Best food & drink

1. To Kima

To Kima restaurant is at the heart of the hotel. Meaning ‘wave’ in Greek, the oceanside location is perfect for golden hour dinners. The restaurant serves everything from nourishing breakfasts, including smoothie bowls, fresh fruit, avocado omelettes, and late-night bites.

The dinner menu focuses on local produce and Mediterranean cuisine with a fusion twist. Highlights included tender beef short rib giouvetsi – the silky orzo and onion risotto – and the whole Aegean sea bass with courgette, hazelnut and dried grapes.

2. Oromedon

This vine-covered restaurant is tucked in the most picturesque corners of Zia – one of the best places to watch the sunset in Kos. The menu is packed with authentic Dodecanese flavours with a luxe twist – from tender baked lamb to delicious Greek fava with samphire.

We opted for local cheese pies drizzled with honey for dessert – perfect with their crisp Santorini Assyrtiko white wines. Ask for the corner table for unparalleled island views as the sun dips.

3. Pool Bar

The bar is right at the hotel’s heart – between the main swimming pool and the dunes bordering the beach. It’s the perfect place to rest in the shade and sample some of their daily juices – from the Sun Splash to the Espresso Love (the most delicious frappuccino-style coffee with banana and cacao).

Come for the DJ set and the excellent cocktails in the evening – I loved the Umeshu Sour with Japanese whiskey and yuzu juice.

Stay

The hotel has a vast selection of rooms, including classic bungalows with generous terraces, junior suites with swim-up pools, and suites and villas with private pools. Each one feels like a sanctuary with plenty of outdoor space and mid-century design features.

Our room had a dramatic, slate bathroom with a rain shower and floor-to-ceiling doors opening onto our quiet terrace – with lush plants and a hammock. We shared our pool with just one neighbouring suite, and we more or less had the whole space to ourselves. The bedroom was decorated in restful hues with wood and rattan furniture and a super-soft kingsize bed.

Explore

OKU’s position on the beach is ideal – thanks to Kos’ reliable northern wind, it’s a great place for watersports lovers. The hotel has its own paddleboards, so it’s easy to explore the shoreline or head next door to the watersports centre for a windsurfing, kitesurfing, or sailing course. Or book their private three-island boat excursion to see Kalymnos, Plati and Pserimos in one indulgent day, stopping at coastal tavernas and deserted beaches along the way.

It’s also an excellent location for keen walkers and hikers. My husband persuaded me to get up at 6 am one morning (the coolest time of day) to hike to the peak of Mount Kieos. We started from the pretty mountainside village of Zia and the climb took around three hours as a round trip.

Most of the walk is shaded, and the views are worth the hike – beyond the white-washed chapel are panoramic views across to Turkey and the other Dodecanese islands. An evening in Zia is also a must, with fantastic restaurants and smaller rooftop bars where you can enjoy the sunset.

The hotel offers some amazing experiences. Go horseriding on the beach at the neighbouring stables, Erika’s Horse Farm. You’ll see the rolling dunes and ride along Tigaki Salt Lake – flamingos gather here during autumn and spring.

It’s also easy to opt into the hotel’s evening events. The outdoor cinema is nothing short of delightful and one evening, we booked onto the stargazing experience. A friendly expert astronomer taught us how to use his incredible high-tech telescope to spot constellations – unforgettable.