The Mediterranean's Most Dramatic New Pool
At The Wild by Interni hotel, carved out of a clifftop in Mykonos, Greece, guests are invited to take the plunge.
MYKONOS, GREECE—“Seriously?” my friend, a Greek hotel-hopper sort who says he’s stayed at the best of them and why shouldn’t I believe him, said when I showed him the “stretch” infinity pool at The Wild Hotel by Interni on the rugged south coast of the Republic of Mykonos. (Ok, so the island does not have an official flag or anything like that, but Mykonos is pretty much its own state nevertheless.)
It’s the showcase of an otherwise very down-to-earth, yet unapologetically posh resort that, when you consider the past year or so has been a sort of chronological phantom zone, is to my mind virtually brand new. Anyway, hard-to-please Pavlos was impressed long time by the hotel’s newly iconic swimming pool because it is just, well, so dang long (and no I didn’t measure it, I came to appreciate and size up, not to inspect) let alone the rocky pirate movie-worthy setting. Which makes it win the drama contest—although Santorini and other places give it plenty of competition. Because this one actually has a staircase to a private beach. As any island-dweller will aver, a swimming pool on an island is always better when paired with a nice beach nearby. And the Wild’s is beyond fine: in fact, without the odd Russian oligarch-wannabe or two yammering on their cellphones, it would be pretty darn close to perfect.
You can’t tell from the above image, but to reach that beach all you need to do is saunter down a winding staircase directly behind it. (Ladies, ditch those heels.)
The Wild Hotel by Interni in Mykonos, Greece sets a new standard for luxury and seclusion in the heart of the Mediterranean. The legendary holiday island made famous by the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and countless celebrities who followed in her footsteps has no shortage of chic resorts, but The Wild truly seems like it leapt off the screen of a James Bond movie: all 40 rooms, suites and villas are amphitheatrically set above the sea in the quiet Kalafatis plage zone. Each accommodation, some with their own dining room and plunge pool, has its own distinguished style in synthesis with natural materials in an earthy palette.
High-end design furnishings are matched with handmade lamps, artisanal objects with antiques, cotton and linen fabrics with soft leather, fine tiles with handcrafted floors. Every detail makes a difference—this not your ordinary Greek island resort. As they themselves say, The Wild is an expression of the philosophy and eclectic taste of the Varveris family, true Mykonos aficionados. “We wanted to preserve the emotions and the feelings that the island exhales. To incorporate the experience of 'our' Mykonos in a place – wild at heart, mesmerizing, unspoiled, nonchalant and, at the same time, filled with culture, excitement and a cosmopolitan flair. The energy of this tiny Cycladic island that artists and bon vivants, free spirits and insightful travellers, have fallen in love with for decades,” Philip Varveris explains. He and his older brother Alex are the creative forces behind The Wild Hotel curators of the hotel’s concept and design. “Along with a team of remarkable people,” they add.
The two brothers learned from a young age to appreciate the value of quality, luxury and design. Leaders in the design sector in Greece for over 30 years through Moda Bagno and Interni, founded by their father, Nikos Varveris, and representing high-end design brands as well as exclusive crafted pieces, they are seasoned travelers and lovers of good food too and as such were also keen on embracing the value of hospitality. “Our home was always open to friends. Guests were constantly on the agenda and in our holiday house in Mykonos our father was usually found in the kitchen cooking for 20 or 30 people,” Alex recalls. A place shared with a community of people sharing with the same aesthetic values. “Whether one is from Los Angeles or Tokyo, we tend to recognize each other. And we are looking forward to meeting them,” Philip concludes. “After all, Mykonos is a global hub.”
Indeed it is: during my brief stay at the wild, although one of the highlights was "finding my wild" at that small private beach that you reach via the long stone staircase down to the sand…another was the delicious cuisine. The locally sourced Greek breakfast was one of the best I have ever had. With the new hygiene protocols, a team member guides each guest individually through the buffet, and you can also order hot items like strapatsada, Greek scrambled eggs with feta cheese and tomato. One morning at breakfast, with the Aegean Sea view as a backdrop, I chatted with a guy from Turkey who told me some of his favorite places to visit in Mykonos and nearby Tinos. That global, cosmopolitan atmosphere is something for which Mykonos is renowned, and like the island it calls home The Wild by Interni is both a place and a state of mind. And oh yes, home to the Mediterranean’s most dramatic new pool, too.
Note: Mykonos’s “mini-lockdown” will hopefully be lifted July 26.