Greco Philia | Hotel Boutique

Originally a summer home for a Greek family in the mid-'80s, Greco Philia opened as a small hotel with seven suites in 2007. The hotel was further expanded with unique suites and villas using traditional construction and classic Cycladic details, such as rounded plasterwork and mosaic tiles. True to its terroir, the boutique hotel grows its own olives, tomatoes, and arugula in its kitchen garden, and other goods like a local Kopanisti cheese are delivered by boat from the neighboring island of Tinos. The hotel has only a small reception desk, with the only real common space being the pool sundeck, where there is an adjoining bar and restaurant with panoramic views of the sea and nearby Elia Beach. The property caters to couples looking for a mature and luxurious environment away from the tourist and party crowds. 

The hotel is on a steep hill above Elia Beach, accessible by a narrow road that winds across the cliffside up to a slightly sloping parking lot. It's only a five-minute walk to the beach, where guests can find a public section and some restaurants within walking distance. The walk back is a steep climb though, so most opt for the free shuttle. It’s a 25-minute drive to the shopping, dining, nightlife, and sightseeing of Mykonos. Both the port and Mykonos Airport are less than a 25-minute drive. Many choose a location on Mykonos' south coast for the opportunity to explore the area beaches; a number of beaches are within a 30-minute drive, including Kalo Livadi Beach and Kalafati Beach to the east, and to the west, well-known nude beach Super Paradise Beach, as well as Platis Gialos and Psarou Beach.   

The hotel has 30 individually designed suites and larger villas, optimized for privacy with sheltered furnished balconies or terraces, all featuring sea views. They share classic Cycladic elements like exposed stone walls and whitewashed plaster work, but each is architecturally unique (and named for a different artist, from Leonardo to Rothko) -- one unit has a a fireplace, some have wooden ceilings built with local beams, and one suite has a domed brick ceiling. Modern furnishings dress up the interiors and all the bedrooms have memory foam mattresses with Egyptian cotton linens. Upgraded suites and the larger villas have separate living rooms; some add private plunge pools or hot tubs, and others have rustic kitchenettes. Free Wi-Fi comes standard as do flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and iPod docks. The stocked minibars are free, but there are no coffeemakers. The bathrooms vary, some with rough stone walls and plaster, others with mosaic tiles, but all have walk-in showers; some add separate soaking tubs. The entry-level category is the Deluxe Villa, which is 36 square meters (388 square feet). Most room types fit only two guests, though there are some two-bedroom villas available that fit four, including the Degas Two-Bedroom Grand Deluxe Deluxe Villa, which features a full kitchen, along with a private entrance and private parking.

The beautiful outdoor pool has a shallow platform with a wide slab of gray marble set on legs, accompanied by cubed marble stools set like a dining table for a Greek god, with submerged steps that lead into the wider deep end of the pool. It's surrounded by a sundeck with cushioned benches and wide comfortable loungers under reed umbrellas. Adirondack chairs are a surprising addition, all facing a low glass safety wall at the cliff's edge overlooking the sea. The on-site restaurant has an indoor dining room and an outdoor bar terrace along the pool. It serves a contemporary Greek menu with locally caught seafood and produce from the kitchen's garden. Traditional items like homemade yogurt, bread, and cakes, round out the fare, and the free breakfast can be served in-room. A small spa has two treatment rooms enclosed in frosted glass with the usual massages and facials. Guests can also book most treatments on their private balconies or terraces. There's also a tiny fitness room with a pair of cardio machines and a weight trainer. Free parking is available, and the hotel operates a free shuttle to nearby Elia Beach.