Best Resorts in Mykonos- Mykonos 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.

Cali 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. 

Best Resorts in Mykonos – 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.

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. 

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.

Wake early to sunrise views over Ornos Bay while tucked comfortably in the huge beds, take 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. 

Best Resorts in Mykonos – 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.

Bill & 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.

Best Resorts in Mykonos – Kenshõ 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.

Kalesma Mykonos

Straddling the spine of a hill in Ornos, Kalesma Mykonos could pass as a Cycladic village – until you notice the Rick Owens furniture, private plunge pools and cocktail lounge with a fire pit.

Inspired by old-world Mykonian architecture, the interiors have a meditative quality to them, featuring smoothly curved walls, chestnut ceilings and ceramics by Serbian artist Aleksander Vac.

This organic look is heightened by the gardens, which are planted with 60-year-old olive trees, vines, citrus fruits and fragrant herbs.

Cresting it all is the hotel’s plateia (town square), bordered by the infinity pool, cocktail bar and Pere Ubu Restaurant, which has eschewed the fusion trend to focus on genuine Mykonian cuisine.

Around dusk, focus shifts to the open-air Aloni lounge, where you can sip sundowners and plot after-hours escapades.

Best Resorts in Mykonos – The Coast Bill & Coo

Mykonos’s original boutique bolthole has made its way down the shore: The Coast Bill & Coo is the even breezier extension to big sibling Bill & Coo, over by Mykonos Town.

It’s steps from the shore and has its own bit of beach on Agios Ioannis, one of the buzziest stretches on a very buzzy island.

A destination restaurant encourages the yachts to drop anchor: Beefbar has outposts everywhere from Méribel and Manama to Monaco and Milan (though it does appear in places that don’t begin with ‘M’, too).

Here, regardless of what the temperature is, guests can feast on Wagyu and Kobe steaks, and platefuls of lobster pasta.

Kivotos Mykonos

You’ll be hard-pressed to decide what you love most about Kivotos Mykonos.

It has a private, golden-sand beach, overlooking Ornos Bay.

There is an enormous seawater pool with a swim-up bar.

And there is an upper-level pool surrounded by fragrant gardens

There are daily yoga classes, the relaxing hammam, or the therapeutic spa treatments.

There are 39 suites and two villas that are designed to reflect the spirit of a family home and adorned with an impressive collection of objets d’art.

Just-caught seafood in the candlelit veranda completes the experience.

Best Resorts in Mykonos – Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort

Apollo, the Greek god of healing, was said to be born on the island of Delos, which fronts Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort.

You’re sure to find well-being at this dazzling enclave, a collection of whitewashed cubes scattered across about five acres of prime beachfront.

The 96 rooms and suites are generously sized, with clean, streamlined decor; some even have private pools.

Get a therapeutic spa treatment by the pool or in a seaside cabana, take a leisurely stroll into charming Hora – Mykonos Town – or swim in the heated outdoor pool.

The open-air signature restaurant delivers fine Greek fare with dramatic sunsets.

The resort also has a super stylish sister property near Mykonos Town, called Mykonos Riviera Hotel & Spa.

Santa Marinia A Luxury Collection Resort

Just 10 minutes from the airport and Mykonos Town, Santa Marina makes it easy to explore all the island’s must-see attractions – then return to this sanctuary of authentic Aegean beauty at Ornos Bay.

Guests can choose from 105 rooms and suites, along with 13 villas featuring two to seven bedrooms.

Beach-chic interiors offer modern, natural luxury, opening to balconies with hypnotic Aegean views.

Facilities include the only private sandy beach on Mykonos, gorgeous infinity pools, the international-caliber Ginkgo Spa and four options for dining and drinks, highlighted by the world’s first-ever Buddha-Bar Beach.

Santa Marina invites guests to savor the glamorous lifestyle of Mykonos in the island’s most fashionable and sophisticated setting.

Best Resorts in Mykonos – Kalesma Mykonos

‘Kalesma’ means ‘inviting’ in Greek, a word that best expresses the ethos of this privately owned luxury boutique hotel, which tumbles down a slope to Ornos Bay.

Kalesma’s outstanding location provides panoramic vistas, affording guests the unique opportunity to enjoy both sunrise and sunset from the same spot.

The whitewashed pavilions that make up the hotel have been created to resemble a charming Mykonian village.

Inspired by Cycladic architecture, Kalesma combines tradition with contemporary elements, offering sleek and minimalist interiors that are created using locally sourced materials.

The 25 suites and two large villas blend local flair with high aesthetics, giving guests the feeling of being in an authentic Mykonian neighborhood.