Allo Allo, Mykonos calling…
“Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Agean sea” (Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek)
Little Venice in Mykonos
Sailing in the Aegean Sea, named after King Aegeus of Athens, is a magical experience. Watching the sun’s rays on an early morning sinking into the deep blue waters, while enjoying a coffee on board the ferry is not a trip but a voyage navigating between the myths and wonders of this part of the Mediterranean. Boarding in Piraeus port in Athens, our destination is the beautiful and glamourous island of Mykonos known for its lively nightlife, chic beach clubs, and picturesque windmills. It is considered, along with Santorini, the jewel of the Cyclades islands characterized with whitewashed buildings with blue domes, narrow cobblestone streets and colorful bougainvillea.
After four hours, we arrived at Mykonos port where our taxi was waiting with my name on a banner, taking us on a short drive of 5 minutes before we arrived at Harmony hotel, with unexpectedly stunning sea views overlooking the old port and little Venice. Little time to lose: check in was quickly followed by a discovery walk in the Chora and then a quick swim in the hotel’s pool, before going out for a nice dinner in the heart of the town.
The view from Harmony Boutique Hotel in Mykonos
In the mid-1900s, Mykonos started attracting writers, artists, and intellectuals due to its natural beauty and laid-back vibe. This bohemian crowd contributed to placing Mykonos on the cultural map, at first, prior to becoming a symbol of freedom and artistic vibes. With time, it also evolved into a hub for luxurious travel with its world-class beach clubs, resorts and vibrant nightlife as well as a hotspot for the world’s jet set.
But one person was also among the earliest high-profile figures visiting Mykonos attracting other international visitors to the island as a glamorous getaway: Aristotle Onassis, the legendary Greek shipping magnate. He even made it more famous, indirectly, via the well-known boho-chic beach club “Scorpios” which was named after his property, the Skorpios Island, located in the Ionian Sea. This island, which Onassis bought back in 1963, witnessed his wedding to Jackie Kennedy, the widow of US President John F. Kennedy, in 1968 and was associated with the bohemian glamour she brought to the Greek islands. The former US first lady understood the effect of style as a “soft power” portraying glamour and confidence without saying a word or being extravagant. She was the inspiration behind the brand of Scorpios!
How did Scorpios start?
Ladies’ sunset outing at Scorpios
On the second day in Mykonos, we headed to the famous Paradise Beach before getting ready for the highlight of the trip: a dinner at the magnificent Scorpios. Spending the evening in this place is like a ritual blending luxury, design, nature, music, gastronomy and beautiful people! From the moment you step it, you feel like you entered a VIP space with attentive and courteous staff everywhere you turn.
“Scorpios is a place for inspirational gatherings, born anew by every member of our growing community as we come together in deep connection and fearless openness of mind”, that is how Scorpios introduces its concept on its website, adding “we make it our mission to create transformational experiences in shared rituals in arts, music, festivity and mindfulness to align us with our true nature and the emergence of a new time”. Indeed, it was a ritual of art: beautiful setting facing the sunset, lovely music, best company of family and cousins, elegance everywhere in the air, nice Greek wine and of course an amazing Ceviche, probably the best we had ever tried anywhere else in the past.
Located on Paraga beach on the southern part of Mykonos, Scorpios was founded in 2015 by two German nightlife entrepreneurs, Thomas Heyne and Mario Hertel. Both had backgrounds in Berlin’s club scene and had spent decades shaping the nightlife on Mykonos but reached a point where they wanted to create a different kind of social club, a more sophisticated place that embodies the ancient Greek agora. In an interview with Soho House group in 2019, Heyne said that “Jackie Onassis made Mykonos famous in the 1960s, just like Brigitte Bardot did with St Tropez. Her family’s private island was called Skorpios. She loved it and brought all the celebrities there; it was a great time when everything was beautiful – that’s what we wanted to bring back”.
