Since Mamma Mia the movie came out, generations of us have dreamt of being Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried (possibly both at the same time). Legs lolling in the sun, diving off yachts and into the ocean, all the while sipping chilled beverages from your private deck. Ok, so Crete is unlikely to provide you with Colin Firth but chances are, you’ll get pretty close to the rest.
Bars in Crete are ten-a-penny. From tiny backstreet hole in the walls where old guys pressurise you to drink raki with them, to beach bars that come with a soft thumping beat, there are plenty of places to hang out on a budget in Crete and most are excellent.
The best bars tend to be centred in, or around the bigger towns - think Chania, Heraklion or Rethymno. If you’re at a resort or by the beach, just try walking a little away from the strip and chances are you’ll happen up a gem.
Our suggestion? Give the ones that sell fishbowls to sleazy stag-dos a wide-berth and you’ll be laughing.
, Rethmyno
Rethmyno is the third largest city in Crete, and like most major cities, there are punkier, edgier parts. Figaro Social falls firmly in this category - a live music venue that operates as a coffee shop and a bar with a severly hipster-bent. Think wonky photos on the walls and extremely dim lighting coupled with a pretty decent selection of beverages. You’re just on the edge of the old town, but it’s a calmer vibe than you might expect. Best of all if you’re drinking wine, you could get four glasses for ten euros, which is a big win.
, Chania
We need to talk about the wine list at Miniatoura because it’s BIG (over 100) and cheap (most glasses are under five euros). The location is also pretty snazzy, just a block or two away from the sea. Cocktails are large and icy, while bar snacks include salted crisps and pizza slices with oozing mozzarella. Don’t skimp on a side of good cheese - turns out it’s actually a pretty accomplished addition to a bevvy. Delish.
, Heraklion
Wine and jazz, jazz, and more jazz. If you’re craving a slice of hipster paradise during your sunshiney beach holiday, then you should probably make a direct line towards Opus, a grungy underground hangout with exposed brickwork. There are enough filament bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and funkily dressed young people to make you feel like you’re in the meatpacker district. Best of all, there’s a little outdoor yard, perfect to escape to when the sultry nights become a bitch. Glasses of wine are cheap, and can be ordered by the kilo, which really just means a jug. Either way, ordering a kilo of wine will make you feel like a king.
, Heraklion
The eucalyptus trees shading the tables at this bar give it a Midsummer Night’s Dream (and also olbas oil) kind of vibe to the place. The location, inside Heraklion’s Venetian walls in a moat, make this outdoor bar great for cocktails and mingling with locals. This candlelit bar, just inches from the port, is chilled out and serves super affordable cocktails as well as the usual jugs of wine and pints of Mythos beer.
5. Kanali Tavern, Elounda
It doesn’t get much better than this. Perched on a conservation island accessible across a salt-pan causeway, this bar and restaurant looks more like a New England lobster shack than Greek Taverna. It’s all white clapboard and deep blue paint, but inside, there’s a buzzing atmosphere. It’s worth shelling out a few extra euros for the location - sipping a raki while the sun goes down over the sea is a pretty special moment.
6. Bar Blow-Up, Heraklion
Although the name sounds like it’s been conjured up by somebody who nicknamed himself the Archbishop of Banterbury, this is a pretty decent club. Not open until 10pm (expect to party until late), beers here are cold, plentiful, and cheap, and the music ranges between disco, soul, and funk (with some reggae and jazz thrown in). DJs are decent and there’s a little balcony to spill out onto when it gets toasty. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but locals swear by it, so it’s a great place to strike up a conversation with the dishy Greek guy you’ve been eyeing up all holiday.
, Heraklion
Greeks like punk, and this bar is a mecca for both music lovers and those watching their spends. With the longest and best-timed happy hour ever (it runs from 7pm - 11pm), drinks are already cheap, and two for one on Mondays. They take their rock n’ roll seriously here, and if you’re British, Crete locals will probably cosy up and wax-lyrical about UK bands. It’s a friendly, welcoming sort of place, provided you like guitars and heavy drum beats. Dance like crazy until 4am.
And, in case you need a little bit of help with your Greek before you head away, we've got a series of Greek phrasing lessons. Here's lesson three....
English: I'm going to need two desserts. Don't judge me.
Greek: θελω δυο γλυκα! παρακαλω μην με κρινετε ασχημα
Fly direct with British Airways to Crete & Rhodes from London Gatwick. Book and discover more and check them out on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. For a chance to win designer luggage and beach kits, travel tech packs and even a paid for trip to Greece, head here.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.