Villa Orpheus, Mykonos – Mykonos, Greece

Style: Contoured sugar cube
Setting: Hilltop Kanalia overlooking the endless Aegean Blue

Furniture by Jacobsen, Eames and B&B Italia sits alongside a world-class art collection that spans Anton Smit sculptures and Annie Morris works. Combined with the sea-view hilltop location and melt-into-the-horizon infinity pool, Villa Orpheus feels as though it is your own private fantasyland floating in the sky. The attention to detail is unstinting – think Korres products, just-out style magazines and a turn-down service – even junior guests are treated like shipping magnates. And thanks to the friendly, professional Villa Crew staff, guests can feel as though they’ve commandeered their very own boutique hotel.

Highlights
- Hotel-style hospitality for up to 10 guests
- Freshwater infinity pool
- Restaurant-quality dining courtesy of an optional private chef
- Outdoor entertaining spaces
- Secluded location with panoramic sea views
- Incredible art and sculpture collection
- Korres products and dressing gowns
- Huge flatscreen TVs and satellite channels
- World-class championship table football and table tennis tables

It’s hard to know what's making us feel giddy. Perhaps it is the 5am start to the day to catch an early-morning easyJet flight. Or, more likely, it’s gliding along the sprawling sun-bleached flagstone terrace that melts into the sea horizon that is the cause. Thanks to this luxury villa's hilltop location, this private fantasyland feels as though it is floating in the sky.

Pristine snow-white paintwork, sable-coloured shutters and sleek alabaster-hued designer furnishings – Orpheus may be composed of one celestial colour palette, but its decor is anything but samey. Interior designer Jane Wunder has been true to her name, having masterfully applied her signature Cape Town chic to this grand Greek getaway. Subtle statement light fittings from Modernica to shapely Dedon beach furniture and sleek B&B Italia pieces give this island hideaway a modern elegance. Meanwhile, a world-class art collection that spans Anton Smit sculptures and Annie Morris paintings ensures that this pair of luxury villas is truly unique. If that's not enough name-dropping for you, look out for iconic chairs by Arne Jacobsen, Ray Eames and Eliel Saarinen.

The husband-and-wife team behind Villa Crew fell into the business when their own personal property portfolio that spans London, Cape Town and Mykonos seemed a little too large to be restricted only to their family’s use. Getting married at the sweet chapel on this very property sealed their love for this special part of the island and, after an extraordinary wedding at Villa Eurydice, they bought both adjoining hip houses. And, rather than selfishly keep the villas all to themselves, the Friedmans have lovingly furbished them to the hotel-standard luxury holiday lets in preparation for paying guests. Korres products in the bathrooms, just-out style magazines on the coffee tables – the attention to detail is unstinting. Even junior guests are treated like shipping magnates; guests will find that the evening turn-down fairy leaves for them thermos flasks of hot purified water for bottle-warming.

Not only have they curated fabulous spaces, the Friedmans have also hand-picked the perfect team to ensure that function at their villas matches form. Friendly but discreet, the Villa Crew staff allow guests to feel as though they’ve commandeered their very own intimate hotel. Whether you want to host a lavish supper to celebrate a landmark occasion, or simply fancy a full breakfast rustled up, a first-class chef is at your disposal. And foodies, for the ultimate dining experience, we suggest you make the most of having this gourmet guru on tap and shadow him on a trip to the market. Then ask chef to impart some of his culinary prowess back at the villa by preparing a meal together.

Sleeps: 8–10.
Ideal for: Big families, groups of friends, landmark celebrations.

Property style: Traditional all-white Cycladic architecture.
Grounds: Infinity pool and sprawling terraces incorporating pockets of seating areas, edged with landscaped cacti.

Also: Well-behaved pets can come along provided it is pre-arranged.
There is a mandatory fee of €150 per person per night to cover operating costs... with beds and bowls laid on. Quintessentially runs the nothing-is-too-much-trouble concierge service.

