Main street on Antiparos filled with shops and cafesgettyAbohemian getaway in the 1980s, the small island of Antiparos in the Cyclades Islands has largely kept its low profile even as actors, fashionistas, and billionaires began arriving in the summer months, often aboard megayachts that dwarf the tranquil coastline.Antiparos is only a ten-minute ferry ride from Paros, but for a long time, most people chose its larger neighbor instead. The island has just one main town, a few roads, and quiet coves that still seem far from the busy Greek island crowds. Luckily, it has not turned into another Mykonos packed with DJs and beach clubs. Antiparos manages to feel elegant while staying true to itself, and I notice this every time I visit.That balance makes Antiparos appealing. It gets lively in July and August, when reservations are hard to find and crowds fill the harbor, but it still feels like a small island that welcomes a sophisticated crowd, not a resort designed for them.In Antiparos Town, or the Chora as locals call it, the main pedestrian street stretches from the harbor to the old Venetian Castle. Cafés and carefully chosen boutiques line the street and come alive after sunset. Beyond the town, the landscape turns into gentle hills, scattered villas, and beaches where days are spent swimming, eating lunch, and relaxing.Agios Georgios Church, situated on the coast of AntiparosgettyTom Hanks and Rita Wilson are still the island’s most well-known summer residents, and their long connection to Antiparos has made it more popular. Other celebrities visit each year, but there isn’t a formal celebrity scene.Most spots on the island are laid-back and people don't try to stand out. Even celebrities can have a meal by the water, walk around town, or spend a day on a boat without attracting much attention. Here, the real luxury is blending in. That becomes harder when Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg arrive aboard their 305-foot sailing yacht, EOS. Or when David Geffen's 454-foot megayacht, Rising Sun, drops anchor.The Love Shack bungalow at The RoosterThe RoosterWhere To StayThe RoosterSince opening in 2021, The Rooster has set a new standard for hospitality on Antiparos. Located above Livadia Beach on the island’s quieter west coast, the property consists of 16 private stone bungalows, many with their own pool. The low-profile buildings, dry-stone walls, and gardens integrate the property with the landscape. Generous spacing between houses ensures privacy, as most pool decks are not visible to neighbors. This seclusion is an intentional aspect of the design.The Rooster on AntiparosThe RoosterOwner Athanasia Comninos built the hotel around one idea: the landscape should matter more than the architecture. Every room faces the sea or the hills behind it. Footpaths wind through native plants rather than manicured lawns, and the property avoids the marble excess common at many Mediterranean resorts. It feels special without trying to impress, and the staff are around when you need them but otherwise let you be.The Rooster owner Athanasia ComninosThe RoosterThe architecture leans local rather than imported. Walls are made from the same pale stone used in centuries-old Cycladic farmhouses. Roofs are flat and whitewashed, and interiors stay spare: linen, timber, stone floors, nothing competing with the view out the window. Several houses have outdoor showers built directly into the stone. The whole property is designed to look like it grew there instead of being built there.Main open-air bar and lounge with dramatic sunset views at The RoosterThe RoosterFood anchors the experience. A farm just up the road from the hotel supplies fruit, vegetables and herbs for the kitchen, and the menu shifts with whatever’s ready to pick that week instead of following a fixed rotation. Lunch tends to be unhurried: tomatoes and feta, grilled fish, produce picked that morning, with no pressure to turn the table for the next seating. Chef Symeon Triantafyllou runs the kitchen, and the cooking stays close to Cycladic tradition rather than creating meals that feel out of place with the environment. Dinner at the Secret Garden is quieter and more composed, plated with care and served outdoors under the open sky.This season welcomed a new speakeasy bar evoking the glamour and intimacy of a 1960s lounge. Soft pink velvet seating sets the mood, while a curated cocktail menu and music carry the evening late into the night.The Rooster has introduced a new speakeasy bar for the seasonLaurent FabreWellness is a big draw here. The House of Healing offers Ayurveda, yoga, and bodywork programs focused on rest and recovery without the strict schedules of many retreats. You can book a