Hotel Review: Koukoumi Vegan Boutique Hotel in Mykonos, Greece
While fully vegan restaurants are popping up in major cities and even smaller towns all over the world, finding a fully vegan hotel is almost like spotting a unicorn. And in many ways, Koukoumi Vegan Boutique Hotel is a unicorn. It’s not just a hotel that serves vegan food – it’s more like spending your vacation in a high-end vegan restaurant that just happens to be surrounded by beautiful rooms you can rest in between meals.
Koukoumi is also one of the only hotels I’ve actually stayed at more than once. In this review, I’ll tell you all about it so you know what to expect. Spoiler alert: It’s mostly pros, a couple of cons, and So. Much. Vegan. Food.
Koukoumi Vegan Hotel: What, where, when, why
Koukoumi is a small boutique hotel in Ano Mera, Mykonos, Greece – and it’s 100% vegan, obviously, from the food to the toiletries to the bedding. With only 14 rooms, you can expect a truly peaceful environment in a space that never feels overcrowded, even in peak season.
Koukoumi is open from May to October each year. If you’re planning on doing some swimming in the hotel pool, you might want to plan your visit sometime between June and September, as it’s unheated and the water can be a little cold in the spring and fall. While my first visit was in late September, which was just a little chilly, the second one was in late June, which was perfect.
As for the location, Ano Mera is a small, quiet village, located on a hill around 8km away from Mykonos Town (Chora). The upside to this is definitely the peace and quiet: you’re far away from the touristy vibes and crowded beaches, and you can get a taste of what life in Mykonos is really like. The downside is… well, you’re far away from the beaches, and there’s not much to do in the village. You can take a walk or a taxi down the hill to get to the nearest beach (I haven’t tried this) or rent a car, take a taxi, or take the bus to spend a day in Mykonos Town.
My stays at Koukoumi were mostly to chill out and unwind in a place where I’d be able to enjoy all the food, so I wasn’t too anxious to go somewhere else (although I did spend a fun day taking pictures of all the cats in Chora). But if you’re looking for a resort where you can easily walk from your room to the beach, Koukoumi might not be what you’re looking for.
Vegan food at Koukoumi
Okay, now let’s talk about what really matters: the food! The restaurant at Koukoumi serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wildly talented vegan chef Aggeliki Charami is behind all the creative menus. At the bar, you’ll meet a gifted mixologist who’ll keep you happy with his exquisite cocktail creations tailored to your taste. Each meal has a different concept with its own menu, and you can view all the current menus for this year on the hotel website – don’t you love when hotel websites make that information accessible?
If you’re in a DIY kind of mood, you can even book cooking classes with the chef, but I haven’t tried that myself.
Tip: The Koukoumi restaurant is open to everyone – not just hotel guests. If you’re spending some time in Mykonos, even if you’re not staying at the hotel, you should stop by for dinner. Or lunch. Or breakfast. Or all the meals?
Breakfast
Let’s dwell on breakfast for a moment. If you’re a vegan who likes to travel, you’ve probably been deeply traumatized by hotel breakfasts… all-you-can-eat buffets where all you can really eat is some canned fruit and maybe some bread and jam, if you can get anyone to tell you if the bread is even vegan. If you’re lucky, maybe you can throw together a salad.
Now, imagine waking up in your lovely hotel room, going down to breakfast, looking at the buffet… and you can choose anything you want because it’s all vegan. Koukoumi’s breakfast buffet changes every day, and you can go healthy with fresh salad, smoothie bowls, and chia pudding with a myriad of different toppings, or go decadent with sweet and savory pastries, homemade Greek pies, cakes, and even vegan pizza.
There’s definitely enough in the buffet to fill you up and then some, but it’s not all. You also get to choose a main course from the menu for your breakfast: scrambled tofu, an omelet, pancakes, or French toast, all beautifully presented. This is one hotel breakfast you’ll never forget – but in the best way possible.
