Semeli Hotel in Mykonos Town

Greece › Mykonos › Hotels › Semeli Review
By Santorini Dave

Essentials
• Location: Mykonos Town.
• Hotel website: semelihotel.gr
• Hotel phone: +30 22890 27466
• Check prices for Semeli Hotel

The enchanting main pool at Semeli Hotel in Mykonos Town.

Hotel Review

Semeli Hotel – Five-star hotel in the heart of Mykonos Town with two pools, a full-service spa, and two of the best restaurants on the island.
 
Semeli Hotel offers luxurious rooms and suites, many with private jacuzzis, all within walking distance of the island’s best nightlife and dining. Semeli’s main pool has an attached jacuzzi and underwater lighting at night, while the smaller garden pool is heated year-round. The restaurants Thioni and Krama feature fine dining menus that highlight fresh, local ingredients; Krama offers an elevated menu of traditional Greek and Cycladic foods, while Thioni features contemporary, creative Greek cuisine. Family-friendly and pet-friendly, Semeli boasts spacious, stylish suites with room for up to seven guests. A decadent spa, late night bar, and friendly service complete the experience.

See Also

• The Best Hotels in Mykonos
• Where to Stay in Mykonos
• Best Tours & Things to Do in Mykonos

Semeli Hotel – Location

• Area: Semeli Hotel is located in Mykonos Town, less than a 5-minute walk from the nightlife, dining, and shopping that has made Mykonos famous. The landmark Kato Mili windmills, Old Port, and even a small beach are accessible within 8 minutes on foot. The bus stop at Fabrika is only 4 minutes away on foot, making it a breeze to reach the island’s best beaches, airport, and ferry port at Tourlos.
• How to Get There: Semeli Hotel is located just off the main road connecting Mykonos Town to the airport and southern beaches, making it very easy to reach by bus, taxi, or driving yourself. It is approximately 4 km from the Mykonos ferry port in Tourlos, and less than 3 km from the Mykonos Airport to the hotel.
  
  To reach the hotel by bus, take the Fabrika-bound bus from the Airport or the Tourlos Ferry Port (AKA “The New Port”). These airport and ferry port routes run several times a day throughout the summer but infrequently (if at all) in the winter. Fabrika is the closest bus stop to the hotel, just 300m away. The bus from the Airport to Fabrika takes about 15 minutes, while the bus from the New Port to Fabrika takes just under 20 minutes; both trips cost about €2. The walk from Fabrika to Semeli Hotel is on a mostly flat route, easy to navigate with luggage. Tickets are purchased on the bus or from a manned kiosk at the terminal, in cash only.
  
  Taxis are also available from the port or airport, though there are only about 30 taxis serving the whole island, so there is often a long wait; schedule a ride through a private car service in advance to avoid this (I use and recommend Welcome Pickups). Taxis on Mykonos are not metered, so be sure to agree on a price with the driver before setting out. A taxi from the port or airport to Semeli Hotel will cost roughly €15-20. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more – about $38 (€31), but is worth it to avoid the wait and for the convenience of paying ahead.
  
  Visitors arriving by ferry can also take the Sea Bus from the New Port in Tourlos to the Mykonos Town waterfront, from which it is a 9-minute walk to the hotel. The Sea Bus departs every half hour, with the trip taking about 10 minutes and costing €2.
  
  For those who prefer to drive themselves, we recommend renting a car either at the airport on arrival, or in Mykonos Town. We strongly recommend reserving a vehicle in advance, especially if you require automatic transmission. On arrival at the hotel, Semeli offers free valet parking (a huge perk).
• Handy to: Dining, nightlife, and shopping in the Chora. The Windmills of Kato Mili/Little Venice. Old Port/Mykonos Town Beach.