In the know
Eating and drinking: One of the highlights of this boutique-hotel-style rental property is that there’s a chef available at an extra charge for breakfast, lunch and dinner to cocktail and canapés and even fine dining and beach barbecues. It can be fun for guests to accompany your gourmet cook to the market and then even prepare meals together in the professional kitchen. Or just specify your favourite ingredients and see what the culinary whiz whips up for you. (A complimentary chef-cooked lunch or dinner is included in the rates when guests stay seven nights or more; you'll just have to cover the cost of alcohol and groceries.) Tea and coffee is always available and is on the house. The villa also has a fully stocked bar with all the accoutrements for you to live out your wildest cocktail-concocting fantasies. Staff will man this on a daily basis, so there's no need to keep a nte of what you've sampled.

Housekeeping: This is hotel-style hospitality so pillows are always just-plumped and your mosi nets are either at the ready or rolled back and out of sight. Six hours a day six hours a week, this rental property is fully staffed most of the time, but should you want additional housekeeping this is available at €20/hour. A full laundry service is possible; the charge is €20 per 7kg.

Entertainment: There are a number of huge flatscreen TVs in the villa, and a nighclub-standard sound system which extends to the terrace. A number of DVD players and DVDs are available to borrow. There is free WiFi. High-speed broadband is temperamental on the island so you may occasionally find yourself hurtling down the information superhighway one minute and merely a roadside pedestrian the next. Why not log-off instead and enjoy the beauty and massage services which can be pre-booked, from shiatsu to rebirthing breathing therapies.

Provided: Korres toiletries, luxury robes, complimentary Villa Crew beach bags, professional-standard hairdryer.
Packing tips: Soft-soled sandles for padding around the terrace and gravel driveway, floaty kaftans for magazine-shoot style poolside posing.
Eco policy: The management encourages you to have a conscience and not leave on any electrical equipment unnecessarily; you are also urged to only change towels when necessary and use water and air-con sparingly.

Also worth knowing
Children: This is paradise for parents in that little ones have been considered in every sense and most equipment can be provided. As with any villa holiday, keep an eye on toddlers at all times when it comes to the pool and walls surrounding the property.
Weddings: With its own little chapel and as perfectly suited in blue-skied breeze-kissed setting as it is in five-star-style service, Villa Orpheus guarantees jaw-dropping nuptials

"...the best villas in the Aegean..."
Matt Morley, GQ Magazine

“Spectacularly located private villas that come with a team of expert staff.” Conde Nast Traveller Magazine

“...feel as though you 've commandeered your very own intimate hotel.” Mr & Mrs Smith

“No better place for your own house party
than in this five-bedroom beauty on Mykonos’s southern coast.”
Ten Best Summer House Feature 2010, Vogue.com

“The villas have a fairy-tale quality;
a dreamy oasis of luxury in the middle of a breathtaking landscape..."
Elle Decoration Magazine

Property ID: 00182

Property Details

Estate with 3 levels
5 bedrooms, 6 baths, 4 square feet

Bedrooms:
Twinx2, Queen, King, King, and Queen
(10 guests maximum)

Nearest Airport:
Mykonos JMK
10 minutes

View from Property:
Villa Orpheus overlooks great Aegean seas with direct views to the magical and mythical ancient island of Delos with the capital island of Syros shimmering in the distance on the sky-line, walk around the property and there are also views of Mykonos Town which sparkles and twinkles at night.

Amenities

• Gated Community
• Satellite/Cable TV
• 40"+ TV
• Multiple TVs
• Concierge Service
• DVD Player
• Washer & Dryer
• iPod Dock Stereo
• Laundry Service
• High Speed Internet
• Chef's Kitchen
• Wireless Internet
• Espresso Machine
• Outdoor Pool
• Outdoor Grill
• Fireplace
• Air Conditioning
• Office
• Crib
• Pets (with Approval)