Mykonos
After a long journey we finally exited the jetway at the "quaint" Mykonos airport quickly realizing that an ever constant warm wind reminds you that you are not in NYC anymore. We rented a car though a warning to novice drivers the roads of this 105 km island are tight and curvy with pedestrians moving about like the bustle of a small ant colony. Taxis are available from the airport but they will tell you there is no need for a meter and that there are fixed prices yet those prices seem to vary day to day and driver to driver.THE HOTEL Nestled between Psarrou beach and Platis Gialos we chose to stay at the Nissaki Boutique hotel.Our choice as always based first on finding the "hot-and-tending location" of the moment and then reviewing the respective hotels using a wide array of resources including word of mouth, but for most European/Mediterranean trips we favor Trip Advisor which offers a higher quantity of reviews. Check-in was seamless and we were instantly charmed by the kind nature of the receptionist Francesca. Before we could blink our 10 plus hour journey was washed away by welcome drinks served on silver platter by the friendliest of bar tenders who later that night wished us a good night and "sweet dreams".We opted for a junior suite that was reasonably priced and comes, as all rooms in this hotel do, with the most stunning view of the Pssarou beach and the associated and casually lounging multimillion dollar yachts swaying gently in the calm Aegean Sea. Our suite had a stunning balcony that was nestled into the stone almost as if it had been there since the beginning of time. We later were upgraded to a high floor suite which also exuded charm, simplicity and of course an even larger outdoor private patio.Breakfast with a view is an understatement. The spread as you will see below is extensive well curated and delicious! The staff is abundant and readily available for anything you may need.All in all an absolutely must stay amazing boutique hotel in an ideallic location with the most welcoming staff that make this a truly 5 star experience. The only downside is they will spoil you to the point where all future experiences will pale in comparison.THE BEACHES The beaches are all worth exploring keeping in mind the vibe that you are going for on any given day should drive your beach choice. Psarrou:
At first glance this picturesque strip lived up to its standard as one of the trendier beaches to get your golden greek glow. Tanners take note however that prices are high and hierchichal seating front row or last row also comes at a price. We found the staff at the most popular spot on the beach to be rude and the scene as a whole way overrated. On average a beach bed here will run you about 30 euros with no other perks. The music is on the louder side and for the most part is descent except for the occasional drift into the 90's (unless that's your thing). I would say. Do it once unless you are looking for that special sugar daddy then do it twice.
PlatisGialos:A 5 minute walk from Psarrou this beach may not take the exorbitant prices at all of its venues but be prepared for a more intimate association with your neighbors. Reminiscent of the beaches of Eilat Israel I found this strip to be a bit crowded and tight but a few good restaraunts do make their way onto this strip. If you are into water sports this is where you will find them but prepare to pay hefty prices for your aquatic adventures.Scorpio/Kalua beach clubs:Trek along the dirt path south of Platis Gialos and you will first come across a fairly secluded unnamed beach with no amenities but quaint to say the least. Continuing on about ten minutes south will bring you to a beautiful cove where you can find the Scorpio and Kalua beach clubs. We speant a nice afternoon swimming, enjoying some greek salads and just soaking up all the eye candy. A trek well worth it even in this Grecian heat.Elia Beach:We drove approximately 20 minutes to this wonderful beach. I almost had the sense that we wereat the Dead Sea sans the salt. This beach carries a more chill vibe that was more inviting. There are water sports in abundance, music, food and a longer strip makings our personal space well much more personal. For the LGBTQ population there is a gay beach nestled away here where nudist or not you can enjoy and having everything hang loose. For the more cruiser gays a quick swim or hike up a cliff will bring you to a small hidden beach where gay men bask naked and free. Into something a little more intense, trek into the cliffs where the real action is (and water sports of a different kind if you get what I mean). I recommend Swims or sneakers and for the boys please play safe.Super paradise:I would recommend taking the water taxi from one of a number of locations including Platis Gialos but do check the return schedules carefully. This beach is for the party goer who still has it in them to get down with house music, electro and some older hits. I would recommend getting there in the later afternoon and into the early evening you can head to to Jackie O with amazing views, tranasvestite hostess and a mixed crowd - the vibe is great and this place is a must do! Getting home can be tricky we ended up using