memorable massage or choose a multi-day program for fatigue, hormonal imbalance, or burnout. Treatments take place in peaceful rooms around an indoor relaxation pool, letting guests move easily between sessions.The House of Healing brings a rotating group of visiting experts each season, but Ayurvedic expert Abhilash "Abi" Nair from Kerala, India, is its superstar resident healer who keeps me coming back. I return every year for one of his remarkable intuitive massages. His treatments are among the best I have ever experienced.The House of Healing at The Rooster, indoor relaxation pool (L) and resident Healer Abi (R)The RoosterWhat I love about The Rooster is that it never feels limiting. You can easily spend whole days on the property and never feel like you are missing out. The spa, food, and private pools are just that enjoyable. In the afternoon, you could walk along the beach after a massage and end up at one of the tipis on Livadia Bay, where a vintage van serves flatbreads and margaritas. That, to me, is true luxury: a hotel so good that staying in feels like the best choice.The Beach House in AntiparosLaurent FabreThe Beach HouseComninos also took over The Beach House, a smaller eight-bedroom property set right on the sand. It’s more casual than The Rooster, with whitewashed rooms and layered interiors. Just a few steps from the water, its small scale makes it feel more like a private house than a hotel.During the day, the beach canteen and bar send light dishes, seasonal plates, and cocktails right to the shore. The atmosphere suits a long lunch in a swimsuit rather than a formal sit-down meal. It is a good option for travelers who want the same sensibility as The Rooster but smaller and more social.The Secret Garden Restaurant at RoosterThe RoosterWhere To EatAntiparos has become a serious dining island without losing the tavernas that gave it character. The best meals range from handmade pasta in town to grilled fish with a view across to Despotiko.James DeVries of The Rooster also points visitors toward the island’s more relaxed restaurants. “Captain Pipinos is a classic taverna with an incredible view across to Despotiko. The octopus orzo is a must,” he tells me. “Cookoovaya is small and intimate, right next to The Beach House, with an amazing selection of fish and meat. For simple, homemade Greek food, Peramataki is another favorite. Try the oven-baked chicken or lamb.”Leto boutique owners Nicolas Miller and Hin Phu Tran recommend Salerosso “for the best Italian food and fresh pasta between the two islands,” along with Epestrefe, opposite their shop, for breakfast and salads.Cookoovaya: This is the Antiparos outpost of the well-known Athens restaurant, located directly on the beach next to The Beach House and led by chef Periklis Koskinas. The seafood-focused menu uses the open grill in the outdoor kitchen extensively. It is best enjoyed over a long lunch with the sea lapping in front of you and no reason to rush back to town.The Secret Garden: The Rooster’s evening restaurant uses produce from the hotel’s own farm and offers a menu that changes with the season. Tables sit outdoors among stone walls and plants, making dinner feel like a private garden rather than a hotel restaurant. It is one of the best options on the island for a quieter, more polished meal away from the Chora.Salerosso: Sicilian chef Rossella Ioppolo opened Salerosso after years working in Milan, bringing handmade pasta and Italian sensibility to Antiparos. The restaurant has become a favorite among regular visitors for its pasta, simple sauces, and relaxed setting. It offers a welcome change from the island’s seafood-heavy tavernas.Bardot: an Antiparos culinary secretBardotBardot: Restaurateurs Thanasis Panourgias and Harry Spyrou teamed up with LA- and London-based hotelier Leon Economidi to create this sultry, intimate bar and restaurant. Chef Fanis Exarchakis's small plates are made for sharing alongside some of the best cocktails on the island. The space features modernist design, with every corner worthy of a photograph. It is more nightlife-driven than the average Antiparos taverna. Arrive late, once the town wakes for the night, and let the evening stretch on in style.Taverna Peramataki: This quiet, traditional taverna is known for straightforward Greek cooking and generous homemade dishes. Oven-baked chicken and lamb are specialties worth ordering.Sapou: This modern bistro offers a more international menu than the island’s traditional Greek restaurants. Tuna tataki, crab salad and baked avocado sit alongside meat, seafood and richer plates for sharing. The harbor setting is best after dark, once the boats return and the town fills up.Captain Pipinos: Set on the waterfront