Greece - Korina Miller [309]
A good spot is Galleraki ( 22890 27188), which turns out superb cocktails. Nearby, it’s the sunset view at Verandah Café ( 22890 27400), while La Scarpa ( 22890 23294) lets you lean back from the sea on its cosy cushions. Further north, Katerina’s Bar ( 22890 23084; Agion Anargyron) has a cool balcony and eases you into the evening’s action with relaxing sounds.
Deeper into town, the relentlessly stylish Aroma ( 22890 27148; Enoplon Dynameon; breakfast-late) sits on a strategic corner, providing the evening catwalk view. It’s open for breakfast and coffee as well. Just across the way, down an alleyway is Bolero Bar ( 6936322484; Malamatenias) a longstanding favourite, frequented in its time by such stellar celebs as Keith Richards.
Further down Enoplon Dynameon is Astra ( 22890 24767), where the decor is modernist Mykonos at its best, and where some of Athens’ top DJs feed the ambience with rock, funk, house and drum’n’bass. Just across from Astra, cocktail-cool Aigli ( 22890 27265) has another useful terrace for people watching. Matogianni has a couple of music bars, including Angyra ( 22890 24273), which sticks with easy listening and mainstream.
Scandinavian Bar ( 22890 22669; Ioanni Voinovich 9) is mainstream mayhem with ground-floor bars and a space upstairs for close-quarters moving to retro dance hits.
For big action into the dawn, Space ( 22890 24100; Laka) is the place. The night builds superbly through a mix of techno, house and progressive, and the bar-top dancing fires up the late-night action. Remezzo ( 22890 24100; Polykandrioti) is run by the Space team but features lounge and dance for a more relaxing scene. Entry is around €20 to each of the clubs.
GAY BARS
Mykonos is one of the world’s great gay-friendly destinations. Gay life is less overt here, but Hora has many gay-centric clubs and hang-outs from where the late-night crowds spill out onto the streets.
Kastro ( 22890 23072; Agion Anargyron) With a leaning towards stylish classical sounds, this is a good place to start the night on cocktails as the sun sets on Little Venice.
Jackie O’ ( 22890 79167; www.jackieomykonos.com; Plateia Karaoli Dimitriou) Hottest gay bar in Mykonos in 2009, Jacki O’ seems set to hold centre stage for some time yet. Straight-friendly and with a fabulous vibe revved up by fabulous shows.
Diva ( 22890 27271; K Georgouli) A great upbeat atmosphere makes this a Mykonos favourite with a mixed crowd and a loyal lesbian core.
Porta ( 22890 27807; Ioanni Voinovich) Head downstairs into Porta’s cruisey ambience where things get crowded and cosy towards midnight.
Pierro’s ( 22890 22177; Agias Kiriakis) Long-standing last stop for the nightwatch, where things round off with a backdrop of heavy-beat house and superbly over-the-top drag action in upstairs Ikaros. Can take over the outdoors, also.
Shopping
Style and art venues vie for attention throughout Hora’s streets and include authentic Lacoste, Dolce & Gabbana, Naf Naf, Diesel and Body Shop. Clothes hanging apart, there are some stand-out venues worth seeking out.
Scala Shop Gallery ( 22890 26992; www.scalagallery.gr; Matogianni 48) Scala is one of the more stylish galleries of Mykonos. It stages changing displays of fine art and also sells contemporary jewellery and ceramics. The owner, Dimitris Rousounelos, is an accomplished writer on Mykonos traditions. His book, Tastes of Sacrifice, on sale at the gallery, gives a trenchant and evocative view of Mykonian life beyond the gloss of fashionable tourism.
Parthenis ( 22890 23089; Plateia Alefkandra) Featuring the distinctive couture – in black-and-white only – of Athens designer and long-time Mykonos resident Dimitris Parthenis.
Hermesart ( 22890 24652; Plateia Goumenio) There’s some quirky and appealing art at this small gallery, with smaller pieces at affordable prices.
Orama Art Gallery ( 22890 26339; Fournakia) Just off Enoplon Dynameon, Orama shows the highly original work of Louis Orosko and Dorlies Schapitz.
Pantopoleion ( 22890 22078; Kalogera 24) A genuine all-organic grocery with products