Grace Mykonos

The Grace Mykonos Hotel is situated in a quiet location on a hillside overlooking the protected Agios Stefanos Beach and the deep blue Aegean Sea. The lovely grounds include stone walls, trees, and red bougainvillea surrounding the five-floor whitewashed building, a typical Cycladic-style structure that's common in the area. Guests are greeted with a champagne cocktail in the small, minimalist white lobby, which features arches, wood furnishings, and a sit-down reception desk. 

The other public spaces as well as the guest rooms also have a distinctly boutique look -- with a blend of classic accents and contemporary furniture coming together in sharp, minimalistic fashion. The hotel even has an art gallery that showcases modern Greek paintings and sculpture, with pieces available for purchase. If not at the beach, most guests can be seen relaxing around the shimmering blue swimming pool, bordered by a sundeck with superb views of the beach, sea, and ships going to and from the nearby port. The Grace Mykonos draws both well-heeled couples and families to its boutique rooms, pretty pool, and beach-ready location not too far from Mykonos Town. 

Grace Mykonos Hotel is in a quiet area on a hillside overlooking the protected Agios Stefanos Beach. The surrounding area has restaurants, tavernas, and beach bars. Car, scooter, ATV, and bicycle rentals are also nearby. The hotel is a five-minute drive or about a 20-minute walk from the Mykonos Ferry Port (Tourlos). Armenistis Lighthouse, which was built in 1891 and features excellent views of the Aegean Sea and Mykonos, is a 10-minute drive away. The center of Mykonos town is a bit under a 15-minute drive or free shuttle ride from the hotel. Here visitors will find restaurants, bars, nightclubs, several museums, Matoyianni Street shopping, the 17th-century Church of Panagia Paraportiani, the iconic Mykonos Windmills, and Little Venice's historic houses perched over the water. Several beaches are within driving distance of the hotel: Ornos Beach is a 15-minute drive, while both Agios Sostis Beach and Paraga Beach can be reached in about 20 minutes. Mykonos Island National Airport is a 12-minute drive from the hotel. 

The contemporary rooms and suites at Grace Mykonos Hotel have an upscale boutique look. Rooms are done all in white, with a minimalist aesthetic and largely bare walls, apart from pieces of bold modern art above the beds. Rooms get good natural light and all come with balconies or terraces, some with views of the beach, sea, and cruise ships. The views get better the higher the room is situated in the five-floor building. Some rooms have temperature-controlled private plunge pools on their decks. 

Rooms range from 204 square feet to 215 square feet (19 to 20 square meters) -- so they can be a bit small -- while suites measure 301 to 936 square feet (28 to 87 square meters). All 32 rooms come with desks, safes, minibars, espresso machines, and hot water kettles for instant coffee and tea. The in-room tech amenities are plentiful, with free Wi-Fi, CD players, iPod docks, and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. Turndown services are part of twice-daily housekeeping. Room fitness kits are available (for a fee), and include yoga mats, Pilates balls, thigh toners, jump ropes, push-up stands, fitness bands, and free weights. 

Suites have sitting areas with sofa beds, and some suites have wet bars. The bathrooms are stylishly designed, but some are a little cramped. All come with premium bath products and walk-in showers. Most do not have bathtubs, though one suite has a steam chamber. Rooms at Grace Mykonos are all non-smoking, but the hotel has designated outdoor public areas for smoking. 

Grace Mykonos Hotel's centerpiece is its sea-facing outdoor swimming pool with a sundeck and poolside bar. The pool is a bit small for a genuine lap swim, and the deck can get crowded during peak times, but it's still a lovely spot to lounge in the sun. The poolside bar serves craft cocktails and plays chill-out music. The beach is about a two-minute walk, and Grace guests receive the free use of sunbeds and umbrellas. 

The excellent poolside restaurant serves an a la carte breakfast (for a fee), which is available throughout the day and features scrambled eggs, sausages, feta cheese, breads, pastries, Greek yogurt, fruit, champagne, coffee, and juice. The restaurant serves light and gourmet fare for lunch and dinner, with an emphasis on Mediterranean fusion cuisine and fresh seafood from the Aegean. Sunset and moonlight dining beside the pool is available, as is 24-hour room service. The bar specializes in finely crafted cocktails.

The full-service spa offers a good range of Mediterranean-style massages and treatments (for a fee), and features a steam room, sauna, and hydrotherapy bath. The small fitness center contains free weights, a rowing machine, treadmill, elliptical, and yoga mats. The hotel also offers a business corner, library, baggage assistance, a 24-hour front desk, free indoor parking, airport transfer (for a fee), and a free shuttle to Mykonos Town. The concierge can arrange dinner reservations, cooking lessons, water sports, horseback riding, island excursions, and boat trips to nearby islands.