By Andrea Leblang Adventure, Europe, Greece, MykonosJuly 1, 2015

Unique Beaches and Taverns in Mykonos

With over 50 beaches to explore, Mykonos truly has something fitting almost every taste. Visitors will find party beaches, classy beaches, nude beaches, family beaches, water-sport beaches… the list goes on! While there are dozens of popular beaches, sometimes it’s nice to escape the crowds and enjoy some of the more hidden gems. A major plus: the more remote beaches have the best taverns!

Here are FIVE recommendations for unique beaches and taverns in Mykonos!

Relax at Agios Sostis and dine at Kikis. If you have transportation, it’s easy to find this small beach in the north of Mykonos. You can also take the bus to the more popular, Panormos beach, and it’s a 5 minute walk up the hill from there. The beach is named after a nearby church that guards the entrance.

There are no sunbeds or umbrellas, but the sand is soft and the cove is nice for swimming. There are no obvious restaurants in sight, but this beach is home to one of the best taverns on the island! We were able to find Kiki’s (the hidden taverna) by asking others on the beach for directions – there are no signs to lead your way. To the left of the beach, if you walk up towards the small village, you will find a tiny cove to your right. Kikis Tavern – a quaint, charming patio with a few dozen seats – sits on the hill above the cove.

Despite the ‘hidden’ nature of this little gem, the restaurant is extremely popular with tourists and locals alike. A line of people waiting to be seated when the restaurant opens (at 1PM) starts to form around 12:15. It’s best to arrive no later than 12:30 if you want a seat. Those who came for a later lunch had a bit of a wait. Kiki’s is famous for their wonderful salads and their honey-glazed pork chop!

Take the dirt road to Fokos and have lunch at the Tavern. The road to Fokos is not paved, but is friendly enough to take via scooter (instead of having the need to rent an ATV). This particular beach is quite far off the beaten path (one of the furthest from the port), and brings people (though not many) who are looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a more natural environment.

The tavern at Fokos is the only one and can’t be missed – it sits right at the entrance to the beach. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal here! Their salads were incredible, and I had my best Falafel experience thus far at the Fokos tavern! The moist, chick pea patties were fried to perfection. I highly recommend this dish.

Experience the hippy vibe at Ftelia beach. This long beach, that can be found by making a detour on your way to the town of Ano Mera, is typically quite windy and known for windsurfing and kite-boarding. We were lucky to visit on a mild day when the waters were better for swimming and relaxing.

The beach-side bar provides bean bag chairs for your enjoyment, right on the sand, where you can grab snacks or drinks. You can also dine at the tavern upstairs, where we had a nice pizza and salad. Local art and jewelry can be found outside, adding a creative ambiance to our dining experience.

Enjoy a local experience on the tiny beach of Kapari. After winding out of Chora along the coast (not too far), you can find a VERY small, locals-only beach just behind the chapel of Agios Ioannis. Behind the small church is a dirt road winding along the edge of the island to a hidden cove.

The waters are typically mild and perfect for swimming in whatever you find to be comfortable. There are a few waves that roll in whenever a ship on the way to port passes. It’s best to relax on one of the high rocks if you want to keep dry. The cove is so small that waves reach all the way up the beach when a ship passes!

On Kapari, it’s best to bring a picnic. We stopped at a bakery for an array of filo pies on our way to the beach, spending the rest of the day lounging on the rocks. Nothing like filling your belly with buttery, flakey dough before napping in the sun 🙂

Swim at Lia Beach. Lia might be my favorite in-between beach. I call it ‘in-between’ because it has a remote feel, and plenty of untouched sand to relax on, but there is also a tavern on the beach, with beach chairs and umbrellas if you prefer to lounge there instead. The best part of Lia is the inviting waters provided by the protected cove. Without a wave in sight, we were able to swim and float for hours on still, aqua blue waters.

The Lia Beach tavern has a wonderful atmosphere for food or drinks. We enjoyed another delicious salad… incredible salads seem to be the Mykonos beach tavern specialty – the quality of ingredients is something we could not find in town.

Perhaps you prefer the beach party vibe in Mykonos, and I can’t blame you for that. Mykonos is known as the town with some of the world’s best DJs… where every day is Saturday.. where you can party til dawn. My recommendations for remote beaches are geared towards travelers who want to change it up a bit, and escape the party vibe and crowds; however, my recommendation to ALL is not to overlook the taverns that make these beaches their home.

Some of the best meals we experienced in Mykonos were at small, unique locations on remote beaches.