The Good Life
Mykonos Re-Emerges as Hot Party Destination
Michael Martin
06/13/08 - 11:14 AM EDT
It's no longer just for your hormonal 19-year old nephew or favorite gay uncle -- Mykonos has reemerged from a style coma and come back onto the travel itinerary of Europe's jet set.
Not since the days of Jackie O, who strolled the painted-white streets in oversize Chanel sunglasses and Hermes trousers, has this Aegean island seen such a flurry of media attention.
With the recent addition of non-stop flights from London's Gatwick and Berlin, the island is easier and more accessible than ever as visitors can avoid the Athens layover, one-hour commuter flight or dreaded four-hour ferry ride.
Hot Properties
Fashionable boutique hotels and designer resorts more akin to nearby Santorini are replacing the seedy three-star and clothing-optional hotels of yesteryear.
For those looking to participate in the island's abundant night life, accommodations near the main village are the most convenient and will avoid the hassles of private cars and taxis. Outlying hotels and private villas offer more of a secluded vibe, further from the town but more accessible to popular beaches like Elia and Super Paradise.
Cavo Tagoo Resort is the first true luxury resort to open on Mykonos in over five years. The property is a five-minute walk from the main village, located within a former stone quarry above the new expanded marina. The property was thankfully overlooked by several high-profile travel lists, meaning that the jet set gets a reprieve from mass tourist hysteria.
Look for quaffed common areas with a hip lobby, outdoor sushi bar, revolving DJs and a shark tank. Rooms open to private infinity pools with canopy beds and marble bathrooms.
The Belvedere Hotel was the first designer boutique resort on the island and is still considered one of the best. An all-white color scheme plays out over a lavish pool area accessorized with signature Matsuhisa sushi restaurant, new Colin Cowie-designed lounge and a sexier singles scene than any other island hotel.
There's even an outpost of Scoop NYC should you forget your oversize sunglasses or favorite Marc Jacobs sandals.
Mykonos Grace Hotel sits atop a steep hillside in nearby Agios Stefanos offering head-on views of the main village and nearby cruise ships docked in the deepwater harbor. Its location is a bit far from town, with views often corrupted by enormous cruise ships that anchor on the horizon.
Rooms feature salt-water hot tubs and oversized patios equipped with large futon-like loungers. The in-house restaurant overlooks a meticulous pool area with its rich blue-and-grey color scheme and cute collection of stray cats.
Mykonos Theoxenia is a renovated 1950s property originally constructed by the Greek government to encourage burgeoning island tourism. How times have changed, 50-years later and the property is one of the island's largest and hottest hotels with decadent day spa, hip lobby scene and buzzing restaurant.
The outdoor pool area is one of the best on the island with sexy singles strewn on teak loungers near the adjacent pool bar.
Mykonos by Day
Don't wake up early, whatever you do. The bakeries are unmemorable and the only decent coffeehouse is a Starbucks(SBUX Quote - Cramer on SBUX - Stock Picks) that doesn't open till 8 a.m. Wise travelers will awaken around 10 a.m., just in time to make it to the complimentary hotel breakfast before hitting the local beaches.
Very Cool Tables
Wandering the maze-like streets and alleyways of town, visitors find myriad fish restaurants and traditional taverns. Most of the town's best restaurants are quite small, meaning that reservations are essential.
We suggest using our picks instead of inquiring at a hotel, since many restaurants compensate concierges for referrals. Such experiences usually end up in a touristy fish restaurant around the harbor, albeit with 75-lb. pelicans nearby that make the fishy seafood almost worthwhile.
Katrin, located in the main village, is an old-school local favorite specializing in French cuisine with a Greek twist. The matriarch of the family, Katrin, can still be found in the kitchen or prepping salads at the rear of the restaurant.
Nammos is one of the most famous restaurants on the island, situated on a prime strip of sand adjacent to Psarou Beach. An open-air dining and lounge offers traditional Greek cuisine within a stylish dining room.
Sea Satin Market would probably not make our list if not for its incredible position outside of the main village, directly underneath the famous Mykonos windmills. A peat gravel terrace boasts stunning nighttime views of the city and stars surrounding a small bungalow eatery with outdoor fish grill.
Late, Late Nightlife
Some people visit Mykonos without ever fully participating in the local nightlife, which doesn't get started until a cruelly late 2 a.m.
Between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., visitors stake out local drinking lounges like Caprice in Little Venice. The longtime bar features a romantic oceanfront location that mixes elements of Xanadu and Shirley Valentine within a fun and socially diverse setting.
C-Bar recently opened in the lower lobby of the Belvedere Hotel offering a dressed-up lounge scene designed by Oprah's personal party planner, Colin Cowie. The lounge features a breezy and glamorous décor, with waitresses dressed like 1940s Oscar recipients.
After 2 a.m., guests make their way to the island's various dance clubs to party the night and early morning away in a seasonal party migration that welcomes all ages.
Cavo Paradiso is located at Paradise Beach and offers one of the island's largest and most dramatic dance scenes. Situated on an oceanside bluff, the property features a patio dance area with pool.
Space manages to attract the most crowds and best dance parties on Mykonos. The multilevel dance club is sort of Austin Powers-meets-Club Med, with short-skirted go-go dancers bouncing to electronic beats on into morning.