Santa Marina Resort Review: Mykonos, Greece

We spent three nights at the Santa Marina Resort in May as part of a Greek Islands trip celebrating our son’s college graduation. After staying at Canaves Oia Suites in Santorini, we headed to Mykonos for a completely different experience—Santorini’s dramatic cliffs and intimate villas versus Mykonos’ beach resort energy and vibrant nightlife. We loved both hotels and islands, but they offered totally different styles and experiences, each amazing in its own way.

Here is my review of our stay at the Santa Marina Resort.

Location

Santa Marina is located in one of the best locations in Mykonos, set on a private peninsula overlooking the turquoise waters of Ornos Bay.

It’s just a short drive from both Mykonos Town and the airport, offering the perfect balance of convenience and seclusion. The resort is situated on a sheltered stretch of coastline, which shields guests from the island’s famous winds, providing access to one of the only private sandy beaches on Mykonos.

Elevated terraces and hillside pathways provide sweeping Aegean views in every direction, while the surrounding bay—often dotted with yachts—adds to the sense of exclusivity and serene island glamour.

Rooms and Suites

We had two rooms for this trip. One was a standard resort room, and the other was a suite. The pictures in this review are of the suite.

The suite was approximately 430 square feet, featuring a king bed, a large walk-in closet, a marble bathroom with a rain shower, and a separate tub. It also had a large balcony furnished with an outdoor dining table and two lounge chairs overlooking the resort and Ornos Bay.

Restaurants and Bars

Santa Marina boasts a diverse collection of restaurants and bars that complement the resort’s relaxed, luxurious atmosphere.

Their signature restaurant, Buddha-Bar Beach, sits at the water’s edge, and blends Asian-fusion cuisine with a lively, stylish setting that becomes a nighttime “hot spot” after sunset. We had dinner here one night and it was great!

For all-day dining, the Elias Restaurant serves fresh, Mediterranean-inspired dishes beside the resort’s main pool, creating an easygoing but elegant environment. We had breakfast here each day, which was good, but a bit of a disappointment coming off the breakfast setup we had at Canaves Oia.

The adults-only Oasis Pool & Lounge offers craft cocktails and light bites, accompanied by panoramic sea views, making it perfect for quieter afternoons.

Amenities

Santa Marina has one of the only private sandy beaches in Mykonos—an island where most waterfront properties sit on rocky coastline or share public beaches. Its position within a naturally sheltered bay also makes the water calmer and more swimmable than many of the wind-exposed beaches elsewhere on the island.

There are two pools at Santa Marina. The adults-only Oasis Pool features an infinity-edge design, complete with sunken loungers and private cabanas, offering unobstructed views of Ornos Bay. It’s one of the most beautiful pool setups I have ever seen!

The family pool is right next to Elias restaurant and offers a more versatile space suitable for guests of all ages.

The resort is very family-friendly, featuring a dedicated children’s pool and a playground area, which provides the kids with a safe, age-appropriate space to play. The resort also operates a Kids’ Club (during the season), with supervised activities, crafts, and games.

Finally, the naturally protected waters of Ornos Bay make swimming safer for children compared to the more exposed beaches of Mykonos, and the gently sloping shoreline is ideal for families with younger kids.

Spa and Gym

Santa Marina’s Ginkgo Spa features five treatment rooms, including a couples’ suite, and offers therapies utilizing ESPA and Phytomer products. Guests can also enjoy a traditional mosaic-tiled hammam, a sauna, and a steam bath. The relaxation lounge features plush day-beds nestled around shallow water mirrors, with flowing curtains to heighten the sense of calm.

As for the gym, it’s a 24-hour fitness center equipped with Technogym “cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility” machines as well as treadmills and elliptical machines.

Pros and Cons:

I would not hesitate to come back and stay at Santa Marina. The resort offers the perfect blend of luxury, tranquility, stunning views, and family friendliness.

Pros and Things I liked:

• Private, sandy beach with calm waters for swimming and sunbathing
• Great Pool set up – the Oasis Pool is one of the best I have seen
• High-end design and luxury furnishings
• The rooms were large, including a large walk-in closet, a large balcony, and a large bathroom with dual rain shower heads
• Restaurants and Bars – plenty of options and the food was great!

Cons and Things that weren’t so great

• The resort is built into a hillside, so there is a lot of walking
• It is a larger resort, so it may not have the boutique, island feel some are looking for
• It can get quite expensive during peak summer season