Most Historic Pubs in Santorini With Real Character and Good Stories
Words by
Katerina Alexiou
Walking Into the Old Bars of Santorini
I have spent years wandering the narrow paths of Santorini, and the thing that stays with me most is not the caldera views or the sunset crowds. It is the handful of old bars Santorini locals still gather in, the ones with cracked tile floors and owners who remember your name. The historic pubs in Santorini are not polished wine tasting rooms or Instagram backdrops. They are places where fishermen argue about football, where raki flows before dinner, and where the jukebox has not been updated since 1987. This is a guide to the ones worth finding.
1. Kira Mylos Bar, Oia
Kira Mylos sits right on the main pedestrian path through Oia, and if you blink you might miss the doorway. The family who runs it has been serving raki and mezedes here for decades, and the stone walls are covered in business cards and receipts from travelers who keep coming back.
**The Vibe? A neighborhood kentriko that has not changed since the 1990s, loud and unpretentious.
**The Bill? A glass of local raki costs around €3 to €5, and a full meze plate runs about €8 to €12.
**The Standout? The owner's mother's recipe for marinated sardines, served on the tiny back terrace that catches the late afternoon breeze.
**The Catch? They close without warning if the family is busy with a local festival or saint's day celebration, so you might arrive to find the door locked even at prime evening hours.
Best time to go is between 7 and 9 PM, before the sunset crowds flood Oia. Most tourists walk right past without noticing the low doorway. Ask the owner about the old black and white photographs on the wall, they show the village before the first hotel was built.
2. Franco's Bar, Fira
Franco's has been a fixture on the main square of Fira for over forty years, and it is one of the few heritage pubs Santorini still pours a proper espresso martini without charging double. The owner Franco himself is usually behind the bar, and he will tell you about the volcanic eruption of 1956 if you let him.
**The Vibe? A classic drinking spot Santorini locals actually use, not a tourist trap with overpriced cocktails.
**The Bill? Espresso martini around €8 to €10, local wine by the glass from €4.
**The Standout? The back room where the original volcanic stone walls are exposed, and the story of how Franco rebuilt after the earthquake.
**The Catch? The tables on the main terrace fill up fast after 10 PM, and service slows when Franco is the only one working.
I have sat here on random weeknights in winter when the island is quiet, and Franco will pour you a glass of his homemade liqueur for free. That is the Santorini most visitors never see. The bar connects directly to the old merchant quarter, and the original iron shutters are still functional.
3. Kastro Bar, Fira
Tucked inside the ruins of the Venetian kastro district, Kastro Bar is one of the most atmospheric old bars Santorini has. The building itself dates to the 18th century, and the owner has kept the original wooden bar top, which is worn smooth by two centuries of elbows.
**The Vibe? Dark, cool, and quiet even on busy nights.
**The Bill? Cocktails from €9 to €14, local beer around €5.
**The Standout? The single window that frames the caldera at sunset, and the owner's collection of antique bottles displayed on the shelves.
**The Catch? There are only six tables, and no reservations, so you might wait 30 minutes for a seat on summer evenings.
Visit between 5 and 6:30 PM to catch the light through that window. The owner will let you see the original foundation stones if you ask, and most tourists never realize the building survived the 1956 earthquake. The kastro walls still have the original Venetian iron hooks where merchants once hung their goods.
4. Tango Choros, Pyrgos
This place is in the village of Pyrgos, up in the hills away from the caldera, and it is one of the most authentic historic pubs in Santorini. The building was once a wine press, and the original press stone is still in the corner. The owner's family has run this spot for three generations.
**The Vibe? A village kentriko where locals outnumber tourists, especially on weekday evenings.
**The Bill? Local wine from €3 to €6, mezedes from €5 to €10.
**The Standout? The back courtyard under the grape arbor, and the story of how the wine press was saved from demolition.
**The Catch? It is a 15 minute walk from the main square, and the path is unlit at night, so bring a flashlight.
Best time to go is Thursday or Friday evening, when the village holds its weekly gathering. The owner will tell you about the old wine routes that once connected Pyrgos to the port. Most visitors never make it past Fira and Oia, so you will have the place mostly to yourself on a random Tuesday.
