Photos: Yannis Rizomarkos/Nick Nikolaou; Styling: Anestis Michalis
Brand-new boutique hotel The Rooster is opening on the under-the-radar Greek island of Antiparos on June 1, 2021. More than a resort, The Rooster is the vision-become-reality of one woman driven to create a destination with depth, value and relevance to today’s traveller.
SET THE SCENE
Conceived as a wellness and lifestyle resort that embraces “slow living”, The Rooster has been designed with unpretentious aesthetic luxury in mind paired with excellent service, while providing a holistic mindfulness escape. It is a retreat for the discerning traveller that celebrates the soulful Greek island through sustainability, wellness, organic food, learning and fun.
Cloistered between the sandy, unspoilt beaches of the Aegean coastline and the dramatic landscape of the Cyclades amid open fields and the mystical caves of Antiparos, The Rooster exists in complete harmony with nature. It has an enchanting raw beauty with sustainability at its heart, all the while working in harmony with the local community.
THE VISION
The story behind The Rooster is as special as the place itself. The hotel is a complete passion project, thoroughly thought-out to the very last detail by an inspiring woman – Founder & Owner Athanasia Comninos.
Athanasia is passionate about Antiparos and safeguarding it, and her mission with The Rooster is to foster respectful tourism on the island by creating a safe haven for those who appreciate thoughtful travel, art, culture and life’s simple pleasures.
SPACE & PRIVACY
The Rooster is all about space and privacy: just 17 individual houses of differing size, each with its own independent character. With four different layouts to choose from, each is complete with ample space, private gardens, its own freshwater pool and outdoor showers.
Overlooking landscaped gardens or the sparkling Aegean, they all feature furnished terraces and spacious sundecks. Antiparos’s calm, laid-back vibe is infused throughout, creating a warm, homely environment with interiors inspired by the raw natural beauty and rustic charm of the surrounding scenery.
Casual, yet sophisticated, natural materials such as wood, marble and cotton complement the soothing colour palette. Understated elegance, privacy, simplicity and comfort are the leading values of The Rooster’s design philosophy. Athanasia worked closely with VOIS architects and was instrumental in developing the concept and interior design of the property.
A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Physical and emotional well-being, and environmental awareness lie at the core of The Rooster’s philosophy. The property’s farm-to-fork philosophy celebrates seasonal, homegrown ingredients, and many of the traditional and regional recipes served at The Restaurant contain fruits and vegetables picked straight from the farm.
Fresh fish is brought in daily by the island’s fishermen, while cheeses, free-range eggs and spirits are all procured locally and exclusive to Antiparos and Greece. Guests can visit the farm, learn about traditional farming techniques and pick indigenous vegetables and herbs to make their own meal, before partaking in interactive cooking sessions en plein air with a local cook.
While The Restaurant is the food-hub of the resort, the Secret Garden is an intimate, romantic experience reminiscent of the traditional courtyards found within the Cycladic houses. With small pebbles and lights that dance across the tables, this is a secluded place to drink and dine under the stars.
HOUSE OF HEALING
Wellness lies at the heart of The Rooster’s ethos. The House of Healing adopts a holistic approach and has been designed as a peaceful sanctuary for relaxation, relief, recharging and rejuvenation. The team introduces guests to custom-made treatments using pure organic products and specially guided rituals that draw on traditional ancestral and ancient medicine to embrace the primary ways of healing: sound healing, sacred gong bath ceremonies, a Greek ceremony of fire and celebration of the elements are a handful of the incredible experiences on offer.
There are two treatment rooms in the spa, and treatments can also be performed in the privacy of guests’ suites. There is also a yoga pavilion offering complimentary yoga and meditation during a stay.
Rooted in the splendid landscape, The Rooster eliminates stressful time restrictions, fosters quality of sleep and nurtures meaningful human contact. This is a place to arrive, completely relax away from the stresses of everyday life and leave feeling renewed.
ISLAND LIFE
While Greece continues to be one of Europe’s most popular tourism destinations, The Rooster deeply respects its environment and holds paramount the authenticity of Greek island life and delivering a bespoke experience to each of its guests.
Tucked away within the crystal-clear waters of the southern Aegean, Antiparos is one of the most secluded and exclusive islands in Greece. Its alchemy is restorative and elemental, making it an attractive destination for those who do not seek an active social life, but rather privacy and serenity instead.
Rich with natural beauty, golden sandy beaches and a verdurous landscape full of cedar trees, the island remains unspoilt and has managed to stay off the radar.
Antiparos lies in the heart of the Cyclades, less than one nautical mile from the larger island of Paros, the port to which it is connected by a local ferry. The Rooster is located on Livadia Beach, 6km from the port of Antiparos.
HOW TO GET THERE
By plane
Fly to Athens International Airport followed by a 35-min flight to Paros. Upon arrival in Paros, it is a 10-min drive to a small port, then a 10-min boat crossing to Antiparos.
By boat
Fly to Athens International Airport, then drive to one of two ports – Port of Rafina or Port of Piraeus – to take a ferry to the island of Paros (between 2.5 and 5 hours depending on fast vs regular ferry preference). Upon arrival in the port of Paros, it is a 15 to 20-min drive, followed by a 10-min boat crossing to Antiparos.
By helicopter
Antiparos has its own private helipad, with direct transfers from Athens International Airport.
RATES: Nightly rates at The Rooster will start from €580 in a Garden View Suite, B&B.
For more information, visit theroosterantiparos.com
