REVIEW: KIVOTOS LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL, MYKONOS

Just imagine for a second that you are invited to experience the impeccable hospitality of Kivotos Luxury Boutique Hotel in Mykonos - what would your answer be? Three times YES! Well, same goes for me.

My Facebook and Instagram accounts are both filled with photos under the hashtag #Hotellife where I share pictures and hotel experiences but most of all, I declare my huge crush on hotels and hotel life. The time has come to share those on the blog, conduct more in depth reviews not exclusively photographic but with a more personal touch - real moments experienced by real people - as I always do.

I was in Kivotos Luxury Boutique Hotel during the very last weekend of September - I couldn't have asked for a better closure for my summer, nor a better opening for my brand new Hotels category for that matter. I am that kind of girl, who seeks excellent customer service through every aspect of her everyday life, who actually lives and breathes for it and for that reason, you should trust my word, when I speak luxury. And in Kivotos I experienced the highest level of customer service and luxury. Keep reading this review and you'll understand why.

Kivotos Hotel has a unique identity you instantly fall in love with. There are two kinds of hotels: the default ones which usually belong to chain hotels, featuring an identical philosophy - same facilities, same layout, same rooms and those which have a style of their own. Kivotos belongs to the 2nd category: it has created a distinctive image by combining contemporary art with an authentic cycladic touch. Being an Art Hotel, Kivotos also features a private Art Gallery with extraordinary artifacts.

WELCOME TO KIVOTOS!

We arrived in Mykonos early in the morning on a Friday. A private car was waiting for us (YES, that luxury!) and 15 minutes later we were at one of the prettiest spots on the island, in my opinion: in the bay of Ornos. It was about time to "tick" my first-on-the-list box: Private Transportation Services? Check! Of course, we had to delay our check-in as we wouldn't miss the opportunity to enjoy our breakfast with an amazing view: the Aegean sea, the sun, and all those picturesque boats created the perfect scenery along with the incredibly calm atmosphere. What more to ask? I'll have a separate, thorough review of this breakfast later on this post.

You don't get a second chance in making a good first impression they say. Well, if this is true, Kivotos isn't going to need any; we were already in awe!

THE ROOMS

Room with a view: Ornos Beach was laying gracefully in front of our room - one of the 39 rooms Kivotos features. Each room has a different layout and design but they all share an impeccably luxurious atmosphere. Every rooms is decorated individually, adopting a style that blends contemporary artwork with antique artifacts. Garden view, sea view, private jacuzzi rooms (with a sea view, of course!), 2 or 3 persons Suites and the Hotel's gem, the Noah's Waterfront Villa. It offers access to the private beach in front of the Villa, just 20 steps away from enjoying the mesmerizing sea-front - a feature available exclusively in Kivotos. Isn't it amazing?

Various international celebrities have visited the Villa such as Shakira, John Legend, George Michael, Donatella Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karolina Kurkova and many more. And yes, Maryhop was there too.

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Maryhop at Kivotos Luxury boutique hotel! Hello Mykonos!

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Private Jacuzzi in the room

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Pieces of art in our room

Sea view, straight from our bed!

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Our fantastic bathroom

The private beach of Kivotos

THE POOLS

We had the pleasure to enjoy swimming in a few different pools during our stay at the hotel: the saltwater pool with the underwater music which also connects to a swim-up bar and a second one that represents the island of Delos. Furthermore, there are 3 private pools for exclusive use of the residents of the VIP Suites or the Villas.

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The central Swimming Pool

The Delos Pool

The private pools

THE BREAKFAST

I promised a separate review of the hotel's breakfast and here it is.

I specifically distinguish a hotel's breakfast as it says a lot about its service facilities. The overall quality of the buffet and at the same time the freshness and quality of the ingredients, the philosophy behind each choice, the cleanliness and finally the quality and quantity served are all essentials matters on which a great breakfast is judged upon. It is a matter of opinion of course and this one is my well-traveled Maryhop opinion.

