Mykonos has always had a particular pull for me. I have returned to the island several times, and yet the landscape never seems quite as familiar as it should. The whitewashed buildings, dry hillsides and endless blue of the Aegean have a way of making everything feel brighter, particularly in the late afternoon when the light begins to soften.

 

 

 

 

On my latest visit, I stayed at Fouquet’s Mykonos, which opened on 27 June 2026. The first Greek outpost of the Barrière hotel group, it sits on a hillside above Paraga Beach, with 61 suites and three private villas. Being so new, I expected the property to feel as though it was still finding its rhythm. Instead, it felt surprisingly settled. The service was attentive, the spaces were finished, and there was a clear sense that the hotel had been thought through from the beginning.

 

The location is one of its strongest points. In Mykonos, a sea view is hardly unusual, but the position of a hotel can completely change the experience of having one. Fouquet’s sits high above the coast, so rather than simply looking out towards the water, you feel immersed in the landscape around it.

 

 

 

 

 

Designed by Divercity Architects, the hotel takes its cues from Cycladic architecture through its white volumes, clean lines and use of natural materials. But it does not feel like an attempt to recreate a traditional Mykonian hotel. There is a French sensibility running through it, reflecting Barrière’s identity, while the architecture and interiors feel closely connected to their Greek surroundings.

 

What I noticed most was how much of the natural landscape remains present. Rock appears throughout the property, while the sea and sky are visible from almost everywhere. Nothing feels as though it has been built simply to fill a space.

 

That feeling starts as soon as you arrive. The noise and traffic of the island seem to fall away, replaced by the sound of the waves against the rocks and music playing softly in the background. I slowed down almost immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sea-view suite became one of the places where I spent the most time. It was spacious and elegant, but the terrace was the real highlight. Sitting outside with the Aegean directly in front of me, there was very little reason to go anywhere else. The view changes throughout the day, from the bright blue of the afternoon to softer colours at sunset, and then the lights appearing across the coastline after dark.

 

Inside, the design is understated. Warm beige and brown tones, natural materials and rounded forms give the rooms a contemporary feel without making them feel cold. I particularly liked the curved seating in the main lobby, inspired by the movement of water. Outside, several pools give guests different spaces to retreat to, although the main pool overlooking the sea is naturally where most of the attention goes.

 

Art was another detail that stayed with me. Richard Orlinski’s red Wild Kong gorilla was in one of the most beautiful villas of 7 bedrooms.

 

There was Alec Monopoly’s custom Schimmel acrylic grand piano,the vast lobby had exceptional pieces, a Salvador Dali piece took my attention everytime I walked through I kept finding things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rock Spa is another reason to spend time at the hotel. This year, it is collaborating with Dr. Barbara Sturm for the first time, bringing the brand’s approach to skincare and recovery into the spa. There is a hyperbaric oxygen therapy room, a floatation pool, an ice bath and an indoor pool carved into the rock.

 

Then there is the basketball court. I did not expect to find a basketball court built to NBA standards during a stay at a Mykonos resort, let alone one carved into the rock. It is an unusual detail, but one that stayed with me precisely because it breaks slightly from the expected image of an island hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alongside the spa, Fouquet’s Mykonos has Eole, serving Mediterranean and Greek cuisine beneath a large olive tree that gives the space warmth, the outdoor seating stretching toward the sea. As evening arrives, the atmosphere shifts entirely. At ROKA Mykonos on Paraga Beach, the pace becomes livelier. The Japanese restaurant serves robata dishes designed for sharing, while music, drinks and the sunset gradually bring more energy to the beach. The contrast with the quiet of the morning is part of the appeal: you can spend the first half of the day barely moving from the pool before ending it with dinner, music and a more social atmosphere by the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After several days, what I appreciated most about Fouquet’s Mykonos was not any one particular facility, but the way the hotel made me feel connected to the place. The French character of Barrière is present, but Mykonos remains the dominant influence. The rock, the light, the sea and the open landscape are never treated as decoration; they are part of the experience of staying there.

 

That is what makes the hotel feel different. The luxury is there, but it does not ask for your attention all the time. Sometimes it is simply the view from the terrace, the sound of the sea below, or having nowhere you particularly need to be.

 

It is a quieter kind of island luxury, and after a few days in Mykonos, that felt like exactly the right kind.