11 Best Hotels in Mykonos
When the party's over, kick back in one of Mykonos' best bedrooms, with sensational views of the Aegean Sea, exclusive access to private beaches, tasting menus designed by top chefs, northern winds for kitesurfing, family-friendly suites, and secret swimming pools. As one of the best Greek Islands, it's only natural that Mykonos be home to some of the best Greek Island hotels. From here, you can visit the prettiest places in Mykonos, lose an afternoon at a beach club, or take a slice of island life home with you after a day shopping.
What are the best areas in Mykonos to stay in?
For all of its hype, Mykonos is relatively small. The island is only about six miles long, so wherever you stay, you're pretty close to the action and beaches. Some of the hotels on this list are found along the popular Ornos Beach on the island's southwest. If you want to be based around some hubbub, this option has plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars nearby. To be in the thick of the party scene, look to hotels like Mykonos Theoxenia, located right in Mykonos town. If you'd prefer to be far removed from it all, Cali Mykonos is hidden away in the reclusive (and exclusive) coastal village Kalafati.
For the loveliest places to stay, see our pick of the best hotels in Mykonos below.
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George FakarosSanta Marina
When I chose hotels for honeymooning in southern Greece, where my mom's family is from, it was important to me that I support Greek-owned hotels in the aftermath of the pandemic. I was ecstatic to discover that Santa Marina, the beloved five-star resort on Mykonos, remains owned by the same local family that opened it four decades ago. The only resort on the island with its own private stretch of sandy beach—and on calm and sought-after Ornos Bay, no less—Santa Marina includes 101 seaview rooms and suites with private plunge pools, plus a selection of 13 sprawling villas, a cove-nestled beach club shielded from the mighty Cycladic winds, and two infinity pools to mix up the lounging scenery. Two restaurants, including sushi spot Buddha-Bar Beach Mykonos and Mykonos Social by Jason Atherton, serve inventive plates ranging from Asian-inspired poke and ceviches led by the Mediterranean’s abundant fish, to taverna-style dishes: slow-cooked lamb, sun-dried grilled octopus, classic horiatiki, and bread baskets served with traditional dips like taramosalata (roe puree) and htipiti (spicy whipped feta). The on-site spa has a traditional hammam as well as aromatherapy massages, medical-grade facials, and a sauna that are well worth breaking from the sun and sand for an afternoon. But the real magic of Santa Marina is in the simple pleasures afforded by its fabled location—sipping assyrtiko from a shady cabana while the mega yachts go by, you’ll forget all about the island's hard-partying reputation. —Shannon McMahon
Stathis BouzoukasMykonos Theoxenia
Mykonos Theoxenia offers a refreshing counterpoint to the Cycladic whitewashed cottage aesthetic. It is seven geometrically laid out rectangles in a large garden, together fusing to create a haven of flowing spaciousness, symmetry, olive trees, cacti, and fragrant herbs in the beating heart of Mykonos. And it has serious architectural pedigree. In the 1950s, Greece had just a handful of proper hotels, so the Hellenic Tourism Organization sought to rectify this with a 20-year hotel-building project. From 1957, Aris Konstantinidis, now considered the father of Modern Greek architecture, led its design—and this building project was one of his design babies. Overlooking the thatches of Chora’s famous windmills, Mykonos Theoxenia originally opened in 1960, five minutes from the squiggly maze of Little Venice. Back in the day, Jackie and Anastassis Onassis and Brigitte Bardot partied here. But by 2021, when the hotel closed for a long refurb, that heyday was a tired memory. In summer 2022, a new-look Theoxenia threw open its doors. Vois Architects has preserved the marble, the 1960s jolie-laide seawall-stone and timber facades. For Theoxenia 2.1, flowing, clean-lined public spaces have been expanded, stripped down, and left to shine with a minimal dressing of ancient jars and sculptures. Forty-nine fresh rooms and suites have pale marble bathrooms, upholstered walls, linen-dressed beds and bespoke furniture. All the terraces face the ocean, or the pool garden, with its dove-grey loungers and there’s killer service from its Kou Kou Bar. It serves relaxed salads, tacos, and burgers to complement the main restaurant, devoured by families and Mykonos party veterans alike. —Lydia Bell
Nicholas MastorasCali Mykonos
Worlds away from the madness of Mykonos Old Town, Cali Mykonos is where it’s at if you want to experience Cycladic nirvana without the booze-loving crowds. Inspired by the Greek myths and legends of your school days, the dapper boutique is the work of Kyriakos Mourkakos, a 27-year-old Greek American entrepreneur who has a crush on all things muted luxury. Hidden on a craggy fortress on the shores of the secluded beach town of Kalafati, its slick white columns hover down to the sea in perfect unison. The place is mighty pretty. There’s a secluded umbrella-flecked private beach. A sexy curvaceous pool. Private yacht charters to neighboring Naxos and Delos. Heck, there’s even a helipad with breezy, untouched sea views. Elsewhere, there’s a swell shop kitted out in all the latest Athens-approved fashion and the brilliant white walls and nooks are splashed with indie Grecian art and curios from across the land. Slick rooms are a vision of muted tones and ridiculously smooth Greek marble, and there are saltwater pools on the ginormous sea-facing terraces. All food is courtesy of Greece’s first Michelin-starred chef, Lefteris Lazarou, and is a fusion affair. Eat poolside for a perfect Greek sunset. –Luke Abrahams
Once in Mykonos
New to the island, this dapper spot built into the steep hillside of the cozy western bay has some of the best views in Mykonos. Swim up to bedrooms from a private pool or dip a toe into the rooftop infinity pool, which has a sunken bar and floating sun beds. Fifty-nine minimal suites have terraces and sea views for sipping sundowners. The bathrooms, equipped with a huge Hamman walk-in rain shower, are worth a shout-out. Guests range from young families to sleek partygoers, all looking for a chilled post-party buzz. Staff are friendly, attentive and know all guests by name—they won’t forget how you want your coffee in the morning.
