Gay Mykonos Mykonos City Guide

Curation by Yasmina Rodríguez, words by Ian Packham

Welcome to our gay guide to Mykonos, where every summer, sculpted bronze bodies contrast with the dazzling whitewashed buildings that house chic café-bars. Situated midway through the clutch of islands that stretch across the Aegean from mainland Greece, Mykonos has epitomised the unapologetic hedonistic lifestyle of the jet-set since the days of socialite and style icon Jackie Onassis (the former Mrs JFK) in the 1970s. A haven – or should that be ‘heaven’? – for gay vacationers, the island is home to an open-minded populace, glitz and glamour that continue to rule the day. Be it in the beaches, bars, or boutiques, on Mykonos, gay culture is freely celebrated in all its diversity and glory.

The best hotels in Mykonos

Choosing where to rest your head on this glittering Cycladic jewel is half the pleasure, and the island’s finest properties have elevated the art of accommodation to something close to theatre.

Perched on the southwest peninsula of Aleomandra, Kalesma Mykonos reads like a whitewashed Cycladic hamlet rather than a conventional hotel — all sculpted curves, dark-timber pergolas and stone terraces tumbling toward Ornos Bay. Oriented to catch both sunrise and sunset, its 25 suites and two grand villas each come with a heated private plunge pool, an outdoor shower and a sunken bathtub framing the Aegean. The Aloni Sunset Lounge — set on a traditional Mykonian threshing floor — gathers guests around a fire pit at dusk, cocktails in hand, watching the sun slip behind the sacred isle of Delos. High-design, deeply soulful, and rather difficult to leave.

Kalesma Mykonos

For those who want to be in the thick of Mykonos Town, The TownHouse Mykonos is an address with genuine character. Housed in an 18th-century aristocratic manor, this adults-only boutique hotel was painstakingly restored by architect Nader Gebran — its heritage details and handcrafted textures sitting alongside orthopedic mattresses and 49-inch screens. The @54 Cocktail Bar and Sunset Lounge upstairs has become one of Chora’s most talked-about spots, with harbour views and skilled mixologists making it the ideal launchpad for an evening.

Sitting on the Megali Ammos coastline a short stroll from town, Bill & Coo Mykonos has long been considered one of the island’s most romantic sanctuaries. The 32 sea-view suites blend traditional Cycladic architecture with pared-back contemporary design, and the centrepiece communal infinity pool delivers panoramic views across the harbour and windmills. The Valmont Spa, the fine-dining restaurant YĒVO and service that anticipates your needs before you’ve articulated them complete a package that makes every guest feel like the only person on the island.