Dulcie Barnes

We’ve already crowned Claridge’s as one of London’s best spa hotels. But in case there was any doubt, Dr. Barbara Sturm has swooped in and sealed the deal. The globally renowned German doctor turned her background in orthopaedic research into a career as an aesthetics expert and anti-inflammatory pioneer. And for that, we’re thankful. Because now, we have a brand-new residency that brings her advanced, science-led treatments to the luxury hotel.

Unlike some of the smaller, lesser-known Greek islands, Mykonos needs no introduction. It’s an island that never goes out of fashion. And with two major luxury hotel openings last month, 2026 is shaping up to be its best year yet. Whether you're after a private sandy beach (rarer than you'd think), a bohemian adults-only bolthole, or a cliffside villa with a pool that spills into the Aegean, here are the seven best luxury hotels in Mykonos to bookmark for this summer and beyond.

I rarely go back to the same place twice on my travels – but I’ll make an exception for Babylonstoren every time I’m in South Africa. Even if I only have 48 hours in Cape Town, I’ll make it work. It was husband-and-wife duo Koos Bekker and Karen Roos’ first foray into hotels and hospitality. And since then, sister property The Newt in Somerset has sprung up – which, IYKYK. You’ll find this working farm hotel at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains in South Africa’s winelands.