The Garden

The Garden in Mykonos Town is a cocktail bar and restaurant set in an outdoor garden space within Chora, the island's main settlement. Its positioning gives it direct sunset exposure — the bar's own description puts the Mykonos sunset front and center, and the drinks list is built around that same premise: Greek herbs, local flowers, and award-winning spirits shaped into cocktails designed to be sipped as the light changes over the Aegean.

The venue carries an unusual backstory. It takes its inspiration from Yehudi Menuhin, the 20th-century violin virtuoso who had a documented connection to Mykonos. That influence shows up less in décor signage and more in the overall philosophy: an emphasis on atmosphere, craft, and slowing down. With a 4.7-star rating across 418 Google reviews, it consistently draws visitors who are after something more considered than a typical bar crawl stop.

The address places it in Chora proper — the dense, whitewashed labyrinth of the old town — which means getting there requires navigating the narrow pedestrian lanes rather than arriving by car. That inaccessibility is part of the appeal. Once inside the garden, the ambient noise of the old town fades.

What to Expect

The setting is an open garden rather than an enclosed interior, which sets the mood immediately. Seating is spread across the outdoor space, and the focus is on the western horizon — the orientation that makes Mykonos sunsets so dramatically visible from within the town. The bar program centers on cocktails that incorporate Greek herbs and botanicals: think thyme, sage, and oregano alongside local honey and Aegean-sourced citrus, worked into recipes that go beyond standard island fare.

The drinks list also features carefully selected wines and spirits, with award-winning bottles available by the glass or as part of a curated experience. For food, the menu leans into Greek flavors — not a full taverna spread, but dishes that complement the cocktail program and keep pace with an evening that might stretch from golden hour through to late night.

The vibe sits somewhere between a garden lounge and a serious bar. You can arrive early to secure a good seat for the sunset, then stay through the dinner hour without the atmosphere shifting into full nightclub territory. It's a venue that rewards arriving before the light disappears: come too late and you've missed the main event.

Service is front-of-mind here — the high review count and strong rating suggest a consistent experience rather than the hit-or-miss quality that plagues some high-traffic Mykonos venues.

How to Get There

The Garden sits within Chora at the address Chora Mykonos, Mikonos 846 00. Mykonos Town is walkable from the Old Port in around 10 minutes on foot, and from the New Port (where most ferries and fast boats dock) you can take the local bus or a taxi into the center in under 10 minutes.

Once in Chora, cars are not permitted on most of the old town's lanes, so the last stretch is always on foot. The coordinates (37.4400702, 25.3286053) will drop you precisely in the right area — open these in Google Maps before you head out so you can navigate the alleys with confidence. Taxis drop passengers at the edge of the pedestrian zone; from there it's a short walk.

No dedicated parking exists within the old town. Visitors arriving by scooter or car should use the public parking areas on the periphery of Chora and walk in.

Best Time to Visit

The entire venue is oriented around sunset, which in the Mykonos summer typically falls between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm depending on the month. Arriving 30 to 45 minutes before sunset gives you the best chance of securing a seat with a clear sightline. During July and August — the peak of the Mykonos season — this window fills quickly.

Shoulder season visits in late May, early June, or September offer a noticeably quieter experience with the same light quality and cooler evening temperatures. The Meltemi wind, which can be strong and persistent in July and August, is actually welcome at an outdoor bar: it keeps temperatures comfortable and gives the garden a natural airflow.

For a dinner-focused visit rather than a purely cocktail experience, later in the evening (after 9:00 pm) is standard by Greek dining rhythms. Lunchtime visits are less in keeping with the venue's identity — it's built for the evening.

Tips for Visiting

• Book ahead for sunset. The garden has a defined capacity and the best seats go first. Use the online reservation system on the website (gardenmykonos.com) or call +30 698 068 6006 to secure your spot, especially in high season.
• Arrive early if you haven't booked. Walk-ins are possible outside peak hours, but don't rely on finding a good table without a reservation in July or August.
• Follow the cocktail program first. The Greek herb cocktails are the signature — try at least one before moving to wine or spirits. They're made with local ingredients and aren't replicated elsewhere.
• Dress for the evening. The Garden sits at the smarter end of Mykonos Town's bar scene. Beach cover-ups are conspicuous; most guests arrive in evening clothes.
• Factor in the walk. The old town lanes can be disorienting after dark. Download offline maps or note the coordinates before you go out.
• Check the wind direction. The Meltemi blows from the north and northwest. In the height of summer this is refreshing, but if you're sensitive to wind, a light layer is worth bringing.
• Plan for the full evening. The bar transitions naturally from cocktail hour into dinner, so there's no pressure to leave after one drink. Building in two to three hours makes the most of the setting.
• Contact by email for group bookings. The email address [email protected] is listed for inquiries; groups may find email easier than phone for coordinating specifics.

What to Order

The cocktail list is the reason most people come. The house signatures draw on Greek botanical ingredients — herbs, flowers, and locally sourced additions that give each drink a connection to the island's landscape. Rather than ordering a standard gin and tonic or a well-known spirit straight, explore the menu's originals first.

For wine, the bar stocks what it describes as carefully selected bottles, with a lean toward Greek producers. Greek wine has developed considerably over the past two decades, and Cycladic varieties — particularly assyrtiko from Santorini and whites from smaller producers — can hold their own against international benchmarks. Ask the staff what's open by the glass.

The food program is described as Greek-flavored, which in this context likely means sharing plates and dishes built around mezze logic: things that pair with drinks and stretch an evening without demanding the full attention of a main-course dinner. Specific dishes aren't confirmed in the available information, so treat the menu as something to discover on arrival.

For non-drinkers, the botanical sourcing that goes into the cocktail program also lends itself to non-alcoholic preparations; it's worth asking the bar staff directly.