Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pelican
T
22860 23113,
W
pelicanhotel.gr.
Large hotel
off the central square with spacious rooms; it's owned by a
travel agency a few blocks away, so they can organize your
stay completely. Free
wi-fi,
satellite TV, 24/7 reception,
parking possible nearby.
€85
Pension George
Karterádhos
T
22860 22351,
W
pensiongeorge.com.
Comfortable rooms and studios,
pool and a good welcome, just a 15min walk from Firá. Unlike
other hotels, this one also has a well-attended gard
en w
here
you can relax among the palm trees. Free transfers.
€70
Ì
San Giorgio
T
22860 23516,
W
sangiorgiovilla.gr.
Tucked away to the left of parking next to the main square,
you can find this hospitable, clean, hotel with simple
rooms, all with balconies; excellent value for budget
travellers. Also offers a t
en p
ercent discount for
Rough
Guide readers. April-Nov.
€50
Santorini Camping
T
22860 22944,
W
santorini
camping.gr.
A shady campsite 300m east of the centre,
with a pool, restaurant, games room, 24/7 re
cep
tion, own
security and free internet access. March-Nov.
€9
Villa Rena
T
22860 28130,
W
renasplace.gr.
Comfortable, friendly hotel, a 10min walk towards the
Folklore Museum, whose rooms are furnished individually
in bright, non-standard Cycladic colours, some overlooking
a large p
ool.
Minibus transfers available for a charge.
April-Oct.
€70
6
EATING AND DRINKING
Aris
T
22860 22480.
Dependably good Greek and
international food plus an excellent wine list in a
relaxed, unhurried atmosphere, with a sensational view
- and prices to match (€20); not always busy, as the
steep steps down below
Hotel Loucas
act as a deterrent
to some customers.
April-Oct daily noon-midnight.
Mama's House
Right below the main square, this is a
cheap, backpacker-friendly spot with hearty Continental
and English breakfasts, filling dishes (€8), a shaggy dog
and the overwhelming chatty presence of Mama herself, a
distinguished old lady straight out of the photo album of
Greek stereotypes.
March-Nov daily 8am-1am.
Naoussa
T
22860 24869,
W
naoussa-restaurant.gr.
Good traditional Greek cuisine on the first floor of the
shopping centre Lagoudhéra opposite the steps to old port.
Dishes as close to home-made as you'll get anywhere on
Firá; start with the celebrated moussaka for €10.
Easter-
Oct daily noon-late.
Nikolas
Erythroú Stavroú
T
22860 24550.
An old and
defiantly traditional taverna, insisting on using nothing
frozen or not in season; the locals know this and prefer it, so
it can be very hard to get a table. Mains around €15.
Daily
noon-midnight.
Sphinx
Mitropóleos (Via d'Oro)
T
22860 23823,
W
sphinx.gr.
On terraces overlooking the caldera, and
offering home-made pasta dishes with a Greek twist, such as
the addition of lobster, crayfish or octopus, at a price (€20). Its
cellar boasts 150 different wines
. April-Oct daily
noon-1am.
NIGHTLIFE
Most of the first-rate nightlife
is northwest of the central square, on Erythroú Stavroú, often not starting long before
midnight and busiest between 1am and 4am.
Enigma
Erythroú Stavroú
W
www.enigmaclub.gr.
Long-established dance club with three large barrel-roofed
arches and outdoor area with a palm-tree bar and
facecheck security. Its VIP room has seen some of the most
famous world celebrities and still attracts the island's
beau
monde
.
June-Sept daily midnight-late.
Franco's
T
22860 24428,
W
www.francos.gr.
Exclusive,
expensive cocktail bar in a fabulous location by the steps to
the old port offering opera, champagne and sunbeds. Try the
Maria Callas cocktail (€9) and watch the sunset listening to the
Diva herself singing Norma.
Easter-Oct daily 5pm-late.
Kirá Thíra
Erythroú Stavroú.
Going back more than three
decades, this small, laidback venue with live DJs and music
has fanatic followers who pack the place to the rafters year
after year, despite its less-than-ideal acoustics: it's cut in a cave
so its sound is on the echoey side.
May-Oct daily 8pm-late.
Koo
Erythroú Stavroú
T
22860 22025,
W
kooclub.gr.
In
direct competition with
Enigma
(see above), it offers less
frenetic chill-out and trance music, with candles and cocktails,
three bars, and a reservation service if you want to book a
table in the VIP room.
June-Sept daily midnight-late.
Murphy's Bar
Erythroú Stavroú
T
22860 22248.
Reasonably priced Irish pub with all the obligatory hilarity;
established in 1999 and hasn't looked back since. The wall
of drinks behind the bar reaches to the ceiling and this is a
rather tall venue.
April-Oct daily noon-3am.
Ía
Ía (Oía)
,
the most photographed town on the island, was once a major commercial
centre in the Aegean, but it has declined in the wake of economic depression, wars,
earthquakes and depleted fish stocks. Partly destroyed in the 1956 earthquake, the
