7 Coffee Table Books That Transport You to the Mediterranean
An Artful Escape into Culture, Design, and Sun-Soaked Serenity
There’s something unmistakably soothing about a beautiful book left open on a table—especially when it’s filled with coastal blues, sunlit architecture, and slow-living inspiration. Coffee table books are more than décor—they are portals. And for those who dream of Mediterranean shores, they offer an escape you can touch.
These carefully curated titles combine visual storytelling, cultural heritage, and design ethos rooted in the Mediterranean spirit. Whether you're a collector, aesthete, or simply someone who finds joy in beautiful objects, here are eight inspiring books that capture the sun-drenched magic of the Mediterranean lifestyle.
1. Mykonos Muse – Assouline
Aegean, Greece
A celebration of Mykonos through the lens of Lizy Manola, this statement book showcases the iconic Cycladic charm—whitewashed walls, azure skies, and hedonistic glamour. Equal parts bohemian fantasy and jet-set history, it blends nostalgic storytelling with dreamlike imagery.
2. Saint-Tropez: The Ultimate Mediterranean Home – Beta Plus Publishing
Côte d’Azur, France
Interior architect Sandra Cerfontaine opens the doors to the elegant holiday homes of Saint-Tropez. This volume reflects the Mediterranean ideal of balance—between refined minimalism and coastal vibrance, between retreat and revelry. Think sun-bleached interiors, olive groves, and the smell of salt in the air.
3. At Home in Turkey – Thames & Hudson
Istanbul to Cappadocia
With photography by Solvi dos Santos and essays by Berrin Torolsan, this book offers a rare, heartfelt look at 25 real Turkish homes—from rustic Aegean cottages to Black Sea chalets. An ode to textures, tradition, and the soulful beauty of Turkish domestic life.
4. Great Escapes Mediterranean – Taschen
From Santorini to Morocco
Curated by Angelika Taschen, this travel-meets-design book captures some of the most enchanting hotels along the Mediterranean. It’s your guide to coastal havens—where design, serenity, and sunlight meet.
5. The New Mediterranean: Homes and Interiors Under the Southern Sun – Gestalten
From California to Portugal
A modernist interpretation of the Mediterranean aesthetic, this book champions natural materials, earth tones, and soulful minimalism. If your home aspires to Mediterranean calm, this is your guide.
6. Slim Aarons: La Dolce Vita – Abrams
Italy, 1950s–1980s
A visual love affair with Italian high society, as seen through the glamorous lens of Slim Aarons. From sun-drenched villas to the Amalfi Coast’s elite, this book is dripping with vintage charm and cinematic elegance.
7. Under the Mediterranean Sun – Rizzoli
North Africa to Southern Europe
A vibrant culinary journey from Nadia Zerouali and Merijn Tol, blending stories and recipes from the Arab-Mediterranean crossroads. This is a cookbook that reads like a travel diary—spiced with za’atar, saffron, and memory.
Why We Love Them
Each book is an invitation—into homes, traditions, and landscapes that echo with slow mornings, olive trees, sunbaked stone, and communal tables. They are perfect for gifting, inspiring, and simply having nearby to remind you: life is more beautiful when savoured.
For those seeking to bring the Mediterranean home, start here.