The heart of the Old Town, Chora, in Mykonos
Boho Chic
Along with the confirmation email of your reservation at Scorpios, comes a paragraph about the dress code stating that “Our dress code is casual during the day and chic-casual from 5:00pm. Chic-casual is an everyday dress code elevated with chic details; looking elegant without wearing a head-to-toe formal outfit. Not complying with the dress-code may lead to denied entry”. In fact, many videos were circulated online of people saying they were denied entry at the premises. So, what is casual chic dressing or Boho chic?
Boho chic is a fashion trend that blends Bohemian style, known as the free spirit and artistic style, with chic elements in a relaxed and stylish way reflecting earthy and global vibes. Examples of this style are long dresses and skirts as well as wide-leg pants with loose-fitted tops, without forgetting the kimono style tops and robes. Linen occupies a big space in this fashion industry as well as embroidery and handmade details. Colors vary between white, cream, beige, and earthly tones which sometimes might include vintage prints. Jewelry in general is antique or inspired by the native populations worldwide. Statement pieces are wide hats, oversized sunglasses, layered necklaces and beaded or raffia bags. Hair is usually flowing with natural waves while makeup is minimalist bronzy like the shades of the sun.
Dinner at a restaurant overlooking the iconic windmills in Mykonos
Jackie Kennedy mastered the art of elegance. She was a fashion icon and left an everlasting mark on this industry, first during her time as first lady (1961-1963) and later after she married Onassis and spent more time in Greece or aboard his yachts. Her style continues to inspire designers today. She brought glamour and style to the island by adopting a new relaxed but chic dress line, luxurious and bohemian, which influenced the wardrobe of women on vacations. It was a free spirit Mediterranean style. She popularized the Kaftan which was considered in the past as exotic, but nowadays, it became a fashion trend reflecting freedom away from the public eye. Her big sunglasses and minimalistic jewelry convey the message of quiet luxury and wealth; there was no need any more for flashy outfits! Mediterranean, and specifically Greek fashion became with her a global fashion trend.
But apart from fashion and on a different note, two songs shaped the musical scene this summer in Mykonos.
“Allo Allo” or “Ahla Leila”?
“Allo Allo” was a major hit worldwide during the summer of 2025 and it was associated mainly with the beach clubs in Mykonos as most play this same style of House music. (This song was later dethroned by another hit: “Ahla Leila, Ahla Nas”. More on this later).
The song says in Arabic “Allo allo, allo ya omri wenek / allo ya chbebi wenek / allo yal ghali wenek" which translates to: “Hello, hello, hello my life where are you? Hello, where is my youth, Hello my dear where are you?”. So, who was behind this hit and why did it capture the heart and imagination of millions of people?
In January 2025, the Greek DJ Mossel (his original name Michail Angelos Moschogiannis) released the track “Allo Allo”, a creative mix of Arabic lyrics and contemporary house music, blending in a sharp contrast the emotional and electronic dancing vibes, which gained huge popularity immediately. The song is taken from the Arabic song of Balti, the Tunisian rapper (his name is Mohamed Salah Balti), released on 28th of May 2022 and which moves through personal yearning of people disconnected from their roots or expressing melancholy over the lost years and youth, as well as feelings of alienation from one’s country.
It was the soundtrack of the summer, an ultimate vacation vibe, a feel-good song!
Eh voilà! Let’s dig into another song that rocked Mykonos this summer, and the world.
Five things to know about Mykonos?
Mykonos is part of the Cyclades Islands and is about 85.5 square meters.
Its population is around 10 thousand residents all year round and increases massively during the tourist season.
Mykonos is known as the “island of the winds” due to the Meltemi strong seasonal winds affecting the Aegean Sea in July and August mainly.
Very near to Mykonos is the island of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, considered the birthplace of Apollo, the god of music and medicine and light, and Artemis the goddess of the hunt.
No vehicles are allowed to enter Mykonos town, the Chora. Its narrow streets were designed to confuse pirates in the past and are only for pedestrians.