15 Best Nightlife in The Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece

Ahoy mateys! Café-bar Pirate has been a fixture of the island's nightlife since the mid-1970s. Over the years, it's gotten face-lifts, added some mainstream dance hits to its onetime rock music–only playlist, and remains popular and raucous. The spot is actually open all day with delicious home-cooked dishes (burgers, salads, and lemon pies) but it is at night that the fun really takes off, often with the help of one of the popular rum-based house drinks, such as the fruity Tropical Sun.

Tiny, cozy, and cute, Votsalo is a great meeting point for breakfast (it serves excellent espresso), but is equally popular after sunset, when you can order dreamy cocktails and listen to cool acid jazz tunes.

On the ground floor of an early 19th-century whitewashed mansion and spilling out onto the cobble Tombazi street, Amalour attracts youthful crowds who sip expertly made and reasonably priced cocktails (especially the exquisite daiquiris), socializing and dancing to ethnic, jazz, soul, and funk music.

The ever-popular Avli, which goes from café-bistro by day to bar (playing Latin rhythms) by night, serves delicious appetizers in a small courtyard, crowned by an impressively tall palm tree. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Tucked into the coastal rocks just below the Hydroneta bar, Spilia provides a nice escape from the midday sun and is a popular nocturnal haunt, too. The view toward the port is impressive and the deck chairs are comfortable. The steps down to the refreshing sea are especially inviting on hot summer days, which means you can end up spending a whole day here without realizing it, enjoying coffee, nibbles, and then drinks.

This bar in a redesigned neoclassical building stands out for its romantic surroundings. Sip one of the imaginative cocktails, with names like Oki Monkey and Inferno, while sitting at a candlelit table right by the water. Things get more lively later in the evening, as this is one of the happening places on the island.

The minuscule Hydroneta bar-restaurant has an enchanting view from its perch above the harbor. Embraced by rocks and surrounded by water, it is jam-packed during the day, and it is the place to enjoy a glass of chilled beer or fruity long drink at sunset. Hydroneta's trademark events are its "Full Moon" parties, fun-filled affairs under Hydra's starlit skies.

On the outskirts of Aegina Town, this multilevel venue draws an early crowd with its sunset seafront cocktails and chill-out music, before notching up the music to a beach-party tempo.

In Perdika, Muzik Café Bar is popular with the yachting crowd, who appreciate the food and relaxed atmosphere, as well as the great music and cocktails (try the lemon mojito) served until late at night.

On the western tip of the harbor toward Mandraki, where the first disco club of the island used to be, Papagalos is a cocktail and tapas bar doubling up as a daytime port-side coffee spot, with a panoramic view of the harbor action. Rock and ethnic music are the staples on the decks, while live events are held here on a regular basis. Free Wi-Fi is available.

The island's all-time-classic hangout, where Kostas likes to play music from the 1960s and '70s. It's a perfect choice for a pre-dinner drink (bar opens at 8 pm).