Kylie and James' Guide to Greece: Mykonos
Kylie and James give their recommendations for not-to-miss spots in Mykonos.
Original Article Published by FED Guide
Kiki's
Perched above the gradient blue of the Aegean, Kiki's serves fresh, colorful food beneath the shade of a thatched roof and ancient, arched olive trees. The plan is simple: proceed inside the beach hut-cum-prep kitchen to request three or four colorful salads from a display case. Place your order quickly, because when it's gone, it's gone. Then sip rosé while waiting for your pork chop or whole branzino to finish grilling on the open flame.
Kiki's is quintessential Mykonos, from the unparalleled views of the ocean, to the black cat slinking from table to table for a forgotten chicken bone. You'll want to arrive promptly at 1pm when the restaurant opens. If you do have to wait in a queue, you can pass the time on a private beach with a box of cold rosé until a table opens up.
Agios Sostis Beach
84600 Mykonos, Kikladhes
Fokos
Offering the same spectacular views as Kiki's, but in a lower-key setting, Fokos is a beachside tavern with Cretan-leaning cuisine and a phenomenal wine list. After ordering a bottle of rosé, like Petit Fleur from Parparoussis Estate (rosé is to Mykonians as beer is to the Irish), order meze like the creamy broccoli salad with golden raised and caramelized onion, baked tomato with kalamatas and xinomizithra cheese, and whole grilled barbounia with slaw and a baked potato. Before you leave, make sure to do two things. First, thank the grill master manning the brick-lined barbecue on your way out -- he can teach even an experienced chef a technique or two to bring home. Second, check out the beautiful homemade pottery from the daughter of the owners of the restaurant.
Fokos Beach, 84600 Mykonos
T: +30.6944.644343 | www.fokosmykonos.com
Sea Breeze Bar
Sea Breeze Bar is an oceanside venue where locals and tourists gather on a cobblestone terrace to watch the sun sink into the blue waters. A limited number of tables are available on the outdoor patio, so you'll want to arrive by 7pm to secure a prime spot for sunset-watching. The staff is cordial and after just one visit, you'll feel like a regular. As the hours go by and the sun inches closer to the water, the town slips silently into evening mode. You might see a clown on stilts who stops by your table to pressure you into a third round of shots, or you may dance to 25-year old music with a 21-year old girl. Needless to say, memorable (or perhaps not) nights in Mykonos start at Sea Breeze Bar.
Little Venice, Chora, 84600 Mykonos
It's 5am and you've just danced all night with a gaggle of Brazilians. You want greasy, dirty street food. Only one thing will do: a double meat order of pork gyros made with sliced tomato, garlicky tzatiki and french fries, all wrapped up in a steaming pita. Jimmy's is the obvious finale to the prosecco and vodka-fueled party that inevitably ensues nightly in Mykonos. Lining the walls are glamor shots of Jimmy himself posing with everyone from Liza Minelli to her drag queen impersonator (side by side). Feast at Jimmy's enough and you might just get lucky and end up on the wall yourself.
Lakka, 84600 Mykonos
Lefteris
At Ornos beach, Lefteris is open for dinner only and serves the best kontosouvli (roasted pork collar). For less than five euro, you can feed four people well. They serve the Easter speciality kokoretsi (sweetbreads wrapped in stomach lining and roasted on a spit) every day. Oui, chef.
Ornos, Mykonos
T: +30.22890.27185 | www.grillhouse-lefteris.com