Review: Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paros

Why book Cosme Paros?

To celebrate life in a sophisticated island setting among like-minded individuals (both guests and staff) who want to immerse themselves in the spirit of this most-authentic Greek destination and embrace freedom by the side of the azure Aegean Sea. The hotel – part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Luxury Collection Hotels and Resorts portfolio – has coined the motto “free to be.” And I ask you: has there ever been a better, or more needed, time to wholeheartedly embrace this ethos?

Set the scene

Cosme isn’t just a hotel, it’s a narrative. One that unfurls itself, revealing the expertly – and meticulously – weaved pieces of its rich tapestry, to all those lucky enough to spend a few days in its company. The property breathes, drawing in the fresh, salty air that whips off the Aegean Sea and allowing it to fill its white-washed lungs, to uplift the myriad pathways and passages (inspired by the bright fishing villages of Paros itself) that connect guest rooms with thoughtful spaces, dining areas, and outdoor living. From the achingly cool entrance that frames the stretch of private beach in front, to the half-moon infinity pool that perfectly kisses the ocean beyond it, island living doesn’t get much better, much freer, than this. 

The backstory

Cosme is the third, and newest, Kanava property on the island of Paros (the group also owns Parilio, popular with honeymooners, and Acron villas, an exclusive collection of 24 villas, all with private pools), making it lucky number seven in the husband-and-wife brand’s portfolio. Though the boutique brand’s story begins on another island entirely, across the Aegean Sea, in the middle of a 400-year-old winery, tucked away in the hilltop village of Megalochori.

Owners Kalia and Antonis Eliopoulos bought their first property, Vedema, in 1988 while on a family holiday and, despite the latter exclaiming, “Who would come to a hotel in Santorini?”, five years later they transformed it into the now-renowned Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort. This ignited a lifelong passion for breathing new life into unloved spaces and transforming them into show-stopping holiday destinations. Two more properties were born on Santorini, Mystique, and Istoria, once an abandoned mansion of a legendary socialite on the famous black-sand beach of Perivolos. 

The couple then set their sights on somewhere further afield: the authentic Greek island of Paros, just two hours from Thira (the official Greek name for the island) by ferry. Here, they opened the two properties mentioned earlier before launching Cosme, their newest – and perhaps most sparkling – Paros-based property earlier in 2022. In owner Kalia’s own words, it is an “extrovert expression” of Kanava hotels, a celebration of life at its highest vibration, built with caution and care to uphold and protect the essence of the island. It is an ode to the place they brought their children on family holidays, its authenticity, and their reverence for the way of life that existed long before the hotel was born.

The rooms

Rooms at Cosme Paros take on an endearing island charm, with calming neutral hues woven in with handcrafted wooden furniture and sumptuous white beds (the quintessential kind we all dream of when we imagine that perfect hotel experience). Cosme has 40 suites in total, a clutch looking out over the bay, while others look out toward the mountains that pepper Paros or the charming “village square” fountain; the hotel, we’re told, is set out much like a village itself, with outdoor pathways. that sits in the middle of the hotel. Several of the rooms boast their own terraces, while some luxuriate in the addition of a private pool.

Food and drink

The culinary offering here is curated by celebrated Greek chef, Yiannis Kiorohlou, who well-travelled foodies might recognise as the brains, and brilliance, behind Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe including La Guérite and La Petite Maison in Cannes. Kiorohlou established the restaurants as culinary destinations along with sister La Guérite restaurants in Saint Barts, the West Indies, and elsewhere across the globe. His Medite-Grecian approach is distilled across both restaurants here. There's Volta, a sheltered offering that wraps around the lobby, and Parostia (taking its name from the stone oven of traditional Parian houses), sandwiched between the pool area and the beach.

Breakfast offerings include a mix of traditional Greek and British dishes, while the extensive lunch and dinner menus feature a range of fresh, uplifting dishes, including ceviche or crisp calamari with avocado cream and chilli honey for lunch and heartier options like herb-crusted tomahawk and fresh crab in the evening.

The spa

Named after the Greek God of the sun, Elios Spa enjoys a lofty perch at the resort’s highest point and draws inspiration from the laidback Cycladic way of life. Two treatment rooms – one single and one double – each enjoy a private shower, changing room, and separate bathroom, though the pièce de résistance here is the private jacuzzi pool that connects the two. The space, with high, natural walls, a low-hanging statement moon globe (that illuminates at night to bathe the open-topped room in an ethereal hue), and an olive tree sprouting up in the middle of the water, feels much like a cocoon. Protected from the elements, guests revel in their newly-found calm and, certainly when the weather is slightly colder, the only heated pool on the property.

Treatments blend rare organic products and ingredients, a mix of innovative and traditional techniques, and a holistic, 360-degree approach to well-being – and can all be adapted to personal preferences.

The neighbourhood

The hotel sits on the northern rim of Paros, in the bay of Naoussa, with the centre of Naoussa itself – a soulful town with a cosmopolitan spirit yet the humble soul of a traditional fishing village – just a 10-minute walk that weaves along the coast and through the labyrinthine cobblestone streets toward the harbour. Here you’ll find myriad jewellery, fashion, and ceramic boutiques, as well as an international restaurant scene that seems to defy its small island routes.

Lefkes – an enchanting village tucked into the centre of olive groves and pine forests in the hills – is just a 20-minute drive away, and offers visitors a quintessentially historic Cycladic village experience (think narrow, winding streets, shops showcasing traditional crafting methods and coffee shops that spill out onto quaint squares), while the port city of Parikia is home to bougainvillaea-dressed streets, old churches (including the Monastery of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, also known as the “church of 100 doors”, built in the 4th-century AD and one of the best preserved Orthodox churches in the whole of Greece).

The service

The relationship between staff and guests is relaxed and authentic, one which feels as though it genuinely nourishes both parties. But don’t be fooled; the team here – from the general manager to the bar staff – never misses a beat. They know when to chat when to offer recommendations (we never encountered one we weren’t grateful to have received) and when to leave you to relax. The rapport they have built among the team effortlessly extends to those staying at the property and I spoke to several guests who felt their needs were seamlessly pre-empted and catered for almost intuitively. From the unintrusive delivery of fresh towels, once you’ve selected your sunbed for the day to the almost unnoticeable refreshing of iced water around the pool and beach, its fuss-free service is executed to near-perfect levels.

Who comes here?

A mix of families, couples, and mother-daughter combos looking for an authentic island experience that doesn’t compromise on mod-cons. Tours of local towns, wine tastings, farm visits, and boat trips can all be arranged through the hotel and guests here are keen to soak up the spirit of the island as well as enjoy total relaxation.

For families

Just as its adult guests are “free to be” at Cosme, so too are younger guests. The beach, sprawling across the sheltered Bay of Naoussa, is just steps from the shoreside restaurant, and children can be kept an eye on from a poolside sun-bed perch. Connecting rooms are available (as are babysitting services), and the young visitors staying at the same time as us were embraced with just the same warmth and care as their parents.

Day trips and tours of the island – including boat trips and farm visits – can be tailored and organised through the hotel to keep all ages happy.

Accessibility

Unfortunately, the hotel isn’t accessible for wheelchair users.

Is it worth it?

In a word, yes. Cosme has curated an authentic experience in the midst of clever, calming design, creating a luxury-fringed frame through which to dive into the island of Paros.