Travel
Originally published on Tuesday, 4th September 2012
SEPTEMBER SUN
San Giorgio Hotel, Mykonos, A Design Hotels Project ™
Rustic-chic 34-room hotel from the owners of the Paradise Club and Design Hotels
About
Remote, but perched high above two of Mykonos’ most happening beaches (Paradise and Paraga), San Giorgio is a calm, seaside oasis (with the occasional pool party) that’s also only a 10-minute drive from town.
Décor
Not sure what the dress code is in Mykonos? Just look around your room. Straw hats, bags, and local blankets are draped around (you touch, you buy). Neutral shades are used throughout, the highlights being the light, airy lobby (with a touch of farmhouse chic), and the poolside – think wooden tables, raised daybeds and thatched roofs.
Highlights
The staff. From start to finish, the staff made life easy. Can’t get a taxi into town (impossible in high season)? Their driver will take you in. The location was great too – high and mighty, perfect for sunsets. And we loved the pool.
Eat and drink
For breakfast tuck into fresh fruit, Greek cakes (we indulged) and omelettes made to order. For lunch, wood fired pizzas and fresh seafood pastas, and for dinner, catch of the day. Drinks-wise, as you’d expect, mojitos and rosés reigned high.
Party
Stay off the party beaches by day (young, with pole dancers from about four) – but do hit the clubs. San Giorgio makes it easy to visit the Paradise Club (transfers and free entrance to the VIP section) and Cavo Paradiso a bit further down is good too. Both are open air and pull big names (Dimitri played Paradise and JJ and Art Department played Cavo when we were there). Little Venice in town consists of a row of quaint haunts at sea level, and Matsuhisa’s bar (basically Nobu, it’s his namesake) was hopping. Nothing is cheap so bring euros aplenty.
Top Tip
Pry yourself out of the hotel and take a look around the island. North, south, east west – it’s all beautiful. Hire a driver for the day and explore the island by jeep (easier than trying to find those hard to find beaches yourself if you’re short of time) or get out on a boat. Check what the boat looks like first though – boats on offer vary greatly (our sunset cruise was more sunset sinking tugboat) – or better yet, find good friends with big boats.
Why Go Now
From the fashion roll call on our plane – Matthew Williamson, Christopher Kane, to name a few – to the über clubs and restaurants, it’s safe to say Mykonos is always on our radar. And with warm weather well into September, when crowds will have died down, the time is nigh. This is definitely our new Ibiza alternative.
Info
San Giorgio Mykonos
Paraga, Mykonos 84600, Greece
Rooms from €150
