From every vantage point along the winding dirt road that leads to The Rooster, 30 acres of untouched land bristles with ruins, rocks and sand dunes until you arrive at an inconspicuous facade: a cycladic stone house with large, open barn doors exposing glimmering views of the sea. It’s not long before the friendly and attentive staff, donning gauzy beige linen, glide through the doors and whisk away your luggage. The Rooster’s beauty is arresting, to be sure, but not in an obvious way; it’s not extravagant luxury that stops you in your tracks, but rather its omission. The absence of manufactured, in-your-face luxury provides you the opportunity to slow down and sink into your surroundings, which remain intentionally, and refreshingly, understated.
The Rooster is confirmation that in Antiparos, a tiny Greek island less than one nautical mile from its larger sister island Paros, luxury isn’t built; it merely exists. The resort’s owner, Athanasia Comninos, grew up summering in Antiparos with her family and wanted to create a place that celebrated the island’s raw beauty, while fostering respectful tourism. Nestled above the quiet beach of Livadia, in the more undeveloped Western part of the island, The Rooster blends into its environment, a restorative retreat that can be enjoyed from its 17 private stone villas, open-air bar, two restaurants, and holistic spa.
The Check-In
Antiparos is remote, which is definitely part of the appeal. If traveling by plane, you’ll fly into Athens International Airport followed by a 35-minute flight to Paros. In Paros (whether you’ve traveled by plane or ferry), you’ll catch a 10-minute boat to cross over to Antiparos. Keep in mind: the main port of Paros is Parikia, but if you’re traveling with a vehicle, you’ll depart on a car ferry from the Pounda port. Since Antiparos lures the likes of Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Matthew McConaughey, it’s no surprise the island has its own private helipad.
The Look
Athanasia worked closely with VOIS architects, a young Athens-based architect firm, to develop the concept and interior design of the property, which is unpretentious yet sophisticated. Following the principles of local architecture and the rustic beauty of Antiparos, the construction followed traditional and local building techniques to ensure the hotel was made as sustainably as possible. Using natural materials like plaster, stone, terracotta, marble, wood and iron, they maintained a soothing palette with a layered combination of textures and patterns to create harmony throughout each space. In keeping with the same understated elegance and simplicity, all private spaces revolve around the main common area, which houses the open-air bar and restaurant— host to arguably the best sunset views on the island.
The Rooms
The resort consists of 17 individual houses of different sizes camouflaged in a sea of bamboo and bougainvillea, tranquilly blending into its natural surroundings. The architects and engineers studied the environment and land closely in deciding the positioning of the homes, which are scattered from the hillside to beach level, all with views of the Aegean. Each house features furnished terraces with spacious sundecks that include a private garden, its own freshwater pool, and outdoor showers. The chic rustic interiors of mostly natural hues and textures, like wood and crunchy cotton, are offset with quirky prints in mustard yellow, warm raspberry, and deep green to add a touch of individuality.
The Spa
At The Rooster’s “House of Healing,” you can choose from an extensive menu of holistic services, from facials and deep tissue massages to more traditional and ancestral healing treatments, such as sound healing and Ayurvedic therapy. There’s also a yoga pavilion, which offers complimentary yoga and meditation classes in a variety of different styles, from Hatha to Vinyasa, Yin to breathwork.
The Food & Drink
The Rooster prides itself on its “wellness-first” philosophy, a mission it successfully carries out through its food and drink offerings. The best evenings begin with a Farm Margarita or an Evergreens Essentials mocktail at the open-air bar while taking in sunset views before dinner. Dinner is then served at the main restaurant or in the secret garden, an intimate outdoor courtyard, both featuring ingredients sourced from the property’s own farm, which is situated less than a mile from the resort. The best dishes on the menus are, unsurprisingly, the ones with homegrown produce, which have been expertly crafted into exceptional vegetarian and vegan dishes, like rovista mung bean soup with ginger, coconut milk, turmeric and homegrown chili, or the egg tagliolini with homegrown confit tomatoes and basil with Antiparos’s dry mizithra cheese. For seafood lovers, the fresh fish is brought in daily by local fishermen; ask for the salt baked wild prawns with Antiparos capper sofrito. In the mornings, breakfast is served daily at the restaurant, featuring free-range eggs from The Rooster’s own coop, homemade gluten-free granola with natural yogurt produced from local families on the island, and traditional rice pudding with cinnamon. In an effort to preserve the hotel’s host beach, Livadia, it doesn’t offer beach service, but rather provides guests with picnic baskets to bring with them, containing plastic-free cutlery and recycled craft boxes.
The Check-Out
Given Antiparos’s secluded location, the island’s frequent travelers are drawn to it for its low-key and friction-free quality, rather than a bumping social scene (for that, head to Paros). While there are certainly buzzy restaurants that draw devoted locals and visitors, like the beloved Captain Pipinos, a popular seafood lunch spot on the water, and Lollo’s Pizzeria for a break from Greek food, everywhere you go promises a casual and unpretentious atmosphere. When you’re weaving through the charming Bougainvillea-filled streets of Chora, Antiparos’ main village, sit down for a traditional Greek meal on the patio at Taverna Klimataria. For an organized beach day amongst a chic crowd, The Beach House and Soros Beach are just fifteen minutes away; pair this with a stop at the beloved Taverna Peramataki for lunch. The best swim coves are at Faneromeni Beach, which can be accessed only by a 4x4 jeep, as well as at The Rooster’s own beach, Livadia, which is serene when calm and the main spot for surfing during days with strong winds. The hike around the hills of The Rooster’s property in Kampos and Livadia during golden hour are a must, and when you’re not closing out the evening with a sunset drink at the resort’s open-air bar, head to Sunset Deseo for a laid-back atmosphere, local vibe, and equally satisfying views.
