There’s a certain kind of traveller who desires to see Greece through a different lens. The one who’s done Mykonos in July, knows the difference between Patmos and Paxos, and has grown weary of boutique hotels with ‘curated’ breakfast baskets and plunge pools that barely fit two. For them, Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino offers something rare in the Greek hotel landscape: big-brand polish with a true sense of escape.

Tucked into a quiet cove on the southwest Peloponnese, Mandarin Oriental’s first Greek outpost opened quietly in summer 2023. And quiet is the operative word. It’s a bit of a commitment, a 3.5-hour drive from Athens, or for those lucky to fly into Kalamata, less than an hour. But for travellers who are keen on golf, resort activities, peace and nature, or are travelling with family, it’s a journey worth taking. This is not a see-and-be-seen resort with loud beach clubs or influencer-heavy restaurants. It is, instead, a deeply considered, design-forward hotel for those who want to decompress, properly.

Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino good to know

• Rates: From €1,180/night
• Vibe: Quiet luxury with a Mediterranean soul
• Best for: Couples, low-key families, wellness seekers
• Avoid if: You want nightlife or proximity to a town
• Getting there: Around a3.5-hour drive from Athens, or 45 min from Kalamata airport
• Don’t miss: The hammam ritual at the spa, a sunset dinner at Oliviera, and the mat pilates, HIIT classes and yoga from the outdoor wellness deck – overlooking the bay

The location

Getting here is part of the journey. The hotel is a solid three-and-a-half hour drive from Athens, or a 45-minute transfer from Kalamata airport (seasonal flights from major European cities). For some, that remoteness is a dealbreaker. For others, it’s exactly the point. The property sits on a previously undeveloped shoreline, now part of the master Costa Navarino development – all owned by the Constantakopoulos family – which comprises golf courses, resorts, tennis clubs and more. The location is in the bay of Navarino, near the charming town of Pylos (where you can get your dose of local Greek culture) and overlooking the wild Peloponnese coast – sunbaked and strewn with olive and citrus groves. The air is clean and salty, the breeze warm and rosemary scented, the sunsets blood orange. This is the antithesis to the scene of many Greek (and the Med’s) summer hotspots.

The arrival

Check-in is seamless and low-key, the kind of arrival where your luggage disappears and your shoulders drop before the fragrant cold towel and welcome drink (ours a refreshing, lilac-hued serve with local herbs) is even served. The main building is cut into the hillside, with a pared-back, almost Brutalist elegance. You half expect it to be cold or impersonal, but step inside and there’s a soft warmth to the interiors — cedarwood, local stone, and linen textures in a palette of gentle, sandy neutrals. The aesthetic is unmistakably Mandarin Oriental, but with a Greek soul. And the latter is a theme that continues throughout the stay.

The rooms

There are just 99 suites and villas (there are no rooms, all at least junior suite level), all with sea, olive grove or golf course views. The design is contemporary but rooted in place: reed-woven headboards, olive-wood furnishings, terrazzo-style floors, floor-to-ceiling French doors letting light steam in. Bathrooms are spacious and marble-heavy, with twin sinks, rainfall showers and deep soaking tubs – stocked with fragrant toiletries from Sicilian brand, Ortigia. The tech works (a small but crucial detail in Greece), and service is impeccable in that unfussy Mandarin way — gracious without hovering. We’d have loved to see a hand steamer and a higher quality hairdryer in the room, so if you’re set on these make sure to pack your own.

Villas are worth the splurge if you’re coming as a couple who values space, or a family needing privacy. They feel less like hotel rooms and more like standalone homes, discreetly integrated into the slope of the land, with infinity pools that disappear into the bay, or golf course, below. Our private pool villa was a divine. Fresh fruit delivered daily, an expansive terrace with warm, pale blue waters, two sun loungers and a plush day bed – which my golf-mad husband spent hours from watching the stream of golfers on the adjacent green. For those travelling as a group, or with families, there are up to five bedroom villas available, and some suites can become connecting ‘villas’. All guests can make use of the e-bikes dotted around the resort to easily navigate the hills.

The scene

This isn’t a party hotel, and there’s little in the way of nightlife beyond a post-dinner negroni at the sleek lobby bar. Instead, the focus is on wellness, nature and unhurried indulgence. The spa is extensive and beautifully designed, with an indoor pool, hammam, and treatments that draw on both Asian and Mediterranean traditions. If you’ve had a long travel day (and you probably will), the Oriental Essence massage is worth booking the moment you check in. Spa suites are some of the most impressive this reviewer has ever seen – bright, drenched in sun, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a fragrant Greek garden with wild lavender and rosemary, exposed sun-bleached stone and a little plunge pool, Perfect for relaxing in with a cup of Greek mountain tea post treatment.

