Set on a bougainvillea-covered hillside above Ornos Bay, Kalesma Mykonos stands on land once belonging to co-founder Makis Kousathanas’ grandfather. Born from a 20-year friendship between Kousathanas and Aby Saltiel, the retreat is an expression of elegant Greek atmosphere: generous, refined, and deeply rooted in place. Designed in collaboration with K-Studio and Vangelis Bonios, its gleaming white architecture blends traditional Cycladic forms with contemporary spatial flow. Every one-bedroom suite and villa shares the same interior design and sweeping sunrise views over the Aegean, removing any sense of hierarchy and creating a peaceful energy of an extended family.
At Pere Ubu in Mykonos, Executive Chef Costas Tsingas creates a refined yet grounded dining experience that reimagines Cycladic cuisine with modern clarity and deep respect for tradition. Trained in New York and Athens, and formerly the culinary director of the 2004 Olympic Village, Tsingas spent much of his life living and running restaurants in NYC. He also holds a Ph.D. in sociology, a perspective that brings a thoughtful, relaxed sophistication to both the food and the atmosphere. Since returning to Greece, he has drawn on the island’s seasonal abundance—often using produce from his own seaside garden—to craft a cuisine that is ever-evolving and deeply connected to the land and sea. At the heart of Kalesma’s hospitality ethos, Pere Ubu offers an open-air setting where white stone, sea breeze, and soulful cooking come together in a ritual of connection and indulgence.
Further deepening that philosophy is Kuveda, a relaxed all-day space inspired by the traditional Greek kafenio. Here, the mood shifts to shared meze and slow conversation, inviting guests to pause, connect, and rediscover the lost art of the leisurely meal. As dusk approaches, the Aloni Sunset Lounge beckons with its central fire pit, Aegean views of Delos, and a golden hour rhythm that turns pre-dinner drinks into a ritual of presence. Throughout the property, whether poolside or in-suite, dining at Kalesma is less about spectacle than intimacy—anchored in Greek tradition, elevated by modern technique.
Drawing from the mystical currents of the Aegean and infused with the sacred energy of nearby Delos, the Kalesma Spa is a serene space where ancient rituals meet modern well-being. Elemental therapies—rooted in water, heat, and light—restore vitality in harmony with the island’s rhythm. From deep-pressure bodywork to Mykonos-inspired skin rituals, each treatment is a curated journey of renewal. At the Glow Bar, skincare powered by Dr. Barbara Sturm offers guests a radiant reset, while the energy treatments—whether at sea or in the open air with sound bowls and gongs—invite a return to presence. The spa’s wellness facilities include a Technogym fitness area, KLAFS sauna, hammam, and cold plunge, alongside private yoga sessions and tailor-made movement programmes. Here, wellness is not an escape but a return to self—rooted in place, attuned to breath.
Though Mykonos is famed for its high-octane nightlife and cosmopolitan excess, Kalesma offers a counterpoint: a haven of warmth, sensual quiet, and intentional living. As welcoming as a family home and as discreet as it is refined, the property invites you to experience the island on an entirely different frequency. The invitation is not to disconnect, but to re-attune—to feel the breeze, taste the salt, and watch the fire glow as day gives way to dusk.
