Acqua Bar

Acqua Bar sits on the waterfront in Vourkari, the small harbour village on the northwest coast of Kea that draws Athenian sailors, weekend visitors, and locals in roughly equal measure. It opens at 7pm every night of the week and stays open until 3am — a later closing time than most places on this relatively quiet Cycladic island, which makes it a reliable anchor for an evening that stretches on.

Vourkari's seafront is compact. Tavernas, cafes, and a handful of bars face the moored yachts and the narrow inlet, and Acqua sits among them at the address Vourkari 840 02. With a rating of 4.1 from 289 Google reviews, it has built a consistent local following rather than just passing tourist trade — which tends to be the mark of a place that holds up on a second or third visit.

The bar also has an active Instagram presence under the handle @acqua_kea, where you can get a current read on what the space looks and feels like before you arrive.

What to Expect

Vourkari is not a party village in the Mykonos sense. The nightlife here is low-key and social — people linger over drinks, the energy builds slowly after dinner, and the crowd tends toward those who've arrived by sailing boat or have rented a car for the weekend rather than package tourists on a tight schedule.

Acqua fits that pattern. The bar's position in Vourkari places it directly on or very close to the waterfront promenade, where the ambient sound is boats, water, and conversation rather than amplified bass. You can expect cocktails and spirits alongside the standard Greek bar staples — beer, wine, ouzo — though without a current menu available, specific drinks and prices aren't something that can be confirmed here.

The hours — 7pm to 3am every day — mean it functions both as a pre-dinner aperitivo stop and as the place you end up after the taverna has closed. That dual role in a small village with limited late-night options gives it a practical importance beyond just being another bar.

Given its Google listing categorises it partly as a restaurant alongside bar, it's worth calling ahead at +30 2288 021080 to check whether food is served, and if so, during which part of the evening.

How to Get There

Vourkari is roughly 4km north of Korissia, the main port where ferries from Lavrio arrive. The road follows the coast and the drive takes about seven minutes by car or scooter. There is no regular bus service between Korissia and Vourkari, so a rental vehicle, taxi, or the occasional water taxi are the practical options.

Parking in Vourkari is informal and limited to roadside spaces along the approach road and at the edge of the waterfront. In July and August when the bay fills with yachts, spaces fill up in the evening. Arriving on foot from a moored boat is straightforward — the waterfront is walkable in its entirety within minutes.

For those staying in Ioulis, the island's hilltop capital, the drive down to Vourkari takes around 15 minutes via the main road.

Best Time to Visit

Kea's season runs from late May through early September, with peak crowds in July and August when Athenians fill the island for weekends and the bay at Vourkari becomes dense with yachts. Acqua will be at its busiest during these months, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

Shoulder season — late May to late June, and September — is when Vourkari is arguably at its most enjoyable: warm enough to sit outside, quiet enough to get a spot without effort. The bar's 7pm opening means early arrivals in the cooler months can catch the last of the light before the evening cools down.

Kea lies close enough to the Attica mainland (about 60km from Lavrio) that it receives significant weekend traffic from Athens even outside the main summer season. This means weekends in spring and autumn can be busier than you'd expect for a small island.

Tips for Visiting

• Call ahead at +30 2288 021080 if you want to confirm current hours, whether food is served, or whether reservations are needed during peak weekends.
• Vourkari is best reached by rental car or scooter from Korissia port — taxis exist on Kea but are limited in number and can be hard to find late at night, so arrange your return before you arrive.
• Check @acqua_kea on Instagram before you go for a current read on the atmosphere, any events, and seasonal changes to what's on offer.
• The waterfront in Vourkari is the social hub of the village; arriving early at 7pm gives you the pick of the evening and a quieter first drink before the later crowd arrives.
• If you're arriving by yacht, Vourkari bay is one of Kea's main anchorage points — the bar is within easy walking distance of the waterfront.
• Dress code on Kea is relaxed but Vourkari skews slightly smarter than a beach town; smart-casual is fine for any night of the week.
• Kea has limited ATMs, concentrated in Korissia and Ioulis — carry enough cash before heading to Vourkari for the evening in case card machines are down.
• The 3am closing time is late by Kea standards; if you're sharing a car with others, agree on a departure time before the evening gets going.

Practical Information

• Address: Vourkari 840 02, Kea, Greece
• Phone: +30 2288 021080
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM
• Instagram: @acqua_kea
• Google rating: 4.1 / 5 (289 reviews)
• Google Maps: View location