Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
from Hippocrates' plane tree; no sign outside, mostly civil-
servant clientele.
Daily 8am-8pm.
Special (Arvanitakis)
Vassiléos Yeoryíou
T
22420
22087.
This tiny hole-in-the-wall pastry and cake shop, right
by the sea, also serves dynamite gelato.
Daily 10am-7pm.
Swedco
Vassiléos Pávlou 20
T
22420 24154.
Ultra-sleek
outlet of the Rhodes café chain, with (pricey) sandwiches,
hot drinks and decadent desserts, as well as internet
access.
Daily 10am-11pm.
10am-12.30pm & 5pm-12.30am.
Koako
Vassilios Yeoryíou 56
T
22420 25645.
This
spartan-looking place, with a crisp minimalist terrace just
steps from the sea at the south end of Kos Town, is a
versatile all-rounder, handling grilled meat and fish,
mezédhes and a few daily
mayireftá
with equal aplomb -
all priced below €10 - without the usual multinational
flags and photo-menus.
Daily lunch & dinner, all year.
Petrino
Platía Theológou 1
T
22420 27251,
W
petrino
.kosweb.com.
Elegant garden-set place, which has
recently re-invented itself as a “meze restaurant”, with a
menu that ranges through fish, shellfish, meat and the
local hard cheese. Almost nothing costs over €10, though
share a few plates and the bill mounts up. As well as the
extensive outdoor seating, two cosy indoor salons allow
year-round operation (dinner only); large groups should
reserve.
Dinner only, 6-11pm.
Ì
Pote tin Kyriaki
Pissándhrou 9
T
22420 27872.
Kos's sole genuine ouzerí, whose creatively assembled
menu (painstakingly written out in school exercise books)
has delights such as shrimps, fried mussels or
gávros
,
monastiriakí
(Cretan “monk's” salad), as well as grilled
chops and
loukánika
. Look out for the couscous-like
pinigoúri
, served with pork for €4.
Summer Mon-Sat
evenings only, winter Thurs-Sat evenings plus lunch.
RESTAURANTS
Ì
Ambavris
Vourina
T
22420 25696,
W
ampavris.gr.
Top-notch restaurant, 500m south of the edge of town, in
the eponymous suburb village. Skip the English-only à la
carte menu, take the hint about mezédhes and let the
house bring on their best. This changes seasonally but
won't much exceed €25 (drink extra) for six plates -
typically
pinigoúri
(bulgur pilaf ),
pikhtí
(brawn), little fish,
spicy
loukánika
, stuffed squash flowers and
fáva
.
May-
Oct, dinner only.
Barbas
Evrypýlou 6
T
693 71 42 802.
Friendly
restaurant, opposite
Hotel Afendoulis
(see opposite).
Excellent grills, with
giros
at €6-7.50 and lamb for €9, as
well as the odd seafood choice like octopus salad for €6, all
served at cosy outdoor tables. Closed Nov-March.
Daily
8
NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Kos Town has a hyperactive nightlife. Visitors from all over the island congregate each night in the so-called “Pub Lanes”,
Nafklírou and Dhiákou, filled with an ever-changing array of generally mediocre bars and clubs. There are newer, better
nightlife areas around Platía Dhiagóra (mostly Greeks) and out at Aktí Zouroúdhi towards Lambi.
Fashion Club
Kanari 2
T
22420 22592.
Beyond its large
and very shiny front terrace on the west side of the inner
port, this cavernous club is still among the very hottest on
the island, noted for its light shows.
Daily 8pm-late.
Hammam Club
Platía
Dhiagóra
T
22420 21444.
The
most stable and classy music bar in town, installed in a
former Turkish bath that still holds its original oriental
decor. Chill-out sofas and outdoor seating, until a
midnight noise curfew moves everyone indoors.
Daily
6pm-late.
Mylos
Aktí
Zouroúdhi
T
22420
23235.
Sprawling
around an old seafront windmill, with some tables out on
Lambi beach, Mylos is Kos Town's top day-and-night-bar,
with both live music and DJs.
Daily noon-late.
The Asklepion
Tues-Sun: May-Oct 8am-6pm; Nov-April 8.30am-2.30pm • €3
Native son
Hippocrates
is justly celebrated on Kos; not only does he have a tree, a street, a
park, a statue and an international medical institute named after him, but his purported
Asklepion
, 4km south of town and one of three in Greece, is a major attraction.
Although the Asklepion was in fact founded just after Hippocrates' death, the
methods used and taught here were probably his. Both a sanctuary of Asklepios (god of
healing, son of Apollo) and a renowned curative centre, its magnificent setting on three
artificial terraces overlooking Anatolia reflects early concern with the therapeutic
environment. Little now remains standing, owing to periodic earthquakes and the
Knights filching masonry to build their castle. The lower terrace never held many
buildings, being instead the venue for the observance of the Asklepieia - quadrennial
athletic/musical competitions in honour of the god. Sacrifices to Asklepios were
conducted at an
altar
, the oldest structure here, whose foundations are found near the
