Mykonos, GreeceOrnos
Santa Marina
Private peninsula resort
Ornos Mykonos, Greece
Renovated
2016
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Resort Luxe WellnessOutside the door
The house
MarriottPrivate peninsula resort
The resort spans a private headland, running as a self-contained enclave with its own calm sandy beach.
“the whitewashed property’s rooms climb a granite hill that looks out over the Aegean; expect a private balcony and marble bathroom in every space.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A secluded sandy beach paired with two infinity pools across twenty coastal acres.
Notable
Anticipatory poolside service and on-demand helicopter transfers set the lavish standard.
Notable
A traditional marble hammam joins cryotherapy facials inside the tranquil Ginkgo Spa.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
UK Readers' Choice Awards – Europe
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
Also in AFAR.
Santa Marina Resort is in this vein, and adds nothing particularly novel to the formula—rather, it distinguishes itself simply in being the finest example Mykonos has to offer.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Ornos Bay stays sheltered from the island's fierce winds, and Mykonos Town is a fifteen-minute drive away.
1 of 5
The rooms
Tiered along the hillside, rooms feature natural wood accents, bamboo frames, and wide terraces overlooking the Aegean.
The gym and pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Treadmills in the 24-hour gym look straight across the bay, and hillside villas open onto private infinity pool decks.
The spa
Stepping stones cross shallow arrival pools beneath a mosaic ginkgo wall, leading to curtained daybeds set beside calm water channels.
Restaurant
Buddha-Bar Beach Mykonos
The open-air timber deck sits above the private beach, serving Asian-fusion dishes as DJs play through sunset.
The swimming at Santa Marina is worth the reservation in itself, as it’s the only spot on Mykonos where you’ll get calm conditions and actually soft sand between your toes.
At the table
Elais serves Greek seafood on open sea-view terraces, and a wooden walkway across the pool hosts private lantern-lit dinners.
How it began
Elias Papageorgiou bought the land in 1979. His family still runs the estate around its original windmill and chapel.
Mykonos
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.