Semeli Hotel – The Basics

• Ages: Semeli Hotel is a family-friendly, pet-friendly hotel open to guests of all ages. Guests tend to be couples from 25 to 55 years of age.
• Beach: The nearest beach to Semeli is the small beach near the Old Port, just a short 500m away. Though it is an unorganized beach with no bar or restaurant service, there is a lifeguard there. The best organized beach nearby is at Ornos, 3km away. This is a popular beach with golden sand, clear water, and plenty of beach clubs. Ornos Beach and several other great beaches (Platis Gialos, Paraga, Paradise, and Agios Ioannis) are easy to reach by bus from Fabrika.
• View: Rooms and suites in Semeli can have views to the village, garden, pool, or the sea. Sea views are partial with the sea about 500m away.
• Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Several room and suite types include private jacuzzis: Superior Double Rooms with Spa, Superior Double Sea View Rooms with Spa, Garden Suite, Junior Suite Double Sea View, Executive Suite Pool View (indoor jacuzzi), Executive Suite Sea View, Semeli Suite Panoramic View (2 outdoor jacuzzis), and the Two Bedroom Spa Room in Mykonos.
• Parking: The hotel offers complimentary valet parking in their underground garage.
• Extras: 24-hour reception, 24-hour room service, 22-hour bar, turndown service, pillow menu, baby cot, babysitting (additional fee), laptop on request, electric vehicle charging, business center, conference center, airport/port transfer (additional fee), on-call doctor.
• When to Book: Semeli Hotel is open almost year-round from early February through mid-December. Reserve at least 3 months in advance (6 months is better) for stays during the high season from June through September and about 2 months in advance for the low and shoulder seasons.
• How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
• Phone: +30 22890 27466, +30 22890 27471
• Email: info@semelihotel.gr
• Website: semelihotel.gr

Semeli Hotel – Amenities

• Pool: Semeli Hotel has 2 pools: an unheated main pool with an attached jacuzzi and a heated pool in the garden.
• Spa: There is a full-service, luxury spa on-site offering massage, skin, and body treatments for men and women.
• Fitness Center: Small but well-equipped gym with cardio and cable machines.
• For Disabled Guests: The hotel is located on a hillside and many rooms are multi-level units. Not suitable for guests with mobility issues.
• For Families: Semeli is a family-friendly, pet-friendly hotel open to guests of all ages, and features spacious suites with up to 3 bedrooms. Family amenities include complimentary baby cots on request and babysitting service for a fee.
• Activities: Semeli Hotel offers a 24-hour concierge service to arrange any activities or excursions in Mykonos, such as cooking classes, private dining, shopping trips, yacht cruises, helicopter tours, day trips, tours of the Delos ruins, and more. The hotel owners also own 4 nightclubs in town, so they are very tuned into the Mykonos nightlife scene.

Semeli Hotel – Food and Drink

• Restaurants: Krama Fine Greek Dining – Serves an amazing fine-dining menu of updated Cycladic Greek recipes that spotlight fresh, seasonal, local ingredients and pair well with their curated wine list. Standout dishes include the bourani (Greek seafood paella), grilled octopus, and beef skewers. Krama is open for dinner from 8 pm to 1 am. • Thioni Restaurant – Serves a contemporary, creative, and vegetarian-friendly Greek menu in a refined setting using high-quality, seasonal, local ingredients (especially the seafood), plus a fantastic wine list. The chef’s specialties include salmon tartare and lobster ravioli, while the most popular dish is the sea bass. Thioni has 1 seating for dinner at 9 pm.
• Lounge/Bar: Semeli Lobby Lounge Bar – Located right above the pool, the bar serves a menu of drinks and light bites 22 hours a day from 7 am to 5 am.
• Breakfast: A complimentary breakfast buffet is served every day from 8 am until 12 pm. Selections include homemade, local recipes such as Mykonian honey pie, Mykonian tyrovilia cheese pie, fresh breads, eggs made to order, and excellent coffee. Breakfast can be delivered to the rooms and suites on request at no additional fee. Semeli’s breakfast has been certified by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels as an authentic Greek breakfast.
• Room Service: Available 24 hours a day.

Semeli Hotel – Rooms

• Room Types: Superior Double Room • Superior Double Garden View Room • Superior Double Sea View Room • Superior Double Room with Spa • Superior Double Sea View Room with Spa • Garden Suite • Junior Suite Double Sea View • Executive Suite Pool View • Executive Suite Sea View • The Semeli Suite Panoramic View • Two Bedroom Spa Room in Mykonos
• Smoking Rooms: The hotel does not allow smoking in any of their rooms. Smoking is allowed on the private terraces and in the outdoor common areas.
• Best Room: The best room for couples is the Executive Suite Sea View. This 1-bedroom suite features a king-sized bed, separate living room, 2 bathrooms with jetted tubs, and a private terrace with a heated jacuzzi and sunbeds.
• For Families: The best options for families are the Executive Suite Pool View (for up to 5 guests) and the Semeli Suite Panoramic View (for up to 7 guests). The Executive Suite Pool View is spread over 3 floors and offers 2 bedrooms (1 with a king bed, the other with 2 single beds), a separate living room, an indoor jacuzzi, and 2 bathrooms. The Semeli Suite Panoramic View is made up of an Executive Suite Sea View and a connected Junior Suite Double Sea View. It offers 3-bedrooms with king beds, 3-bathrooms, a separate living room, 2 private balconies, and 2 outdoor jacuzzis.

