Along whitewashed steps zigzagging down the side of the caldera in the village of Imerovigli, this tiny (for now) hotel looks out not only on a serene blue horizon but also, in the near distance, a pinnacle of rock topped by the ruins of an ancient castle. The hotel's exterior is classic, clinging-to-the-cliffside Aegean, and the rooms minimalist modern, with a touch of art here and a flat-screen TV there to break up the otherwise all-white decor. The service is as attentive as one would expect with only nine rooms (and as one would hope it remains when they add another eight rooms this year).
When to go: July and August if your vision of Santorini bliss is to rub elbows with the A-list; June and September for diminished crowds.
Which room to book: The honeymoon suite has a plunge pool, a king-size bed, and the best views.