The Best Room at ... The Rooster
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This summer, the most talked-about hotel in Greece is The Rooster, which opened in June on the island of Antiparos. The wellness and lifestyle resort, as it bills itself, features 16 individual villas and a Farm House that sleeps six guests. Antiparos is a 10-minute ferry from its larger sibling, Paros, which is accessible by flights and ferries from Athens. It's where Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson (who became Greek citizens in 2020) own a villa, and where The Rooster's founder and owner, Athanasia Comninos, began vacationing 10 years ago.
Comninos, a stylish mother of two, left a career that included interior design, a stint at Vogue Greece, and working for her family’s shipping company to focus on this passion project seven years ago. While other hotels have suffered from cancelations and low occupancy because of Covid, The Rooster is operating at full capacity thanks to a mix of farm-to-table cuisine (with ingredients from the resort's own farm), a beautiful setting, and stunning earth-toned decor.
Here, Comninos tells T&C what makes the resort so unique.
What do you consider to be the best room at the property and why?
For me, because I’m Greek, the best room is next to the beach because you can hear the sound of the sea, room 106. It's a two-bedroom villa. I like it because it's the closest one to the sea. It does not have a full sea view but you are literally on the beach. It's my favorite because I'm Greek and I take the view for granted. Maybe for a foreigner the best villa could be room 202, which is higher and has a full sea view.
How much do your rooms cost per night?
It depends on the season and the demand, but our rooms start at €580 (about $680), with breakfast included.
How would you describe the guests and the vibe at the hotel?
The vibe of the hotel is exactly what I was dreaming of, which is quite tranquil. It's easy on the eyes and on the ears, as is my decoration. The guests are the guests I was dreaming to have; they are respectful, they are kind, and they seem to get the concept and to respect the differences that this hotel has from other hotels. For instance, we don't have a central pool or service on the beach. I have many guests from the United States and I'm very happy because they are the best guests. I'm not just saying that. We were supposed to have more guests from the U.K., but we've had very few because of Covid. We've also had a few Italians and an Indian family.
What was your vision for the hotel?
This was a slow process because it began seven years ago. It began as another concept and then slowly developed to what it is today. In the beginning, it was going to be nine houses, no restaurant, no spa, and no farm, but the main vision was to keep it simple. No matter what happened through the years, we kept it simple. We may have all these luxury services, which I call understated luxury, but we keep it simple. We're not bling bling. I always wanted to blend into the Antiparos vibe and this valley, where I have a house for nine years, but always to respect the vibe of this island and the beauty of this island.
Where does the name of the hotel come from?
First of all, the rooster is strong. I was walking with my husband at sunset, and this area is full of coops. We have so may roosters and chickens and they crow all day long. It's not like they crow only in the morning. I realized this area is full of roosters, and I thought, "Rooster" sounds pretty cool. "The Rooster" sounds really cool. Then I connected it with the wake-up call and the awakening that happens at the spa and with yoga and meditation, and it all clicked. I also really liked the logo of The Rooster. Now we have our own coop with roosters and chickens at the farm 1.5 kilometers from here that supplies the restaurant.
What do you think makes the hotel unique and distinguishes it from other hotels in the Greek islands?
I think it's very different. I believe that there is a deeper sense in the meaning of luxury, and luxury should not be only what we see. It should not be only if something his expensive. It is an attitude and an experience. It's all in the details. It's from the sense, from what you smell, from what you eat, from the customer service. It's the whole experience here. In Greece, unfortunately we tend to charge for a room based on the view. It's not just about the view here. There's a lot of soul in this hotel. We have grown up together over the past seven years. I took a big risk because I was not in the hotel business and I had never run a business by myself. It's a very personal project.
What are the best activities/must-see/do/eat when staying with you?
I would definitely recommend visiting the spa, doing yoga, sound healing, shirodhara treatments, massages. Our House of Healing is a huge part of The Rooster. I would also recommend dining at the farm and our Secret Garden. Have sunset drinks. I also recommend surfing at the beach here; we have an instructor who gives lessons. Go kite surfing and windsurfing in Paros.
How would you describe the difference between Paros and Antiparos?
They are completely different. Paros is a much bigger island, first of all. It's more touristy. There are more cars, clubs, bars, and restaurants on Paros. Antiparos is a small island. It's more exclusive. For me, it's the perfect size of an island.
For a similar vibe on the neighboring island of Paros, check into Parilio. The 33-suite retreat, a member of Design Hotels, takes its name from "Paros" and "ilios," the Greek word for sun. Opened in 2019, it features a cross-shaped swimming pool and a notable restaurant, Mr. E.
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