Semeli Hotel – Local Transport

• Walking: The hotel is located in Mykonos Town, just steps away from the heart of the village (Chora) and all of the island’s best dining, nightlife, and shopping. Little Venice and the windmills are a short 7-minute walk away, the Old Port and beach are just a 5-minute walk away, and 2 excellent sunset viewpoints are nearby at Boni’s windmill and 180° Sunset Bar (uphill).
• Bus: Semeli Hotel is near 2 bus stops. The closest stop is at Fabrika, 300m away, which serves the New Port (Tourlos), Airport, and the beaches at Ornos, Agios Ioannis, Platis Gialos, Paradise, and Paraga. There is also a bus stop at the far end of the Old Port (900m) that goes to the New Port (Tourlos), Ano Mera village, and the beaches at Kalafati, Agios Stefanos, Kalo Livadi, Elia, and Panormos. There is no bus connecting Fabrika and the bus station at the Old Port; it takes about 14 minutes (1 km) to walk from one to the other. Tickets cost from €1.60 to €2.30, depending on the destination. Buses can get very crowded, especially during the high season, so much so that they often fill to capacity and are unable to take on more passengers. There are only 26 public buses serving the island. Bus schedules change every couple of weeks, so check the KTEL website for the most current timetables.
• Taxi: The nearest taxi stand is at Fabrika next to the bus stop, about 300m from the hotel, but there are generally fewer taxis traveling through this area than at the main taxi stand, which is about 750m away, near the Old Port, behind the Cosmote building and next to the post office. There is almost always a wait at either taxi stand as there are only 30 taxis serving the entire island. Book ahead to avoid the wait, and have the driver meet you at the hotel instead. There will be a surcharge for advanced reservations (about €5) and for carrying luggage, usually just a couple of euros. A taxi from the port or airport to Semeli Hotel should be about €15-20.
• Water Taxi: The New and Old Ports and several beaches are connected via a boat system. The Sea Bus connects the New Port and Old Port with routes running about every 30 minutes, all wheelchair accessible, and all €2 one-way per person, while a Delos round-trip costs €20. Water taxis also connect the southern beaches, with routes connecting the main beaches at Ornos and Platis Gialos with the more remote beaches at Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari, and Elia. An all-day, all-beach pass costs €20.
• Scooters and ATVs: Scooters are the main mode of transportation for the locals, and ATVs are super popular with tourists, but if you’re unfamiliar with the terrain, these can be very dangerous to drive. The roads in Mykonos are zig-zagging, hilly, narrow, littered with potholes, sometimes dirt roads, and without street lights in most areas outside of Mykonos Town. And that’s not to mention the aggressive drivers, some of the world’s worst. A rental car is a much safer bet than a scooter or ATV, and can just as easily reach the more remote beaches on the island.

Semeli Hotel – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants

• M-eating Restaurant: Creative, Greek fine dining with a casual atmosphere. Known for their lamb and beef dishes, fresh seafood, and Mykonian onion pie.
• Sakis Grill House: Great little pit stop for gyros, kebabs, and souvlaki. The best cheap eats on the island.
• To Maereio: Cozy restaurant serving traditional Greek family recipes and fantastic wine. This popular restaurant does not take reservations, so arrive early or have a glass of wine on the terrace while waiting.
• Bakalo Greek Eatery: Excellent choice for simple, Greek comfort foods like moussaka and cheese dumplings.
• Caesar’s: Family-owned restaurant serving traditional Greek comfort foods in a friendly atmosphere.
• Funky Kitchen: Phenomenal Greek-Mediterranean restaurant, fusing classic flavors and modern techniques and featuring seasonal, local ingredients. Great vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Reservations recommended.
• Kadena: Casual, waterfront spot for Greek and Italian food all day long until the wee hours.
• Pasaji: The best beach club in Ornos, Pasaji offers great sushi, meats, cocktails, and shisha served on the beach or in their open-air dining room.
• Kiki’s Tavern: Located at Agios Sostis Beach, Kiki’s Tavern is a little out of the way, but well worth the 7 km drive to get there. This open-air restaurant serves a stripped down menu of grilled meats, seafood, and veggies in a stunning setting and free wine while you wait for a table (they do not take reservations).

