The Best Bars in Oia, Santorini

Sit back with a drink in hand, and soak in the views of Oia
Sit back with a drink in hand, and soak in the views of Oia | © Alpineguide / Alamy Stock Photo
Claire Dodd

Oia is famous for its panoramic views of windmills, sugar-cube houses, blue-domed churches and the glittering Aegean Sea, and at dusk, there’s fierce competition to find the best seats for watching the sunset. Do it while having a drink. From secret spots to late-night local favourites and day lounges where you can take a dip while looking out across the caldera, here are the best bars in Oia, Santorini.

1. Lioyerma Lounge Cafe Pool Bar

Bar, Cocktails

When you picture Santorini, you’ll likely visualise pools on steep terraces that seem to merge with the blue sky. If you weren’t lucky enough to snag accommodation with a pool, head to the family-friendly Lioyerma Lounge, where you can spend an afternoon in the water. Hire a lounger or reclining chair, and make a day of it. The drink menu is fairly straightforward, but you’re really here for the pool. Bring a towel.

2. Domaine Sigalas

Wine Seller, Wine

Windmill & white houses at sunset in the village of Oia, Santorini, Thira, Cyclades Islands, Greek Islands, Greece, EU, Europe
© eye35.pix / Alamy Stock Photo

When you’re sipping a glass of Domaine Sigalas wine, you’re tasting the landscape of Santorini itself. Fruity yet bursting with minerality, the grapes grown by this winery just outside Oia benefit from a terroir unique to the island. Old vines of native Greek grapes – assyrtiko, athiri and aidani for white and mandilaria and mavrotragano for red – grow from volcanic soils in intense sunshine and are cooled by sea-salt-rich breezes. Tasting flights come with cheese, double-baked bread and cherry tomato paste. Alternatively, upgrade to a more extensive food and wine pairing session, and sit on the patio beneath vine-covered pergolas with an Oia sunset view.

3. Hassapiko

Bar, Cocktails

Housed in a former butcher’s shop, Hassapiko – also known as Marykay’s by those in the know – is often described as the only true bar in Oia. With simple furniture and soaring vaulted ceilings, the tiny space has a wide range of drinks and regular DJ sets, rightly attracting a diverse crowd. Indeed, its website declares that its clientele comprises “local and foreign celebrities, fashion victims, modern and classic people, retro fans or whoever else you can think of”. It’s open all day, so pop in for an early-morning coffee and finish the day with a nightcap.

4. Fino

Restaurant, Mediterranean, Greek, Cocktails

Forget the cliff view and never mind the sunsets – Fino doesn’t need them. In the centre of Oia, this establishment has an atmospheric vibe all its own, thanks to its pretty courtyard of aqua-blue canopies, stripey furnishings and stylish rustic furniture. With quality ingredients and top-notch cocktails, it’s the place to come for laid-back but high-quality dining and imbibing. While the food centres on traditional Santorini dishes and produce, the cocktail list is zesty and fresh. Try the namesake Fino, made with rum, amaretto, passion fruit, lime and sugar syrup, or the Gigimac, made with vodka, macadamia, passion fruit and ginger beer.

5. Oia Vineyart

Wine Bar, Wine, Greek

Winery at Santorini
© Seersa Abaza / Alamy Stock Photo

This cosy favourite is hidden away in a traditional Santorini home, complete with an original grape press and underground wine cellars. Sit in the cool courtyard with its rust-red walls, and sample the best of the island’s produce as you soak in the hippyish vibe. In addition, there’s a shop, a restaurant and an art gallery, and it hosts various performances. As for the drinks, the ancient vines on the island are unique, and there are more than 180 wines from 19 Santorini wineries to work through here.

6. Tramonto All Day Lounge

Restaurant, Bar, Cocktails

Tramonto describes itself as an oasis away from the crowds. Decorated with cacti and seagrass and with rattan chairs under shaded bamboo canopies, it’s a relaxing pit stop at any time of day. The food menu spans from breakfast to dinner, with pizza and pasta always in high demand. Drinks-wise, cocktails are made to a high standard and range from the classics to unique creations inspired by Greek flavours. Order a spritz and watch the sunset, or start the day right with a boozy brunch.

7. Catch Bar-Restaurant

Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Cocktails, Mediterranean

Taking modern mixology to its most creative and showy conclusion, the Catch Bar-Restaurant is deliberately understated in its all-white decor. It only draws more attention to the outrageous, theatrical cocktails served in glass birds, perfectly spherical glass orbs or smoked under glass domes. The menu itself is organised around the elements of earth, air, fire and water. Try the Madama, made with black peppercorn-infused gin, rose liqueur, fresh lemon juice, hibiscus syrup and egg white. Make a meal of it at the restaurant, which offers Mediterranean comfort food, including slow-cooked meats and seafood.

8. Sun Spirit Sunset Bar

Cocktail Bar, Cocktails

Greece. Oia town on Santorini island. Sunset over the roofs of buildings on the caldera.
© Mykhailo V. Pavlov / agefotostock / Alamy Stock Photo

Drinking sundowners beside windmill sails, gazing down across the caldera, is a Santorini must. Sun Spirit is the perfect spot for sunset drinks. The terrace has two levels, but grab a seat on the higher one as the views from the lower level tend to be obstructed by gathering crowds looking for the perfect sunset photo op. The drinks are on the pricier side, but you’re paying for that all-important view. Arrive early for the best seats.

If you fancy some food before you enjoy a cocktail or two, you’ll want to try the mouth-watering dishes at the best restaurants on Santorini. Liked Oia? Then, make sure to also explore the other must-visit towns and villages on the island. If you’re here for seaside vibes, we’ve rounded up the most blissful beaches for you so that you know where to chill in the sun. Haven’t booked your room yet? We can recommend these fabulous luxury hotels and budget stays.

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