Mykonos nightlife is among the best in Europe and there are options for everyone.
Whether you enjoying a Greek night at a taverna, a movie beneath the stars at the open-air cinema, a piano bar – night club, chill-out lounges at beach bars, to dancing till the early hours at nightclubs and discos – you can find your perfect place.
Mykonos is one of the best travel destinations in Greece, an island that never sleeps and the fact is, for many who come to Mykonos, sleep is not much of a requirement. This island is famous the world over for its party beaches and vibrant night life. After dark, the atmosphere is locations like Mykonos Town are electric and you will automatically get caught up in the vibe.
Throngs of people stroll or parade up and down the harbour front and through the narrow streets in all stages of dress or undress. Mykonos alludes sex appeal; it’s in the air all around you. The party atmosphere thrives not only indoors, but spills out into the streets and can continue till the sun is creeping into a new day.Around the time of the bewitching hour, the bars, clubs and discos start the music pumping and the nightlife starts to sizzle.
The party atmosphere thrives not only indoors, but spills out into the streets. Discover the gay bars/discos; the drag shows; the rock and dance clubs with DJ’s playing current hits or music spanning the decades; a Greek music bar; a lounge or a cafe for conversation and a glass of wine.
You can roam from place to place until you find what suits you, then choose to be a participant or a spectator. Nightlife extends to some of the beaches too. You might want to head out for a special event, such as a Full Moon Party, a Bubble Party or to dance to a world-class guest DJ. Mykonos provides entertainment for young, old and everyone in between. Wherever you go, there is a mix of people and no one should feel out of place.
The scenery, weather, beaches, tasty Greek food and parties in Mykonos are things that keep visitors returning year after year and attracts some of the newcomers. Tourism was originally built up by the hippie generation, the rich and famous and a large gay population, though the freedom of Mykonos continues to be the theme.
Mykonos has a style that welcomes every one of all ages, attitude and sexual orientation; the beauty is that everyone co-mingles as one. The party hotspots change with the day and the time of the season, though you can be assured of a wild time every year from mid-July through the end of August, without fail, throughout the island. It is up to the individual to find or create the ‘party’ that suits your style. “Free your mind and the rest will follow…”
Here are my recommendations for the best nightlife spots on Mykonos to check out.
Afros Cafe Bar
This is one of the few places on Mykonos that remains open all year. Afros is an intimate and extremely popular meeting place for conversation over cold drinks or coffee by day.
Argo Nightclub
Argo Nightclub, located at Manto (taxi) Square above Camares Restaurant / Bar overlooking the harbour front, has operated under several different names is recent history. The dance music can be heard from the square below and invites you to climb the stairs to discover the party inside.
Astra Bar
Astra Bar has a somewhat small dance floor inside and an outdoor seating area that is almost always packed with very hip and trendy Greeks. The throbbing music adds to the party atmosphere that extends into the early morning hours. Astra is located directly across from Aigli in the Three Wells area of Mykonos Town.
Caprice Bar
Caprice Bar has continued over the years to be an incredibly popular bar. Located on the edge of the sea wall in Little Venice, with entrances at the front and back, this bar can be packed wall to wall, especially with Greeks from Athens, enjoying the music, cocktails and trendy party atmosphere.
Cavo Paradiso
Cavo Paradiso is a huge late night / after hours party club that resides on a hill, to the left of Paradise Beach. Cavo has a fantastic view of the sea and a swimming pool in the middle of the club, where you can party and dance till well after the sun comes up, of course the party doesn’t start until at least 2:00 – 3:00 in the morning.
Celebrities Bar
Celebrities mainly attracts the hip and trendy Greek crowd, not only from the island, but the mainland too. Located on fashionable Matogianni Street, Celebrities keeps the music pumping and pours a steady stream of alcohol for an enthusiastic crowd. This is one of the places to go if you want to see how the some of the trendy Greeks party the night away.
Diva Bar
Diva Bar is a cozy, intimate bar, with the sea lapping at its doorstep located in Little Venice. The proprietress is a colorful character and it takes only a few lively souls to create the party here.
El Pecado – Remezzo Bar
El Pecado / Remezzo has added to the busy nightlife of Mykonos for many years. Located at the beginning of the harbor front, near to the guarded gatehouse, you just need to follow the music to find the party. El Pecado can become very packed at times; making it somewhat difficult to find the dance floor, but that is what the party season is about on this island. Grab a drink and get into the flow of the night.
