Mykonos has long been famous for its beaches and nightlife, but a quieter ritual has taken hold among travellers in the know: structuring an entire day around the right pool. The Myconian Collection, a family-run group of 15 luxury hotels founded by George Daktylidis back in 1979, has turned this into something of an art form, with each property offering a distinct take on the pool-and-bar formula.
Start at the top, literally. Deos sits high above Mykonos Town, where a 30-metre saltwater infinity pool looks out over the Aegean, the old port and neighbouring islands. The marble bar and low-key soundtrack make it a natural pick at sunset, when the town's lights flicker on below.
Down at Kyma, the pool terrace hosts George's Bar, named in honour of the founder himself. It's a genuine all-day operation: iced coffee and fresh juices in the morning, light lunches by the water, cocktails as the evening rolls in. You'll find a second George's Bar at the Ambassador hotel, which overlooks Platis Gialos beach.
If sociable is more your speed, the Imperial on Elia Beach pairs twin seawater pools and a swim spa with a swim-up bar, all anchored by Nostos, serving smoothies, cocktails and Mediterranean plates from morning to night. Higher up the same hillside, the adults-oriented Avaton takes a bolder route, with an infinity pool framed by red accents and Kokkino Bar — named after the Greek word for red.
The Villa Collection properties add their own twist with the Infinity Bar, which shifts from relaxed lunches to sunset cocktails and then hands over to live performances and DJ sets after dark, all set against an illuminated infinity pool.
In Ornos, the hotel known simply as O lets the pool terrace flow straight onto the beach — palms, natural stone and plenty of loungers make it one of the group's most sociable spots, with Obar's serving both poolside and beachfront. And for those who want Mykonos without the crowds, Sunrise at Agrari is the answer: a saltwater pool set between a fragrant garden and one of the island's quietest beaches, where you can slip between pool and bay as the mood takes you.
Why does this matter for a traveller? Because it means you can sample several very different versions of Mykonos without ever changing islands — rooftop glamour one day, barefoot calm the next. Whether you're after a DJ-fuelled afternoon or a spot of genuine peace, there's an address in this collection that fits, and the common thread is simple: a great view, a properly made drink and no pressure to be anywhere on time.
