Myconian Naia

With just 18 suites on a secluded hillside above Mykonos Town, Myconian Naia is an adults only member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts that combines the intimacy of a small boutique hotel with magnificent views across Chora, Delos and the Aegean.

Naia takes its inspiration from ancient Mycenaean homes, but the interpretation is anything but literal. Strong architectural forms sit alongside tactile materials, sculptural pieces, rare artworks and furniture by international designers, giving the hotel a collected quality that feels far more personal than a conventional resort interior.

Its size is equally important. Eighteen suites create a wonderfully intimate atmosphere, with the infinity pool, restaurant and terraces all feeling proportionate to the number of guests. Mykonos Town may be spread across the hillside below, but up here the mood is decidedly slower, particularly during the day when the pool and that enormous Aegean panorama become difficult to leave.

Rooms & Suites

There is a refreshing simplicity to the accommodation choice, with every room a Naia Suite and the terrace defining the three categories. All have sea views, while the two higher options add either an outdoor Jacuzzi or a private pool.

Inside, the suites continue the hotel’s fascination with contrast. Smooth contemporary surfaces meet natural textures and carefully chosen art, while individual pieces of furniture and decorative objects give each space its own character. Large openings towards the terrace keep the Aegean present throughout.

The private pool suites are particularly appealing here. With Chora below and Delos sitting on the horizon, having your own stretch of water turns the terrace into somewhere you genuinely want to spend a large part of the day, especially once the afternoon light begins to soften across the island.

Dining

Naros Asian Fusion Restaurant gives Naia a dining identity of its own, moving between Asian influences and Mediterranean ingredients with a contemporary approach that suits the hotel’s creative character. The menu brings something different to the Mykonian Collection, while still drawing on the produce and flavours of the region.

The hillside setting becomes part of dinner, with Mykonos Town and the Aegean providing the backdrop as evening arrives. Around the infinity pool, the bar keeps things deliberately relaxed during the day with lighter dishes and cocktails, before becoming one of the loveliest places in the hotel for a drink as the lights begin appearing across Chora.

Experience

Naia’s infinity pool is its natural gathering point, seemingly suspended above the town with an uninterrupted horizon beyond. The small number of suites gives the deck an intimate feel, and there is a pleasing sense that the pool belongs to the hotel rather than dominating it.

Being so close to Chora changes the way you can enjoy Mykonos. There is no need to make an expedition of an evening out, so Little Venice, the windmills, restaurants, boutiques and bars can simply become part of the day whenever you feel like leaving the hillside.

Wellness

Wellness is surprisingly comprehensive for such a small hotel, with a sauna, hammam and steam room complementing a broad menu of massage, body rituals, facials and beauty treatments. There is also a fitness centre, allowing the hotel to offer considerably more than its intimate scale might initially suggest.

The concierge can take the experience beyond Naia with days on the Aegean and journeys around Mykonos, whether that means diving and snorkelling, exploring on horseback or simply arranging a boat and disappearing along the coast for a few hours.

Where

Naia makes a compelling base for experiencing Mykonos Town because it gives you Chora without asking you to live in the middle of it. Days can remain wonderfully private around your pool or the infinity terrace, while evenings bring the island’s most famous streets close at hand before you return uphill to the quiet and wake to that remarkable Aegean view all over again.

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