Melenos Art Boutique Hotel, Rhodes, Greece - Explore & Book

"The tiny town of Lindos hugs the hill; mansions built by the Knights of St John bask beyond stone walls (catch a glimpse though open doors), while the bluest of seas shimmers down in the bay (St Paul came ashore 2,000 years ago). A magical place – timeless, untouched. No cars, just donkeys that ferry tourists up to the Acropolis. Follow them up to the mellow stone walls of Melenos, where they stop to drink from a water trough at the front door. Twelve years in the making and built over 4 terraces with the sea below and the Acropolis above, you arrive to find staggering beauty at every turn. The outside space is magical - the air is perfumed with jasmine and lavender as you explore a jumble of terraces, stairs and courtyards. An open-air bar is lit by paper lanterns at night; the restaurant is shaded by Moorish tents to keep the sun at bay. Enormous bedrooms defy superlatives, with wooden platform beds that hold the comfiest mattresses in Greece. All rooms open straight onto terraces; some have padded stone benches, one has a huge sofa, another has views that tumble down to the beach. Highs Lindos itself, an ancient, largely unspoilt village, with a warren of twisty cobbled alleyways (bring a ball of string) We love the tranquil setting on the edge of the village, away from the hustle and bustle, with dreamy sea views The sympathetic architecture is like an extension of the village, with cobbled patios and walkways fringed by potted flowers Gracious, welcoming and highly professional staff There's also a 2-bedroom villa and a 4-bedroom villa for those wanting added space and privacy Lows Breakfast is the only meal served, but there are plenty of eateries in the village, a short walk away No pool, although the beach is a 5-minute walk away Lindos can get extremely busy in high season, but many visitors are day trippers from Rhodes Town who leave before sunset The hotel occasionally hosts weddings on the roof, which can cause noise until midnight (no later, we are assured) Such a special hotel comes at a fittingly special price tag" - Tom Bell