This New Santorini Resort Offers 37 Luxury Suites with Private Plunge Pools and Breathtaking Sunset Views

Outside restaurant at the Santo Mine hotel (Source)

To any seasoned traveler, summer in Santorini might evoke a familiar scenario: Instagram versus reality.

While social media is flooded with mesmerizing sunsets and picture-perfect blue domes atop whitewashed buildings, the crowded streets and prodding selfie sticks often go unseen. However, it's still possible to experience the island's magic without the crowds.

Enter the Santo Collection Resorts and Villas. This trio of properties, situated between the village of Oia and Ammoudi Bay, feels like a secluded world of its own and quietly offers some of the best sunset views on Santorini. My favorite spot to watch the evening show was from my suite’s private jacuzzi at Santo Mine, a boutique property newly opened by the hotel group in April 2024.

At Santo Mine, 37 suites are spread across the property, ensuring guests always enjoy a sense of privacy, even at full capacity during peak season. Though you'll feel inclined to spend as much time as possible soaking in your suite’s private plunge pool (I certainly did), it's worth checking out the resort's common spaces: fine-dining restaurants, an outdoor gym, an infinity pool, and a stylish wine cellar, to name a few.

Seaside view from a room at the Santo Mine hotel (Source)

Located only a 10-minute walk from Oia's most popular restaurants and landmarks, Santo Mine allows guests to easily switch between total seclusion on the resort's property and exploring the rest of the village with the crowds—a luxury that’s hard to come by on a Greek island summer vacation.

Another addition to its portfolio this year is The Villas by Santo Collection. These two secluded four-bedroom villas can host up to 16 guests, offering butler service, in-house fitness and spa sessions, and a wine fridge stocked with local Santorini bottles. Guests can also hire a mixologist for private cocktail experiences or a chef for sunset BBQs.

Rooms and Suites

Each suite has a personal plunge pool overlooking Ammoudi Bay in the Aegean Sea. The design boasts Cycladic minimalism with sleek, modern undertones. Guests can reach the village of Oia in just 10 minutes via a private walking path. Private tasting experiences are hosted in the on-property wine cellar. The Suites Carefully carved into the cliffs of Oia on the site of an old stone mine, the suite interiors blend Cycladic minimalism and modern brutalist design. The accommodations, which opened this spring, feature exposed raw materials like stone, clay, and marble, contrasted by light wood and warm cream tones that brighten up the space. One of the more striking elements is the slab of black lava rock covering the bathroom wall — a subtle nod to the island’s iconic caldera facing the resort.

Room at the Santo Mine hotel (Source)

The highlight is the sea-facing private patio with a table and cushioned seating, two chaise lounge chairs, and your pool or jacuzzi. The premium suites, which measure around 540-680 square feet, come with both.

Food and Drink

Oenophiles should visit the wine cellar for a private tasting experience with cheese, fruit, and, of course, κρασί (Greek for wine). Rhoē, a pool bar by day turned sunset happy hour spot by night, has a creative cocktail menu with three adjectives below each drink to describe its taste. If potent, smoky, and spicy is your preference, try the "Smokin’ Hot," made with mezcal, pink grapefruit, agave, and chili. For a floral, dry, and elegant vibe, the “Ruby Rose” combines vodka, cherry soda, pomegranate, and rose bitters. A daily lunch menu is available for poolgoers, along with a small selection of bar bites for a pre-dinner refreshment.

Bar at the Santo Mine hotel (Source)

At the breakfast buffet each morning, a large spread of Greek classics will start your day off right, including spinach pie, heaps of feta, and Greek yogurt. Come nighttime, the outdoor breakfast area transforms into Ālme, the property’s intimate fine-dining fish restaurant. The team of chefs specializes in dry-aging the best local catches and offers seven- and 11-course seafood-focused tasting menus.

Activities and Experiences

Wellness-seeking travelers can center themselves at sunrise yoga or get their heart rate up at the outdoor gym perched on a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea. Those looking to relax can schedule a private tasting experience in the wine cellar, which samples Greek blends native to Santorini and beyond. In addition to the personal plunge pools attached to each suite, guests can enjoy the seaside infinity pool with a cocktail in hand.

Outside area at the Santo Mine hotel (Source)

The Spa

Pnoē Spa sits at the bottom of an unassuming staircase off the pool area. It has three treatment rooms and a menu of 11 unisex body and facial treatments. Some therapies, like the Urban Longevity Facial, target city dwellers who want to detoxify from the negative stress a fast-paced lifestyle can put on the body and mind. Guests can also reserve private time in the on-site sauna and hammam.

Wine cellar at the Santo Mine hotel (Source)

Sustainability

Sustainable hospitality is central to the Santo Collection’s identity. The hotel group employs several practices to combat its environmental impact, from water and waste management to energy conservation and regenerative agriculture.

Santo Mine recently introduced a system called “sustainable hotel farming,” using the European Green Deal—a collection of policy initiatives aimed at achieving EU climate neutrality by 2050—as a framework for its approach to food production. A natural composting process converts organic kitchen and garden waste into high-quality, rich soil that cultivates environmentally friendly ingredients to enhance the resort’s culinary offerings, including herbs, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Location

Being just a short stroll from the main village, the resort’s location gives guests the best of both worlds: solitude and seclusion without feeling cut off from all the action. Santo Mine also boasts private sunset viewing spots that rival some of the most popular lookout points on the island.

Sea view from a room at the Santo mine hotel (Source)

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Throughout the 2024 season, Santo Mine’s website offers a few promotions. Guests can take advantage of the “Stay Longer & Explore” package, which provides a 25 percent discount on accommodations, along with a host of exciting perks like daily sunset cocktails, a floating breakfast for two, and half-off a private tasting experience in the on-property wine cellar.

The resort also has a membership rewards program. Signing up via email or Facebook unlocks unique benefits and an instant 10 percent discount on your next stay.