Best Nearby Bars and Breweries

• Alley Cocktail Bar: Awesome bar with a seasonal menu featuring local herbs, fresh fruits, and signature drink blends.
• Notorious: Cozy cocktail bar with a small all-day menu and creative, signature drinks. Live music most nights and karaoke on Friday nights.
• Semeli the Bar: Spectacular sunset views outside and a packed dance floor inside. This bar tends to attract a younger crowd and more Americans than other bars in Mykonos. There is a 1-drink minimum per guest.
• 54 Cocktail Bar and Sunset Lounge: Gay/straight bar and dance club with an awesome DJ, friendly staff, and fantastic cocktails. The party starts late here, so arrive around 9 or 10 for a chill vibe or after midnight for a livelier atmosphere.
• Bao’s Cocktail Bar: Named after the pirate Bao, defender of the island, this bar offers amazing cocktails, all night dancing, and some of the best sunset views in Mykonos. Reserve ahead for the best view tables, or drop in anytime late for drinks and partying in the main bar or in their performance/VIP lounge Secret of Bao’s upstairs.
• Scarpa Bar: The best fresh fruit cocktails in Mykonos, and also known for their signature drinks, especially the Roger Rabbit (vodka, carrot, lime, peach, passionfruit). Their namesake Scarpa cocktail is the Greekest drink you’ll ever taste (mastiha, vanilla, beet, lemon, yogurt). Sunset views and house music until sunup.
• Galleraki: Gorgeous spot for sunset cocktails and a lively atmosphere late into the night. The best views are from their upstairs balcony, so reserve ahead or arrive early to snag a spot there.
• Skandinavian Bar Disco Nightclub: One of the oldest night spots in Mykonos, Skandinavian is a large complex with 2 bars downstairs, a rowdy dance club and bar upstairs, and an outdoor courtyard.
• Katerina’s Cocktail Bar and Restaurant: Owned by the first female Greek sea captain, Katerina’s Bar offers a perfect perch for sunset views from the upstairs bar or the downstairs restaurant, serving exceptional seafood and refreshing cocktails at both spots.
• Jackie O’ Bar: The most fun bar in Mykonos, Jackie O’ is a gay bar (straight-friendly) open for sunset cocktails, all-night dancing, and nightly drag shows. They have a sister bar on Super Paradise Beach that’s also worth a visit.
• Babylon: Right next door to Jackie O’ Bar, this popular gay bar (straight-friendly) and dance club hosts regular events, including drag shows, dancers, and theme parties from sundown to sunup.
• 180° Sunset Bar: Amazing outdoor bar with panoramic views over Mykonos Town and the Old Port. Though it’s usually busy, there is plenty of room to spread out over multiple patios. This is a more low-key bar than those in the heart of the village.

Best Nearby Cafes

• Cosmo Café: Charming little café with great coffee, fresh produce, and fantastic omelets and crepes.
• Gioras Wood Medieval Mykonian Bakery: The best baklava in Mykonos. Gioras has been in the same family for a couple hundred years, and uses traditional recipes and methods to create their decadent pastries.

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

• Soho Soho: There are 4 branches of this designer store in Mykonos, 2 of which are in Mykonos Town. Both of the shops are about a 250m away, one for men and one for women.
• Emmanouella’s: Women’s clothing boutique offering limited and exclusive pieces by Greek designers.
• Elena Makri: Luxury women’s boutique by the former Vogue editor-in-chief. Clothing, shoes, and accessories that take inspiration from classical Greece.
• Rarity Gallery: Truly amazing collection of contemporary artwork and exhibits, free admission, and no pressure to buy.
• Cosset Design: Upscale art, furnishings, and home décor store with a curated collection of unique and extravagant pieces.
• Optique Boutique: Stylish frames and sunglasses shop with a staff that excels at matching up shoppers with their most flattering shapes.
• Osklen: Innovative, high-end, Brazilian streetwear boutique selling clothing, beachwear, shoes, and accessories for men and women.
• Alter Ego: Boutique shop specializing in women’s clothing, sandals, and jewelry by Greek designers.
• Ilias Lalaounis: Iconic jewelry store offering unique works by the legendary late goldsmith.
• Mytho: Wonderful gift shop selling 100% Greek products, many handmade and unique. Located at the Kato Mili windmills.
• Boutique of Sandals: Awesome selection of handmade, leather, Greek sandals. Some low-key designs but mostly crazy boho styles.

