Marcia Kimpton returns for another captivating travel diary with Gurus Magazine, continuing her series of deeply personal journeys through some of the world’s most unforgettable destinations. This time, Marcia shares her enduring fascination with the timeless beauty, mythology, and spirit of Greece — a place she describes as nothing short of magical.
From the ancient ruins of Athens and the sacred energy of Patmos to the glamorous coastlines of Mykonos and Santorini, Marcia invites readers into a world shaped by history, art, philosophy, and breathtaking landscapes. Along the way, she shares treasured hotel discoveries, extraordinary culinary experiences, and intimate memories from filming her movie across the Greek islands.
Join Marcia as she reflects on the destinations, people, and moments that deepened her love affair with Greece — a country that continues to inspire her creatively, spiritually, and personally.
My Love Affair with Greece
by Marcia Kimpton
Athena is my goddess because she emerged from Zeus’s head and stood as one of the few powerful goddesses who could go to war alongside men, shield in hand, while also offering olive branches as symbols of peace. She is my kind of woman, so much so that I named my company after her: ATHENA ARTS ENTERPRISE. To me, Athena is truly the goddess of wisdom, calling for peace rather than war. Last June, I visited this ancient 5000 BCE town of Athens to pay my respect to Athena again. While taking professional photos for this article with my good friend Chantal Spieard, we lost track of time, and the gates were locking up as we rushed the Acropolis, which explains the photo with the gate behind me. I always had a fantasy of taking a goddess-like photo with Greek ancient ruins, so the following day we drove to the Temple of Poseidon at sunset to avoid the overwhelming crowds at the Parthenon. If you haven’t been to Greece, you must visit because it’s magic, it’s hard to explain. Except that you feel the warm summer wind brushing against your skin, it feels as though heaven itself is wrapping around you, or at least what I imagine heaven must feel like. I still have many more islands to explore, but I have visited Hydra, Santorini, Mykonos, Kos, Peloponnese, Icaria (“Blue Zone”), and lived on the spiritual island of Patmos, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. I fell so in love with Greece that I chose to film on both Hydra and Patmos, and it was a dream filming there.
Why do I love Greece beyond its pristine, translucent blue waters and perfect summer weather? I love it because I feel the ancient history of a culture that mixes the arts, philosophy, and profound beauty in every island I have visited. Mykonos is the party island, but it’s also the island with cool, unique, stylish restaurants, and it has one of my favorite boutique hotels in the world, Kalesma Mykonos. “Kalesma” means “invitation” in Greek, and you feel very invited when you enter this stunning small hotel with outstanding food and wine. It’s away from the hustle and bustle of the crazy nightclubs, but close enough that you can enjoy a truly intimate, unique retreat, and also leave for dancing and dining easily.
I also love Santorini, which is as crowded as Mykonos, for its one-of-a-kind stunning views. For me, the only place to stay is the Canaves Oia. The location is top-notch to get away from the crowds with the best view, but if you want to walk back into town, it takes 5 mins. Oia has the most artists represented outside of Athens, and I love seeing all the stunning, unique jewelry everywhere. I love Canaves Oia boutique hotel so much because the pool makes you feel like you’re in the ocean. Stepping out of your room onto a steep cliff, and at first it’s a bit scary because you feel you are about to fall into the ocean. The food is 5-star, and let me tell you, I couldn’t stop drinking the fresh mojitos!
I also have to mention Hydra, where we filmed An American Abroad, now on Tubi, thanks to my dear friend Petros Kritikos, owner of the beautiful boutique hotel Porta Del Mare Hydra. I have stayed there at least four times, and it’s so lovely. Hydra has no cars, so this hotel has a great location for a 2-minute walk into town, and it has one of the best sunset views on the deck. My favorite restaurant there is Manna. Truly, some of the best Greek food and a new original way to serve the Greek salad, you have over and over in Greece. Hydra is also incredibly easy to reach by ferry from Athens, making it the perfect island to visit if you only have time to experience one Greek island during your trip.
We also filmed in Patmos, which is more difficult to reach because there is no airport. You either fly into Kos and take a ferry or board the overnight 12-hour ferry from Athens, but the journey is absolutely worth it. When you get off the ferry, you feel naturally stoned immediately because the vibration on the island carries so much light that some have to leave the island immediately. I lived there for 5 months, and with all the hotels there, I can only recommend renting at Patmos Exclusive Villas. Everyone makes it to the cave where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation, but the real jewel is George’s Bar in Chora at the top, where the beautiful monastery beams over the island. The only way I can describe Patmos is otherworldly.
Now, if you want top luxury, there is no better place than the Amanzoe for the stunning Peloponnese view. The food is exceptional, with three restaurants, a private beach with two pools, and the chic decor is stunning. The only negative I can say after visiting twice is that the service became inconsistent when the property was especially busy, which felt disappointing considering the high nightly rates. As well as the road getting there is very windy from Athens. They offer helicopter service from Athens, and taking that short flight instead of the two-hour drive made me feel like the movie star I dreamed of becoming as a child. That dream hasn’t happened yet, but the dream of feeling like one, thanks to Aman, did happen. They filmed “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery“ at this magical hotel, or maybe it was just that Kate Hudson stayed there when the filming occurred. It’s worth almost every dollar!
Lastly, I would love to share my highlights of some of the best food ever in Athens, Greece. I always stay at Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, for the view of the Acropolis and the great concierge service and spa. I have my hair colored and cut there multiple times because it is so exceptional and so damn inexpensive.
If you are traveling on a budget, you can’t go wrong with 360 Degrees Hotel Athens. With rooms often under $300, it offers incredible value along with one of the best rooftop bars in Athens.
This last time I ventured out to stay at The Zillers Athens Boutique Hotel because they had a Michelin-starred restaurant called Zillers Rooftop Gastronomy. It was outstanding, and my favorite part was the pairing of wine with the food. Often traveling through Greece, I don’t have great wine at restaurants, but Ziller’s pride themselves in finding unique, Greek wine pairing with one-of-a-kind food dishes. This hotel was designed by the 19th-century architect Ernst Ziller. The property has only ten rooms and sits just steps away from the 360 Degrees Hotel in the charming Plaka neighborhood, right in the heart of Athens. My number one restaurant in Greece — and honestly one of my top 50 restaurants in the world — is Makris Athens, also located in Plaka. Chef Petros Dimas previously worked at London’s famed Aquavit before returning to his home roots in Corfu for Makris, and now is in Athens with their sister restaurant. They redefine “farm-to-table” dining, with most ingredients sourced directly from the farm on the island of Corfu. I chose the 11-course meal called Utopia, and honestly, the name says it all. It’s impossible to highlight one dish, but I loved their olive oil menu for the bread, so you could try various ones throughout the meal. The restaurant also offers over 300 wines to choose from, and the setting is unforgettable. Outside, on a perfect summer evening, you dine beneath the glow of the Acropolis. Inside, glass floors reveal ancient ruins preserved beneath the restaurant itself.
Marcia Kimpton with Chef Petros Dimas
I love that Athena is also the goddess of the arts, because in Athens, art truly exists everywhere you look, especially in the city’s vibrant graffiti. During one of my visits, I met a very special artist, Maira Stefou, who was the first female DJ in Greece, and now, after many degrees in various art modalities, she focuses on fine art painting. She founded We Do Art Projects, an organization dedicated to bringing artists together through art fairs. As a filmmaker myself, I asked Maira to recommend a legendary cult Greek film to watch, and she absolutely delivered with the exceptional, offbeat “Cheap Smokes” free on YouTube. I simply loved this film!
