Aegean Balcony: 8 Island Bars with Unmatched Views

The Greek islands boast some really exceptional bars. Whether or not you’re barefoot and sun-kissed straight from the seaside or dressed up for an evening out, you’ll take pleasure in well-crafted drinks that embody signature and traditional cocktails in addition to glorious wines. You’ll be able to keep from sundown till late into the night time, having fun with the music within the background—typically loud, typically barely audible. What really distinguishes these bars are their terraces, balconies, and rooftops that overlook the ocean, providing views of the passing boats, the silhouettes of close by islands, the steep cliffs, and the lights that slowly seem as night time falls.

Loggia, Sifnos

If I needed to decide only one bar to go to all summer time, it could be Loggia. Nestled in Seralia, this bar provides gorgeous views of the cliffs of Sifnos’ Kastro. The wine is chilled and prepared when the bar opens shortly earlier than sundown. You’ll be able to sit on the steps, take pleasure in a bottle or glass of wine, and unwind whereas admiring the view and watching the well-dressed vacationers descend from Kastro. If you happen to select a desk in entrance of the bar (reservations are really helpful), you can too take pleasure in dishes comparable to recent oysters from the island, salads with fruits and cheese, and platters of Cycladic cheeses and charcuterie. The wine record options a big selection of low-intervention wines from Greek vineyards, together with their very own Assyrtiko.

Brazíliana, Syros

The transition from the Athenian neighborhood of Ano Petralona to Ano Syros is seamless. Brazíliana has spent the previous few summers on this stunning Cycladic island, providing views which can be second to none. Most friends collect on the important entrance, which opens onto the alley operating by the village, or select the tastefully embellished inside with its vibrant ambiance and glorious music. However these within the know head straight to the small again terrace, the place the view is unmatched. From right here, you possibly can see the lights of Ermoupoli and the moon rising over the seas of Mykonos and Naxos within the distance. Brazíliana serves craft beers, native wines, and glorious spirits, in addition to scrumptious cocktails together with Margaritas, Mai Tais, Palomas, and Caipirinhas. Snacks embody pinsa and marathopita (conventional fennel pie). It’s additionally open within the mornings, serving espresso and breakfast.

Mikro Horio Bar, Tilos

The final resident of the medieval village of Mikro Horio on Tilos left in 1957. Throughout the post-World Struggle II period, the native inhabitants of roughly 700 individuals started relocating to Livadia owing to water shortages and poverty. They even eliminated the roofing and door frames from their properties as a result of timber was scarce and wanted to be imported from Asia Minor. Till 1993, the village was inhabited solely by the reminiscences of those that had left. That yr, Giorgos Aliferis from Laconia remodeled the previous schoolmaster’s home right into a bar and named it after the village. Since then, it has been serving traditional drinks and cocktails in opposition to the backdrop of illuminated ruins, crumbling homes, and the bell tower of the Church of Timia Zoni. If you happen to’re fortunate, on a Saturday night time the revelry would possibly final till daybreak, and also you’ll be capable to see Turkey and Rhodes within the distance. Your entire setting looks like a scene from a film the place the previous blends seamlessly with the music, energetic discussions, and exclamations from guests experiencing this unusual panorama for the primary time.

Sky, Argini Lodge, Syros

The rooftop bar of the lately opened Argini Lodge, situated in Ermoupoli, in the center of the Cyclades, provides breathtaking views of the ocean, the surrounding islands, and the town. This stunning 1853 constructing, surrounded by comparable listed neoclassical residences, incorporates a tastefully designed terrace paved with marble, the place premium drinks and scrumptious traditional and signature cocktails are served each night. The very best time to go to is at sundown, when the sky and sea of Syros are bathed in a heat glow and the silhouettes of Mykonos and Naxos seem within the distance earlier than dusk.

Utopia, Milos

At sundown, all roads in Plaka, the charming capital of Milos, result in Utopia Bar. Perched excessive above the ocean and the bay of Milos at an elevation of 220 meters, its west-facing balcony provides a wide ranging view. Some say the sundown right here rivals that of Oia in Santorini. Such claims make it practically not possible to discover a desk until you’re persistent, fortunate, or unfazed by arriving after darkness has totally settled in. Regardless, it’s definitely worth the effort as a result of the cocktail record is intriguing, the setting is pleasant, and the ambiance exudes the attraction of an previous city courtyard. If you happen to take pleasure in spicy cocktails, strive the Nina de Gibraltar, made with tequila, citrus, and mango syrup. In addition they excel at traditional cocktails; their Dry Martini is great, and the Mai Tai is completely balanced. On a transparent night time, the place turns into a perfect stargazing location. Obtain the Stellarium app, scan the sky along with your cellphone, and uncover the constellations.

Sorokos, Koufonisia

Sorokos on Ano Koufonisi is among the Small Cyclades’ most stunning and iconic bars. The very first thing that strikes you is the breathtaking vista of Keros and the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean. The pub is situated a brief distance from the island’s seashores and the key city, Chora, and you may take a dip from the rocks proper in entrance of it. Everyone passes by right here. This all-day bar serves breakfast and lightweight meals, with standouts together with Cycladic cheese omelet and pancakes with xinomizithra and home made strawberry jam. Within the afternoon, the bar fills up with individuals seeking to benefit from the pretty sundown and an aperitif earlier than heading out to dinner. The true celebration begins after the tavernas shut and continues till late into the night time. They serve traditional and signature cocktails, and plenty of nights characteristic stay DJ units.

The Bridge, Avant Mar, Paros

The five-star Avant Mar resort is ideally located proper on the water’s edge on the sandy Piperi Seaside, only a five-minute stroll from Naoussa. Its clear strains, earthy tones, and geometric shapes create a minimalist but elegant setting that’s soothing to the attention. The Bridge bar, situated just some meters from the water on an elevated platform with an unobstructed view of the seaside and the Cycladic horizon, is devoted to the traditional Gin & Tonic. The bar provides an intensive record of premium gins that are used to make pleasant variations of the traditional recipe, comparable to The Cotswolds, which options gin, grapefruit, elderflower liqueur, and a gorgeous peach and jasmine mixer. The Sake Martini, made with Tanqueray 10 and an fragrant sake, is ideal as an aperitif earlier than eating on the fashionable Matsuhisa restaurant housed inside the resort.

Drink in Peace, Naxos

Drink in Peace delivers precisely what the title guarantees, in a picturesque location on the entrance of the Kastro, with an unbelievable, idyllic view of the setting solar. This sundown bar, based by a extremely skilled staff (Thanasis Tsotras, Michalis Makridis, Government Chef Sotiris Giannopoulos of Gorlomi, Hytra, and Zillers, and Head Bartender Achilleas Stavropoulos), has quickly change into a very fashionable vacation spot. They provide a number of Greek wines, specializing in producers from the Cyclades, Santorini, and Macedonia, together with just a few worldwide favorites. The meals is of remarkable high quality, with dishes comparable to steak tartare, tsukune kebabs made with completely caramelized beef and lamb mince, shrimp with egg-lemon bisque, and plenty of extra that complement the wines and 7 specialty drinks.