PortoBello Boutique Hotel

PortoBello Boutique Hotel is perched on a hilltop overlooking Mykonos Town (Chora) and the Aegean Sea, offering spectacular sunset views that kick up the romance at this already charming property. The hotel is housed in two white-washed Cycladic buildings, with typical blue doors and railings. The style throughout rides the line between traditional and modern looks. The breakfast room, surrounded by windows, mimics the look of a Greek taverna, with white walls and a raftered ceiling, blue tables, and a picture of an olive tree. The cocktail bar is done in white and decorated in a nautical theme. While there are a few spaces for guests to gather, this hotel's boutique size and simple list of features keep things pretty quiet here, and it's really all about the sea views. The bar, breakfast room, and lobby all feature outdoor terraces with superb views of the town, sea, sunset, and neighboring windmills. The vibe is geared toward couples, but the PortoBello also attracts a good share of families with children and groups of friends. Travelers with limited mobility or who are not in the best physical shape might find hotel stairs and uphill walk back from Mykonos Town challenging. 

PortoBello Boutique Hotel is perched on a hilltop with superb views of the Aegean Sea and sunset. The hotel sits just east of the center of Mykonos Town, in an area with several bars, tavernas, and restaurants. The Aegean Maritime Museum is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and it's an eight- to 10-minute walk to Little Venice, with its historic houses built right over the water. Within the same area are the 17th-century Church of Panagia Paraportiani, as well as numerous art galleries, shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Head just northeast of Little Venice to reach the old port. Mykonos' famous windmills, some of which date from the 16th-century, are about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, as is the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos. Paradise Beach -- considered by many as the finest beach on Mykonos -- is a 15-minute drive away. Expect a five-minute drive to Mykonos Island National Airport, and less than 10 minutes by car to reach the ferry terminal.

The 23 rooms at PortoBello Boutique are modern and airy, with a minimalistic look that feels just right. Decor is kept simple, and thus feels fresher than other area hotels that opt for the classic or traditional look. The color scheme is generally rendered in beige and white, with punches or darker colors, and there's generally a small piece of floral art or photography hanging on the walls. Some rooms add touches of red and blue in the throw pillows and furnishings, and many of the higher-end rooms, suites, and villas include high-quality wood furniture and Greek rugs. At less than 250 square feet (23 square meters), some rooms are a bit compact, such as the Single and Budget Rooms, but even those are larger than what's usually found in most European cities. The rooms, suites, and Villa all come with air-conditioning, safes, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs, though they lack coffee- and tea-making facilities. Some rooms have balconies and sea views. Suites and the Villa have sitting areas with extra TVs, and sofa beds. The Villa, Garden Rooms, and Suites have furnished terraces with access to a small private swimming pool set in a garden. Bathrooms show a bit of style, with vessel sinks and mosaic-tile walk-in showers. They're a bit small in most rooms, but have at least some counter space around the sinks. All come with hairdryers, bathrobes, slippers, and toiletries. 

A highlight here is the breakfast buffet, which is included in the room rates, and features Greek items such as spanakopita, feta cheese, tahini, and pistachio halva, plus freshly baked tarts, croissants, cereals,  yogurt, and fresh fruit. Guests can take their breakfast outdoors. There's also a lobby cocktail bar that has outdoor and open-air terraces with sea and sunset views. The hotel does not serve lunch or dinner, but numerous restaurants are a short walk away. The swimming pool is for the exclusive use of Villa and Garden Room guests, which is disappointing. The PortoBello has a 24-hour front desk with car rental and tour assistance. Parking is free, but space is limited, so sometimes guests with cars have to park elsewhere for a fee. Free Wi-Fi is available in the rooms and lobby.