Ano The Upper

Ano The Upper sits on Athanasios Diakos Street in Ano Syros — the medieval Catholic hilltop settlement that rises above Ermoupoli to roughly 130 metres — and the name says exactly what it is: a cocktail bar at the upper end of one of the Cyclades' most dramatically sited villages. With a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 260 Google reviews, it has quietly built a reputation as the place to drink on the hill, drawing both visitors making the climb for the first time and locals who know the evening light up here is unlike anything lower on the island.

The address — the corner of Athanasios Diakos and Skouloudis — places it in the dense tangle of whitewashed lanes and Catholic bell towers that define Ano Syros, a neighbourhood with Venetian roots that feels architecturally distinct from the neoclassical grandeur of Ermoupoli below. Getting a cocktail here is as much about the location as the drink itself.

What to Expect

Ano The Upper presents itself on Instagram under the handle ano.theuppercocktailbar, which gives a reasonable preview of the aesthetic: close-up cocktail craft, the stone textures of the old settlement, and glimpses of the island panorama that opens up once you find a seat. The bar operates every night of the week, opening at 7 PM and running until 3 AM, so there is no distinction between weekdays and weekends in terms of hours — a practical detail worth knowing if you are planning around ferry schedules or day-trip logistics.

The setting in Ano Syros means the surroundings are quiet by Cycladic nightlife standards. This is not a beach-club strip or a harbour-front row of bars; the streets up here are narrow, foot-traffic is on foot only, and the atmosphere after dark is shaped by the village itself — stone underfoot, old facades on either side, and the kind of darkness that comes from a hilltop away from neon. What replaces the usual buzzing-port energy is a view that, on clear evenings, reaches across the Cyclades.

The phone number on file is +30 697 671 3887, which is a mobile number — useful if you want to check whether a particular evening is busy before making the climb.

How to Get There

Ano Syros sits directly above Ermoupoli, and there are two practical ways to reach it. The first is on foot: a steep but well-maintained staircase path climbs from the upper streets of Ermoupoli — expect 15 to 20 minutes of uphill walking from the main plateia, with sections of stone steps that require reasonable footwear. The second option is by car or scooter via the road that winds up to the village, though parking space is limited once you get near the top and the lanes narrow considerably.

Taxis from Ermoupoli can drop you at the edge of Ano Syros, from which the bar is a short walk through the lanes. There is no bus service that terminates at the top of the hill. The bar's coordinates are 37.4491° N, 24.9361° E, which places it on the western flank of the hilltop near the junction of Athanasios Diakos and Skouloudis streets. For anyone navigating by phone, dropping a pin on the address before you start climbing is a good precaution — the lanes are not always signposted clearly at night.

Accessibility note: the staircase approach is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs, and the road approach involves narrow streets. Visitors with mobility considerations should call ahead.

Best Time to Visit

Ano The Upper opens at 7 PM, which in Greek summer aligns neatly with the end of the golden hour — the light over the Cyclades from this elevation around sunset is one of the main reasons people make the trip up. Arriving in the first hour of opening means you catch both the last of the daylight and the quieter early part of the evening before it fills.

Syros is one of the more reliably busy Cycladic islands year-round because it functions as the administrative capital of the Cyclades and has a resident population, but the bar is most active during the main tourist season from June through August. Spring evenings (April and May) and early autumn (September and October) are cooler and less crowded, which suits the intimate scale of Ano Syros well.

Wind is worth factoring in: Syros is exposed to the meltemi, the northerly summer wind common across the Aegean, and an elevated position like Ano Syros catches it more than the harbourfront. By evening the meltemi typically eases, but on strong-wind days it is worth checking conditions before you plan an extended outdoor sitting session.

Midweek evenings in July and August are marginally less crowded than Friday and Saturday, though the difference is not dramatic given the bar's size and position.

Tips for Visiting

• Wear shoes with grip. The approach to Ano Syros involves stone steps and uneven cobbled lanes that can be slick in the dark, especially if there has been any moisture.
• Arrive close to opening time (7 PM) if you want a seat with a view. The best positions fill early, and once the bar is in full swing it is harder to claim prime real estate.
• Save the phone number (+30 697 671 3887) before you leave your accommodation. Mobile signal on the hill can be variable depending on your carrier, and having the number already dialled is easier than searching mid-climb.
• Combine the visit with an evening walk through Ano Syros. The settlement has the Church of San Giorgio (the Catholic cathedral at the top), the Church of the Capuchins, and a network of lanes that reward slow exploration before or after drinks.
• The bar runs until 3 AM every night, so there is no need to rush down after one drink — the late closing time makes it a viable last stop of the evening rather than a first-drink-only venue.
• Follow the Instagram account (@ano.theuppercocktailbar) before your trip to get a current read on the menu and any seasonal specials, since the research bundle does not include a separate menu page.
• If you are driving up, try to park at the lower edge of the village and walk the final stretch — the lanes near the bar are extremely tight for anything larger than a small scooter.
• Plan the descent in advance. Walking back down to Ermoupoli at midnight is fine and takes about the same 15–20 minutes as the climb, but booking a taxi ahead if you are in a group saves waiting around at the bottom.

What to Order

The bar markets itself explicitly as a cocktail bar — the Instagram name is ano.theuppercocktailbar — so the drinks focus is mixed rather than primarily wine or beer. Beyond that, the research bundle does not contain a detailed menu. Based on what is publicly visible via their social media presence, the approach leans toward craft cocktails with presentation that suits the photogenic setting, but specific menu items, pricing, and seasonal offerings are best checked directly with the bar or via their Instagram feed before your visit.

Greek spirits — particularly ouzo and tsipouro — occasionally feature in Cycladic bar menus alongside international spirits, but confirming what is currently available by phone or social media before the climb is worthwhile if you have something specific in mind.