Anax Mykonos

With a layout akin to a landslide of rooms that settles at the bottom of the hill, Anax provides some great accommodation options, balanced with some less than ideal ones.

• The large spa and gym, among the best on the island
• The three giant pools
• The private beach

Many of Mykonos’s hotels sit like those on Santorini, towering high above the water on steep cliffs. Private beaches are a rarity. But whereas most of the hotels on the island fall like an avalanche, then the new Anax Mykonos hotel rolls softly to the shore.

This shore on which the hotel is situated provides a long and gentle grade on which the rooms sit. The lobby is located at the top of the hill, and getting down requires a short walk along a straight concrete path. Rooms are situated in rows rather than in any sort of fanned array, and all structures are restricted to two stories by Mykonos building codes, so for many rooms the view of the ocean is blocked partially or fully. Still, all are spacious and come with balconies, conforming to the typical architectural style of the Cyclades with clean, whitewashed interiors and simple coral-colored decorations. Eight rooms on the property have private pools, and some are big enough to accommodate a small family of four.

The bulk of the facilities are located at the bottom of the hill, and it’s here where the hotel really shines. The lower terrace is a centralized living space far larger than that at any other hotel on the island, with restaurant tables, loungers and three large pools. There is a large spa and great gym, which are among the best on the island.

And while private beaches are a rarity on Mykonos, Anax does have direct access to a semi-rocky shore which is blocked by large cliffs so that hotel guests are the only ones with easy access. To make up for the lack of a sandy beach, Anax approximates a small one on a large terrace just below the pools that is set with a thick layer of sand and lounge chairs.

Couples will appreciate the secluded quality and, since there are only a few family rooms on the property, the more adult atmosphere. Families will enjoy the sea access for the kids, but ultimately would be better served elsewhere.