The Place
This well-designed member of one of the world’s leading luxury hotel groups is a recent arrival on the Mikonos scene. The Santa Marina is aware of its reputation for exclusivity, and has gate security to ensure guests’ privacy and safety. More than most Mikonos hotels, the Santa Marina straddles the line between business and pleasure (it has substantial business and meeting facilities) and, in comparison with the relaxed dress code of most island hotels, it comes as a surprise to encounter formally dressed reception staff.
The emphasis throughout is on classic style. Rooms and suites, with their marble tiled floors, have neutral coloured walls, but sunny yellow and vivid blue cushions, curtains and other soft furnishings. The villas, with their white, traditionally-styled wood-ceilinged sitting rooms, large sofas, cane armchairs and private pools that are bigger than the main pool in some hotels, are outstanding.
To complete the picture, the Santa Marina has that rare thing in Greece: a private beach; a crescent of white pebbles with sun loungers and thatched umbrellas, accessible only from the hotel. Two restaurants offer a wide range of menus, from classic Greek to nouvelle Mediterranean and Asian dishes.