Last year saw almost one hundred new businesses and openings on Mykonos, the splashiest of which was Scorpios Beach Bar. This year, the boom continues, and here is our round-up of the new and the classics.
WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR ON MYKONOS
Rakkan Bar Restaurant in Athens is opening Rakkan Mykonos on Kalo Livadi beach – Japanese fusion right on the sand.
Astra Bar has always had its own loyal crowd for three decades and their offspring now also drop in to see and be seen under a starlit roof (Astra means
Babis, the owner and his son Jarrett are opening another venue in Laka, (name still kept secret), where the old Space/Nova club was.
Lia Beach – Liastris waterfront taverna – chilled to the point of dozy, has changed owners and they are promising a big overhaul with rumours of all day partying on the beach. Some of us hope not..
Panormos Beach Resort is also having a big refurbishment with George Papageorgiou who was the GM at Nammos on Psarou beach, leading the restaurant team.
Bill & Coo are opening their newest hotel project- the Bill & Coo Coast Suites in Aghios Ioannis.
Georgia Lascaris, wife of the Greek tycoon Nikos Lascaris, is opening in the new Super-Boutique Tserkov Store which will feature top global brands and designers like Lucky Guy from Australia.
WHICH MYKONOS BEACH PARTY?
Scorpios or Nammos? Visit both for all day lounging, eating and partying ! Scorpios on Paranga beach made a huge splash last summer when it opened but Nammos still remains the favourite of Valentino, Armani and other celebrities with its exquisitely presented lunch and dinner and the Beef Bar (little brother of the Monaco branch) right next to it for all meat lovers. Scorpios a bit less dressy than Nammos where full kit and war-paint is expected.
Kahlua on Paranga right on the sand , two meters away from the sea has a good vibe) ,
Jackie O on Super Paradise, is the glitziest, with its fun drag show that starts at 6.30pm and its good restaurant
Kalo Livadi is beloved by the Greek jet-setters and youngsters, with fun pop music and the spontaneous syrtaki dancing.
Cavo Paradiso There will always be a famous D-J to follow at Cavo Paradiso .Be careful driving back along those narrow lanes from the party in the morning
GO ASIAN
Where the small iconic Lotus tavern , with its bougainvillea covered pergola had been standing for half a century or so on Matoyianni, the popular Athenian “Kiku” opened with what is considered the best sushi and Asian cuisine along with Nobu in the Belvedere hotel.
Choose Nobu on windy nights, and Kiku for the windy ones.
Hakassan London’s little sister called “Ling Ling” opened last summer in the Filippis garden, smack in the beginning of Matoyianni . Mixed reviews but high on the cool factor. Asian fusion food and good cocktails in an old Myconian garden. Another option is the Asian restaurant in Cavo Tagoo hotel, ten minutes walk away from the port.
MYKONOS CLASSICS
Astra bar has its own loyal crowd for three decades now and their offspring now drop in to see and be seen under a starlit roof (Astra means star in Greek after all) . Enjoy the sculpted interiors designed by Myconian jewelry designer Minas. Babis, the owner of Astra, and his son Jarrett , are launching a second bar in another venue in Laka (name still kept secret), where the old Space/Nova club was, in the Laka area. This is the hottest- awaited ticket in Mykonos some say.
Bacalo serves great modern Greek cuisine (based on the Cycladic ingredients found in the nearby islands) and a good restaurant to go to before partying in the city. The Grand Old Lady of Mykonos is still Katrin’s, the classic higher-end restaurant that serves perhaps the best moussaka on Mykonos, but try the meu degustation. Memorable – and not just on your credit card bill.
Meat-me (modern Greek cuisine) just off Matoyianni is justly popular, Apaloosa still serves good Tex-Mex and the best margaritas in town.
Kouzina on Ornos beach is a good restaurant with pleasant beach music. An option for windy days, as Ornos is a sheltered bay.
Moni is the place to be when you want to party downtown; an old Myconian church beautifully located near the iconic Paraportiani church at the old port of Mykonos. Strict face-control, reservation absolutely necessary. Drinks only, and opens after 1 am in the morning so eat first and have a drink at Astra or Bombonierre in the Little Venice where Paris Hilton occasionally D-J’s. Don’t miss the sunset before dinner time at the cute Verandah bar in Little Venice,but prepare to be sprayed if the waves are high.
GETAWAYS FOR INSIDERS
Ftelia Beach , a fun place to be for wind surfers, kite surfing and relaxing on the beach. Two options here, Alemagoo a beautiful venue with good mezes and drinks, and on the opposite side of the crescent shaped beach is an Italian pizzeria (and much more) called Ftelia Restaurant in boho style.
The Cave “Spilia” Restaurant is also a super-cute tiny taverna in a cave near the beach of Agia Anna close to Kalafatis. Their specialty is a lobster pasta, sometimes good, sometimes just ok. It is one of the most idyllic places for a drink and a meze.
Kapari, a tiny sandy cove, hard to find and we aren’t about to tell everyone on the internet here either.
Kiki- in Aghios Sostis, only 6 tables, so go early or be prepared to queue…
GET LOST
If you get lost, as you will , when wandering around CHora, the old port, Matoyianni is the street name you want to know by heart. It is the most famous “sokaki” (narrow small street so typical in the Cyclades islands where Mykonos belongs) that starts from the port and goes up into to the heart of the town. Hakassan and Interni (another “must go” restaurant set in a beautiful garden right next to Hakassan) are here, and all the coolest boutiques, shops, bars and restaurants cluster around here. All appointments that are made on the beaches during the day conclude here at night.
DO BUY
The all-day apparel here is the pareo or sarong; buy yours from Loukas’s El Pareo at the top of Matoyiannis street next to the Ling Ling and Interni restaurants and show off those tanned and toned abs, a unisex must on the island! Pick up a colourful cotton shift at Hari’s Cotton, or go upmarket at the Greek boutique Enny di Monaco that carries a great selection of top brands. Lalaounis is the classic jewellery shop, and the eponymous family also feature in the much loved police novels by American Jeffrey Sager, a long time visitor to Mykonos, whose books are cult reads for all Mykonos lovers.
Of course we have some fabulous new villas in the best areas of Mykonos to show you as well, contact us for details!
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