Galleraki Bar
Galleraki an extremely hip and popular place, especially with Greeks, is located at the waters edge in Little Venice. Galleraki has an outdoor seating area where people of all ages enjoy the music, drinks and conversation under the stars; a tiny bar, that serves the outdoor area, can squeeze a few intimate friends inside its doors; and up the staircase you will find a beautiful, bigger bar (formerly known as Gallery) with a dance floor and balcony. The dj plays a mix of music, including Greek, to please a wide variety of people.
Gilles Magic Bar
Gilles’ Magic Bar is a stylish, relaxed, comfortably small venue that plays a great mix of music that allows you to have a conversation or sing along with the music, if you wish. You must pass through ‘Magic Bar’ to reach Magic Garden Restaurant and has only been around for a few years, but has quickly become very popular. The service is impeccable and friendly. This is a fun place to start your evening, to pass by for a drink on your party route or to party the night away in an intimate setting.
Kastro Bar
Kastro Bar is relaxed, comfortable and a popular place, especially with the gay crowd, for conversation and socializing. The location is wonderful for sunset cocktails, as it hangs over the sea in Little Venice. The professional and friendly service combined with classical music and a good mix of guests just might entice you to linger through the late evening hours.
Katerinas Bar
Katerina’s Bar is another bar that holds a prime spot overlooking the water in Little Venice. Katerina’s is built on two levels and each level has a balcony that hangs over the sea making it one of the spots to view sunsets over cocktails. As with several of the other bars in this area, Katerina’s attracts an international crowd (especially from the cruise ships) and plays a mix of music to please a wide variety of guests.
Montparnasse Piano Bar
For many years, Montparnasse Piano Bar has provided evenings of live, cabaret entertainment, especially popular with the gay crowd. Montparnasse, known simply as The Piano Bar, is the only piano bar on Mykonos and the only venue to provide nightly, live entertainment.
The owner’s, who are also your hosts, bring in talent from even as far away as New York. The piano player and vocalist interact with the crowd…from classy to camp…to create an atmosphere of good fun. Located in Little Venice, with a balcony hanging over the sea, it is also a great place to enjoy sunset cocktails amidst the lovely decor.
In addition to a wide array of cocktails, this is one of the few bars on the island who know how to make a proper New York-style martini, also offering many trendy varieties of the traditional martini.
Mykonos Bar
Mykonos Bar has been around for years providing an atmosphere for drinking and dancing the night away. The dj plays current and older dance floor hits mixed with popular Greek music. This bar attracts a mix of travelers along with Greeks, with a range of all ages. Mykonos Bar is located at a busy corner behind the string of bars along the sea wall of Little Venice.
New Face Bar
New Face (formerly known as Down Under) is located just up from the harbor front before Niko’s Fish Taverna. The music covers a lot of territory on the dance floor, including reggae and hip hop, prompting the crowd to move. The fun and capable bartender, whose energy spills over the bar, serves up drinks with a smile while dancing in his domain. Stop in on your party route or take over the small dance floor with a group of friends.
Nine Muses Bar
Nine Muses, the name has been around for years even when the bar didn’t exist. For a couple of years, in recent history, it was known under the name Kahlua. Located around the corner from Manto (taxi) square looking over the harbor front, Nine Muses presented its face again for the 2005 season. The contemporary interior, drinks and dance music attract a mix of Greeks and international visitors.
Paradise Beach
People of all ages can get caught up in the party at the ever-popular Paradise Beach. Paradise Beach has been known around the world by many people for decades as the place to ‘let your hair down’. The party starts every day around 4:00 or 5:00, with the peak in July and August. The daily party can run into the night and Paradise has many special event parties such as Full Moon parties and Bubble Parties.
Pierros Bar
Pierro’s, affectionately known as ‘the square’ has been a gay party landmark on Mykonos for many years, probably the most well known. Located just back from the harbor front, near the beginning of the main shopping street (Matogianni), it is easy to find or stumble across. The ‘square’ is actually made up of an outdoor seating area, Pierro’s, Pierro’s Cafe, Mantos and Icaros. It is one big party outside, downstairs and upstairs…dancing, socializing, drinking, drag shows…with the expected and the unexpected.
