Nightlife in Mykonos

Many things have changed since Mykonos was the hippy paradise of the seventies, but two constants have remained: the beauty of the landscapes and the beach parties. These two elements combined have made the fortune of Mykonos, which over the years has built a solid and now unshakable reputation as the best Greek island for nightlife.

The legendary nightlife of Mykonos has no timetable and takes place between beach bars, disco-pubs and mega discos. Gone are the days of the hippies, Mykonos today is expensive and chic so expect to pay up to 12 euros (or more!) for a cocktail.

The high prices don’t seem to scare off the droves of young people who flock here every summer from all over Europe for a fun-filled vacation. If you come in search of movida, you too will not regret the money you spent.

The fun zones of Mykonos

The nerve center of Mykonos nightlife is Paradise Beach with the adjacent Super Paradise Beach, which are located along the southern coast of the island. In both beaches you will find an uninterrupted row of bars and clubs crowded at all hours of the day, including the most famous discos and beach clubs of the island. Between aperitifs, pre-party, parties and after-party the fun is non-stop.

Of the two beaches, Super Paradise Beach is considered the most transgressive and is a popular destination for gay tourists. Another beach famous for beach parties is Psarou, in the area of Platis Gialos in the southwest of the island.

The Chora, the historic center of Mykonos Town, is another area with a high concentration of nightclubs. You will not find the megadiscos of Paradise Beach, but you can spend long nights of fun going from one bar to another: the movida of Mykonos Town in fact takes place between pubs, disco-bars, traditional taverns and elegant lounge bars.

Some places attract a very young clientele looking for happy hour and promo drinks but the majority is located at the opposite end, addressing a chic clientele that does not mind spending money to live an exclusive experience.

Discos and beach clubs in Mykonos

In Mykonos, the concept of nightlife is quite broad because the fun starts well before sunset and continues uninterrupted until the next morning. Generally, the opening hours of the Mykonos discos are 23:30-7:30 but the clubs do not fill up until 2am, while the beach bars are crowded from early afternoon.

Some disco-pubs and beach bars have free entrance with compulsory consumption, while the entrance to the discos is always on payment and is not exactly cheap: for the trendiest ones the price of the entrance ticket is around 30-40 euros.

The most famous disco in Mykonos is Cavo Paradiso, a temple of nightlife in Europe with an area of over 3000 square meters. Open since 1993, has hosted more than 1000 parties animated by the best international DJs and is a must for those who want to live in full the nightlife of Mykonos.

Here are 10 more discos and beach bars not to be missed in Mykonos:

• ParadiseClub (Paradise Beach): this disco with three rooms and a swimming pool is a real landmark in the nightlife of Mykonos. Techno and dance music played by the best international DJs, seductive gogo girls and spectacular fireworks shows are the fuse that will ignite your desire for fun.
• Super Paradise Beach Club (Super Paradise Beach): considered the most alternative and non-conformist beach club in Mykonos, it attracts an eclectic clientele of clubbers, models, VIPs and people who love to get noticed.
• Tropicana (Paradise Beach): one of the best beach bars in Paradise Beach. Here the party starts around 4 pm and hour after hour the volume of music is raised in step with the alcohol content.
• Skandinavian Bar (Georgouli, Chora): the most popular nightclub in Mykonos Town is this historic disco-bar in the center of Chora that has been open since 1978, with two bars and a dance floor. Perfect as a meeting point to start the evening, it offers a mix of dance, rock and commercial music.
• Kalua (Paranga beach): during the day it is an excellent fish restaurant, at night it transforms and becomes a lively beach club with DJ sets until dawn.
• Scorpios (Paraga): an exclusive and refined beach club, during the day it is a paradise of privacy but from 6:30 pm starts the legendary Sunset Rituals with live music and dj-set.
• Nammos Mykonos (Psarou beach): perhaps the most glamorous beach bar in Mykonos, famous for its cocktails and bottles of champagne.
• Thalami Bar (Chora): small disco-club located under the town hall, is recommended for those who want something different and more intimate than the wild beach clubs. It offers live music, both Greek and international.
• Guzel Mykonos Club (Mykonos Town): another club dedicated to those who prefer the atmosphere of a party with friends to the megaparty. The atmosphere is relaxed and you can have fun dancing on tables to the rhythm of Greek and international music.
• Remezzo (Mykonos Town): a refined club, famous for its beautiful terrace overlooking the port.

Other recommended clubs

If you don’t like wild crowds or for one night you want to slow down the pace of your vacation, here are some alternatives to the trendiest clubs:

• Caprice Bar (Mykonos Town): an exclusive bar on the promenade of Little Venice, with a studied furniture that reinvents in a contemporary way the classic style of the Cyclades dominated by the colors of white and blue. The ideal place to sip refined cocktails and fine bubbles while admiring a breathtaking sunset over the Aegean Sea.
• Kastro’s Bar (Mykonos Town): another bar on the promenade of Little Venice, is characterized by a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful windows overlooking the sea.
• Mexcafè Cocktail Bar (Mykonos Town): one of the few places in Mykonos with low prices, it is very popular among young people who need to keep the vacation budget under control. It offers international music that is easy to catch.
• Belvedere Poolside Lounge & Cocktail Bar(Agiou Ioannou): a chic bar perfect for a special night out, famous for its elegant style and creative cocktails.
• Oniro Sunset Bar (Mykonos): elegant contemporary bar with stunning views of the sea and nearby Siro Island.