Young-gun Cretan chef, Marion Toutountzoglou serves innovative dishes, taking inspiration from his travels and incorporating traditional Greek flavors. We had to refrain from ordering the hummus with every meal. Supper is best taken on the terrace at golden hour when the sun is sinking behind the craggy hillside dotted with bright-white villas and windmills. You chose this hotel to quietly laze, chill out, and nurse the ouzo hangover from the night before. –Sophie Knight
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Kalesma
Far removed from the island’s party scene, 17 one-bedroom suites, eight one-bedroom villas and two larger ones emerge from the hillside. Private suites are set within manicured gardens of lavender and bougainvillea—slick white-washed sanctuaries with sea views and private pools that wrap around the bedroom making it hard to leave. In fact, Kalesma has had plenty of long author residencies, who have written books happily confined to the outdoor terrace of the private suites. We woke early to sunrise views over Ornos Bay while tucked comfortably in the huge beds, took a morning shower in the outdoor bathroom to the sound of cicadas before ambling slowly to breakfast—other than supper on the terrace at Pere Ubu, it’s the only time of day you can expect to see the other well-groomed guests emerge.
The hotel is owned by business partners Aby Saltiel and Makis and Sofia Kousathanas, Greek owners of several acclaimed restaurants in Athens. Aby, who previously worked in the New York fashion industry, lived at the hotel for six months prior to its opening to note and implement every detail and design function a guest may need. Everything is made from natural materials blending the hotel into the landscape, from the woven wooden ceilings and light-washed natural wall colors to the stone ornaments and ceramics that decorate the room—design is of the utmost importance and of the highest standard on the island. —Sophie Knight
Courtesy Soho Roc HousehotelSoho Roc House
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Hot List 2021Soho House’s first Greek outpost is designed with a London crowd in mind: bacon baps at breakfast, Cowshed bath products, and Roberts radios are all familiar motifs to the British members, who tend to make up the majority here. It swerves predictability, though, with North African art, kilim cushions and Moorish arches throughout the property, which provides a comforting crashpad for those who want to party hard and pamper soft (dump your bags in a bedroom facing Paraga beach and book an open-air massage in the rattan cabana). The hotel is within walking distance of some of the island’s latest and greatest clubs, with Tropicana, Paradise, and Cavo Paradiso dotted along nearby Paradise beach—it gets noisy, though, which can generate a serious case of FOMO on your days away from the buzz. Soho House members and guests get priority access to Scorpios beach club, which has its very own record label, offers spiritual sunset rituals, and serves up a Mediterranean mash-up of on-trend ingredients to holistic—and hungover—visitors.
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Katikies
Boutique brand Katikies has brought the success of its sister hotel in Oia, Santorini, to Mykonos, with a spacious, whitewashed sanctuary on the island’s south-west coast. Compared to other properties, where A-listers preen and everyone else stays to be seen, this is a discreet hillside enclave of timeless buildings that are secluded enough to catch your breath but close enough to the action that you won’t miss out (Scorpios and Nammos restaurant are less than 20 minutes away by car). Soak up the scenery from the swimming pools overlooking the tiny island of Delos, known as Apollo’s birthplace, to which you can also catch a boat from the pier. If the nightlife hasn’t got the better of you, rise early to claim the four-poster wooden daybed at ground level and order sushi from Seltz Champagne Bar. Bright bedrooms are cool and calming with private terraces and plunge pools, plus there’s a subterranean spa for when you need a break from the blistering heat.
