Sometimes compared to Ibiza back in the day, Mykonos is today renowned as something of a Greek party island, is LGBTIQA+ friendly and very open minded, and welcomes with open arms jetsetters, naturists, party animals, hippies and budget travellers alike. A number of its beaches host all-day parties during the summer and the bars and clubs filling its old town are usually pumping until the early hours, especially at the weekends. But despite Mykonos’ wild reputation, there are stunning sandy beaches, gorgeous rocky coves and authentic tavernas to be found, if you know where to look and you have a car to explore the island.
Close to the new port, offering views of adjacent Delos and Rhenia islands, Agios Stefanos Beach is popular but is not a “party beach” and is set within a relatively quiet bay. Despite being close to the port, the sea is crystal clear and the mood is relaxed. Perched in the peaceful hills of Tourlos on the edge of Agios Stefanos village, overlooking the beach, earlier this year Cypriot family-run hotel group Thanos opened Amyth of Mykonos Agios Stefanos. The first of a new collection of design-led boutique properties defined by intimate and personalised service, the hotel offers guests authentic hospitality rooted in the local community. Created in collaboration with GNB Architects which specialises in contemporary Cycladic architecture, the all-suite hotel sports a sleek Aegean-inspired design and skillfully captures the unique spirit of Mykonos.
Calming earth-toned interiors, stone walls, handcrafted wooden furnishings and a natural colour palette honour the island’s heritage and nicely bed the hotel in the surrounding landscape. Whilst the hotel’s 17 one-bedroom units range from luxe garden suites with private terraces to sea-view suites with private pools, jetted hot-tubs and panoramic ocean vistas, all offer a sense of a hedonistic hideaway in paradisiacal surroundings. And whether recovering from a night on the town or a day of sightseeing, guests feast on top-notch seasonal homemade fare at the onsite Amyth Kouzina restaurant, where dishes burst with the flavours of the Mediterranean..
Click here to read the article in The Cultured Traveller.