Nõstos Sérifos

Nōstos is bathed in mellow smoothness, a boutique little number of barefoot aesthetics, an eco-heart and a design narrative of Aegean coastal living. The new hotel is found on the beautifully xeric isle of Sérifos, the raw, rugged neighbour to Sifnos and Milos, all of whom reside in the Aegean clutch of the Cyclades Islands. Still in-the-making, hotel Nōstos is a family heirloom that borrows a little soul from Greek heritage, attuned for those seeking a chilled Cycladic refuge, opening its doors in early summer – arguably the best time to hit the island.

Sugar-cube architecture angles the house form, painted in a familiar whitewash that nicely anchors Nōstos into the cascading landscape of Sérifos’ port Livadi, your entry by ferry to the island. The original hostelry, owned by the grandfather of present-day owners, Harrys and partner Bianca, threads sustainable design into a rebirth hotel with a determined rethink on creating a hotel with an ethical soul. Teaming up with architects Olga Ktenà & Maria Panagiotopoulou of Athens-based C-O lab, known for their considerate projects and indigenous use of materials across the island, Nōstos harnesses technology by partnering with Swiss-based carbon capture company Climeworks to achieve a lower impact with efficiency and style.

The interior remit is high on natural materials - stone, wood, travertine and linen with glimpses of brushed bronze set against a crisp format. The ground floor combines the hotel lobby essentials into a neat interior setup with designer lighting by Lukas Peet of design studio ANDlight, and furniture icons by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of the London-based studio Industrial Facility, Monocle 'Designers of the Year' creating the perfect resting spot for your derriere.

Billed as the first ‘green’ hotel on the island, Nōstos is a casual-style refuge, a marriage of sustainability, nature, design and creativity that is neatly wrapped by the doorstep bustle of the port and the nearby beauty of Sérifos’ abundant beaches. The perfect canvas for your next Greek adventure, Nōstos is the go-to bolthole for self-confessed minimalist lovers who gravitate towards the slow lane of island life.

Natural hideaways, Nōstos’ seventeen rooms range in size but are unified with clean architecture in hessian tones and blond timbers, a beach house narrative in white – natural, crafted and oh so chilled.

Layered with contemporary detailing, the suites have a design language of elegant simplicity, calmness and clean aesthetics attuned to the island's soul, offsetting the predominant white tones with tactile comforts in the form of hessian, linen and wicker-cane; pockets of luxe in the form of Jacuzzis. 

Breakfast – simple, slow-lane pleasures for a pared-back island experience, which gives you the excuse to head out to that shady taverna for lunch and candlelit dinner in the hilltop Chora.

Secluded Sérifos has dodged the thronging tourism of other Cycladic isles; the barren outcrop is a shield to the hidden coves of aquamarine colour, tiny secret villages, goats that speckle the stony escarpments, hilltop abodes of sophisticated meetups in squares where everyone gathers for long dinners into the night.

Accessible by boat from the Athens’ port Piraeus, Nōstos sits in the horseshoe cradle of Livadi port in the south of the island, a Grecian greeting on arrival to Sérifos, an island made famous by Greek mythology, Perseus and the head of Medusa. A gateway to this hushed island where time takes on its own meaning, whether that’s on a remote beach, at sea, on the cliffs or here at Nōstos – a chilled, sophisticated take on the ancient art of living well, Greek style.

“We wanted the hotel to have a fun and hip feel without taking itself too seriously.” These are the words of owners Bianca and Harrys who have injected a playful personality into the execution of Nōstos, although the hotel’s serious side comes to the fore with the addition of new green practices not seen on Sérifos before such as solar panels, thermal insulation and carbon capture in collaboration with Swiss-based company Climeworks. Previously owned by Harrys’ grandfather pappous Giorgos (George), the next generation – Bianca and Harrys – have prepared the way for a new concept, without losing sight of the Cycladic aesthetic. Remembering fondly staying at Nostos over the season to help out as a youngster, Bianca and Harrys bring Nostos to a whole new level.