Amyth of Mykonos Agios Stefanos
Free-spirited sanctuary
A hop from Agios Stefanos
Boutique hideaway Amyth of Mykonos Agios Stefanos delivers covetable Greek-island style. However, we have to admit that — like swinging in a sun-drenched macramé hammock, gorging on souvlaki, and watching the sun sink colourfully into the Aegean — it’s something that can’t be recreated back home. The surrounding textures and colours of hillside and sand are evoked in woven wicker trenchers, mussy rattan lampshades, clay figurines and sculptural wood furnishings; and, whether you’re beach-worshipping, dropping in on Delos or slowing way, way down for lazy swims and spa spoiling – this adults-only retreat encapsulates an inimitable style of living.
Planes
The closest airport is Mykonos International, a well connected hub with direct routes all over Europe, just a 15-minute drive from the hotel. The hotel can arrange transfers on request for €40 each way.
Automobiles
Drop-and-flop sorts are in the right place, with the beach just a 10-minute walk away (albeit along roads that aren't pedestrianised, so keep cautious about cars), and the briefest of taxi rides required to Mykonos’ main attractions. But, the island has many magical beaches, plus hilltop ruins and lakes to explore inland, which warrant some wheels (car or motorbike) – there’s a free car park and valet parking at the hotel and staff can help with hire.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
For most visitors to Mykonos, getting out of bed doesn’t happen until a bit later in the day, in readiness for late, late nights ahead. But, Amyth of Mykonos Agios Stefanos is the sun-saluting sort that’ll have you tapping into your inner morning person (have you seen the breakfast spread?) and seizing the day with a hearty ‘namaste’. Of course, this can be as simple as rousing yourself for long enough to stroll downhill (some stretches are steep so bring some trusty Converse) to Agios Stefanos beach before getting horizontal again. But, Mykonos has a trove of gilt-edged stretches of shore to try, so hop down the coast to Psarou, where yachts queue up in the turquoise waters. It’s best known for the champagne-fuelled shenanigans of Nammos beach club; however, the neatly arranged parasols and loungers allow for R’n’R too. Paraga offers two beaches in one, separated by a headland and still has the feel of its hippie heyday (there are secluded spots where you could skinny dip or sunbathe nude), and to the east of the island, Kalafati is a jumping-off point for shipwreck dives, and Kalo Livadi – tipped as a new hotspot – is a photogenic find of mountainous buffers and calm crystalline waters. Inland, Mykonos has several wineries and tours can be arranged for tastings. Even if you’re going out in one of Mykonos’ more mellow bars, the fashion stakes are high, but luckily bougainvillaea-strung Mykonos Town (AKA the ‘chora’) and the surrounding area, have got you covered with established names such as DSquared, Louis Vuitton, a two-storey Gucci boutique downtown, and stores such as Linea Piu and Nammos Village that carry high-end labels. And, if the hotel’s aesthetic has won your heart, pick up homewares, jewellery and clothing in Scorpios Bazaar – we especially like the Mayan-inspired wares by Caravana. The hotel can help with boat hire for jaunts into the Aegean, and be sure to ride the ferry over to Delos, the alleged birthplace of Artemis and Apollo, where ancient ruins of Doric temples, an amphitheatre, mosaic-tiled houses and more have been preserved; there’s an archaeological museum, too.
