Chapter 15: Gyros, Cocktails and Sunsets in Mykonos Greece

Top Things to Do in Mykonos Greece from Gyros and Cocktails to Sunset Views

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After returning our ATVs and checking out of our Airbnb, Hunter and I got a ride to the seaport. We enjoyed a quick breakfast and coffee before boarding another massive ferry and embarking on a two-hour journey to Mykonos Greece.

We only planned to spend two nights on Mykonos, so our time on the island was short. This post will be too.

Upon arriving on the island, the size of the seaport and the traffic alone made it immediately apparent that it was significantly larger and more crowded than Ios. There was certainly a more mature demographic on Mykonos, but with that came more expensive meals and drinks. No more five-dollar slap shots here.

After braving the traffic, we got dropped off on the side of the main road and were left to navigate our way into the main town to find our Airbnb on our own, since cars can’t drive through the main area.

Much like Ios, the center of Mykonos is a labyrinth of narrow stone walkways surrounded by white buildings. The only difference is that Mykonos has a much larger labyrinth to get lost in, and the accent colors on the doors, windows, and railings are a mixture of red and light blue instead of just blue.

As difficult as it is to navigate, it’s the narrow walkways and color contrast on the buildings that make the setting truly unique. It’s so cool to wander around, and you’ll never find anything like it in the United States. Because of that, it didn’t bother me that we got lost five times trying to find our Airbnb after getting dropped off at the main road.

We finally found our Airbnb, and we were warmly greeted by our host, Vicky. She sat down with us at the kitchen table to get to know us and give us some recommendations. I’m going to highlight my three favorite places we went to.

Since we arrived in the afternoon, the first place Vicky recommended was a famous gyro spot on the island called Sakis Grill House. She said it was hands down the best pita wrap gyro on the island, so we made it our first stop after getting settled in. It certainly lived up to the hype.

Sakis is a small, to-go–style place with outdoor seating only. It was crowded, and they had a relatively strict ordering system. Think the Greek version of ordering a Philly cheesesteak at Geno’s Steaks in Philadelphia. 

I had the mix pita, which was a combination of pork and chicken, and it was absolutely delicious. It was head and shoulders above any gyro I’d had in the United States, and even better than the place I tried during my short time in Athens. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures because I eat too fast. If you were expecting food pics on this blog, you may need to recalibrate your expectations.

Of all the recommendations Vicky made to us, she was most adamant about one in particular. She told us that no matter what, we needed to be at a cocktail bar called Negrita an hour before sunset. So after our gyros, we wandered through the white maze of walkways, shops, and restaurants for a while, then eventually made our way to Negrita right on time, an hour before sunset.

The entrance is tiny and difficult to find, and once you do, you walk into a narrow, shotgun-style establishment, with the bar on the right and small seating on the left. As you make your way through the narrow space between both, you eventually reach the back of the bar, which features a DJ booth, a cool mermaid mural on the wall, and an open-air atmosphere with two windows and a door that lead to a patio right on the water.

Since we got there an hour before sunset like Vicky recommended, the bar wasn’t too crowded yet, so we were able to get a table by the DJ and order drinks. I can’t remember if the DJ actually played this song, but “Jubel” by Klingande perfectly captures what it felt like to experience a sunset at Negrita.

I continued my Negroni theme while I was in Greece, and the cocktails were excellent. As the sun dipped closer to the ocean horizon, the place began to get packed, the music got louder, and, as the kids say these days, the vibes were 100.

The next day, Hunter and I decided to get a ride to the other side of the island to check out the famous club, Scorpios. Vicky had mentioned the place, and we had heard of it before, so we figured we’d go see it.

The place is a massive compound with multiple bars, stages, seating areas, pools, and a private beach. During the day, it’s actually very laid back, so Hunter and I posted up at a lounge table overlooking the water to have lunch and a few drinks. Ocean air, Alfa beer, and chill house music made it the perfect spot to relax for the afternoon. As laid back as it was during the day, you could certainly see how this place gets wild at night.

Hunter and I debated staying at Scorpios through sunset and seeing how crazy the place gets at night, but it was our last day in Greece, and Hunter had to be up at 6 a.m. to catch a flight back to New York. Instead, we decided to go back to town and watch the sunset from our new favorite place in Mykonos, Negrita.

That’s right. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We went straight back to the same table we were at the night before, and somehow, the vibes were even better. Some of the bartenders and the DJ recognized us. We were practically regulars at this point. 

This time, we made a few friends. We met a guy our age, Eddie, who was an entertainment lawyer in L.A. He pretty much joined our table, and we hung out with him all night. We also met a woman, Louise, who worked at the BBC in London and was there with her daughter and a friend. It’s amazing how good drinks, good music, and a nice sunset can bring people from all over the world together.

Since Hunter had to be up early for his flight, we decided to call it a night early. On our way back to our Airbnb, we decided to stop into a small café for some dessert. Obviously, we had to try the baklava while we were in Greece, and it did not disappoint, especially when paired with a glass of scotch.

We toasted to a successful two weeks adventuring through Norway and living it up in Greece. Hunter was starting a new job when he got back to the States, and I was contemplating a career change, so we had some good conversations about what the future might hold. The next Hunter and Doug adventure is still TBD, but when it happens, you can rest assured the stories will be here.

Hunter woke up early for his flight to NYC the next morning, and I boarded another ferry back to Athens, where I’d catch a long flight to Bangkok, Thailand. Drunken noodles, Muay Thai fights, and Chang beer, here I come.

See ya when I see ya

-Doug