The Greek island may have a bacchanalian reputation, but the latest openings are bringing the party vibe down a few decibels.
Maybe it's because Greece is in a state of economic upheaval—no one feels much like partying—but a crop of openings on the country’s most nightclubby island are noticeably, and blessedly, more low-key. A few standouts near the main town: Mykonos Blanc Hotel (doubles from $330), on Ornos beach, which has 25 monochromatic and minimalist rooms and a branch of the hot Athenian restaurant Pasaji; Mykonos No5 Villas (doubles from $397), where all the lofts and apartments have panoramic views of the town’s photogenic windmills; and the Luxury Collection’s Santa Marina Resort & Villas (doubles from $628), which went through a three-year renovation. They have freshened up the rooms and added a Buddha-Bar Beach restaurant and lounge, the international chain’s first sandy outpost, that’s great for long lunches.
A similar laid-back feeling prevails a few miles down the coast at Scorpios (daybeds $28 per day). The beach club, from the founders of Paradise Club Mykonos, is a relaxed, family-friendly foil to the late-night scene. This sprawling retreat on the island’s southern end has two daybed-dotted beaches, a terrace with live performances, and a restaurant overseen by Athinagoras Kostakos, widely considered one of Greece’s best chefs. Also in from Athens is an offshoot of Nice n Easy (entrées $22–$39), the pioneering organic restaurant whose farm-to-table food made waves in the capital when it opened, in 2008. Of course, the island isn’t completely turning its back on the after-hours scene that put it on the map. Toy Room Club, a hit in its hometown of London, kicked off its first season in the town of Mykonos in May.
More good reads from T+L:
• 20 Exciting New Hotels on the Summer 2015 Radar
• The Country’s Best New Food Halls
• Best Places to Travel in 2015
