folegandros

Night life in Folegandros

folegandros-nightlife Folegandros is one of the most unspoilt islands in the Cyclades archipelago so the nightlife here is essentially limited and low-key. This is a place where visitors come to relax and enjoy a taste of traditional island life without the frantic non-stop partying of islands such as Mykonos, Santorini and Ios.

Having said that, there’s a surprising number of bars, good quality tavernas and even late night dance spots considering the size of the island and its lack of commercialisation.

Some people say that Folegandros has no night life, is that a myth or truth after all? The answer depends solely on how one understands the term “night life”. In fact, beautiful Folegandros has several bars and places where you can enjoy your beer or snacks and cocktails.

Astarti in the central square of Chora and Patitiri are two of the most famous places for drinking that gather a lot of locals and tourists. Followed by the bar-club “Baraki, the Beez and a few more. However, there are not a few who honor the central square of Chora with a beer in hand and good company. Talking, singing, laughing, even in the streets.

Start your evening with a cocktail or an ouzo in one of the bars in Hora where the view as the sun goes down is almost a match for the spectacular sunset of Santorini. The white-domed, fairytale church of Panagia, dominating the town from its hilltop position, is particularly lovely when illuminated at night.

Stroll through the delightful arched alleyways of the old town and mingle with the locals, most of whom you’ll be on first-name terms with after a few days especially if you make the effort to practise some sentences from your Greek phrase book.

The town revolves around its four linked squares (or plateias) where you can watch the world go by beneath the lime, almond and pepper trees.

nightlife When it comes to dining, Hora has a good selection of café-bars and tavernas to choose from including the popular Piatsa which is probably the island’s best restaurant offering an innovative range of specials which change nightly and also a good choice of vegetarian dishes (which are not always easy to come by in Greece.) You’ll find it on the second square past the kastro. Neighbouring O Kritikos is popular with the islanders and is renowned for its succulent grilled meat. Tis Katinas has good quality traditional Greek fare including the famous “gemista” (stuffed vegetables with rice or meat).

Melissa in Plateia Kondarini is also good for local home-cooked dishes (the omelettes are particularly good here).

Dine at one of the tavernas in Ano Meria – Mimis, Taverna tou Mitsaki and Liovasilema are all recommended – if you want to try the island’s famous local specialty “matsata” (home-cooked pasta with rooster or rabbit in a red sauce). The port of Karavostassis is the place to go for fresh seafood (lobster, sea bream, octopus and the local “liokafto” fish dish).

nightlife-in-folegandros Visit Kellari wine bar in Plateia Pounta to sample an amazing selection of Greek wines. El Greco, next to the Sottovento Tourism Office, is a bohemian-style café bar with cocktails, some interesting murals and a lively late night scene which continues until the early hours.

Arajo – on the road off the third square leading towards Ano Meria and the Sottovento office – stays open late with Latin music, jazz and hip hop.

At Avissos, next to Sottovento, you can enjoy a happy hour cocktail or two and dance the night away to chart hits, rock, Latin and Greek music.