Nearby Attractions

• Old Port: Beautiful waterfront neighborhood with restaurants, bars, shops, and a beach, plus the ferry to Delos Island.
• Boni’s Windmill: This 16th-century windmill is the oldest on the island and offers gorgeous sunset views from the top of the hill. Inside the windmill is part of the Agricultural Museum, open in the summer months from 2 pm until 8 pm.
• Little Venice: The western half of Mykonos Town, with sunset view restaurants, lively bars, and all-night shopping, mostly built in converted 18th-century fishing houses.
• Windmills of Kato Mili: 5 picturesque windmills that were once part of the largest, most important flour mill on the island that was in operation from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Only the exteriors are available to visit now. This is the most recognizable landmark on the island.
• Paraportiani Orthodox Church: A complex of 5 churches built over the course of 2 centuries beginning in 1425.
• Folklore Museum: Tiny, slightly disorganized collection of 19th-century Mykonian furniture, ship parts, and artifacts once owned by a local pirate. Free admission (donations welcome).
• Mykonos Farmers: Wonderful dairy offering tours of the facilities and a variety of cheesemaking classes.
• Delos Island: A holy sanctuary for over 1,000 years before becoming known as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. The ruins of Delos are one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites. Ferries leave from the Old Port several times a day, cost €20 round-trip, and take about 20 to 30 minutes to reach the island, depending on the weather. A guide is recommended.

Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores

• AB Food Market: Small branch of the supermarket chain offering a good selection of groceries, produce, wine, and beverages at reasonable rates.
• O Parianos Fruit Shop: Excellent local vendor selling seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Semeli Hotel – The Hotel

Standing outside Semeli Hotel, with its underground parking garage on the left and the path to the Chora on the right. The architecture features contemporary Cycladic style, with a white boxy concrete exterior.

The main entrance to the hotel is through the arch and past the classical-style doorway.

Walking straight through leads to the pool area served by the Lobby Lounge Bar, which sits in between Krama and Thioni restaurants.

Turning around to have a look at Krama Fine Greek Dining, a truly fantastic restaurant serving local Cycladic recipes.

Around the corner from the bar is Thioni Restaurant, a gourmet restaurant featuring contemporary Greek cuisine.

The pool bar seating area is just above the main pool.

A view of the bar from the main pool. This pool is unheated, but it does have a heated jacuzzi attached, as seen here.

The main pool and jacuzzi feature romantic lighting at night.

A little flower-lined path leads back to the garden pool.

The garden pool is smaller and heated year-round.

Superior Double Room is the entry-level room category.

This cozy room can sleep up to 3 guests if an extra twin bed is added, as seen here.

This room features a glass-enclosed, hydromassage shower…

…and a private patio.

The Executive Suite Pool View is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom suite and one of the best options for families at Semeli. The suite opens up to one bedroom on an upper floor.

This bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with a hydromassage shower.

Down a short flight of steps is a living room…

…and a patio with direct pool access.

Down a few more steps is the indoor jacuzzi…

…and second bathroom.

The bottom floor has the second bedroom, which is more private than the first.

One category up is the Executive Suite Sea View, the best suite for couples.

This 1-bedroom suite has 2 bathrooms, the first of which is seen here.

There is also a separate living area…

…with a private sea-view terrace attached,…

…and a private outdoor jacuzzi. Here, it is covered to keep the heat in.

One more suite type is the Junior Suite Double Sea View, seen here. (If you connect this Junior Suite with the Executive Suite Sea View jus shown, it creates the 3-bedroom Semeli Suite Panoramic View).

The Junior Suite is one of the sunniest rooms at Semeli.

It features a living area separated from the bedroom by a glass partition.

The bathroom features a shower/tub combo and dual vanities.

There is an al fresco dining table with a sea view on the terrace…

…and an outdoor, private jacuzzi (covered to keep the heat in). Check rates and availability: Semeli Hotel