ISLAND LIFE

Saluti da Stampalia

Astypalea - Greece

Seven hillside suites above Livadi Bay, looking across the sea to Chora and the Venetian castle, with Astypalea’s beaches and slow island roads close by.

Adults Only

Beach 400m

Jacuzzi

Honesty Bar

Massage

Hike

THE SETTING

Saluti da Stampalia is a small boutique hotel in Tzanaki, on Astypalea, the butterfly-shaped island between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. It sits above Livadi Bay, with the Aegean in front and Chora rising across the water, crowned by the Venetian Castle of the Querini family.

Astypalea has a very particular mood. It has the whitewashed houses, blue shutters and dry light people associate with the Cyclades, but it belongs to the Dodecanese and carries its own island rhythm. It feels quieter than the obvious Greek island names, with long coastlines, small coves, windmills, scattered chapels, thyme, sage and roads that make you slow down without needing to be told.

THE ROOMS

There are seven suites at Saluti da Stampalia, all facing the sea. The view is the common thread, but the suites do not feel like copies of one another. Some are split across two levels, some are more open and simple, and several place the terrace at the centre of the stay.

The interiors are bright and calm, with high ceilings, white surfaces, soft curves, stone details and a quiet use of colour. They feel contemporary, but still close to the island: no heavy decoration, no forced Cycladic styling, just clean spaces that let the view and the light do most of the work.

The wider Saluti project also includes two serviced apartments closer to Chora and Pera Gialos, useful for guests who prefer a more independent stay in town.

THE FOOD

Breakfast is prepared daily by the Saluti team and built around the flavours of Astypalea: local cheeses, pies, honey, herbs, breads, sweet and savoury dishes, fruit, coffee and island recipes that change with the season.

Astypalea has its own food vocabulary — thyme honey, chlori cheese, saffron-scented pies, handmade pasta, herbs, rusks and small local pastries — and Saluti brings some of that into the morning without making it feel staged.

Although there is no on-site restaurant, room service is available until 22:00, and private meals can be arranged. The team can also help with restaurant reservations around Livadi, Chora and the rest of the island.

THE STAY

There is a bar and lounge area, a small multilingual library and outdoor spaces shaped around the view. The hotel also arranges activities depending on the season and weather: boat trips, fishing, water sports, trekking, cycling, guided visits and island excursions. Car, scooter, bike and boat rentals can also be organised.

Sustainability is part of the project. The building follows bioclimatic principles, using natural ventilation, daylight and protection from strong winds. Energy-saving appliances, smart air-conditioning controllers, automated outdoor lighting, an EV charging station, water filtration, recycling, reduced plastic packaging and an organic herb garden are all part of the approach.

AROUND SALUTI DA STAMPALIA

Livadi Beach is around 600 metres away, with restaurants and small shops nearby. Chora, about 2 km away, is the island’s main event: white houses climbing towards the Venetian Castle, narrow lanes, blue details, windmills on the square and views that shift as you move up and down the hill. Pera Gialos, the old harbour below Chora, is also nearby for boat trips and a more practical seaside rhythm.

Astypalea’s beaches are spread across both “wings” of the island. Further out, beaches and coves such as Kaminakia, Vatses, Agios Konstantinos, Steno and Maltezana give you different versions of the island: more remote, more organised, more wind-protected, depending on the day. There is also plenty beyond the sea. The island has walking paths through dry hills and herb-scented landscapes, small chapels, birdwatching near the artificial lake at Livadi, the Archaeological Museum in Pera Gialos, the Panagia Portaitissa church and local summer festivals.

Getting to Astypalea takes a little planning. There are direct flights from Athens with a flight time of around 55 minutes, and ferry connections from Piraeus that take roughly ten hours. Ferries also link Astypalea with islands in the Cyclades and Dodecanese, including Amorgos, Naxos, Paros, Kalymnos, Kos and Rhodes, depending on the route and season.

THE OWNERS

Saluti da Stampalia is a family-run project by Rousso and Virginia. “Stampalia” is one of the old names for Astypalea, and “Saluti da Stampalia” sounds like a postcard sent from the island. That postcard feeling is still there, but the hotel gives it a modern shape: clean suites, strong service, local food, sustainability and a real attachment to Astypalea’s landscape and culture.

GOOD TO KNOW

Saluti da Stampalia has seven suites in Tzanaki, all with sea views. The wider Saluti collection also includes two serviced apartments close to Chora and Pera Gialos. A car or scooter is useful for exploring the island properly. Pets are not accepted.

Rates start at €170 per night, depending on the season, suite category and booking conditions.

THE ADDRESS