There’s a moment, somewhere between the last boat back from Super Paradise and the eye-watering bill at Scorpios, when the world seems to decelerate. It’s when you realise that Mykonos doesn’t have to play just the one bass-thumping note. Cali Mykonos is a destination resort that seduces not with spectacle but with sun-bleached understatement and a knowing wink. This isn’t the Mykonos of champagne spray and marathon beach parties (though we still hold her in fond regard) – this is her more refined cousin, the one who savours golden hour and knows the value of exquisite design. And frankly, we’re more than ready for the reintroduction.
We arrived at Cali Mykonos via a road that felt more like an adventure than a transfer, winding through rugged valleys and sun-baked hills until, suddenly, Cali Mykonos appeared: a cluster of whitewashed forms perched on the cliffside, some even embedded into the hillside landscape. It was the kind of arrival that made us forget the crowds, the beach clubs, the jet skis and the glittering chaos elsewhere on the island.
Cali was, quite frankly, quietly audacious. The reception building, a modernist villa that nodded to mid-century Palm Springs (or perhaps the other way around, considering it was the Greeks who founded quite literally everything), set the design tone. Sun streamed through massive windows at angles that seemed deliberately choreographed, turning marble floors, blue pools and whiter-than-white walls into a theatre of shadows. Cacti poked their way through corners like tiny sentinels, stubborn against the immaculate geometry. We hovered in the space longer than strictly necessary – it was, after all, merely a welcome to the resort to come – watching people, sipping coffee, browsing the perfectly curated shop, plotting nothing.
But it was only when we wandered beyond this building that Cali Mykonos unveiled itself. The cliff fell away to reveal a private cove, a slice of Aegean paradise, and that infamous infinity pool, impossibly photogenic and long at 130 m/425, glimmering like liquid sky. Scattered along the slope, the villas and suites were crafted from local stone, each with its own pool, and oriented to maximise the views of the Aegean Sea without screaming for attention. It was understated luxury that felt lived-in and unstaged, a notion of retro-Mykonos that has become rare in its more recent, show-off developments.
The interiors of our Cali Suite followed the same philosophy. Limestone floors, whitewashed walls, sun-bleached woods and carefully chosen accents created a sense of ease: refined but never fussy. It was the kind of space that made us slow our steps, just so we could take it all in. The design was imbued with a contemporary Greek sensibility that felt both of the moment and deeply rooted in place and legacy, taking the island’s familiar aesthetic vocabulary but reinterpreting it with a modernist’s eye for restraint.
The result was simply luxurious: limestone underfoot that stayed deliciously cool in the heat of the day, soft-toned plaster walls that caught the changing Aegean light and furnishings pared back to their essential forms. There was no excess, no frill, no bling – instead, a confidence in simplicity that felt profoundly elegant. Artisanal pieces and handpicked art and craft punctuated the space, nodding to Greek traditions, while the suite’s clean lines and picture windows created a fluid connection to the sea beyond. It was a dialogue between heritage and modernity, executed with a familial intimacy that made it feel less like a hotel room and more like a well-curated private villa.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Escapist | JMK | GMT +3 |
| While you’re Out There |
| If you are looking to get out and about (and for more sand than Cali Mykonos’ semi-private cove), take a jaunt to Kalafatis beach, although it isn’t your typical Myconian beach. The Meltemi winds make it a go-to for windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing and other watersports, so it has more of an adventurous vibe than a relaxing one. You’ll find plenty of gear rental joints and friendly instructors catering to first-timers and pros alike. Our tip for a more chilled afternoon is to take a short walk along the shore to Agia Anna – a secluded little beach for dips and dives. But a little further afield (although probably more of a short car ride away), there’s also Kalo Livadi with typical tavernas, restaurants and beach bars where the sunsets are as good as the food. |
Crowning the suite was a vast terrace with an equally generous private pool stretching out towards the Aegean, with horizon views that shifted mood and colour as the day wore on. Exceedingly private, our naked morning swims had a kind of sacred stillness and contemplative quiet, while sunset turned the whole scene into a theatre of gold and indigo, best enjoyed with something chilled in hand. The light alone felt like a balm.
We happily vanished into our suite for days, emerging only for a poolside aperitif or a languid walk to the beach. Thankfully, activity was optional at Cali Mykonos, with “optional” being the best kind of luxury (and music to our ears). Yes, we could have taken a speedboat out (Cali has its own chic fleet), hiked the nearby trails, explored neighbouring coves and even met local artisans, but our favourite pastime quickly became nothing at all. Lounging on the pool terrace, drinks in hand, we watched the Aegean transform from steel-grey morning to molten-gold evening on repeat, and every pause felt deliberate, perfect, unhurried.
Even the “extras” here were considered rather than ostentatious. At the time of our stay, the spa was modest – we opted for a massage on the terrace, the sun warming our backs, the sea a gentle soundtrack and the house cat for company. There’s also an open-air gym and a pilates deck, plus padel and tennis courts, promising more active options, not that Cali Mykonos ever pressured guests into them.
Dining grew into a quietly strong suit. The main restaurant was solid, but our evenings were stolen by The Apollo Bar, where sunset cocktails and Greek small plates became a performance in themselves.
Service at Cali was the kind we barely noticed because it was seamless: intuitive without being intrusive, polished without pretence. Staff had the rare ability to make us feel both pampered and independent, but left us free to enjoy the resort on our own terms.
Cali is not for the Mykonos first-timer chasing Instagram thrills. It is for the traveller who knows the island’s excesses and craves something quieter, more personal, more aligned with how we like to move through the world now: thoughtful, unhurried, yet indulgent in all the right ways.
By the time we left, we realised something had shifted. Mykonos was still dazzling, still mischievous and still as magnetic as when we first encountered it – but we were no longer trying to chase its chaos. Cali had taught us that the best moments were often the still ones: a glass of Greek wine on a terrace, a pool that seemed to float above the Aegean, a few golden hours spent simply breathing in the light.
Here, it felt like Mykonos had grown up just enough to welcome travellers who had, too. And we were grateful, because in this quiet southern corner of the island, the real magic of Mykonos was still there.
Photography by Nicolas Quiniou and courtesy of Cali Mykonos