Courtesy Vaggelis Paterakis/Bill&CooBill & Coo Coast
Back in 2016, Mykonian hotelier Theodosis Kakoutis worked with hip Athenian architects K-Studio to begin a radical overhaul of the original Bill & Coo, upping the ante from unassuming honeymoon hideaway to super-slick hangout with a buzzy vibe. A few years ago, after an impossible-to-turn-down piece of land became available on the Agios Ioannis peninsula, he opened Bill & Coo Coast, a gorgeous, suites-only hotel overlooking a perfect crescent of sand. Built in rugged stone, bleached wood and cast iron, it feels a lot more private and peaceful than its sibling; a place for A-listers to unspool rather than party. Each of the 15 lovely bedrooms has secluded terraces and is done out in a cool, calm color palette of light gray and powdery whites with the occasional jet-black vase thrown in for contrast.
For lunch, old-school taverna staples have been given a light, modern makeover, with standouts such as humble but delicious sardines on bread, and slow-cooked rooster pasticada served with pasta and truffles. For dinner, guests can catch the five-minute transfer to the original property, Bill & Coo Suites & Lounge, where executive chef Ntinos Fotinakis creates serious tasting menus with a strong Greek accent in Gastronomy Project. Back at Bill & Coo Coast, Beefbar Mykonos has cemented itself as one of the best restaurants in Mykonos following a full redesign.
Back by the pool at Coast, there are a couple of gazebos (one of which doubles as a therapy tent for outdoor massages), with views of the charming Greek Orthodox church of Agios Ioannis, where black-clad widows mourn on the steps and village lads scoot past on mopeds.
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BohèmeBohème
The lemonade served on arrival is homemade from fruit grown in the hotel's walled herb garden, a delightful little enclave where candles twinkle in jam jars at night and the scent of rosemary hangs in the air. Look closely and you'll spot a bamboo treatment hut for massages and a deck for yoga among the olive trees. Up a level from this wholesome spot is the more decadent pool bar, a hilltop sun-trap and the real hub of Bohème. Here guests laze around the kidney-shaped pool on grand super-loungers and bean bags; at night, bearded bartenders turn out flawless Negronis at the chic Bilo Bar, just the place for a sharpener before taking advantage of the hotel's superb location, a two-minute walk from Mykonos Town and its many lively restaurants. Polished concrete floors give the bedrooms a modernist quality, but knitted rope light fittings and splashes of color stop it all becoming too somber. Breakfast is served on private balconies, for when you want to lie low the morning after sampling the mixologist's magic.
Dimitris Poupalos/Kenshõ OrnosKenshõ Ornos
With its snug, tucked-away bars and secret swimming pools, hot tub grottoes and multi-story sun terraces, Kenshõ Ornos feels like one of Escher's impossible fantasies lavishly realized as a boutique hotel, each surprise staircase leading to another unexpected delight. It is owner George Nikitidis's first hotel, and he's picked a great spot up the hill from Ornos beach: close enough to walk to, but far away enough not to hear the bass from its beach clubs. The design is slick and contemporary, with lots of sliding glass doors, white walls, and adult-sized wicker bassinets by the pool. Each room is subtly individual; some have freestanding baths, others plunge pools on the terrace, and all have a different signature piece by first-rank Italian furniture makers such as Riva 1920, Baxter, and Mogg. The open-sided restaurant is heavy on attention-grabbing touches—vast metal light shades, plate-glass tables—which keep pace with chef Ippokratis Anagnostelis' high-concept food, including dishes such as red mullet with artichoke. The body-beautiful crowd lounges decorously around the pool or in the spa, with its low-lit treatment rooms where therapists practice reiki.
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Mykonos Waves HotelWaves
Above the beach in Korfos Bay, on a narrow isthmus in the south-west of the island, brightly colored kites fly through the air like brilliant birds of prey hitching on a thermal. The beach below may not be the prettiest on Mykonos, but its horseshoe shape and exposure to the northern winds make it one of Europe's best spots for kitesurfing. How clever, then, for born-and-bred Mykonian George Syrianos to turn the land where he once grazed his goats into the first hotel on the island aimed squarely at wave-riders. It's a laid-back, hands-off, DIY kind of place where all eight suites are accessible straight from the beachside pool area, meaning there's no lobby to drag your board through, no carpets to drench with your kit. Unsurprisingly, this chilled approach goes down well with young families, and the interiors are fittingly pared-back and solid; whitewashed rooms are made homely with chunky wooden furniture and gauzy curtains.
There is no restaurant, but simple breakfast baskets are delivered every morning, and each suite has a fridge and hotplate to prepare meals using ingredients from the cluster of shops at the other end of the beach, which include a couple of good bakeries, an independent butcher, and a surprisingly chic fishmonger. For more sheltered sunbathing, the bars and daybeds at Ornos beach are a 10-minute walk away on the other side of the isthmus, and Mykonos town is just a 10-minute drive.
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
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