Mykonos comes into its own at night. From its many prime locations to watch deep orange and purple sunsets to its multitude of sophisticated cocktail bars and early morning dance club selection, it’s as if the island was made for partying.
Every night is a good night to go out (e.g. it’s a Tuesday so it doesn’t get quiet) and there’s no such thing as a quiet bar, so if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Most bars are open every day during the season, which generally runs from mid-April to the end of October. Contact bars directly for exact timings, especially when visiting outside peak season.
For more Mykonos inspiration, check out our guides to the island’s best hotels, restaurants, things to do and beaches.
Find a bar by area
Mykonos Town
BAOs
One of the many bars lining the beach in Mykonos’ most attractive area, Little Venice, BAO’s advantage is the unobstructed view across the sea. With the famous windmills on your left and outlines of houses built into the water on stilts, this is the perfect place for sunset. The creative cocktail list covers most of the classics, but you should also try one of the signature cocktails like The Mandarin, which features fresh tangerine juice, gin and lemon. The interiors are stylish, contrasted with whitewashed walls and ceilings, bright blue wooden beams, low-hanging rattan lampshades and curved banquettes covering the windows. But you want to be at a table outside; They’re popular, so get here early. The music is of the general European dance variety, but as the evening progresses people get up and dance (and the volume gets louder).
To contact: baosmykonos.com
Price:%s: £££
Enter: Get there early to secure a table outside
gallaki
Located right on the edge of BAO, Galleraki’s main selling point is its first-floor terrace, so you double your chances of catching a good view. Its décor is less ostentatious, with blue-and-white touches and white-painted wooden chairs and tables, but it’s tucked further into a corner, avoiding the worst of the sea winds. There’s a wide range of cocktails made with fresh fruit – try the irresistibly sweet Peach Daquiri – as well as more classic and champagne cocktails and spirited coffees. The music here veers towards chilly weather, at least at the beginning of the evening.
To contact: instagram.com/galleraki
Price:%s: £££
Lola
An intimate, jewel box of a bar located in a small side street in Chora (Mykonos Town). The decor is predominantly pink and purple, with a fancy, flashy crowd to match. The signature juicy, salty-edged, strawberry Margarita follows the color theme, of course; Enough of these and you’ll be dancing to pumping house music with the best of them. But there are also enough tables tucked away in the corners to create a romantic atmosphere, if that’s what you want. It goes without saying that it’s one of Mykonos’ many LGBT+-friendly establishments, but it appeals to a mixed clientele.
To contact: lolabarmykonos.com
Price:%s: £££
Enter: Attracts a glamorous, well-dressed crowd
Scandinavian Bar
A Mykonos institution. Spread over a small square close to the Old Port, this bar has been attracting the attention of dance enthusiasts since the 1970s. It consists of two compact bar areas (although most people try to find an outdoor table that’s better for people-watching) and a ‘disco’ that leads up to a set of stairs where a DJ oversees the decks and plays crowd-pleasers. He loves Rihanna and Taylor Swift. The cocktail list includes the usual suspects, from Aperol Spritz to Martinis, and they also have a range of scary-titled shots. The glamorous atmosphere appeals to people of all ages, and when it comes to dressing, anything goes…
To contact: scandinavianbar.com
Price:%s: ££
Enter: Queues to enter the club above the bar start to form around 23:00
Jackie O’
Jackie O’ (sister venue to the popular beach club in Super Paradise) is located on the waterfront, just off the Old Port. It’s one of the best gay bars and clubs in the city, but it caters to a mixed crowd. The inside looks elegantly carved from a cave, with its curvy whitewashed stone bar and curved seating. There is also a small area upstairs. Black-and-white photos of the eponymous Jackie Onassis are scattered around, but all eyes turn forward when dance music swells to signal the start of the night’s drag show. The bar menu ranges from local beers to classic cocktails.
To contact: jackieomykonos.com
Price:%s: £££
Enter: It gets very busy after 23:00
Queen of Mykonos
Billed as a ‘champagne and cocktail bar’, it attracts big spenders; It’s fitting that it’s on a street called Enoplon Dynameon, filled with dazzlingly expensive jewelers and designer boutiques. Perrier Jouet (ideally by the magnum) is the order of the day, but you can also splash out on Veuve, Dom Pérignon, Bollinger and Moët, and there are dozens of cocktails to choose from. If you have a yacht or want people to think you have a yacht, this is the place for you. Most people stay outside (where it’s easier to see and be seen), perched on stools or Louis Ghost chairs.
To contact: queenofmykonos.com
Price:%s: ££££
Enter: Dressing with designer labels is the way to go
Ornos
Buddha Bar
A stylish and sophisticated option in quieter, more family-oriented Ornos – and part of the exclusive Santa Marina resort at the far end of the beach – this is more about having quality Mediterranean and Asian fusion dishes with first-class accompaniment. drinks rather than partying until the small hours; but you can do that too, thanks to the occasional live DJ sets. The atmosphere is calm, the decor consists of modern cane furniture, brightly colored pillows and orchids in huge vases. Wash down the sushi with miso black cod or Wagyu beef with a Japanese Old Fashioned (made with Japanese whiskey and Umeshu) or White Princess (gin, lemongrass-infused sake and passion fruit, garnished with vanilla mousse).
To contact: santa-marina.gr
Price:%s: ££££
Enter: Table reservations are recommended
Aperanto Galazio
Located towards one end of the wide curve of Ornos beach, this is a relaxed and easy place to come for a few drinks. You can sit at a table on the sand or in the airy interior, which adds to the island’s natural aesthetic – an all-bamboo roof, simple, white-painted furniture, glass lighting, jam-jar-like shades and, of course, a view of the sea. The cocktail list is more creative than most; How about the Smoked Daiquiri with mezcal, rum and lime, or the ubiquitous Greek Passion? mastiha liqueur, basil, jasmine and cucumber?
To contact: aperantogalazio-mykonos.com
Price:%s: £££
Enter: Since it is busy in July and August, it is especially recommended that you make a table reservation.
Agios Ioannis
Katikies Lower Deck Lounge
Located on the first-floor terrace of the stylish Katikies Mykonos hotel in Agios Ioannis, this small but charming bar is ideal for an aperitif or a few sophisticated drinks if you’re planning to head elsewhere for dinner. The tables are illuminated by hanging lampshades made of curved pieces of wood, spread evenly over the poured concrete floor. The signature cocktail consists of fresh strawberry juice and champagne, but there’s also a more classic list to choose from, as well as wine and beer. The environment is calm and peaceful; light music creates a pleasant background; Perfect for a break from the party element at Chora.
To contact: katikies.com
Price:%s: £££
Enter: It is recommended to reserve a table but you can walk in
Psarou
Nammos
This luxury resort on Psarou beach consists of a beach bar and restaurant, as well as a number of small boutiques (in the area known as Nammos Village). Its exclusive feel means it’s hosted a wide range of guest stars, from Ralph Lauren to Leonardo Di Caprio, Elizabeth Hurley to Mariah Carey. At night the music turns up and the cool crowd sips cocktails and champagne or smokes hookah. Again, you can sit on or near the sand or retreat to the stylish terrace area and star point as you wish.
To contact: nammos.gr
Price:%s: £££
Enter: Reservation recommended
How do we choose
Every bar, venue or experience on this curated list has been tried and tested by our visiting destination expert to give you the insider’s perspective. From casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars, we cover a range of budgets and styles to best suit all types of travellers, and consider service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.