Aegean Balcony: 8 Island Bars with Unmatched Views

Imagine watching the sunset over the sea while sipping a cocktail. These bars on Syros, Paros, Milos, Koufonisia, Tilos, or Naxos offer stunning views.


The Greek islands boast some truly remarkable bars. Whether you’re barefoot and sun-kissed straight from the beach or dressed up for a night out, you’ll enjoy well-crafted drinks that include signature and classic cocktails as well as excellent wines. You can stay from sunset until late into the night, enjoying the music in the background—sometimes loud, sometimes barely audible. What truly distinguishes these bars are their terraces, balconies, and rooftops that overlook the sea, offering views of the passing boats, the silhouettes of nearby islands, the steep cliffs, and the lights that slowly appear as night falls.

 
 
 
 
 
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Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη L O G G I A (@loggia_sifnos)

Loggia, Sifnos

If I had to pick just one bar to visit all summer, it would be Loggia. Nestled in Seralia, this bar offers stunning views of the cliffs of Sifnos’ Kastro. The wine is chilled and ready when the bar opens shortly before sunset. You can sit on the steps, enjoy a bottle or glass of wine, and unwind while admiring the view and watching the well-dressed tourists descend from Kastro. If you choose a table in front of the bar (reservations are recommended), you can also enjoy dishes such as fresh oysters from the island, salads with fruits and cheese, and platters of Cycladic cheeses and charcuterie. The wine list features a wide selection of low-intervention wines from Greek vineyards, including their own Assyrtiko.

 
 
 
 
 
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Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη braziliana ano syros (@brazilianabaranosyros)

Info

Kastro, Sifnos

Tel. (+30) 22840.319.65

Brazíliana, Syros

The transition from the Athenian neighborhood of Ano Petralona to Ano Syros is seamless. Brazíliana has spent the last few summers on this beautiful Cycladic island, offering views that are second to none. Most guests gather at the main entrance, which opens onto the alley running through the village, or choose the tastefully decorated interior with its vibrant atmosphere and excellent music. But those in the know head straight to the small back terrace, where the view is unmatched. From here, you can see the lights of Ermoupoli and the moon rising over the seas of Mykonos and Naxos in the distance. Brazíliana serves craft beers, local wines, and excellent spirits, as well as delicious cocktails including Margaritas, Mai Tais, Palomas, and Caipirinhas. Snacks include pinsa and marathopita (traditional fennel pie). It’s also open in the mornings, serving coffee and breakfast.

Info

8 Stefanou, Ano Syros

Tel. (+30) 22810.763.56

Mikro Horio Bar, Tilos

The last resident of the medieval village of Mikro Horio on Tilos left in 1957. During the post-World War II era, the local population of roughly 700 people began relocating to Livadia owing to water shortages and poverty. They even removed the roofing and door frames from their homes because timber was scarce and needed to be imported from Asia Minor. Until 1993, the village was inhabited only by the memories of those who had left. That year, Giorgos Aliferis from Laconia transformed the old schoolmaster’s house into a bar and named it after the village. Since then, it has been serving classic drinks and cocktails against the backdrop of illuminated ruins, crumbling houses, and the bell tower of the Church of Timia Zoni. If you’re lucky, on a Saturday night the revelry might last until dawn, and you’ll be able to see Turkey and Rhodes in the distance. The entire setting feels like a scene from a movie where the past blends seamlessly with the music, lively discussions, and exclamations from visitors experiencing this strange landscape for the first time.

Info

Tilos, Mikro Horio

Sky, Argini Hotel, Syros

The rooftop bar of the recently opened Argini Hotel, located in Ermoupoli, in the heart of the Cyclades, offers breathtaking views of the sea, the surrounding islands, and the city. This beautiful 1853 building, surrounded by similar listed neoclassical residences, features a tastefully designed terrace paved with marble, where premium drinks and delicious classic and signature cocktails are served every evening. The best time to visit is at sunset, when the sky and sea of Syros are bathed in a warm glow and the silhouettes of Mykonos and Naxos appear in the distance before nightfall.

