The story of Tharroe of Mykonos began long before its doors first opened.

In the winter of 1985, John Lytras, then a young lawyer based in Athens, arrived in Mykonos for a legal case. It was not the summer version of the island the world knows today. The landscape was quiet, shaped by wind and light. In that moving stillness, he discovered something deeper than beauty. He discovered presence, character and vision.

He returned often. Drawn by the energy of the island and its elemental character, he began to imagine creating something of his own there. Hospitality was not unfamiliar to him. His grandfather had operated a small hotel in Ioannina – a beautiful city in northern Greece, and the instinct to create a place of welcome had remained with him.

Together with his wife and life partner, Olga Papadaki, a pharmacist based in Athens, they began searching for land. Their vision was clear: to create a hotel defined not by scale, but by character. A place that would reflect the balance of Mykonos itself: simplicity and intensity, tradition and progressiveness, permanence and movement.

John Lytras, standing at the current location of the hotel during construction, 1995

When they first stood on this hill above Mykonos Town, they immediately envisioned its significance. Elevated, open to the horizon, and yet close to the center of life of the island, it offered both perspective and connection. At the time, Mykonos was already cosmopolitan, but still sparsely built. The hill remained untouched, carrying a quiet sense of significance.

Olga & John, during hotel construction works, 1995

Construction began with care and determination. But during the early works, excavation revealed something unexpected. Beneath the surface lay a Mycenaean tholos tomb of great archaeological significance, one of the earliest pieces of evidence of Mycenaean presence on Mykonos and in the Cyclades. read more about the monument here

The discovery brought construction to an immediate halt. For nine months, archaeologists conducted careful excavation of the site. Inside, they uncovered offerings, including jewelry, indicating that this tomb was a monument of worship to a figure of great importance, most likely a royal woman. The hill had already been chosen, thousands of years earlier, as a place worthy of memory.

John and Olga supported and financed the excavation, understanding that they were not simply building on land, but becoming temporary custodians of its history. Only after the archaeological work was completed and the site was protected was permission granted for construction to resume.

Years of work followed, guided by patience, personal supervision, and a clear vision. In August 1997, Tharroe of Mykonos opened its doors. At the time, it was among the very few luxury boutique hotels on the island.

From the beginning, John and Olga managed the hotel themselves, while continuing their professional careers in Athens. Their presence was constant, their involvement direct. Every space, every decision, every detail was shaped by their personal care.
Mykonos, 1996

Over time, the hotel became part of the identity of the island itself. Not through expansion, but through continuity.

Today, Tharroe remains a family legacy. Two of John and Olga’s daughters, both lawyers, have continued this path, contributing to the protection, evolution, and future of the hotel, ensuring that its original spirit remains intact while guiding it forward. After all, this place feels like home to them.

Effrosyni & Ioanna, Mykonos, 1998

The story of Tharroe did not begin as an abstract concept.
It was created through conviction, effort, and respect — for place, for history, and for people.
It began with a place, and the intention to treat it with care.

The hotel’s evolution mirrors the character of the hill on which it stands: steady, grounded and timeless. Rather than following short-lived trends, Tharroe has adapted thoughtfully, embracing what adds value while preserving simplicity, light and balance. Comfort and quality are refined quietly, without excess or display.

Art, culture and collected objects are part of everyday life at Tharroe, not as decoration, but as elements that give depth to the spaces and reflect continuity over time. The atmosphere is shaped by light, materials and a sense of ease that feels lived-in rather than designed.

This approach allows Tharroe of Mykonos to remain relevant without losing its essence: a place that evolves with time, while staying true to its values, its people and its location.