at Agios Georgios, Captain Pipinos is one of the island’s legendary lunch spots. The appeal is simple: fresh grilled fish, octopus, small fried fish, village salad, and cold white wine served with an uninterrupted view of Despotiko. Ask what came in that morning, order slowly, and stay as the light changes across the bay.Leto owners Nicolas Miller and Hin Phu TranLetoWhere To ShopThe island’s top shopping spots are mostly found in the Chora. In the evenings, the pedestrian streets get busy as people wander between boutiques and cafés. You’ll find a small but carefully chosen selection, with more focus on fashion and resort wear than on souvenirs.Leto: Founded in 2015 by Nicolas Miller and Hin Phu Tran, Leto started on Paros with its popular Naoussa flagship before opening its Antiparos boutique in 2019. The shop carries relaxed men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, and vibrant pieces made from ethically sourced linens, cottons, and silks in limited quantities. The men’s selection is my favorite in Greece, more comfortable and thoughtfully curated than usual. I also own almost every color of their amazing handmade linen espadrilles.ZÀLI: This shop offers a tightly edited mix of contemporary fashion and accessories with a distinctly Cycladic sensibility: clean lines, natural fabrics, and pieces that feel polished without looking overly styled. Worth a stop for visitors seeking something more individual than standard resort wear.Oyster: This collection brings together stylish vacation outfits with handmade accessories and decorative items. More eclectic than minimalist, offering clothing, jewelry, and objects that feel thoughtfully chosen instead of mass-produced. It's perfect for shoppers who want something memorable, not just another beach bag.Stalactites inside the Cave of Antiparos, near Agios IoannisVW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesWhat To DoDescend Into The Cave Of AntiparosWhen friends come to visit, I always bring them to the Cave of Antiparos. There’s a small church from the 18th century by the entrance, and a metal staircase leads down past stalactites and stalagmites far below the ground. People say the vertical cave has Europe’s oldest stalagmite, which is about 45 million years old. The climb back up is steep, but it’s worth it.Take A Boat To DespotikoThe uninhabited island across from Antiparos is home to the remains of a significant sanctuary dedicated to Apollo. Ongoing archaeological work is uncovering just how large the ancient complex was. Many boat tours visit the site and include swimming stops around Despotiko and the nearby islets.People visiting the ancient temple of Apollo on the island of Despotiko across Antiparos.gettyExplore The Sea CavesThe sea caves and pale rock formations around Epitafios are best reached by boat. Natural arches, sheltered waters, and shifting shades of turquoise make this one of the island’s most memorable swimming and snorkeling spots.Explore The BeachesSoros is one of the island’s most popular beaches, known for its clear, deep water and a mix of sand and fine pebbles. It is more built-up than the smaller coves and has several places to eat close by.Agios Georgios sits at the southern tip of Antiparos, looking out toward Despotiko. The water here is usually calmer than on the west coast, and the waterfront tavernas are perfect for enjoying a swim followed by a long lunch.Fanari, close to town, is sheltered and shallow, so it’s a good spot for families. Theologos, near the old camping area, feels more relaxed and still has some of the free-spirited vibe that Antiparos has been known for since the 1970s.Map of Antiparos provided to guests at The RoosterCourtesy of The RoosterGetting There And When To GoMost visitors reach Antiparos through Paros, which has an airport and ferry connections from Athens and other islands. A short passenger ferry runs from Parikia, while the vehicle ferry departs from Pounta. Schedules change by season, so travelers should confirm crossings near departure.July and August bring the largest crowds, highest room rates and greatest pressure on restaurant reservations. June and September offer warm weather with more space. A car is useful for reaching Livadia, Soros, Agios Georgios and the southern end of the island, although the town is best explored on foot.Antiparos is no longer undiscovered. It has expensive villas, ambitious restaurants, a design-conscious hotel and a summer population that includes some of the world’s most recognizable people. What it has avoided, at least for now, is letting any of that define the island.MORE FROM FORBESForbesThe Famous Shipwreck Beach In Greece Is Getting A Massive MakeoverBy Jim Dobsonbest of Antiparos