In a nutshell
A serene family-friendly hideout at the southernmost tip of the Athens Riviera, the mythical location where King Aegeus threw himself into the water, giving his name to the Aegean Sea.
Three things I loved
- The front row views of the Temple of Poseidon – from up high at the main restaurant, from my room, from the private beach. It’s a hypnotic sight that’s hard not to fall in love with.
- A morning somatic practice, set underneath pine trees and overlooking the Aegean, with wellness expert Vicky Vlachonis.
- The elegant yet unfussy Greek food – I was in seafood and fresh fruit heaven.
Rooms
There are 139 bungalows, suites and villas scattered around the grounds, all with large windows (made of special reflective glass as to not obstruct the views) and doors that open up onto verdant gardens of fragrant rosemary and shady pine trees. Plump for one with a view of the sea and Poseidon. Inside, interiors are whitewashed and calming, with sculptural wicker lamps, stand alone tubs and cream boucle chairs. I stayed in a generously-sized one-bedroom pool villa, where once I sank down into the pillow-like white couch, I didn’t want to get up – the mix-your-own mini bar perfectly placed nearby. In the morning I slid the glass doors open to admire the views of Poseidon from bed, the linen curtains billowing in the breeze. Just a few steps from my bedroom, a sapphire-coloured swimming pool with corner outdoor sofa on one side, and sun lounges to the other. For more space, there are villas that can sleep up to 10 guests, and are even more impressive outside with large heated pools and multiple outdoor seating. Everything feels soft yet modern while still grounded within the mythic location, like the mirror in the Poseidon villa impressively framed by quartz crystal from the nearby town of Lavrio.
Food and drink
“The concept of farm to table isn’t a thing in Greece, it’s just lunch and dinner for us,” Odyssia Sifounaki-Daskalantonaki tells me over lunch – seam bream and wild greens – at Aegean Grill, the hotel’s poolside restaurant. Odyssia represents the third generation of Grehotel, the wholly Greek-owned hotel brand started by her grandfather Nikos Daskalantonakis in Crete over 50 years ago. As an avid agriculturist, Nikos also established Agreco Farm in Crete, so food is very much a focus for the hotel group, particularly at Cape Sounio where the head chef has worked for 27 years. With an organic garden on site, the fresh produce is a stand out, notably the vibrant fruit – watermelon, oranges and cherries – which I piled onto a thick dollop of Greek yoghurt at breakfast, topped with Cretan honey. There are four restaurants. The poolside Aegean Grill, Yali which sits on a waterfront deck by the beach, Cape Sounio Restaurant where breakfast is served and, my favourite, The Restaurant. Set on the top of the main building, The Restaurant serves Greek classics alongside a dedicated sushi menu. Do order the scallops – the best I’ve ever had – and don’t miss a glass of crisp Santorini wine, best sipped while overlooking Poseidon at sunset, the sound of live music wafting in the wind.
Highlights and amenities
The pace at Cape Sounio is seductively slow. Most guests tend to potter between the beach, the main pool and their shady bungalows. The beach is sandy on land but rocky in the crystal-clear water and, thanks to the protected cove, it’s very easy to swim or cruise around on a paddle board – keep an eye out for sea turtles. Morning yoga is held by the beach while there’s a full range of wellness experiences available at the spa. Other activities on offer include olive oil tasting, art therapy, ancient pottery lessons and cooking classes by the organic garden.
Wellness
The real coup for Cape Sounio is the relatively new (in 2026) wellness programme by Vicky Vlachonis. Born in Athens, Vlachonis is a celebrated osteopath and author based between New York and Los Angeles, with a long list of capital A-list clients – Katie Perry, Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyonce, who is also an investor in her medicinal olive oil brand Saint Supply. A shot of Saint Supply olive oil and a tea with 40 herbs from the Agreco Farm is served upon arrival at the spa, followed by a consultation with either Vlachonis or one of the staff members – all Greek and trained by Vlachonis. The approach here is gentle with the mantra of ‘history, healing and happiness.’ There are no strict diets or rigid timetables, no overly complicated tech or intrusive treatments. Instead, treatments are holistic, ranging from lymphatic massage to in-sea meditation and craniosacral therapy. The highlight of my stay was a morning somatic release led by former ballerina Elena Vakali, which used a combination of gentle movements – similar to yoga or ballet – along with breathwork, followed by the five Tibetan rites (yoga-like exercises) and a visualisation meditation led by Vlachonis, in her deep soothing voice. It all felt very gentle and simple at the time but the after affect in terms of energy and calmness was powerful.
What to do nearby
The Temple of Poseidon is the natural must-do for guests here. The hotel can arrange a guided tour, or you can visit on your own with entry tickets costing €20. To take in more of the coastline, have the hotel arrange a private boat trip or an adventurous drive via vintage jeep. Athens is located around an hour’s drive away, where the rooftop restaurant at The Dolli, Cape Sounio’s sister hotel, has what must be the best view of the the Acropolis in the whole city.
For families
This is my favourite kind of family stay in that the hotel manages to look and feel incredibly elegant, all the while children are very much present and integrated. There are a number of family and multi-room bungalows and villas available, and I noted quite a few multi-generation families during my stay; happily enjoying sharing suppers at Yali, digging around with buckets and spades on the beach and playing table tennis by the main building. Even I was filled with glee at the sight of the climbing wall at the kids’ club, a pine-tree shaded haven featuring a paddling pool, outdoor cinema and a colourful indoor space brimming with toys and crafts. There are a range of activities on offer at the kids’ club as well as ones for families to enjoy together, from a bee safari with honey tasting to playful kid’s spa treatments. As a mother who has endured many a laborious travel journey with tinies, I thought the room service kid’s menu was a genius touch – perfect for those tricky late night arrivals when you just need something quick before bedtime.
Insider tip
For bucket-list experience, the hotels offers the option to combine a trip to the Temple of Poseidon with a wellness element. The experience includes a walk to the temple with a guided meditation along the way and concludes with a restorative stretch session while overlooking the Aegean Sea from above.
Final considerations
- Best for: Families, nature lovers, couples looking to switch off from the world
- Can’t miss feature: The sunset views in the evening at The Restaurant
- Location: Athens Riviera, 45 minutes from Athens airport
- Accessibility: The hotel is not suitable for those with limited mobility