Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort

Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, occupies a private peninsula on Ornos Bay with its own sandy beach, about 114 rooms, suites and villas, two infinity pools and marquee dining at Buddha-Bar Beach and Elais. The largest full-service resort in our top tier, it is the choice for families and travellers who want a private beach and on-site scene.

"A Luxury Collection resort on a gated Ornos peninsula with a private beach, Buddha-Bar Beach dining, two infinity pools and pool villas."

Aggregate 9.2/10 on our editorial scale (Room & Design, Service, Location). Independently scored; see our methodology. This is our opinion, not an aggregate of user reviews.

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from bookings at no cost to you. We never accept payment for placement. Facts verified against official sources in July 2026.

What makes Santa Marina special?

Santa Marina is the full-service resort of the top tier, and it ranks third for offering the one thing most Mykonos luxury hotels lack: a private sandy beach on its own gated peninsula. As a Marriott Luxury Collection property on Ornos Bay, it spreads about 114 rooms, suites and villas across landscaped grounds, giving it the scale and facilities of a proper resort rather than a boutique. The private beach, two infinity pools and a range of villas, many with their own pools, make it particularly workable for families and for travellers who want to spend days on site rather than shuttling to beach clubs. Dining is a marquee draw: the property hosts Buddha-Bar Beach, billed as the first of its kind, alongside the Greek and Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant Elais and beachside options. Being a branded resort, it also earns Marriott Bonvoy loyalty benefits. The trade-off against the boutiques is intimacy: Santa Marina is larger and busier, and it delivers resort amenities and an on-site scene rather than a small, design-led retreat.

Which room should you book?

Santa Marina's roughly 114 keys span rooms, suites and villas, and the choice depends on how much space and privacy you want. Entry rooms and suites deliver the resort's comforts with sea or garden views, while the villas are the standouts, many with private pools and direct access to the grounds, ideal for families or groups wanting their own space. The premium suites and villas command the best positions over Ornos Bay. Because this is a large resort on a peninsula, outlooks vary from beachfront to hillside, so it is worth confirming the view and proximity to the beach and pools when booking. Families should look at the larger suites and villas for the room to spread out, while couples can weigh a pool villa for privacy against a suite closer to the scene. The design is contemporary Mediterranean resort style. For the fullest use of the private beach and pools, a villa or a higher suite category rewards the stay, though the resort's facilities are open to all guests.

Where should you eat and drink?

Dining is a genuine strength and a reason to choose Santa Marina. The resort hosts Buddha-Bar Beach, billed as the world's first beachfront edition of the brand, serving Asian-influenced cuisine and cocktails with a lively, scene-driven atmosphere by the sea, which brings a nightlife energy on site that few Mykonos hotels can match. For a more refined meal, Elais offers Greek and Mediterranean fine dining, and beachside and poolside options handle casual daytime eating. There is no Michelin star, as Mykonos is outside the guide's restaurant coverage, but the range and the marquee Buddha-Bar name give the resort strong in-house variety. Because the property is a self-contained resort on a private peninsula, guests can happily eat and drink on site for a whole stay, which suits families and those who prefer not to travel for dinner. Mykonos Town and the wider island are a short drive away when guests want to venture out, and the resort arranges transport and reservations.

What are the pools and beach like?

Santa Marina's defining asset is its private sandy beach, a rarity among Mykonos luxury hotels, set on a gated peninsula on Ornos Bay with calm water and sunbeds, giving guests a proper beach day without leaving the property. Two infinity pools add options for swimming and lounging with sea views, and many villas have their own private pools for guests who want seclusion. A spa provides treatments and wellness facilities, rounding out a full resort offer. The combination of private beach, multiple pools and pool villas is what sets Santa Marina apart from the cliff and hill hotels in this ranking, which have dramatic pools but no beach of their own. For families in particular, having safe, private sand and pools on site is a major practical advantage over hotels that require a drive to a beach club. Guests who want to be on the water all day, then dine and drink at Buddha-Bar Beach in the evening, get a complete resort experience here.

Where is Santa Marina, and how do you get there?

Santa Marina occupies its own private peninsula on Ornos Bay, on the south of the island, roughly a 10 minute drive from Mykonos Town and about the same from Mykonos Airport and the ferry ports, making it one of the more convenient locations among the top hotels despite feeling secluded on its gated headland. Ornos, one of the island's family-friendly beach areas with tavernas and beach clubs, is close by. The resort arranges transfers, and because it is a self-contained property with a private beach and full dining, many guests find they need to leave less often than at a boutique hotel, using a car or the resort's transport for trips into town or to other beaches. For travellers who want a private, gated resort that is still quick to reach from the airport and town, the peninsula setting balances seclusion with convenience, and the calm Ornos Bay water suits families and swimmers.

What do guests consistently say?

Guests consistently value the private beach and the resort facilities, and families in particular praise Santa Marina as one of the few Mykonos luxury hotels genuinely set up for children, with safe sand, pools and space. Buddha-Bar Beach draws strong reactions as a highlight for dining and atmosphere, bringing an on-site scene that guests enjoy without needing to go out. The villas with private pools earn praise from couples and groups wanting space and privacy. The convenient location near the airport and town is frequently noted. Service and the Marriott loyalty benefits are appreciated by branded-hotel regulars. The main criticisms reflect the resort format: some guests find it larger and busier than the intimate boutiques, and note that scale can mean a less personal feel, while peak-season pricing is high. A few mention that Buddha-Bar Beach's popularity brings crowds. Overall, guests frame Santa Marina as the full-service resort choice, strong for families and for travellers wanting a private beach and marquee dining on site.

Honest cons: who should skip it?

Skip Santa Marina if you want a small, intimate, design-led boutique, because at about 114 keys it is a large resort and delivers resort scale and energy rather than the personal feel of a hotel like Kalesma or Bill and Coo. Travellers seeking a quiet, adults-only retreat may find the family-friendly, scene-driven atmosphere, especially around Buddha-Bar Beach, busier than they want. The resort format means more guests and a less secluded feel than the cliff and hill properties, even on its private peninsula. Rates are high, typically from around 600 euro and climbing well beyond for villas in peak summer. Guests who prize the iconic Mykonos cliffside look and private plunge pools carved into rock will find that aesthetic elsewhere in this ranking. But for families and travellers who want a private beach, multiple pools, pool villas and marquee dining in a convenient, self-contained resort, Santa Marina is the strongest option on the island, and the beach is its decisive advantage.