Info

11-13 Apollonos, Ermoupoli, Syros

Tel. (+30) 22810.890.22

Utopia, Milos

At sunset, all roads in Plaka, the charming capital of Milos, lead to Utopia Bar. Perched high above the sea and the bay of Milos at an elevation of 220 meters, its west-facing balcony offers a breathtaking view. Some say the sunset here rivals that of Oia in Santorini. Such claims make it nearly impossible to find a table unless you’re persistent, lucky, or unfazed by arriving after darkness has fully settled in. Regardless, it’s worth the effort because the cocktail list is intriguing, the setting is delightful, and the atmosphere exudes the charm of an old urban courtyard. If you enjoy spicy cocktails, try the Nina de Gibraltar, made with tequila, citrus, and mango syrup. They also excel at classic cocktails; their Dry Martini is superb, and the Mai Tai is perfectly balanced. On a clear night, the place becomes an ideal stargazing location. Download the Stellarium app, scan the sky with your phone, and discover the constellations.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Sorokos Bar (@barsorokos)

Info

Plaka, Milos

Tel. (+30) 22870.236.78

Sorokos, Koufonisia

Sorokos on Ano Koufonisi is one of the Small Cyclades’ most beautiful and iconic bars. The first thing that strikes you is the breathtaking vista of Keros and the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean. The pub is located a short distance from the island’s beaches and the major town, Chora, and you can take a dip from the rocks right in front of it. Everybody passes through here. This all-day bar serves breakfast and light meals, with standouts including Cycladic cheese omelet and pancakes with xinomizithra and homemade strawberry jam. In the afternoon, the bar fills up with people looking to enjoy the lovely sunset and an aperitif before heading out to dinner. The real party begins after the tavernas close and continues until late into the night. They serve classic and signature cocktails, and many nights feature live DJ sets.

 
 
 
 
 
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Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Avant Mar (@avantmarparos)

Info

Koufonisia

Tel. (+30) 22850.717.04

The Bridge, Avant Mar, Paros

The five-star Avant Mar hotel is ideally situated right at the water’s edge on the sandy Piperi Beach, just a five-minute walk from Naoussa. Its clean lines, earthy tones, and geometric shapes create a minimalist yet elegant setting that is soothing to the eye. The Bridge bar, located just a few meters from the water on an elevated platform with an unobstructed view of the beach and the Cycladic horizon, is dedicated to the classic Gin & Tonic. The bar offers an extensive list of premium gins which are used to make delightful variations of the classic recipe, such as The Cotswolds, which features gin, grapefruit, elderflower liqueur, and a beautiful peach and jasmine mixer. The Sake Martini, made with Tanqueray 10 and an aromatic sake, is perfect as an aperitif before dining at the stylish Matsuhisa restaurant housed within the hotel.

 
 
 
 
 
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Info

Avant Mar, Piperi Beach, Naoussa, Paros

Tel. (+30) 22844.403.00

Drink in Peace, Naxos

Drink in Peace delivers exactly what the name promises, in a picturesque location at the entrance of the Kastro, with an incredible, idyllic view of the setting sun. This sunset bar, founded by a highly experienced team (Thanasis Tsotras, Michalis Makridis, Executive Chef Sotiris Giannopoulos of Gorlomi, Hytra, and Zillers, and Head Bartender Achilleas Stavropoulos), has rapidly become a very popular destination. They offer a selection of Greek wines, focusing on producers from the Cyclades, Santorini, and Macedonia, along with a few international favorites. The food is of exceptional quality, with dishes such as steak tartare, tsukune kebabs made with perfectly caramelized beef and lamb mince, shrimp with egg-lemon bisque, and many more that complement the wines and seven specialty drinks.

Originally published in Greek in gastronomos.gr

Info

Prantouna Square, Naxos

Tel. (+30) 22850.220.05



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