(I should possibly point out that the French toast and pancakes are typically served with caramelized banana, but yours truly hates bananas with a passion and does not see them as food.)
Lunch
Even if you’re still kind of full from breakfast, you won’t want to miss lunch at the Koukoumi restaurant. Fortunately, the lunch menu includes a selection of light dishes like summer rolls, bao buns, and a poke bowl, and you can also try vegan versions of some local dishes – kagiana tofu is an egg-like dish with tomatoes, and ladenia is a Greek flatbread loaded with veggies. And you can get gyros, of course!
That said, my absolute favorite dish on the lunch menu was the Gogges – a type of Greek pasta that resembles gnocchi, but made of flour and water rather than potatoes. It’s served with a creamy carbonara-like sauce with seitan and vegan egg cream and cheese, and it’s a bowl of pure vegan decadence.
There are also some desserts on the lunch menu, but don’t forget to save room for dinner.
Dinner
The dinner menu is where the chef really gets creative with some Mediterranean-Japanese fusion. You’ll be served a surprise amuse-bouche, and then you can start your meal with a luscious salad or the chef’s interpretation of a phyllo pie, tart, or even surf and turf.
Your main course might be a mind-blowing seitan steak (highly recommend!), ramen with a vegan egg, handmade dumplings stuffed with sunflower seed meat, or risotto. It’s hard to describe these dishes in a way that’ll do them justice and either way, I don’t want to give it all away before you get there, so you’ll just have to see – and taste – for yourself.
You should come to dinner at the Koukoumi restaurant with an open mind. What you will not find here is your standard vegan fare – like Beyond burgers, falafel bowls, stir-fries, or curries – and the dishes served may not look or taste exactly like what you’re imagining when you read the descriptions in the menu. Picky eaters and young kids could have a hard time here, but if you talk to the staff about your preferences, they might be able to make a special dish for you.
Menu Dégustation at Koukoumi
Last year, Koukoumi started offering an award-winning tasting menu. This meal is pricey, but it’s a full culinary experience like you’ve never had before. It includes around a dozen dishes (or more? I lost count after a while), and each one is like a small work of art.
If you’re wondering if you can order the tasting menu as a solo traveler, the answer is yes – I did! Just keep in mind that whether you’re solo or with a group, you need to book it at least 24 hours in advance (according to the Koukoumi website, a limited number of up to four people can book the menu each night).
And what did I think of the Menu Dégustation? I loved some of the dishes, especially the cheese platter and brioche (if you read my post about vegan food in Vienna, you know how much I appreciate a good vegan cheese platter). However, quite a few of the dishes had fishy/seafoody flavors, which I generally don’t like that much – as a long-time vegetarian and then vegan, I never really had much seafood in my life and the flavors don’t appeal to me. It’s something to keep in mind if you’re considering booking the meal.
The rooms at Koukoumi
As mentioned, Koukoumi has only 14 rooms, but there are several different types to choose from. I stayed both times in the Superior Suite, which has a small balcony overlooking the village.
Koukoumi is all about relaxation and wellbeing, and the beautiful rooms definitely support that, with their clean, minimalistic design and attention to detail. You’ll be surrounded by soothing white with typical Mykonos curved edges and some earthy accents – and best of all, all materials are sustainable and 100% free of animal products.
Now, here is where I should mention the beds. The beds at Koukoumi are just unbelievably comfortable. The mattresses, specially designed for the hotel, are made of coconut fiber and seaweed (don’t worry, no smell) and it can be very tempting to take a midday nap or spend some time in bed with a book, just because you can.
I should also mention that the hotel is fully accessible, with a lift to the rooms on the second floor.
Spa and wellness at Koukoumi
Both times I stayed at Koukoumi I booked massages, and both times were fantastic. I’m not sure I have the words to describe a massage, but I can say that there’s a spa menu full of treatments to choose from, and you won’t regret it.
