The Best Bars to Visit in Kos, Greece

With its Scrabble-style lettering arranged over millennial-pink walls, this all-day cafe bar is a great spot in the centre of Kos Town. Relax on their veranda and appreciate the views over Kos harbour while enjoying a coffee, milkshake or homemade pizza in the middle of the day and return at night for a shaken mojito or gin and tonic. Parties and events are a regular occurrence at this fun-loving spot.

This all-day cafe bar is situated in an old whitewashed Italian building with a sprawling courtyard near the beachside in Kos Town. Come during the day to relax on the sunbeds then head back at night for the relaxed vibes and a local Fix beer or cocktail by candlelight.

Not strictly speaking a bar, the Law-Court Cafe is worth a mention because of its impressive architecture and location, right opposite the Plane Tree of Hippocrates in Kos Town’s square. According to legend, it was under this tree that Hippocrates taught pupils the art of medicine. Take the weight off your feet and sip an ice-cold beer or freshly brewed coffee under the cafe’s art-deco arches as you rub shoulders with the civil service elite.

Camel is a bar and nightclub popular with locals and tourists alike in Kos. It’s not a quiet place to nurse a drink, but a great spot to meet with friends, catch the latest football match on the big screen and listen to live DJ sets. It’s also one of the host venues of Summerstar, an annual outdoor electronic music event that takes place for five weeks each summer.

Atheneon, which sits perched overlooking the Aegean, might just be the best cocktail bar on Kos. Run by two brothers whose mixology knowledge informs a menu of delicious cocktails – think classics like the zombie or mai tai. Come to this beachside bar during the day to cool off with a freshly squeezed apple juice before returning for something stronger later on.

Don’t leave this cocktail bar in the town square of the beach resort of Kardamena without trying their caipirinha – a Brazilian cocktail made with cachaça, sugar and lime. If you like football, it’s the place to go for live games on the big screen.

Pefkokefali beach has consistently been awarded Blue Flags for the cleanliness of its waters. Here, you’ll also find beach club-style Ammos Bar, with its loungers, day beds and parasols for whiling away the day. Open from breakfast through to sundown, it has a wide menu of wines, champagne and signature cocktails such as a Caribbean Dream or Smoky Margarita. They often host weddings and other events, further confirming it as a sophisticated choice.

Near the village of Mastichari, Tam Tam has an African beach-bar vibe with its palm-tree umbrellas sheltering the sunbeds and garden stretching down to the sea. Aside from the extensive cocktail menu, it’s the sunset you’ll love most here, so come and kick back with a refreshing beer or bloody mary as you watch the sky burn a bright orange.