THERE’s an idyllic silence you don’t expect in Mykonos. Not the closing notes of a party ending, or the lull of a late afternoon siesta, but a thoughtful, quiet, measured and unshowy, yet very intentional.
At Bill & Coo Coast, perched on the edge of Agios Ioannis beach, it is this quiet that welcomes you first. Away from the grand declarations of its neighbours, you are ushered into a pared-back combination of light, stone and a salty breeze.
Ahead, just steps away, you are met with a panoramic view of the Mediterranean – a sea without spectacle, yet profoundly cinematic. It’s this snapshot of relaxation tucked away in a bay from all the noise that makes you instantly forget the island’s raucous reputation.
Bill & Coo Coast
Comprised of two separate locations – Bill & Coo Mykonos and Bill & Coo Coast – the first is the livelier sibling closer to the Old Town, whereas the latter is best described as the more graceful elder. Designed by Athens-based firm K-Studio, the 25-suite adults-only boutique hotel reads closer to a private home than a tourist destination.
Bill & Coo Coast Beachfront Suite
Bill & Coo Coast Grand Suite
Crisp white stone, driftwood tones and tactile textures synonymous with Greek architecture frame this hideaway: think gauzy linens, raw wood and polished concrete. Each suite – complete either with a plunge pool, hot tub or direct sea view – is an exercise in architectural prowess as they all face westward to the private cove as if in permanent reverence to the Aegean sun.
Staying in one of their six Grand Suites provided me with ample space. Designed with a warmly drenched veranda, private pool and a generous space to sit and entertain (complete with a conversation pit and outside dining area), the 50-square metre suite was short of nothing – it even came with a complimentary fridge full of drinks.
With the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, the beauty of the island swept right into my room – it’s a design that cannot be captured on Instagram. There isn’t a single photo on my camera roll that was quite able to capture the breadth of the design that manages to unite all the many elements of what you should take in when visiting Greece.
Bill & Coo Coast Beachfront Villa
Bill & Coo Coast Beachfront Villa
Hospitality here is quietly telepathic. Names are remembered, glasses are never empty, and you are always offered a ride to your room – albeit, you may also enjoy the very short walk up the drive. A small, thoughtful team glide around, ensuring you are always taken care of – without being seen to be taken care of.
The discreet luxury goes beyond the staff and continues in-room: iPads with concierge messaging and a WhatsApp option, a pillow menu (yes, really!) and a turndown service that means your bed is always made. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention the vast range of Diptyque toiletries to enjoy during your stay.
COOZEST at Bill & Coo Coast
COOZEST at Bill & Coo Coast
If there is a singular thread that runs innate through all Greek encounters, it’s that you won’t be hungry. Breakfast at Bill & Coo is not a buffet, but a curated ritual of tiny pastries (you need to go to Bill & Coo Mykonos to truly indulge in the pastry chef’s cinnamon buns!), full-bodied coffee and the perfect eggs with a Greek twist of local herbs and sprinkled feta.
Continued throughout the day at the COOZEST, the all-day restaurant spearheaded by Head Chef Olga Eleftheroglou, the menu celebrates the richness of local ingredients and traditional Greek cuisine with an elevated twist – it’s more about homage than reinterpretation. Once seated, I urge you to order the Melitzanosalata dip and the slow-cooked Lamb leg, you won’t regret it!
COOZEST at Bill & Coo Coast
COOZEST at Bill & Coo Coast
And then there’s Beefbar Mykonos – less of a dingy steakhouse and more of a luxury beachside restaurant that showcases perfectly cooked Wagyu under the guidance of Executive Chef Yiannis Babalis. Oozing magnetism through the in-house DJ, a flock of enthusiastic waiters, and all perched underneath a canvas canopy, it’s the epitome of how you would want to enjoy lunches, or even dinners during your holiday.
Naturally, meat is one of the stars here, to the point it even dominates the sushi menu. But it really is worth picking one of their grilled beefs as the theatrics of having someone neatly slice your meat is a fun little addition to your meal; plus, it’s also delicious.
Drinks come courtesy of an on-site cocktail lab, where the bar team leans toward the experimental without tipping into gimmickry. Expect lemongrass-infused tequila. Expect a martini that tastes both fruity and dirty. Expect to drink barefoot. Not only has this become a staple destination for all visitors, but it’s also a playful nod to Mykonos’ more decadent appetites, interpreted with elegant restraint.
Bill & Coo Coast
Bill & Coo Mykonos Valmont Spa
What separates Bill & Coo from Mykonos’ usual suspects is its refusal to hustle for your attention and affection. There’s no branded incense, no pretence or influencer bait. Days here are effortlessly lazy – coffee by the infinity pool, a facial at the sister property’s Valmont Spa, or an afternoon excursion from the jetty to take you directly to the neighbouring Delos island. And when you wish to visit the pulsating fun of the beach clubs, then the party is as little as ten minutes away.
Bill & Coo Coast and Mykonos are places where design whispers, not shouts—where the ritual of sundown drinks and afternoon swims becomes almost meditative. It’s Mykonos, yes, but refracted through a quieter lens – one which redefines the Greek island experience.
by Imogen Clark