There’s also a gym, which I never set foot in, and yoga classes, which I was meaning to try, but… never got around to it? So I can’t tell you what they’re like, but other online reviews generally seem favorable.
The service at Koukoumi
Koukoumi’s service is definitely five-star. Everyone I spoke to was incredibly nice, friendly, and helpful, and as a solo traveler, I was never made to feel weird or awkward.
I’ll never forget how on one of the nights of my first stay, some mosquitoes got in my room (you’ll want to keep the doors and windows shut at night). I called reception at 1 a.m. to ask if they had any bug repellent, totally prepared to come down and get it myself, but someone actually brought it to my room for me – and it was a high-quality organic product, too.
One thing I didn’t like as much is that after the first day, you’re charged for bottles of water, and since it’s a fancy brand, they’re quite expensive. The hotel isn’t cheap and it feels like they should supply drinking water for free every day, as most hotels do. Even better, they could set up a station for filling up reusable bottles, which seems like a no-brainer for a hotel so dedicated to sustainability.
Koukoumi pricing
Mykonos is known to be one of the most expensive of the Greek isles, and Koukoumi is definitely Mykonian in that regard. The website does usually offer some discounts if you sign in to the system, and all room rates include breakfast. You can also choose half board or full board.
If your package is breakfast-only, you’ll have to pay extra for additional meals and drinks at the restaurant, and the costs can really add up, especially when you want to try as many different dishes as you can. Spa treatments and yoga classes also cost extra.
Is it all worth it? I’d say yes, definitely. Koukoumi provides a five-star experience, down to the finest details, and it’s rated highly for a reason.
How long should you stay at Koukoumi Hotel?
My two stays were four nights long each. This gave me a lot of relaxation time, which was definitely needed, on both occasions. That said, on both stays, on the fourth day, I was beginning to feel like I’d had enough. While a fancy vegan restaurant is my idea of heaven, when you’re dining at one every day, it begins to lose that “specialness” factor. You might even start to crave a simple dinner you don’t have to think about too much, like a burger or pizza – but at Koukoumi, that’s not an option, and in a way, you’re a captive audience.
If I go back, I’d stay for two or three nights, and I think three is probably ideal. It gives you a chance to try a bunch of different menu items, but without feeling like it’s getting old.
Is Koukoumi the right place for your next vacation?
If you love creative vegan food or you just want to try something new, you shouldn’t miss Koukoumi – especially if you’re looking for an indulgent, relaxing vacation that leaves you feeling energized and restored.
If you have your heart set on spending a lot of time on the beach, or if you want a more active vacation, Koukoumi might still be a good place to stay, especially if you plan on renting a car. You could always enjoy the breakfast buffet and maybe a dinner or two, while spending the rest of your time exploring what the rest of Mykonos has to offer.
If you prefer a typical Greek island all-inclusive resort with a lot going on, Koukoumi might not be the place for you – but you could always stop by the restaurant and enjoy a fantastic vegan meal.
FAQs: Koukoumi Vegan Hotel review
Koukoumi is a Greek word that means “cozy” or “snug.” It captures the feeling of warmth, comfort, and peacefulness the hotel aims to offer – an escape from the noise and stress of daily life.
It’s easier than you might expect. While traditional Greek cuisine features a lot of meat and dairy, it also includes many naturally vegan dishes like lentil soup, stuffed vegetables, and fava, which you can easily find at traditional tavernas. If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly hotspot, don’t miss Athens, where new vegan places are popping up all the time.
A vegan hotel is a fully plant-based space – not just in the food, but also in the details like toiletries, bedding, and even the cleaning products. Koukoumi takes this further by combining veganism with a focus on wellness and sustainability, offering a stay that’s kind to animals, people, and the planet.
Not too many, but if you’re going to Mykonos Town (Chora), don’t miss Rhino, a 100% vegan street food place where you can find burgers, souvlaki, and of course, Greek salad with vegan feta. They also have some decadent desserts on the menu.