Breakfast represents the warm welcome of a hotel to its visitor according to me and this is why it ALWAYS has to feature elements based on the local cuisine. It is a key facility offered by the hotel, as every visitor will reminisce it and tell stories about it, back home. Whether if it was delicious or absolutely awful. It demands extreme care and attention to achieve a great result - it is a fundamental part of hospitality after all.

At Kivotos Hotel I enjoyed the freshest, richest, Greek-inspired breakfast and that for, I have to rate it as excellent. The breakfast buffet included a variety of choices from scrambled eggs and bacon (the basic international dishes to satisfy its visitors from all around the world) to olives and traditional greek sweets. What fascinated me was the freshly squeezed orange juice - real orange juice without extra charge. You may think it's weird but over the past 10 years traveling I've rarely enjoyed such a freshly-made juice.

Breakfast is included in all room rates and Room Service is also available.

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THE RESTAURANT

We decided to start our dining experience at La Meduse Restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, which featured a stunning sea view. Artwork from the hotel's Art Gallery decorates the interior space of the restaurant, creating its unique atmosphere and impeccable aesthetics.

Our menu of choice was Greek-inspired and included the following dishes:

Royal Portobello mushroom with shrimps, feta cheese and pesto

Sautéed cod, served with beetroot ravioli and walnut

Cuttlefish ink tagliatelle with fresh salmon, cooked with premium vodka with brick and golden herring caviar

Seafood variety on wok, in a Greek red saffron sauce

Biscuit crumble with caramel apples and cinnamon flavoured ice cream

Well, it was a feast of the senses! The nightly quietness of the bay made us postpone our plans of exploring the cobble-stoned alleys of the island's Chora and remain at the terrace of La Meduse for several hours to enjoy the view and hospitality.

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La Meduse Restaurant isn't the only available dining option at the hotel.

The Candle Light Private Dinner is an exclusive experience, specially designed to meet your taste requirements, served on a private deck by the beach. Each visitor has the opportunity to choose one out of the 3 available menus created by the chef and enjoy an intimate dinner by the sea.

I'll have a separate post on this amazing experience - for now, you can have a taste of this private dinner by looking at the photo below.

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THE MOZAIC SPA

My experience in Kivotos Hotel included a relaxing body massage at the Mozaic Spa too. A wide range of body and face treatments or therapies are available at the Spa, as well as Hammam. There's the option to enjoy your massage, hearing the waves crashing by the beach on the private deck (rightwhere the candle light dinner also takes place) - it doesn't get any better, right?

There are moments and experiences like these that designate true, impeccable luxury - a few details that inspire you to return just to re-live them once again.

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OTHER FACILITIES/ SERVICES

Beyond the very basics - exceptional rooms, pools, gourmet menu, spa and a private beach, the hotel offers a plethora of other facilities every review should include.

A fully-equiped and renovated fitness center, a hair salon, billiards room, a Squash court (approved by the World Squash Federation), Yoga and Pilates courses, private island tours, a private chapel (with wedding coordination services), concierge services, jewelry shop and of course wi-fi hotspots even at the beach!

Being the only Yachting Hotel on the island, Kivotos Mykonos offers its guests a luxurious Private Sailing Yacht, the Prince de Neufchatel: a 25-meter yacht of unparalleled aesthetics, available for exclusive use just for the guests of the hotel for daily or weekly cruises. We wouldn't miss the opportunity to live such an experience - there will be a separate post on this soon!

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The private Chapel of Kivotos

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Private Cruise - Prince de Neufchatel

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See You Next Year KIvotos Hotel!

The hotel is open from May to October with its price rates starting from €290.

Disclosure: I was welcomed as a guest of Kivotos Luxury Boutique Hotel and this post is an editorial review, based on my personal experience. All opinions are mine, and always will be.

Maria Kalymnou

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