Homeric Poems

Sure, it’s an unusual name, but Santorini is an unusual place, and you can’t blame the local hoteliers if they feel like indulging their poetic side. And even by local standards, Homeric Poems is something special, both as a name and as a hotel — it’s set at the lower edge of the village of Firostefani, perched right over the cliff and looking straight into the volcanic caldera that is Santorini’s primary attraction.

Its architecture and design make liberal use of regulation white and blue, but there’s a sparseness and a simplicity to its interiors that feels more carefully considered than most. The Cave Suites, with their arched ceilings, are classics of the local style, and the Honeymoon and Grand suites add private plunge pools.

An infinity pool perched right over the edge of the cliff is among Homeric Poems’ shared spaces, along with the poolside bar and lounge. Meanwhile the restaurant draws on the expertise of an Odysseus of its own in the person of chef Dimitris Skarmoutsos, who traveled as far as California before returning to practice his craft in Greece once more, and who is the executive chef responsible for Homeric Poems’ menus.