shows classic films paired with Greek wines and savory snacks.