Mykonos, Greece, prepares for its summer season with the opening of Kalesma Mykonos this April. The hotel will soon celebrate its one-year anniversary with new features and upgrades to the property. In addition to the reconfiguration of the property’s bar and restaurant, Kalesma Mykonos expanded 13 of its one-bedroom suites into one-bedroom villas with full outdoor BBQs and kitchens.

Located on a hilltop above Ornos Bay, Kalesma Mykonos includes suites and villas across five acres. The property lies less than two miles from Mykonos town to provide guests with the tranquility of the island’s hillside.

Following a redesign, the bar and restaurant now boast uninterrupted views of the water looking both east and west. The property will also feature weekly music nights featuring local DJs. Its restaurant, Pere Ubu, sees veteran Greek chef Costas Tsingas provide guests with locally sourced Cycladic specialties like toasted octopus and cheese saganaki.

© Kalesma Mykonos

Designed by Greek designers Studio Bonarchi and K-Studio, Kalesma Mykonos embodies the authentic Cycladic look with a sleek and modern approach. From Rick Owens furniture in the lobby to custom pieces by Serbian artist Aleksander Vac in the indoor-outdoor suites, Kalesma Mykonos embraces the art and culture local to the island. The property incorporates cool earth tones like dark brown, taupe, grey and charcoal with white-washed surfaces to give guests a strong sense of place. The calm tones also allow the vibrant blues of the Aegean Sea to stand out.

© Kalesma Mykonos

Kalesma Mykonos also offers guests an array of international wines with a strong emphasis on its Greek wines. Some of the property’s favorite wines include Assyrtiko from Santorini, orange wine and rosé from the Peloponnese. The hotel not only boasts an elevated wine list but also lists cocktails. Guests can enjoy the signature cocktail, the Mediterraneo, a cocktail made with Greek Mastiha, a liqueur from Mastiha trees found only on the island of Chios, infused with lime and thyme.

The hotel’s concierge can create the perfect itineraries for guests, from Greek wine tastings to restaurant reservations to afternoon beach gatherings. Some of the top activities suggested by Kalesma Mykonos include a yacht cruise to Rhenia Island, guided tours of Delos and a romantic evening horseback riding on the secluded beach of Fokos.

The property welcomes guests to experience its new changes in conjunction with the addition of seasonal direct flights to Greece from the United States. These flights are launching earlier than ever and available from New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington, D.C. (IAD), and Chicago (ORD). Greece also lifted the mandate for COVID-19 testing before travel for fully vaccinated travelers from the United States.

Are you planning a trip to Greece or, more specifically, Mykonos this year? Will you be staying at Kalesma Mykonos? What are you most looking forward to experiencing in Mykonos? Tell us your thoughts. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.