Le Kalesma, one of the best hotels in Mykonos

A Cycladic trendsetter, Mykonos boasts a wide array of beautiful hotels scattered around its whitewashed Chora. Perched on the Aleomandra hill, overlooking Ornos Bay, Kalesma clearly stands out, both for its timeless elegance and its incredibly serene, intimate atmosphere. A visit...

The pitch: A hotel designed like a Myconian hamlet

There are hotels that stay with you more than others, that imprint azure memories within you, making you want to make another appointment, to book the same room, to find the same view, the same pleasures, the same feeling of blissful contentment. This is the case with Kalesma, one of the Most beautiful hotels in Mykonos, perched on the heights of Ornos Bay, with its white houses spread out like a staircase, which gently guide you towards the smooth waters of the Aegean. The owners of the place – the Kousathanas brothers, who are behind the most trendy restaurants on the Athenian Riviera – have spent all their summers by this bay that curves under the hills, west of Mykonos. It was therefore quite naturally that they chose to build their hotel on these mineral slopes, an intimate refuge inspired by the Cycladic art of living.

How is the hotel?

Imagined by the award-winning Greek architects K-Studio, known for their sensitive approach to architecture and design, Kalesma was conceived as a Mykonian village. Its minimalist aesthetic, of timeless elegance, blends naturally with the island's arid beauty. Spread over two hectares, its traditional, whitewashed houses accommodate around twenty rooms, suites, and villas luxury accommodation that extends onto vast terraces overlooking the sea and sun-drenched golden hills. The hotel is an intimate haven that emphasizes sourced materials, local craftsmanship, and original works of art, with muted tones that soothe and enhance the intense blues of the sky and sea. Cycladic wood, stone, and textiles, along with simple lines and organic curves, create a harmonious atmosphere that is both gentle and sensitive. Quite remarkable on an island as lively as Mykonos...

What are the rooms like? 

Scattered across the hillside that slopes gently down to Ornos Beach, Kalesma's various accommodations offer a total immersion in the gentle Mykonian art de vivre. The Deluxe rooms, suites, and villas are bright, revealing a decor whose contemporary simplicity is softened by natural materials such as light wood and blonde stone, the addition of fine pottery or woven straw armchairs, and woven cushions and rugs. All have a terrace, but the amenities differ according to the category. For instance, the Junior Suites feature an outdoor whirlpool tub, while the Kalesma Suites, like the Villas, overlook a heated infinity pool. The atmosphere is serene, both elegant in its attention to detail and relaxed in its simple choice of materials: the perfect environment to recharge, enjoy a treatment, a massage, the spa, and even a private yoga session…

What makes the difference? 

In Greek, "kalesma" means to invite, and it's true that you feel welcome there, surrounded by all sorts of attentive, kind, and discreet gestures. The local sense of hospitality can be felt at every moment, whether it's around the large central pool that overflows onto the highest part of this 5-star hotel, in the sublime Spa by Studio Bonarchi, whose aesthetic is inspired by the organic style of the suites, or at the Père Ubu restaurant, which offers, in a refined setting, a Greek cuisine revisited with small contemporary touches. 

Good to know? 

Kalesma opens the doors to a lesser-known Mykonos, perhaps less festive, but certainly more authentic. Its team of private concierges are brimming with great advice for discovering the island's hidden treasures, from secluded beaches to picturesque churches, as well as exclusive tavernas and boutiques known only to insiders. Helicopter tours of the island are offered, as are nighttime strolls around the windmills, culinary excursions, or trips aboard a private yacht that will take you to a cove accessible only by sea, then out to sea for diving or a visit to the sacred island of Delos.

The 5 things we loved

• Kalesma's soothing atmosphere, its intimate and timeless elegance.
• Sipping a cocktail while admiring the sunset behind the island of Delos, warmed by the flames of the grand brazier at Sunset Lounge Aloni.
• The cooking class taught by the chef who doesn't hesitate to share his secrets for preparing traditional Greek dishes.
• The Spa's advanced treatments, with a special mention for the «Glow Up,» which hydrates the skin and revives your complexion's radiance.
• The delicious homemade bread that is baked daily in Kalesma's wood-fired oven. Divine!

By: Alexandra Chassin