The Quiet Side of Mykonos
Mykonos has a reputation. It is the island of parties, beaches, and beautiful people — and that reputation is well earned. But there is another Mykonos, and Grace Mykonos is its hotel. Set on Agios Stefanos Beach, on the northwest coast of the island, Grace is a hotel for those who want the Mykonos of white sand and blue water without the soundtrack of beach clubs and basslines.
Grace Mykonos — part of the Grace Hotels group, which was founded on Santorini and has since become a byword for understated Mediterranean luxury — is a 96-room hotel that feels considerably smaller. The architecture is Cycladic modernism: whitewashed buildings with clean lines, arranged in a semicircle around a central pool and garden, with the beach just steps away. The aesthetic is restrained — no gold, no marble, no chandeliers — and the effect is calm. This is a hotel that whispers in a place where most hotels shout.
The location is one of Grace's great advantages. Agios Stefanos is a 10-minute drive from the airport and a 5-minute drive from Mykonos Town — close enough to be convenient, far enough to be quiet. The beach is one of the most sheltered on the island, protected from the meltemi wind by the headland, and the water is calm, warm, and shallow — perfect for swimming and for children. And the view from the hotel takes in the old town, the windmills, and the island of Delos in the distance — one of the best sunset views on Mykonos, without the crowds of Oia.
The Rooms: Understated Luxury
The rooms at Grace Mykonos are designed in the Grace Hotels signature style: whitewashed walls, pale stone floors, natural fabrics, and a colour palette of white, cream, and the soft blue of the Aegean. The furniture is custom-designed — light oak, linen, and brushed brass — and the lighting is soft and warm. The effect is of a room that has been designed to be lived in, not photographed — and the difference is palpable.
Every room has a sea view or a garden view, and the higher categories have balconies or terraces with direct views of the Aegean. The bathrooms are clad in pale marble, with walk-in showers, deep soaking tubs, and products from a premium Greek brand. The beds are dressed in Egyptian cotton, and the pillow menu offers a choice of firmness levels that would satisfy a chiropractor.
The Suites
The suites escalate in size and in the quality of their outdoor space. The Junior Suites have a separate sitting area and a sea-view balcony. The Grace Suites add a private plunge pool on the terrace, with views over the bay. The top category — the Grace Villa — is a standalone two-bedroom villa with a private pool, a garden, and a butler service. It is the most private address at Grace, and the only one that offers complete seclusion from the rest of the hotel.
The Grace Suite
The Grace Suite — the hotel's signature suite — has a private infinity pool, a large terrace with sun loungers and a dining area, and interiors that include a separate bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom with a freestanding tub positioned to look out over the sea. The suite is positioned at the edge of the property, so that the terrace overlooks the beach and the bay without any other rooms in sight. It is the best room at Grace, and one of the best suites on the north coast of Mykonos.
The Pool and the Beach
The central pool at Grace Mykonos is one of the most beautiful on the island — a large, irregularly shaped pool set in a garden of olive trees, lavender, and jasmine, with a pool bar that serves cocktails, fresh juices, and light meals throughout the day. The pool area has sun loungers, parasols, and daybeds, and the atmosphere is calm and relaxed — no music, no crowds, no scene. Just the sound of the sea and the scent of jasmine.
The beach — Agios Stefanos — is just steps from the pool, accessed through the hotel garden. The hotel has a dedicated section of the beach with sun loungers and parasols, and the beach staff provide cold towels, fruit, and drinks. The sand is soft, the water is warm and calm, and the beach shelves gently into the sea — making it ideal for swimming, paddling, and floating.
The Restaurant: Mediterranean With a Mykonos Soul
The Grace Mykonos restaurant — set on a terrace overlooking the pool and the sea — serves Mediterranean cuisine with a Greek foundation. The menu is seasonal, with an emphasis on local produce, fresh fish, and the herbs and vegetables of the Cyclades. The cooking is technically accomplished but never fussy — the kind of food that tastes of its ingredients rather than its technique.
The Menu
The Greek dishes are the stars. The grilled octopus with fava puree and capers is a standout — tender, smoky, and perfectly balanced. The sea bream, grilled over charcoal with olive oil and lemon, is the best version of this dish on the island. The moussaka — reimagined as a layered terrine rather than the traditional baked dish — is a sophisticated take on a classic that somehow tastes more authentically Greek for the update.
