The Perfect (Property) Sisters: Kivotos Santorini and Kivotos Mykonos
by
Laura DeGomez
10 months ago
I know there’s usually said to be a spirit of competition among sisters but here, there is nothing but perfect harmony. Kivotos Santorini is a stunning all-black, cave-inspired hotel set against the white cascading hills of Imerovigli Greece. Its sister-property Kivotos Mykonos is set in Ornos, the perfect escape from the Lindsay Lohan Scorpios dance scene. We had the pleasure of checking out both spots and wanted to share our experiences.
We touched down in Santorini to find a quaint, updated airport and were greeted by the Kivotos team. Knowing that we were traveling with our 5-month-old, they had a car and car seat waiting for us – so thoughtful. Our driver was kind, personable, and friendly which was our finding of all Greeks, to be honest. We were whisked off to the property and after arriving atop an unsuspecting hill, we were here, home for the next 2 nights.
While our (many) bags were being unloaded, we were escorted over the hill and down a cobblestone path where the world literally opened up. Everything we passed was blanketed in an orange glow and the magical Santorini sunset exceeded expectations. It was time to check in but the small office/lobby area was somewhat sunken into the hillside, so instead we paused and went out to enjoy the view.
Photo by Laure DeGomez
Once we had taken the sunset in from the private dining space of Mavros, the on-site restaurant, we walked a winding path down to our room – or should I say oceanfront cave. With a stunning underlit king bed, rock formation ceiling, delicate window features, freestanding tub, and sunset-adorned hot tub, this room needed nothing.
Photo by Laure DeGomez
Kivotos Santorini is a boutique property that feels slightly more like an individual space than a typical “resort” with a central communal space. There is a beautiful rooftop pool that sits just behind the tables of Mavros but the area is somewhat isolated. If you were traveling with friends, I can see this being an amazing setup where the pool and bar felt like your own private escape. The privacy and come-and-go uninterruptedness of the space was perfect for us.
With the rooms being as spacious and beautiful as they are, we spent our days exploring and our nights enjoying the STUNNING sunset (honestly I can’t stop thinking about them).
Here’s a little look at what we got up to:
Arrival at sunset (see I can’t stop) – and then room service for these tired kids. The next morning, hubby ventured out for coffee and found the MOST DELICIOUS ham and cheese croissant at Ilios Bakery. Don’t be turned off by the aesthetic - get a flat white, about 120 ham and cheese croissants, and bring it all back to your room to devour. You’ll enjoy a few minutes of the local feel at the cafe and hopefully a few broken sentences with the owners.
We spent the next day exploring Oia. Luckily this was a weekday when there were no cruise ships in. I do not love crowds, so this was such a nice treat. We got back to Kivotos for an afternoon nap, a dip in our hot tub, and dinner at MamaLena, just across the street.
Sadly our two nights had wrapped and we were on our way to the wedding festivities. We celebrated our amazing time at Kivotos Santorini with the most stunning, luxurious breakfast that we have ever experienced. Take a look for yourself and do not skip.
Photo by Laure DeGomez
After a jam-packed few days celebrating our good friends, we were off to Mykonos!
Now, before you head to Mykonos, here are some tips to kick things off:
Book your ferry ticket ahead of time and make sure you check-in. Even with all of that done, it can still be a sh*t show thanks to crowds and bad weather. We booked with SeaJets and with the weather on our side, and luckily things went smoothly. Note the serious Santorini winds can cause delays!
Photo by Laure DeGomez
The Kivotos Mykonos team picked us up at the ferry dock which was huge because there were about a bazillion people getting off and it was mayhem. You’ll have to give your passport number and sign a slip each time you get into a car in Mykonos. I still don’t exactly understand this but don’t say I didn’t prep you.
Photo by Laure DeGomez
The Kivotos entrance is unsuspecting. A beautiful open gate, a small tasteful sign, and a smooth stone path lead you to the lobby. A much more traditional space when compared to the Santorini property. Once checked in we were shown to our room, and similar to Santorini, this meant that there were a few stairs involved. The room itself was quaint and perfectly suited (check out a room tour on TikTok here). The real stunner was the balcony overlooking Ornos Bay perfectly framed with a single palm tree.
Photo by Laure DeGomez
Our view was central and looked over the pool area, swim-up bar, private beach, and an active marina. It was beautiful and it got even more stunning at night. The grounds are white and draped in red bougainvillea. My favorite little corner had a purple door.
Photo by Laure DeGomez
The restaurant space was an open deck that peered over onto parked boats and a beach club. We had dinner there on our first night and while it wasn’t my favorite meal per se, the ambiance was beautiful. Dessert however was FABULOUS and yes, I ordered two.
Photo by Laure DeGomez
We spent the next day at Pasaji, a beach club that was family-friendly. It was a short (but hot) walk down from the room and the rosé and sushi were worth every minute.
After afternoon naps, and some time at the pool, we got ready for our reservation at 180 Sunset Bar. We were pushing bedtime so this could have gone south quickly but we made it and little man was an absolute champ, letting us enjoy the view with friends. The per-person spend was pricey here BUT the sunset was stunning.
We jetted out of the Mykonos airport back to London in the morning and sadly that was a wrap on our time at Kivotos. What I will say, above all else is that both properties are situated in true beauty. They remove you from the sea of tourists and give you space to enjoy (#TeamKivotos.)
If you’re considering either (or both) feel free to message me on WT, I’d love to tell you more!
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