Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos was so beautiful and so much fun! Given that it was a family trip we didn't experience the clubbing side of the island, but it was beautiful and full of delicious restaurants. We arrived right at the beginning of the season, which meant it was a little chilly & windy, and restaurants were just opening, but we made the most of it!

One of my favorite days was when we went to Mykonos Town! It was the part of the island that you'd imagine when you picture Greece or see it on IG. We walked around and saw the adorable shops, windmills, and other boutiques. My family and I loved strolling through the allies and getting lost in this little part of town!

Something no one tells you about Mykonos is that it is generally spread out and if you want to adventure into other villages you have to take the bus or sprinter vans (and there's no in-between). Since we were only there for a few days we didn't want to waste time waiting for the bus and so we took these luxury vans the majority of the time! It felt very VIP, but also really added up! 

Appagio

This charming restaurant was located on renowned Ornos Beach! The food was so delicious and the owner and staff were so kind! They showed us their fresh fish refrigerator and a unique lobster they had caught earlier in the day. It was a great start to our time in Mykonos and a great way to watch the sunset. 

Captain's

We went to Captain's while we were in Mykonos Town and it was divine! They do not take reservations and are known to have a long wait, which the owner actually told us they stopped doing reservations because they'd hold the table and people wouldn't show. Luckily, we got a table fairly quickly (though I would wait hours for this meal if needed) and we devoured the lamb chops and fresh seafood! 

Nikos Gallop 

This restaurant was within walking distance of our hotel and was packed with people! The fish was delicious and you could tell it was super fresh. I wouldn't go out of your way to eat here, but if you stay at a resort nearby then I'd for sure take advantage! 

Yialo Yialo

Again, within walking distance from our hotel was a strip of beach clubs and restaurants and so we went down for lunch. We didn't have a set plan and ran into this gem, Yialo Yialo! We really enjoyed this meal also and talked with the staff about DK Oyster, which is a few places over that you should NEVER go!! They confirmed what I heard on TikTok which is that they serve you a ton of food/drinks without telling you the price and then hand you a bill for thousands!! Big red flag - for sure go to Yialo Yialo instead!

Scorpios

Scorpios is owned by Soho House and is somewhere I really wanted to go for a fun, party dinner! Not going to lie, they were kind of rude here and it seemed like since we weren't the typical party people (we were with our parents lol) who were going to buy bottle service they didn't care for us too much. Regardless we had a good time and the food was actually good too!

Petasos Beach Resort & Spa

Our hotel was for sure a highlight of our time in Mykonos! To start, they upgraded our rooms upon arrival so my parents had a private pool, a bouquet of flowers, and champagne in their room. They were so kind and helped us get around the island by calling the sprinter vans for us! The breakfast was served right at tables right on the ocean every day and it was delicious. It was a tad too chilly to hang out by the pool/beach and so we only did that one day, but I would love to come back in the middle of the summer to stay here again!

Santorini, Greece 2.0

I was so excited to go back to Santorini and stay in Oia! While studying abroad I visited Santorini for a weekend and stayed outside of town. I went back to a lot of the same spots, but my study abroad Santorini trip can be found here!

One of my favorite days was when we took a private catamaran around the island. It was stunning to see the crystal clear water and how small the cities looked from down below. The captain made us a big lunch that we enjoyed onboard!

The best views for a picture are when you walk to see the review of the Three Blue Domes. It was so clear and stunning while we were in Santorini that it felt & looked like a dream! This little path is right off the beaten path, but a bit hidden so I always recommend using this guide to find it. 

One of my favorite hidden gems is this little gyro place that's right off the main part of Oia. It is so delicious, the people are so nice and it is perfect for a casual lunch! They have limited seating so sometimes you have to take it to-go, but a gyro is very easy to walk around with! 

For dinner one night we went to Melitini which was a short walk from our hotel. It was very sharable and we got to try some new stuff that we hadn't had before! While the downstairs is cute, I recommend booking in advance to get their rooftop patio which I believe has a great view, but not positive since I never went up there myself.

One of my FAVORITE parts of staying in Oia was being close to this delicious bakery, Melenio that I discovered last time I was here! We walked here every night for a sweet treat and a stunning post-sunset view of the moon on the water. Obviously, the baklava is a must, but we loved all of the other desserts as well. 

Ammoundi Fish Tavern is one of a few restaurants located in Ammoundi Bay and while the food isn't the best meal of your life the beauty of eating literally right on the water at sunset is so worth it! You'll find that most restaurants in Santorini are on the cliffside so it is cool to be down in a bay. Similar to the last time we walked down the steps, but it was NOT fun! I didn't realize that the steps had been very eroded since I was here last and so we struggled hard! I no longer recommend that walk. ;)

Roka Restaurant had an adorable, local vibe to it and truly felt like a little escape from the many tourist restaurants in Oia. The food was delicious and unique and the patio was beaming with character! They also have a patio that has an ocean view of the other side of the island, but we couldn't turn down this adorable patio.

Breakfast was included with our stay, but even if you're not staying here I recommend coming at least once for these stunning views around the pool! They served us an array of pastries every morning and delicious coffee (with lots of ice which is rare)! It was such a peaceful start to each day and probably the part I miss the most from this trip. 

We stayed at the Canaves Oia Suites which was a DREAM! While the views and pools were clearly amazing, the service was impeccable and everyone there was so kind! We enjoyed a welcome drink by the pool and then many Aperol Spritz there on out.

I think it's super tacky to link the hotel suite that we stayed in, but I will this time because the hotel upgraded us to this INCREDIBLE three-bedroom villa with a private infinity pool (that my parents would have never booked on their own lol)! It was such a nice surprise and it just made our experience 10000x more special. We hung out here for a full day and stocked the fridge with drinks, lunch, and charcuterie! Wish I could relive that day a million times! 

And the views at night were just as stunning to sit and enjoy a nightcap. Without a doubt, I recommend staying at Canaves for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation!