The Best Bars in Halkidiki, Greece

On the west coast of the Sithonia peninsula sits Neos Marmaras, a seaside town considered to have one of the best beaches in the region. Surrounded by pine forest that reaches down to the waterfront, it’s a beautiful place to relax. Simply kick back in your cabana beach bed with a margarita or piña colada, and watch the sun slowly set.

Sticking with the Sithonia peninsula, you’ll find Talgo beach bar in the east coast resort of Vourvourou. Sip soundly on one of its shoreline sun loungers – beverages include the famous Greek frappé, local Mythos beer, wines and soft drinks. If you’re a fan of music by the beach, this is the place for you. It’s something of a party spot, framed by gorgeous sea views.

If it’s a slightly more low-key, upmarket experience you’re after, the Lime Beach Bar on Moudounou beach in Afitos, part of Kassandra’s east coast, is the place to go. Attached to the White Suites adults-only resort, you can sit back on sunbeds or the comfortable terrace. Listen to soothing lounge music as you drink a frappé or freshly made smoothie during the day, have seafood meze for lunch, or stay for sunset over the Aegean while sipping a cool glass of chardonnay.

Further down Kassandra’s coast, in the seaside resort of Pefkohori, the Elephant beach bar is a boho-chic place to chill. Laze on one of their palm-shaded sunbeds, or in a cabana scattered with cushions – either way you’ll enjoy your margarita, served in a coconut. Tip: get there early to bag the best sunbed spot, as it gets busy later on.

Umbrellas is a fitting name for this low-key bar, given the many parasols and loungers at its home of Pefkohori beach. Unwind as you listen to lounge music while sipping a flat white, cooling chardonnay or Mythos beer. Too calm? The icing on the cake is the watersports centre, with qualified instructors – great if you want to try some jet-skiing. It’s best to go on a weekday, as it gets busy on weekends in high season.

Sitting on the promenade of Pefkohori and extending to the beach, Menta is open from breakfast through to the small hours. Enjoy your freshly squeezed orange juice and Greek omelette, then move onto a sunbed and stay all day. Be it a cool glass of wine, gin and tonic or a piña colada (served in a quirky plant pot), this is a great place for friends and family to come together.

For an upscale beach club experience, you simply have to visit Cabana. A commanding presence on Paliouri beach in Kassandra, it’s an appealing place to relax on a luxury sunbed, sip a vodka martini or piña colada, and listen to the lapping waves. Need a massage? No problem. Cabana offers a range of treatments to get you in holiday mode, including deep tissue, shiatsu and reflexology.

Spitaki is considered one of the best cocktail bars in the region. Tap your foot to Latin, jazz, soul and funk tunes with a signature negroni or deja vu cocktail, served in an open courtyard. Feeling peckish? Enjoy a hearty rib eye steak, or lighter, savoury mille-feuille pastry with spinach and cheese.