MYKONOS GOES LUXE

KALESMA OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE VIP SET

Every summer, the Greek island of Mykonos becomes an international party playpen for the beautiful people. One of Jackie Kennedy’s favorite destinations, Mykonos is undeniably chic, yet has always lacked a true five-star luxury hotel.

Enter Kalesma (which means “invite” or “calling”), a new hotel with 25 private suites and two villas on a hilltop above Ornos Bay, which is a narrow strip of land between two sandy beaches, Ornos and Korfos. Kalesma is situated on five lush acres that are covered with over 20,000 plants, and every room features unobstructed views from a 970-square-foot terrace and a full-size personal heated pool. Kalesma’s Greek restaurant, Pere Ubu, is the perfect spot to catch both the sunrise and the sunset.

The hotel was designed by Athens-based K-studio (the architects behind the new Mykonos Airport, which opens in 2021) with interiors by Greek designer Vangelis Bonios, who used local artisans and materials like wood, marble, stone and osier for a modern twist on the traditional Cycladic style. And did we mention that the lobby boasts furniture by Rick Owens?

Guests at Kalesma become instant island VIPS and are given insider info about the best beaches, restaurants and picture-perfect hidden churches and are even provided with an on-call personal shopper. Intimate dinner parties are held weekly. “We are genuinely passionate about the hospitality that centers around the dining table and aim to bring people together through food at Pere Ubu, for Kalesma guests only,” says Aby Saltiel, who owns the hotel with partner Makis Kousathanas. “The idea was inspired by the customs surrounding the family homes in Mykonos, which on many occasions are opened to all to gather and feast and drink in good company and to honor a member of the household or a patron saint.”