Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino

The Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, situated in Pylos, Greece, has swiftly established itself as a premier luxury destination, earning a Michelin Key selection for its exceptional offerings. Opened in 2023, the resort is praised for its stunning location, sophisticated design, and impeccable service.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests rating it as "Excellent," achieving an average score of 8.9. Reviewers frequently describe the property as embodying "luxury and beauty without an ounce of stuffiness," highlighting a profound sense of serenity, comfort, and sincere friendliness.

Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the resort:

• Location & Views: The hotel's position cascading down a hillside overlooking Navarino Bay offers spectacular and peaceful sea views, especially at sunset.
• Design & Architecture: The property boasts phenomenal architecture and an elegant, earthy, and natural design that harmoniously blends Asian-inspired Mandarin Oriental aesthetics with Grecian sensibility, using local materials.
• Exceptional Facilities: The resort features three swimming pools (including a massive main pool and an indoor-outdoor spa pool), a private beach, a state-of-the-art fitness center with professional trainers and complimentary classes, and a luxurious spa.
• Outstanding Service: The staff is frequently described as exceptional, helpful, and attentive, providing a warm and welcoming experience.
• Incredible Dining: The breakfast, in particular, receives rave reviews for its quality, range of food, and beautiful restaurant views, with all dining options generally considered outstanding.

Room Quality

The rooms, including Junior Suites and Villas, are designed with a contemporary yet rooted-in-place style, featuring neutral tones, reed-woven headboards, olive-wood furnishings, and terrazzo-style floors. Almost every room offers a sea view and outdoor space. Pool Villas are especially highlighted, offering private infinity pools, outdoor showers, and large terraces, making them feel like standalone homes and providing exceptional privacy. Bathrooms are spacious, marble-heavy, and include twin sinks, rainfall showers, deep soaking tubs, and Ortigia toiletries. While entry-level rooms are considered ample for two, some guests noted that the living area in certain villas could feel a bit "cramped" despite the overall generous size.

Dining Experience

The Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino offers an impressive array of eight lounge and dining options, confirming its reputation for culinary excellence.

• Oliviera: Serves traditional and eclectic Greek cuisine, with its breakfast often cited as one of the best in Greece, featuring a selection of traditional dishes alongside à la carte options.
• Tahir: Specializes in fresh and healthy Levantine cuisine, with grilled prawns being a particular highlight.
• Pizza Sapienza by Daniele Cason: Offers an authentic Italian experience, including a unique pizza omakase tasting menu, a concept brought from Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, which is renowned for its pizza.
• Brasserie de la Bay: Provides modern French cuisine.
• Ormos Beach Club: Features salads and small plates for casual beachside dining.
• The property also boasts the Three Admirals Lounge for all-day bar and casual dining, and The Private Kitchen for bespoke culinary experiences.

Service & Staff

The service at Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino is consistently described as "exceptional" and delivered in the brand's signature "unfussy Mandarin way"—gracious, attentive, and without pretension. Guests frequently report personalized touches, such as staff remembering preferences, preparing specific sun loungers, and even leaving handwritten notes with thoughtful items like after-sun lotion. While most staff are highly praised for being helpful and working hard, there were isolated reports of some staff being "slow and incompetent" or issues with food allergies not always being noted.

Location & Accessibility

The resort is ideally situated in the southwestern Peloponnese, overlooking Navarino Bay within the larger Costa Navarino development. This area, rich in Greek mythology and previously undeveloped, offers a tranquil setting with stunning views.

• Airports: The closest airport is Kalamata International Airport (KLX), a 40 to 45-minute drive away, with direct flights from several international cities. Athens International Airport (ATH) is a three to four-hour drive, or guests can take a connecting flight to KLX. A helipad is also available for exclusive arrivals.
• Local Area: Pylos town is about a 10-minute drive away. The wider Costa Navarino development offers shops, restaurants, and golf courses, making it a self-sufficient destination. Nearby attractions include the serene Voidokilia Beach (a short walk) and Nestor's Cave (a 20-minute journey).

Value & Pricing

The Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino is a luxury property, and its pricing reflects this, with rooms starting from approximately $969 to $3,077 USD per night, and junior suites from €1600 in October to €3000 in high season. Despite the high cost, many guests feel it offers excellent value, stating it is "very expensive but the location, facilities and service make this special." An environmental tax of EUR 15-30 per room per night is applied, depending on the room category and season.

Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring minor criticisms include:

• Service Inconsistencies: A few guests reported instances of "slow and incompetent service/personnel" and issues with food allergies not being consistently noted.
• Room Layout: The living area in some junior suites and villas was described as feeling "a bit cramped" for a property of this caliber, despite overall spaciousness.
• Maintenance Issues: There were isolated mentions of intermittent app functionality, unreplenished minibars/tea in rooms, and occasional lack of hot water in pool villas.
• Privacy Concerns: One review noted a lack of privacy between adjacent pool areas in some villas, suggesting screens were either missing or insufficient.

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