The Jolly Roger Pub

The Jolly Roger Pub sits on Alygaria Square at the port of Paroikia, about a one-minute walk from the famous windmill that greets every ferry arriving at Paros. It is a craft beer pub with a specific focus: eight rotating Greek craft beers on draught, a food menu built around smash burgers, pies, and loaded fries, and a programme of events that includes weekly quiz nights. With a 4.8 rating across 234 Google reviews, it consistently outperforms much larger venues on the island.

The pub also operates a brunch service from Wednesday through Sunday, opening at 10:30 AM — unusual for a bar, and a practical option if you want a proper cooked meal close to the port before a ferry or after a morning on the beach. On Tuesdays it opens for evenings only, and it stays closed on Mondays.

For travellers who have grown tired of watery lager and fruit cocktails, this is one of the few places in the Cyclades where the beer selection is treated as seriously as the food.

What to Expect

The pub takes its draught list seriously. Eight taps rotate through Greek craft breweries, with occasional pours from Portside Brew Co and a curated fridge of imported bottles and cans alongside. This is not a token craft selection added to a menu of spirits — the whole operation is oriented around it.

Food is designed to complement the beer rather than serve as an afterthought. The menu runs to smash burgers, pies, chicken dishes, and loaded fries — the kind of pub food that earns the name. Brunch is available Wednesday through Sunday from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM, covering the gap between a ferry breakfast and an afternoon session.

The space itself has the feel of a proper pub rather than a beach-bar spin-off. The location on Alygaria Square means you are central — the main bus station and the port are both within easy reach — but the interior functions as a local gathering point rather than a transit lounge. Regulars sit at the bar. Events happen weekly. The quiz nights draw a mixed crowd of residents and longer-stay visitors.

Music is curated rather than algorithmic, and the volume stays at conversation level during the earlier part of the evening, rising as the night progresses toward the 1:00 AM close. The atmosphere on big sports days — particularly Irish and British club fixtures — gets lively, judging by reports from the pub's own social channels.

The Jolly Roger is affiliated with the website jollyroger.gr, where the current draught list and food menu are posted.

How to Get There

The pub is on Alygaria Square at the Port of Paroikia, the island's main settlement. If you are arriving by ferry, walk off the boat, pass the windmill on your right, and you are there in under two minutes. The main Paros bus station, which serves all routes to Naoussa, Lefkes, Alyki, and the airport, is also on the same square — useful if you are relying on island buses.

If you are arriving by car or scooter from elsewhere on the island, the port area has street parking along the waterfront, though spaces fill quickly in peak season (July and August). The square is fully pedestrian-friendly and flat, with no steps to the entrance.

For guests staying in Paroikia itself, the pub is walkable from virtually any accommodation in town. From the main Ekatontapyliani church, it is roughly a five-minute walk along the waterfront.

Best Time to Visit

The Jolly Roger operates year-round in some form, but peak season runs from late June through early September when the island population swells with visitors. During these months, the quiz nights and event evenings fill up early — arriving by 7:00 PM on a quiz night is sensible if you want a table rather than a standing spot.

Brunch service (Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM) is consistently calmer than the evening sessions and a good slot for a relaxed meal without the noise. Early evenings — 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM — offer the best combination of atmosphere and space before the main crowd arrives.

Shoulder season (May, June, September, October) is when Paroikia functions well as a destination without the August crush. The pub is still fully operational and the crowd skews more local, which suits the format well.

Mondays the pub is closed. Plan accordingly, particularly if you are on a short stay.

Tips for Visiting

• Check the current draught list before you go. The eight taps rotate, so the selection changes. The website at jollyroger.gr lists current beers.
• Book or arrive early for quiz nights. The weekly quiz fills the pub. Exact scheduling is posted on the pub's Instagram (@thejollyrogerpubparos) and Facebook page.
• Brunch is a genuine meal option. If you need a solid cooked meal mid-morning near the port, the Wednesday-to-Sunday brunch service from 10:30 AM covers it without the evening crowds.
• The bus station is steps away. If you are catching a bus to a beach or another village, Alygaria Square is the right place to base yourself beforehand — the pub is right there.
• Monday is a rest day. The pub is closed every Monday; do not build an itinerary around it on that day.
• Call ahead for groups. For parties of six or more, it is worth calling +30 2284 026976 to confirm space, especially in July and August.
• The food menu is pub-specific. This is not a full-service Greek taverna. If you are after moussaka and grilled fish, there are tavernas nearby on the waterfront. Come here for burgers, fries, and beer.
• Portside Brew Co pours are occasional. The tap for Portside Brew Co (a Paros-linked craft brewer) appears on rotation rather than permanently — worth asking at the bar what is currently on.

What to Order

The draught selection is the headline act. Eight taps of rotating Greek craft beer means there is almost always something you have not tried before. Ask the bar staff what is freshest or what is a limited guest tap — that is usually the answer worth taking.

From the food menu, the smash burgers are the most reported item in reviews. Loaded fries are a practical companion to a few pints. The pies and chicken dishes round out a menu that is deliberately compact and executed well rather than expansive and uneven.

For non-beer drinkers, the pub lists cocktails and has a curated selection of imported bottles and cans, so the drinks menu extends well beyond draught beer.

Brunch covers a different register entirely — the details change seasonally, but the format is a proper sit-down service rather than a bar snack.