Known for its outrageous beach parties and nights of endless fun, Ios island in the Greek Cyclades is brimming over with bars. Varying from hot dance clubs to traditional Greek watering holes, the following are a selection of the best which you won’t want to miss.
Far Out Beach Club
Check out the number one spot on the island, right near the famed Mylopotas Beach, where visitors can really get into the party spirit. While not exactly a traditional bar, Far Out Beach Club has everything one could hope for: a prime location near the beautiful sands and crystal waters of the Aegean, a pool perfect for swimming, throbbing dance music and a variety of drinks and cocktails to get the party going. This is where those Ios experiences begin and where many memories linger.
At Blue Note, take a number of shots and receive a free t-shirt. It’s an exciting and pumping disco bar with a cool interior setting. Green and purple light up the bar and the dance floor, and a disco ball hangs from the ceiling. Blue light also illuminates the bar area, where visitors can try the manager’s famous drink: the Lucas Special. Blue Note has been open since 1979, and with a distinct affection for Swedish music, rock and Top 40 songs, this bar is a landmark destination on Ios.
A great place in Chora to break out the moves, this bar has a great selection of electronic music to keep the dance floor hopping until early in the morning. Liquid Bar has a friendly staff creating delicious drinks and, on occasion, contributing to the outrageous parties that take place here. For those in need of a breath of fresh air after dancing, the back patio offers a paved area to relax and chat with friends and new acquaintances alike.
An Ios favorite is Sweet Irish Dream, a large and accommodating bar, two stories high and able to host up to 500 guests. Known for exotic drinks and dancing on the tables, this taste of Ireland has two bars on the main level that serve Guinness on tap as well as other beers, and two bars on the second floor, meaning visitors to this pub have plenty to choose from. Pool tables can also be found on the main floor, offering entertainment for guests. On top of all this excitement, Sweet Irish Dream also features flaming bars, making this club one of the wildest going.
World famous and located in Chora’s main square, this bar features a variety of dance music including hiphop, rock, house, 70s, Latin and so much more. Slammer Bar has a diverse set of events that keep the party going all throughout the summer months. Watch out for the ‘Slammer Hammer’, when visitors put on a helmet, take a shot and get slammed on the head with a hammer by the bartender. Three bars surround the dance floor, so there’s plenty of opportunity to get a taste of the creative cocktails Slammer serves up.
Home-made chocolate and caramel shots set the Orange Bar apart from the rest of Ios’ nightlife. Open since the 1970s, this bar offers a great taste of rock and alternative music to its visitors. The bar is known for its creative diversity in candy flavored shots that leave drinkers longing to lick the bottom of the glass or go ahead and down another. As a rock bar, the Orange Bar has often been voted the best bar on the island; the DJ has a great selection of music and plays requests.
Traffic Bar brings a real clubbing scene to the island. With an interior that is modern and chic, coupled with fantastic dance music and good drinks, a visit to Traffic is a must. Staff here are fun and engaging; there are no dull moments, as they keep the party going at all times. You’ll be sorry to leave at the end of the night.
