The Vibe: A one-off and a must stay for both architecture buffs and beach lovers.
The Area: Set on the Peloponnesian coast’s Kourouta beach, the hotel puts guests in a secluded spot that’s also an ideal springboard for regional exploration. The town of Amaliada is just northeast, while the wider Peloponnese peninsula offers a plethora of archaeological sites, wineries, and historical cities.
The DNA: Carved from an abandoned winery, Dexamenes Seaside Hotel is a palpable slice of Greek trading history wrapped up in a stunning industrial setting. Opened in May 2019, the reanimation by award-winning architecture firm K-Studio offers guests the singular hospitality experience of sleeping inside old wine tanks from the 1920s, which are now defined by a sublime, clean-lined aesthetic. Ensuring that the location is at the forefront of the hotel concept, many of the 34 guestrooms boast a private canopied patio overlooking the Ionian Sea, while a bar-lounge, a taverna, a history room, and a boutique “Bakaliko” store selling local produce are together a tangible celebration of the region’s culture. The ancestral property of Nikos Karaflos, Dexamenes is the realization of Karaflos’ long-held goal to create a hotel that honors the heritage of the site and its surroundings, while cultivating a stillness and simplicity to counteract the frenetic nature of modern life. A former alumnus of K-Studio, it is little wonder that Karaflos looked to his former colleagues to assist in reimagining and reshaping the modernist landscape of the property.
Suite-Me-Up: Standing at 30m2 a piece, the tanks were ideally suited to house the 34 guestrooms, which are a lesson in pared-down luxury defined by the unique patina of the exposed concrete walls and polished terrazzo floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows serve to augment the contrast between the cool, monastic interior space and the heat and exposure to the elements outside. A meticulously planned layout features an open wardrobe, a double bed with COCO-MAT natural mattress, and a single sofa, while a bathroom with a spacious shower and amenities sourced from Moda Bagno sits behind a wall of textured glass. A neoclassical beachfront villa also comprises two 60m2 suites, a room with three double bunk-beds, and a kitchen.
Your host: Nikos Karaflos
Seen: archdaily, bigSEE, designboom, dezeen, enki, Wallpaper*, WeHeart
Accolades: Condé Nast Traveler Hot List 2020
✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 34 suites (30m2) (323 sq ft) & 1 villa (240m2) (2,583) • hotel opened: 2019 • architecture & interior design: K-Studio • bathroom amenities: Zealots of Nature ✅ free parking on-site • no pets allowed • wheelchair accessible
