A rooster crows somewhere below the terrace, and for a moment, it is the only sound for miles. There is no bass from a beach club, no honking from Mykonos Town, only the wind moving across the hills while the light shifts slowly over the Aegean. It already feels far from the island most people know. The narrow, winding road up to Agios Stefanos leaves the louder side of Mykonos behind. At the top, looking out towards Delos and Rhenia, sits Amyth of Mykonos Agios Stefanos, an invitation into the more soulful side of the island.
Mykonos has no shortage of luxury hotels built around its busiest beaches and biggest crowds, but this one feels different. Set just a short drive from Mykonos Town, but tucked away in the village of Agios Stefanos, the adults-only boutique hotel was built in 2021 and taken over in 2023 by Cyprus-based Thanos Hotels & Resorts, known for Anassa and Almyra, as the first property in its new Amyth collection. With just 17 suites, the experience is intimate from the start.
The quiet of the surroundings carries into the hotel itself. Waxed concrete, weathered wood, rattan and traditional Mykonian stonework in muted sand and earth tones replace every blue-and-white Greek cliché. The result is boho chic without feeling overdone, with a soft, warm signature scent drifting through the entire property. It is subtle enough to fade into the background while you are there, yet distinctive enough that, weeks later, a familiar note can bring you straight back to this hilltop above the Aegean.
Despite its small scale, the hotel offers six room categories, from the Bohemia Comfort Room to the Helios and Delos Sea View Suites, with a private hot tub in the former and a jetted tub in the latter. The three pool categories, Cyclades, Aegean and Amyth Sea View Pool Suite, each come with their own private outdoor space. Schön! alive stayed in the latter, a spacious retreat with a private plunge pool on the terrace, perfectly positioned for watching the sun set over the sea in complete privacy. Acqua di Parma toiletries, an in-room garment steamer and bamboo hangers add thoughtful touches.
At Amyth Kouzina restaurant, the focus is on local and Mediterranean classics, with the occasional unexpected twist. Homemade Keftedes arrive grilled until juicy with a bright lemon yoghurt dip, while a classic Greek Salad gets a lift from local citrus and wild mountain oregano. The menu occasionally ventures further afield, as with the Shrimp Tacos filled with sautéed prawns, creamy avocado and a sweet and sharp pineapple cabbage pickle. For dessert, the Baklava Chocolate Fusion, a warm chocolate pizookie topped with crumbled baklava and pistachio ice cream, is as indulgent as it sounds. The wine list stays predominantly Greek, rounded out by a handful of French labels.
Mornings unfold just as unhurried, with soft-boiled eggs and crushed avocado on lime and rye, an omelette with feta and oregano, or overnight oats stirred through with homemade hazelnut and chocolate spread, alongside fresh orange juice and a bread basket with local honey and butter. Guests heading out for the day can also have a picnic packed ahead of time to take to the beach.
There is something fitting about a hotel called Amyth on an island so deeply rooted in mythology. Pronounced like ‘a myth’, the name hints at the stories that have shaped Mykonos long before its beach clubs and summer crowds. According to the ancient Greeks, Heracles defeated the Giants here and buried them beneath massive granite boulders. The jagged rocks that still define the landscape are said to be their petrified bodies. The island itself takes its name from a legendary figure, Mykonos, the son of the King of Delos. A tiny neighbouring island, Delos – considered the birthplace of Apollo – is now one of the Aegean’s most important archaeological sites and can be reached from Amyth via a private boat tour.
For those looking to explore more of Mykonos, the concierge can arrange horseback rides through the Cycladic landscape, kite surfing lessons at nearby Korfos Bay or private champagne sunset cruises along the south coast. From the hotel, Delos and Rhenia sit on the horizon, while the surrounding hills remain dotted with the whitewashed houses of Agios Stefanos. The village itself remains removed from the island’s busiest stretches, even with Mykonos Town within easy reach.
That sense of escape also sets Agios Stefanos apart from Amyth’s larger sister property, which opened in the Super Paradise area in 2024. While the latter places guests closer to one of Mykonos’s most famous beach destinations, Agios Stefanos feels deliberately removed, offering a more intimate way to experience the island.
Perhaps that is what stays with you: not the clubs or the crowded lanes of Mykonos Town, but the silence between the hills, the slow light over the Aegean and the feeling of having genuinely paused, if only for a few days.
Find out more about Amyth of Mykonos Agios Stefanos here.
words. Alexandra Schmidt
edit. Huma Humayun + Olivia Cichero
images. Courtesy of Amyth of Mykonos Agios Stefanos
The eyes of the world are on Paris this summer as the world’s most visited city hosts the 2024 Olympic Games. Located in the 7th arrondissement, Juliana Hotel Paris is right in the beating heart of what makes the French capital so iconic. It’s a short 10-minute stroll from the Eiffel Tower and when you take a seat on the rooftop terrace for breakfast, you’re greeted by the landmark peaking above the cityscape. As with any getaway, location is important, especially in a city like Paris known for its bustling traffic. Juliana Hotel is just minutes from the metro and bus stops (although good luck getting a bus during the Olympics thanks to traffic disruptions). It’s a short trip from Gare du Nord and both Paris airports. Must-see Parisien gems like Musée d’Orsay are close by and Pont de l’Alma is just a corner away where you’ll find tourists taking selfies by the river Seine.
