Parīlio
Hotel Name: Parīlio Hotel Paros
Number of Rooms: 33 spacious rooms have been carved out of a complex that used to house 55, resulting in airy, open accommodations.
Location: If Goldilocks visited the Cyclades and dismissed Mykonos (to the north) for being too wild, Santorini (to the south) for being too touristy, Naxos (to the east) for being too large, and Sifnos (to the west) for being too small, she would deem central Paros just right.
Paros may not have the name recognition in the US of its flashier Cycladian neighbors - and that’s exactly its draw. Located near the postcard-perfect fishing town of Naoussa, which is the type of place where the taverna owner’s daughter might ply you with her dad’s homemade mastika while you try to keep your late lunch of fresh squid and golden saganaki from blowing off the tabletop and into the lapping harbor at your feet, Parīlio’s white doorways arc through the property like the paths of so many skipped stones. Pines and palms stand sentry at the pool, and inside, rooms are perfectly edited to allow the gooey afternoon light a star turn.
What We Loved: There are no gilded olive wreaths or busts in togas here, but the design still feels stylishly relevant, with sleek synecdochic sculptures invoking the depth of history that keeps travelers returning to Greece again and again.
What We Didn’t Love: Service-wise, Parīlio - and Paros in general - isn’t the most polished spot along the Mediterranean (but isn’t that actually the draw?)
Right For: Guests looking a low-key combination of style and substance (and a great Instagram photo or two).
Wrong For: Families with kids will find lots to love on Paros, though the space of a private villa may offer more flexibility.
Best Time to Visit: May until late September; book early for prime summer months.
TLF Tip: Travel + Leisure has named Paros the best island in Europe twice since 2018, so it’s well on its way to becoming a must-stop on the tour-de-Greek-Isles - visit before that happens.