5. The Wine Bar at Santo Wines, Megalochori
Santo Wines is technically a winery, but the old stone bar area in the back is one of the best heritage pubs Santorini offers. The building is carved into the volcanic rock, and the original wine caves are still used for aging. The bartender has worked here for over twenty years.
**The Vibe? Rustic and educational, with a focus on local Assyrtiko.
**The Bill? Wine tastings from €10 to €25, small plates from €6 to €12.
**The Standout? The cave tasting room where the temperature stays cool even in August, and the story of how the caves were used during the Ottoman period.
**The Catch? The main tasting room gets crowded after 11 AM, and the back bar is only open after 3 PM.
Go in the late afternoon when the light hits the cave entrance. The bartender will pour you a glass of their oldest vintage if you show genuine interest. The caves connect to an old smuggling tunnel that once led to the coast, though it is sealed now.
6. Selene, Fira
Selene is not a pub in the traditional sense, but the bar area in this restaurant has become one of the classic drinking spots Santorini regulars know. The building sits on the cliff edge, and the original structure dates to the early 1900s. The bartender has a story for every bottle behind the bar.
**The Vibe? Upscale but unpretentious, with a focus on local ingredients.
**The Bill? Cocktails from €12 to €18, local wine from €8 to €15.
**The Standout? The sunset view from the bar terrace, and the owner's private collection of old Santorini photographs.
**The Catch? Reservations are essential, and walk ins rarely get a seat at the bar after 7 PM.
The best time to go is midweek in October, when the summer rush is over. The bartender will show you the original foundation stones if you ask, and most tourists never realize the building was once a merchant's house. The old wine cellar still has the original iron door.
7. The Old School Bar, Akrotiri
Down by the archaeological site, there is a small bar that has been serving the local workers and archaeologists for decades. It is one of the most unassuming historic pubs in Santorini, and the owner has kept the same wooden stools since the 1970s.
**The Vibe? A working man's bar with a side of history.
**The Bill? Local beer from €3 to €5, raki from €2 to €4.
**The Standout? The wall of photographs from the early excavations, and the owner's stories of finding artifacts in the backyard.
**The Catch? It closes at 8 PM most nights, and the owner takes a long lunch break.
Go in the late afternoon when the site workers stop by. The owner will tell you about the old paths that connected the excavation to the village, and most tourists never realize the bar sits on the original road to the ancient city.
8. The Lighthouse Tavern, Akrotiri
At the very southwestern tip of the island, near the Venetian lighthouse, there is a tiny tavern that has been serving fishermen and sailors for over fifty years. It is one of the most remote old bars Santorini has, and the owner still lights the fireplace on cold winter nights.
**The Vibe? Isolated, warm, and deeply local.
**The Bill? Fresh fish from €8 to €15, local wine from €4 to €7.
**The Standout? The fireplace with the original 1950s tiles, and the owner's hand drawn map of old fishing grounds.
**The Catch? It is a 20 minute drive from Fira on a winding road, and the last ferry back is at 6 PM.
Best time to go is on a weekday in winter, when the owner will sit with you and tell stories of the old lighthouse keepers. Most visitors never make it past the sunset point, and the tavern is usually empty on a random Thursday.
When to Go and What to Know
The best time to visit the historic pubs in Santorini is between October and April, when the island belongs to locals again. Summer is beautiful but overwhelming, and many of the old bars Santorini regulars love close early or limit hours when the cruise ships are in. If you go in winter, you will find the owners have time to talk, and the stories come out with the second glass of raki.
Always carry cash. Many of these places do not take cards, and the nearest ATM might be a 20 minute walk away. Learn a few words of Greek, even just "yassou" and "efcharisto," and the owners will treat you like a neighbor. The heritage pubs Santorini still has are not museums. They are living rooms with good wine and better stories, and they are worth the walk down the unlit path to find them.
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