a taxi affiliated with the club. Regular taxis are not easy to come by. Overall super paradise is a great place once or twice or more if you are the party type. For lunch check out pinky beach and grab one of their Hamptons like tables. The food and service was wonderful.Ayios Sostis (AS) and Panormos (The north coast beaches)I almost regret leaving the north coast for our final day as I surely would have been back here more than once. I highly recommend renting a quad or two and and heading to the north side of the island. The vistas on your approach are nothing less than breathtaking. AS is the remnant of an old Mykonos without the beach club atmosphere costly beach chairs and umbrellas. The water is crystal clear and calm you will need to bring your own umbrellas if you require shade and beach blanket. Also please bring water! There are also no food vendors on the actual beach. That being said AS lies just below the critically acclaimed, listing in every book and always on the concierge hotlist KIKIS. There is always a wait of at least an hour or two, they don't have a phone so there are no reservations and did I mention that there is no electricity! Everything is cooked on a BBQ and there is free boxed wine and water while you wait. One member of your party must always be there while the rest can take turns swimming in the small cove about 200 feet from the venue or the main strip of AS. We didnt have a chance to experience this place on this trip but I snapped a picture for your viewing pleasure . For those who aren't down with the hipster atmosphere enjoy the beach for a bit and if your are hungry just backpedal to Panormos which is about 6 minutes away. This beach is also stunning, but has been developed with a fully integrated and well designed restaraunt and beach beds. We took our towels to the very end and just settled down it truly fealt like that peace and calm that we are always searching for in our quests to be more mindful.
Psarrou
Platis Gialos
unnamed cove
scorpio/kalua area
Elia beach
Ayios Sostis
secret cove to dip in while waiting for Kikis
Kikis
kikis interior
your fellow line members at kikis
panormos restaraunt
panormos beach
DINING:Are you gluten free, nouveau vegan or shall I say botanical, Atkins? Rest assured there is something for everyone on this island. My one piece of advice when planning your dining experiences is to plan ahead. Reservations at some venues are required and in case I forget dinner reservations here should be made for between 9:30 and 11 think like an Argentinian would. So how to plan?
Identify some of the currently trending restaraunts as mentioned earlier I really on Conde naste, Bon appetite and occasionally the New York Times.
Cross reference trip advisor and look at the most current reviews and ask your concierge many of whom have lived or worked in Mykonos for over 20 years.
American Express platinum holders can email the Amex concierge. I usually let them know the dining taste of the group age and interests. After a few days of research they will provide a list of their recommendations. Again cross reference these places as above. If you do have the card I would highly suggest utilizing the concierge to reserve confirm and provide you with a contact for your reservation which is part of their general workflow.
So where did we end up? There were so many options we simply narrowed it down and made a commitment knowing that we may change our plans once we arrived.
Inyama (Mykonos town) came as a recommendation from the concierge. A former Michelin Chef paired with lovely restoration hardware like decore and a gorgeous team of servers made our experience wonderful. Chill Ibiza house via live DJ gave our meal ther perfect ambiance as the Grecian breeze past through. The fish including Tuna Steak, smoked swordfish and octopus were delicious. I would definitely go back here again though this was our least traditional Greek meal.
Funky Kitchen ( Mykonos Town) nestled in a small alley conveniently close to the bus and taxi station this Restaraunt offered a lovely atmosphere, with an even lovelier manager who was kind attentive and her British accent was simply mesmerizing. The salmon, pork chops,and Mediterranean orzo were all great.
Avli tou Thodori (Platis Gialos) a romantic Restaraunt sitting just a few feet from the sea offered a classic greek dining experience. Recommended highly in almost all of our resources it's a not-to-be-missed venue. Food and service were outstanding. Standout dishes included the salmon mozzarella spinach in philo, Mykonos salad, and the fried feta. The grilled calamari wasa standout dish.
Avra Restaraunt: think about that romantic moment you always wanted in a hidden garden then multiply it by 5 and you have this amazing courtyard Restaraunt hidden amidst the hustle of Mykonos town. The food was traditionally greek and the ambiance was film worthy. We enjoyed the sesame crusted fried feta with a delightful fig sauce and the seafood was great!
As mentioned in the beaches section Kikis remains on our hot list but is only open until early evening as it runs without electricity. The wait is on average an hour and a half but for you foodies its a must!
inyama
funky kitchen
Avli tou Thodori
Avra