Dexamenes Seaside Hotel re-opens for the season with new suites and an exciting culinary program, marking the next chapter of this Greek postwar winery’s
continually evolving story…
The vision of entrepreneur-turned-hotelier Nikos Karaflos, who enlisted K-Studio to transform an abandoned wine factory into a hotel that opened in 2019, has restored fermentation tanks as suites; a pop-up restaurant in a silo tank; and former offices as wellness spaces. Now, the eight new Seaview Terrace Suites honour the original ethos while offering a fresh perspective.
Image credit: Claus Brechenmacher & Reiner Baumann
Designed as an elevated structure atop the concrete tanks (the Beachfront Wine Tank Suites), each features a wall of folding, floor-to-ceiling windows that blur indoor-outdoor living, along with a generous veranda and a wooden, pergola-like canopy that appears to float above, unsupported. At the far edge of the terrace, a water channel frames the panoramic view to the horizon and from the CocoMat bed, all that can be seen is two calming, cosmic blue zones: the sky and the Ionian Sea.
Image credit: Claus Brechenmacher & Reiner Baumann
Light and airy, the suites continue the original materials palette, pared-back aesthetic, and spatial organisation, with an open wardrobe and a bathroom separated by a wall of textured glass. Just as the accommodation options have expanded, so too has the culinary concept. The 1920s silo tank— one of several unique food and drink venues on the property—opened as dex.Silo.01, a space for curated fine dining suppers, in 2024.
Image credit: Claus Brechenmacher & Reiner Baumann
Created in collaboration with consultant chef Gikas Xenakis, there are three existing themed experiences. The Traditional, Illegal series highlights how traditional, sustainable foods and practices have been outlawed by modern regulations. The Zymosis experience comments on the phenomenon of fermentation (which has a direct connection to the history and DNA of Dexamenes). And Full Moon, No Moon (held only when there is a full or new moon)
combines a site-specific video projection and cosmic soundscape in a ritual dedicated to the moon.
Joining the line-up this summer is Tomato, a showcase of one of the staple ingredients in Greek cooking. Taking both a gastronomic and educational approach, the menu will shine the spotlight on varieties from various regions, as well as different cooking techniques, through contemporary interpretations of classic dishes such as Yemista and Hondromenoudelo. There is also an upcoming wine and food pairing, which will be held in the Dexamenes vineyard, and continued food activism programming that pushes boundaries and confirms the hotel as a cultural platform, beyond the norms of a holiday resort.
Image credit: Claus Brechenmacher & Reiner Baumann
Dexamenes is a member of the Design Hotels portfolio in which each property reflects the ideas of a visionary hotelier, an ‘Original’, someone with a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design and architecture – it is clear how the vision of Dexamenes champions these values, and how the K-Studio design, rooted in heritage and context, amplifies the vision.
Who is Design Hotels?
Design Hotels represents and markets a curated selection of over 300 independent hotels in more than 60 countries across the globe. In 2017, it launched Further, a traveling laboratory for experiential hospitality that transforms hotels across the globe into temporal hubs of thematic exploration. The mission behind Further aligns with the values of the future-facing Promad, a new generation of traveller embracing progressive travel and global nomadism. First identified by Design Hotels in collaboration with leading futures consultancy The Future Laboratory, the purpose-driven, self-actualising Promadic movement is set to shape the future of hospitality.
Who is K-Studio?
K‑Studio is a design practice based in Athens, Greece for over 20 years. Founded by brothers Dimitris and Konstantinos Karampatakis, the studio comprises a multidisciplinary team working across hospitality, residential and the public realm. The practice is grounded in a considered, curious approach to its projects that produces immersive designs that are rooted in heritage and context, creating spaces that are built to last.
Main image credit: Claus Brechenmacher & Reiner Baumann