Guests are mostly well-heeled Europeans or Americans travelling as families — those who come for the Mandarin Oriental name and the golf — think couples in linen sets and low-key jewellery, or families with discreetly monogrammed beach totes. Children are welcome, and there’s a lovely little kids’ club right by the beach and a gelato stand that draws squeals of delight, though with the vertiginous design and stylish ambiance, it naturally feels more grown up.

The food

Gastronomy is a serious part of the experience of Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino — and this reviewer was particularly impressed by the consistency of flavour and finesse, not to mention the charming service by its team of Greek, and international, staff. Oliviera, the main restaurant, champions the produce of Messenia with an elevated take on local cuisine — grilled fish, heirloom tomatoes, sheep’s yoghurt drizzled with pine honey. There’s a buzzy beachfront spot, Ormos Beach Club, that leans more Greek-Mediterranean, and another, Tahir, a Levantine grill for mezze-style sharing. Service is attentive but relaxed, and the wine list draws heavily from the Peloponnese’s increasingly exciting producers – and the passionate staff are keen to get you trying big-name and boutique Greek wineries. Also here is the Pizza Sapienza by Daniele Cason — a unique pizza omakase tasting experience. Sit at a counter, traditional omakase style, as charming and cheeky Greek and Italian chefs prepare slice after slice of fresh, tangy pizza with various toppings – it’s heavy, but really great fun. Come very hungry.

Dining at Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino is multidimensional. One moment, you can feel like you’re in an American country club, as you lunch at Ted’s Lounge at The Bay course with largely American, Australian and British golfing visitors gathering for the 19th hole of club sandwiches, Greek salads and wraps. The next, on a remote Greek island, toes in the sand on the beach at sunset with a Greek barbecue prepared by the chefs – souvlaki, fresh seafood and more. There’s Greek salad at nearly every outlet, one of the best we’ve ever had, and we enjoy the juicy tomatoes and tangy feta mix most days – even at breakfast…

Breakfast is a highlight: where everything is a la carte and fresh to order, minimising waste. This is apart from the Paramana, a true delight which comes to your table as you sit and make your coffee order. Loaded with small plates of Greek and local Messenia delicacies — Greek yoghurt with mountain honey and walnuts, creamy Bougatsa (custard pie), fresh local fruits, cold cuts and other daily-changing treats – and you can take your pick each day. Everything feels carefully selected, nothing generic or overdone.

Spa and facilities

As mentioned, the Mandarin Oriental Spa is exceptional. The area also has an indoor swimming pool, opening up to, and with views of, the wild gardens and ocean. There’s also a high-tech gym, heat therapy rooms, a Hammam, boutique with elegant swimsuits, kaftans and products and hair and beauty salon — so you can easily stay for weeks, without affecting your beauty of fitness regime.

The drawbacks

The obvious: location. While Costa Navarino has quietly become a destination in its own right, it’s not for everyone. There’s little to do beyond the resort bubble, and no town you’ll want to explore in the evenings, though Pylos is said to be charming. This is not Santorini with its dramatic sunsets and cliffside restaurants, nor is it Athens with its cultural thrum. If you’re looking for day trips, you’ll need to hire a car, and make sure you have a spirit of adventure.

But that’s also the appeal. You come here because there’s not much else around. You spend slow days by the pool, wander the olive groves, book that second spa treatment, read the novel that’s been sitting on your nightstand since February. It’s a hotel that gives you permission to do nothing, and do it well. That said, for sports lovers it’s a real treat. Tennis courts are a 15-minute drive away at the Mouratoglou Tennis Center (from the Greek-French tennis coaching legend, Patrick Mouratoglou), which is $60 an hour for court rental, with no special rates for resort guests. For golf, there are four immediate options (The Bay being a short buggy ride away) ranging from €125 to €240 for 18 holes, depending on the season, and all absolute perfection. Residents at Mandarin Oriental (or any of the neighbouring resorts) get a special rate.

The verdict

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino is a hotel for a particular mood — the one where you want luxury without fuss, design without trend-chasing, and privacy without isolation. It’s where you come when you don’t want to be seen, but still want to be looked after. For a certain type of traveller, especially those who’ve grown tired of Greece’s louder destinations, this is one of the most sophisticated new openings in the country, and with one of the world’s most revered and celebrated luxury hotel groups. It may not be the easiest to reach, but once you’re here, you’ll be glad you made the effort.

Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino is open through. Book now at mandarinoriental.com

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