The international dishes are equally good: a Wagyu beef carpaccio with truffle, a risotto with saffron and prawns, and a chocolate fondant that is one of the best desserts on the island. The wine list is deep in Greek producers, with a particular strength in Assyrtiko from Santorini and Malagousia from northern Greece.
Breakfast
Breakfast at Grace is served on the terrace from 7am, and it is excellent: fresh breads, Greek yogurt with thyme honey, local cheeses, cured meats, fruit, eggs any style, and a selection of smoothies. The coffee is a blend from a small Athens roaster, and the pastries — including the Greek bougatsa, a custard-filled pastry dusted with icing sugar — are made in-house.
The Spa: The Grace Spa
The Grace Spa is a small but excellent facility set in a quiet corner of the property. It has three treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, and a relaxation area with a view of the garden. The treatments draw on Greek and Mediterranean traditions — olive oil, honey, herbs — combined with modern techniques.
The signature treatment is the Grace Signature Massage — a 75-minute treatment that combines Swedish and deep tissue techniques, using warm oil infused with local lavender and rosemary. It is the kind of massage that is designed for one purpose: to make you feel better. And after a day in the Mykonos sun, it does exactly that.
Yoga and Fitness
The hotel offers yoga classes on a terrace overlooking the sea — at sunrise and at sunset — and the classes are excellent. The teacher is experienced and the setting is sublime: practising sun salutations as the actual sun rises over the Aegean, with the sound of the sea below, is one of the great simple pleasures of a stay at Grace. The hotel also has a small fitness centre with cardio equipment and free weights.
Agios Stefanos: The Calm Beach
Agios Stefanos is one of the most sheltered beaches on Mykonos. Protected from the meltemi — the strong north wind that can make the southern beaches rough and noisy — by the headland, the water here is almost always calm. The beach is not large — about 300 metres of sand — but it has a handful of tavernas, a beach bar, and a view of the old town that is one of the best on the island.
The advantage of Agios Stefanos is its proximity to both the airport (10 minutes) and Mykonos Town (5 minutes by car, 20 minutes on foot). This makes Grace Mykonos one of the most conveniently located luxury hotels on the island — you can be at the airport in 10 minutes, in the old town in 5, and on the beach in 30 seconds. On an island where summer traffic can be brutal, that convenience is a genuine luxury.
Mykonos: The Island Beyond
Grace Mykonos is perfectly positioned for exploring the island. The southern beaches — Paradise, Super Paradise, Elia, Agrari — are a 15-minute drive. The northern beaches — Ftelia, Panormos — are 20 minutes. And Mykonos Town is on your doorstep — the narrow lanes, the windmills, Little Venice, the restaurants, the bars, and the nightlife.
The hotel can arrange boat charters, car rentals, restaurant bookings, and VIP access to the island's beach clubs. The concierge team is excellent, and they can guide you to the quieter, more authentic side of Mykonos — the tavernas that locals frequent, the beaches that remain uncrowded even in August, the sunset spots that are not on Instagram.
Delos
The island of Delos — a 30-minute boat ride from the old harbour — is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, Delos was a sacred sanctuary and a thriving commercial centre for over a thousand years. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the ruins — temples, houses with mosaic floors, the famous Terrace of the Lions — are among the most evocative in the Aegean. The hotel can arrange private tours with an archaeologist guide, which transforms a visit from a walk through ruins into a journey through time.
Who Will Love Grace Mykonos
Grace Mykonos is for travellers who want Mykonos without the mayhem. It is not a party hotel, and it does not pretend to be. It is a hotel for those who want to wake up in a beautiful room, walk to a calm beach, swim in clear water, eat good food, and then — if they choose — head into Mykonos Town for the night. And then come home to a hotel where the sound of the sea, not the sound of the bars, fills the room.
It is for couples seeking a serene, adults-only retreat. It is for families with young children who want a safe beach and a calm atmosphere. And it is for repeat visitors to Mykonos — the ones who have done the parties and the beach clubs and now want the island at its most beautiful, most Greek, and most peaceful. Grace Mykonos is not the loudest hotel on the island. It is, quite possibly, the best.