Porta Bar
Porta Bar is tucked away on a little side street near to Niko’s Fish Taverna, just a few meters back from the harbor front. The party usually starts a bit earlier here than some of the other ‘hot spots’, but by no means does it end early. The fun hosts behind the bar combined with great music will entice you to move your body, when and where you choose. The party continues to grow, overflowing into the narrow alley of a street outside the door. Mainly popular with the gay crowd, but can host a mix of all, this can be one of the stops on your nightly party route around town or the only stop depending on the night.
Ramrod
Ramrod…the name says it all. Located above a souvlaki shop, on the backside of Manto (taxi) Square at the harbor front, you can find the music pumping and drag shows to enhance the party atmosphere.
Rhapsody Bar
Rhapsody Bar has the atmosphere of a friendly neighborhood bar with a bit of party thrown into the mix. Rhapsody offers a list of yummy cocktails (and beer on tap) enhanced by great service with a smile and a fun mix of new and old popular music.
Located in Little Venice, this bar has an intimate balcony hanging over the sea that creates the perfect setting to enjoy cocktails while witnessing the sun doing its evening disappearing act. Party the night away after enjoying their nightly Happy Hour, while seated at the long bar or gathered around a table in the comfortable, lounge-like seating area leading out to the balcony.
Sometimes packed to the walls, this bar is frequented by (but by no means limited to) a good mix of travelers from Australia, Canada, America and the UK. Rhapsody is a place for conversation, comradely and good fun.
Scarpa Cafe
Scarpa Cafe is another little place to enjoy a cocktail under the stars, overlooking the sea wall of Little Venice. This little cafe joins its neighbors as a great place to lounge and watch the parade of people strolling through this ever-popular area.
Semeli Bar
Semeli Bar (formerly known as La Mer) in Little Venice opened in the summer of 2005. It is a stylish, modern bar with a piece of history beneath a glass area in the floor.
Skandinavian Bar
Skandinavian Bar is one of the ‘landmark’ party places on Mykonos. The evening heats up slowly, and then wham! Skandinavian becomes packed with people squeezing their way to the upstairs dance floor. The bar staff keep the cocktails and shots flowing freely to create an atmosphere ripe for a night of passion.
‘Skandi’ is perfect for people watching (or more accurately, girl watching) and is reminiscent of a big university party. Comprised of an outdoor square with seating all around, two smaller downstairs bars and the upstairs disco overseeing it all. The dj plays current dance floor hits mixed with favorites from the past (no techno) that keeps the crowd going in all three bars, spilling out onto the balcony, the small terrace and into the square.
It is easy to get caught up in the party here until you are ready to stumble back to your bed (or someone’s bed) in the wee hours of the morning.
Space Nightclub
Space Nightclub is the only large club in town and is popular with a young crowd, though you will always see a mix of all ages. Space has a small ‘actual dance floor’, but bodies move to the techno beat around and ON the bars, in the lounge areas and in the balcony surrounded by large TV screens and high tech lighting. This is a must for singles and non-stop dancing. The party doesn’t start until well after midnight and continues till around 6:00 in the morning. Located in Lakka square near to the grade school and amphitheatre, you will hear it before you see it.
Super Paradise Beach
Super Paradise Beach is a party all day long, but many continue to party and dance at the Coco Club, on the right side of the beach or at the Super Paradise beach bar, on the left side, until after the sun is gone. Though Super Paradise Beach hosts a diverse mix of people and everyone is welcome, the gay crowd have made the Coco Club popular.
Veranda
Veranda has a prime location for sunset with a large, second story balcony hanging above the sea in Little Venice. Veranda is known for the dramatic music they play to accompany the sun gliding into the sea at days end. The music changes after the sun disappears and provides more of a party atmosphere continuing through the night.
Yacht Club
The Yacht Club is a place for those who just can’t let the night end. This is one of the places to go for ‘after hours’ after 3:00-4:00 in the morning), when you are just not ready to crawl to your bed and where many of the people who work in Mykonos go to dance or unwind from their long night serving others. The Yacht Club is an unassuming cafe by day, transforming into a club late, late at night. Located at the old port where many of the ferry boats arrive to the island.
Need some convincing Mykonos should be your next destination? View my reasons to visit the Greek islands. Or have any recommendations you would like to share? Let me know.
