Kalesma, Mykonos

Hotel record · Mykonos, Greece

Kalesma

#07 In My Greece Top 10 · Ornos Set Above Ornos Bay, Very Central

Cali is flashier on paper, but Kalesma's laid-back beauty is what won me over.

Island
Mykonos Destination Guide →
Style
Design boutique
Perfect for
Couples, sunset lovers, slow evenings
My ranking
#07 of my Greece Top 10
The review

Cycladic minimalism in dark wood and marble, perched above Ornos Bay.

Wow, Kalesma is such a beautiful property. The combination of Cycladic minimalism with dark woods and marble just works incredibly well, and the location is fantastic — set above Ornos Bay and very central on Mykonos.

It's very much a couples-oriented property. Children are technically allowed, but I didn't see any during my two nights. Kalesma also recently completed an expansion — new suites, a second pool, and an additional restaurant — and I stayed in one of the junior suites at the new pool. This is a hotel built for slow evenings: I loved sitting in my jacuzzi with a glass of wine overlooking the bay so much that one night I skipped going out entirely and had dinner on my own patio.

Cali had a somewhat more American, almost LA-like feel — Kalesma feels more laid back, and for some reason I still preferred it overall despite Cali's superior facilities.

Kalesma, Mykonos
Kalesma, Mykonos
What stood out

The details that made the list

01
The fire pit overlooking Delos. A fantastic place to sit around sunset before heading out to dinner.
02
The jacuzzi suites. A glass of wine, the bay below, golden hour — the memory that outlasted the trip.
03
The design language. Dark wood and marble against Cycladic white — restrained, warm, and unlike anything else on the island.
04
The location. Above Ornos, central to everything, without any of the Mykonos Town chaos.
Know before you book

The Fine Print, From Someone Who's Been

01
Request the junior suites left of the pool bar. They're more private than the one I stayed in — and interestingly, the base rooms above the junior suites are more private still.
02
Wellness is intimate, not the headline. The spa is small and the gym covers the basics — if a serious gym matters, that's Cali.
03
Dining is pleasant rather than the headline. Kalesma is about the design and the views — and Mykonos's remarkable restaurant scene is minutes away.
04
Transfers and private boats, arranged. I arrange private transfers from the airport or port, private boat days along the south coast or to Delos, and private boat transfers to Paros or Naxos instead of the ferry.
Book Kalesma through me

Fora perks.
And someone who knows the hotel.

Work with me and you get two things: Fora perks, and someone who knows Kalesma personally. As a Fora advisor, my clients receive a space-available upgrade, daily breakfast, and a hotel credit. I know the property and the team, so I personalize your stay, from the room I request to what’s arranged before you arrive, and I’m your direct line to them while you’re there. Rates are identical to booking direct.

When are you thinking?

I've personally stayed at Kalesma. Let me match you to the right room, time it to the right season, and build the rest of the trip around it.

Traveling within the next 30 days? You’ll hear from me today.

My Mykonos Guide → The Greece Top 10 →

Book Kalesma