The most opulent choice in Syros right now: an 1853 heritage mansion in the very heart of town, inviting you to experience 19th-century Ermoupoli wrapped in 21st-century comforts
The most aristocratic address on Syros today is called Argini – and it’s no exaggeration to say it looks more like a private city palazzo than a hotel. Built in 1853 for Grigorios Paikos, a a member of the Society of Friends (Filiki Eteria), the secret organization that prepared the Greek War of Independence– who eventually settled in Ermoupoli and had nine children – the house was one of the greatest residences of its time. Today it is a listed monument, one of the very few such houses in the Cyclades that have been fully restored and reintroduced as a hotel.
From mansion to five-star stay
The restoration took four years and followed one principle: save the house first, add the comforts later. The Polykreti family kept the wooden and marble staircases, the 19th-century ceiling and wall paintings (several done by Venetian artists of the era), the high-ceilinged salons and the original layout – and on top of that they built a fully contemporary five-star property: 11 rooms and suites, each with its own personality, marble bathrooms, a soft, understated palette, and views across Ermoupoli’s historic quarter.
The loveliest touch is downstairs: the old cistern of the house was turned into a wellness area with hammam, sauna and a small indoor pool – a secret little spa right in the middle of town, accessible only to guests. It’s the kind of atmosphere you’d expect in an old palazzo in Venice or Palermo, and here it’s recreated with genuine respect for the original building.
The Poseidon that guards the house
Among the painted surfaces there is a striking Poseidon mural – according to local lore, the sea god was there to “keep evil spirits away” from the house. It’s a beautiful detail that ties the urban to the insular: a neoclassical residence that still asks for protection from the sea world.
Location: Vaporia, Syros at its finest
Argini sits in Vaporia, the quarter where captains and wealthy merchants used to live – today the island’s most photographed neighbourhood, with neoclassical houses perched on the rocks and Asteria beach just 300 m away. Which means you can do all of Ermoupoli on foot: square, theatre, galleries, a swim right in town, and dinner on the waterfront.
11 rooms – 11 stories
No two rooms are the same. Some feel almost Parisian, with tall doors and cornices; others are more romantic, with wall paintings; others are cleaner and more contemporary for guests who prefer less ornament. All of them, though, keep the height and air of 1853 and blend the old with designer furniture and discreet lighting. In most of them you can also see the original ceiling paintings that were cleaned or revealed.
Dining and today’s profile
Argini has its own Elexis restaurant and a bar with views, serving a Mediterranean/Syrian-inspired menu in a contemporary hotel dining style – so you can dine “in” and still eat well. It also offers vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free options, making it attractive for the international crowd that comes to Syros for culture or conferences.
