HUGGING THE CLIFFS overlooking beautiful Ornos Bay, Kivotos ticks all the boxes for an extravagant island escape. This exclusive Mykonos boutique hideaway offers everything from a luxury Porsche pick-up to its own private yacht.
Awesome views, peerless service and a gold-plated guest list (don’t be surprised to bump into a Hollywood heavyweight or fashionista) make Kivotos glamorous, intimate and swish. Minutes from Mykonos town (well away from the clubbing crowds but close enough for the nightlife), it also has a great location. Expensive? Absolutely – so make sure your plastic is up to it.
Life revolves around the inviting pool at Kivotos – or rather, all three of them. There are sun drenched terraces for basking (with hammocks awaiting), a swim-up bar for cooling cocktails, and a smaller pool with underwater music. There’s also a small private pebble beach, from where you can dip straight in the sea or admire the million-dollar yachts bobbing at anchor. Plenty of hideaway corners are made for escapists.
Hit the spot
Overlooking Ornos Bay – a prime spot on hedonistic Mykonos.
Bedtime
For the ultimate splash-out, try Suite 130 – a huge balcony with breathtaking views, and a jacuzzi bath beneath a domed skylight.
Be savvy
The hotel is not in Mykonos town, but just a five-minute cab ride from fun.
Be smitten
High life in the Cyclades.
Eclectic style
Terraced rooms – almost all overlooking the bay – are set among paths that wind down through landscaped gardens. Beamed ceilings, arched doorways, wooden shutters, muslin-draped four poster beds and splashes of Mykonian blue lend an expensive island feel.
Add Venetian mirrors, Murano glass chandeliers, designer daybeds and collector’s artworks and you have an eclectic mix of antique and modern, where classic style is matched by creature comforts. You’ll even find a pair of lovebirds who serenade guests from an ornate birdcage by the pool.
Bathrooms continue the spoiling theme with mosaic tiling and luxury preening products. Some top suites even have their own outdoor jacuzzi or private plunge pool. Splashiest of all is Noah’s Villa – a veritable clifftop ark spanning three floors with a glass floor looking down on its own private pool.
Dining is a highlight at Kivotos – whether you go gourmet at the smart La Meduse restaurant or tuck into a plate of crisp kalamari with a glass of chilled white wine poolside at Le Pirate. Sip a cocktail at dusk and soak up to-die-for sunsets from a bougainvillea-hung terrace.
Don’t miss the opportunity to take to the waves aboard the Kivotos private motor yacht for an island cruise. A candlelit dinner under the stars makes an incomparable treat either on deck or al fresco at the hotel’s beach. No wonder honeymooners love it here.
Kivotos retains its family-run feel, and prides itself on spot-on personal service.
Staff go the extra mile to please, and are on hand to greet arriving guests with champagne and even pre-cooled pool towels on hot days.
Should you surface from your sun lounger, the hotel’s free shuttle will whisk you into Mykonos town (two miles away) for shopping and a taste of the island’s legendary party life. There’s a spa for some extra pampering and even a small wedding chapel for you to do the deed while you’re here. Definitely a place for getting carried away.
Kivotos was reviewed by Room for Romance
Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.
Dining in
Kivotos has two restaurants – elegant and gourmet La Meduse, and the more informal Le Pirate – great for poolside pizzas, salads and light bites. Try the strictly exotic cuttlefish and beetroot risotto with genuine gold leaf.
Dining with fellow guests is not essential at Kivotos. Your hosts will be pleased to arrange a private candlelit dinner beneath the stars on the edge of the hotel’s private beach, with the waves lapping around you. You can also dine out at sea, with a picnic aboard the private yacht.
Dining out
Mykonos town is a-buzz with lively bars and restaurants, so you won’t be short of places to try.
Where?
La Meduse at Kivotos.
What’s cooking?
Traditional Greek favourites with a creative twist.
Top Table?
Beside the sea for a private candlelit dinner à deux (see picture), with the waves at your feet.
See & Do
Sun lounger society thrives in Mykonos, so lots of visitors don't even stir from the beach or their poolside perch. Diving and other watersports are available, and you can always hop aboard the Kivotos private yacht for a cruise around the island. It's worth renting a car to see some of the island's inland arid landscape, and the famous trademark Mykonos white windmills straddling a hilltop. Take the shuttle into Mykonos town to see the pretty Little Venice area, 18th century churches and museums.
Shop
Head to Matogianni street for all the best shops. You'll find plenty of beachwear, local pottery and crafts to check out.
Spa
Kivotos has a luxury spa and wellness centre complete with Grecian columns, gold mosaic tiled hammam, foot spas and an extensive treatment menu. You can also book an outdoor massage by the sea.
After dark
Start the evening with a Kivotos cocktail while watching the sun go down. Mykonos town is one of the Med’s legendary late-late party places, and the hotel is close enough to enjoy some of the action while being well away from the hubbub. A cab (or the hotel shuttle) will whisk you into town in ten minutes.
Dates June-September
A string of musical concerts, theatre shows and theme parties are held on Mykonos throughout the summer months.
GETTING THERE
Location
Ornos Bay, Mykonos.
Parking
There is limited guest parking if you decide to hire a car. Stick to the free hotel shuttle for trips to and from Mykonos town, or rent a scooter.
Ferries
Frequent ferries and hydrofoils link Mykonos with Santorini and other islands, as well as Athens (Piraeus), with a transit time of three hours on the high speed service.
Taxis
EUR 8 from the airport – but the hotel can arrange a private transfer.
Airport
Mykonos – 3km. Aegean Air flies to Mykonos via Athens from London Stansted, while EasyJet operates a direct service from London Gatwick during the summer season.
Rooms and suites
15 rooms and 24 suites.
Special features
All rooms have satellite TV, personal CD player, wi-fi, luxury bathroom products and well stocked mini bar. Most have a balcony or terrace, and some suites have an outdoor jacuzzi or private pool.
Also…
There are three pools to cool off in, a swim-up bar, spa centre, private beach, wedding chapel, two restaurants and a private 25m yacht.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
EUR 220 - 450
Open/closed
Closed late October to mid May.
Check-in
14:00
Check-out
12.00
Minimum night stay?
No
Breakfast
American style buffet breakfast is served until 11:30.
Room service
Available 24 hours.
Children
Over-12s are welcome.
Pets
Small dogs are welcome.
Air conditioning
Yes – all rooms.
Wedding License?
Yes. Kivotos has its own chapel complete with 18th century altar for small private weddings. Celebrations for up to 150 guests can be held.