Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino is the group’s debut property in Greece. On a quiet curve in an untouched reserve in the southern Peloponnese, it marks the arrival of the coastline’s first uber-luxe hotel.Â
Close to Pylos, the ancient seat of Mycenaean kings, and overlooking the very bay where the Battle of Navarino took place (when British, French, and Russian warships triumphantly defeated Ottoman and Egyptian forces), the region is steeped in history – but is best known today for its boundless olive groves, sandy dunes, and mountainous landscape.Â
Relatively undiscovered in comparison to its island neighbours, the hotel’s opening in August 2023 marked the arrival of the coastline’s first uber-luxe offering, and discerning travellers have steadily begun to descend upon its shores.
The Vibe
The sprawling 350-acre estate cascades down a hillside overlooking Navarino Bay, its curved buildings gently unfolding in layers towards the beach. Lavender-scented pathways snake through the landscape, revealing panoramic vistas at each turn, along with flora-framed pools abuzz with butterflies, and villas carefully camouflaged among the greenery.
Arriving at the open-air lobby lounge, you’re greeted by dramatic views over the Ionian Sea below, all framed by chic sofas and architecturally shaped furnishings, before you’re swept up into a buggy to explore the rest of the grounds.
The Rooms
Check into one of the Bay View Pool Villas for the ultimate sleepover: each of these private pads is carved into the cliffside, offering sweeping views over the bay through floor-to-ceiling windows. Step out onto tucked away terraces, where swooping infinity pools make for easy Instagram fodder come sunset – while somehow feeling incredibly secluded from the rest of the resort.
Each airy villa is kitted out with slick tech and expensive-feeling fabrics, with hand-crafted headboards and soothing colour palettes bringing the relaxed, beachside feel of the Mediterranean inside. There’s more than enough space to spread out among the separate living and bedroom areas, while bathrooms feature outdoor showers and deep bathtubs to sink into.
The Food + Drink
In lieu of your typical breakfast buffet, start the day by grazing on ‘paramana’ – a tapas-style selection of daily-changing dishes at Oliviera: whipped yoghurt with honeycomb chunks, local fruits, and flakey spinach and feta pastries are all washed down with juice shots. Come evening, the restaurant serves elevated Greek fare: tuck into three-course suppers before heading one level up to the Three Admirals Lounge for cocktails and live music. Next to the pool, you’ll find a clutch of other restaurant concepts, including Levantine-inspired Tahir, where you can mop up silky babaganoush with freshly baked pita, and Pizza Sapienza, which offers a pizza omakase experience (yes, really). Relaxed lunch times are spent at Ormos Beach Club, where the menu encompasses dishes from the hotel’s various restaurants, and cocktails are slurped at the sunken pool bar.
The Little Extras
Whipsmart, attentive staff are consistently in the background should you need them, but are far from intrusive. Return from dinner to find bookmarks neatly placed inside your books, and the swimsuits that you left drying in the sun gently folded in the closet.
By the pool, team members regularly bring round ice lollies, while afternoon deliveries of homemade halva to your bedroom and shots of kombucha in the gym are a given. To get around the estate, staff will happily shuttle you in one of the hotel buggies, or simply hop onto one of the butter-yellow electric bicycles left outside your bedroom.
The To-Do List
When you’re not spread-eagled by one of the endless pools or sprawled on the beach, make a beeline for the spa. East Asian-inspired rituals take centre stage inside the hushed, sunlit treatment rooms – complete with outdoor baths for soaking, and a relaxation room to loll back in afterwards. Work up a sweat at the fully kitted gym (which spills onto the terraces outside), and swim laps in the 25-metre-long indoor-outdoor pool, before making a circuit of the steam rooms, saunas, and cold plunge pool, sitting alongside various chill-out lounges.
It’s no wonder that you’ll find entire families spanning multiple generations staying for weeks, given the estate’s 18-hole golf course, tennis academy, and all-day kids’ club – all of which sit within easy reach of the beach. Endless watersport activities (paddle boarding, kayaking, and more) are also on offer, and for loved-up couples, there’s a separate, adult-only tranquility pool hidden further up the hill.
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