The Best Bars in Heraklion, Crete

This chic, cavernous space spills out onto a large, balmy terrace: a modern bar furnished with rope and wicker decor in caramel hues. Its mixologists mean business. Far from your usual piña colada holiday fare, this is where you can get a whisky soda laced with popcorn, or a vodka swizzle featuring avocado and black pepper. Dressed-up couples on dates and suited after-work types meet here to unwind over mellow, clubby music. But holidaymakers will adore it too.

Close to the “Lions fountain” in Eleftheriou Venizelou Square, you’ll find this DJ-soundtracked, Prohibition-inspired bar – at this bottle-lined boudoir, with its small outdoor patio, you’ll get tiny bowls of nibbles with your cocktails. Serving brunch by day, after dark it shakes up its own spins on Mai Tais, Zombies and Spritzes – pepped up with an appropriate amount of chocolate, orange or Elemakule bitters. Too “out there” for you? The staff are schooled in the classics, too.

Welcome to a cosy, wood-beamed wine bar close to Theotokopoulos Park – and settle into butter-soft leather sofas on the romantic pergola-topped patio strung with fairy lights. You can choose from rack upon rack of vintages Greek and international, ordering a cheese platter or bruschetta selection to go with your drink (ask the staff for their recommendations). It’s in an atmospheric alley not far from top city restaurant Peskesi, so head here for a pre-dinner aperitif.

Swish espresso bar and brunch place by day, this black-upholstered hipster cafe and leafy roof terrace is an effortlessly stylish setting for a pre-dinner drink. Sip Aperol spritzes among the city’s cool young creatives; or perhaps a glass of wine (the owners have a huge selection of Greek-produced bottles). Get chatting to the staff and baristas downstairs and you’ll probably leave with a bag or two of coffee beans. Non-drinkers will love the expertly whipped frappes.

Facing a pretty square and the ornate facade of Saint-Titos Church, this pavement cafe does food with flair – but it’s just as suitable for drinks, served in its lilac, suede-trimmed cocktail bar. Try the Tom’s Temptation – a hit of passionfruit, caramel, lime and cocoa that’s more dessert than nightcap. Look out, too, for theme nights such as 90s dance parties and wine tastings. These aren’t the cheapest pours in town, but Dish Bar scores 10/10 for upmarket atmosphere.

The name of this high-ceilinged, industrial space translates as “ice factory”. It’s certainly cool, with glasses dangling downward from a black-lacquered metal bar. But there’s nothing frosty about the welcome, as brunchers or after-work drinkers flow in for poached eggs, burgers – and later – ice-packed mojitos and sangrias. The crowd here is mostly young-professional locals, so aim to rub shoulders – and make the most of the tourist-free atmosphere for an evening.

Heraklion’s only speakeasy has interiors much cooler than its name suggests. After entering – a code is required – you descend the black-painted staircase to discover exposed-stone walls, teal-and-grey cushioned seating, marbled tables and bold, tropical-print wallpaper. All in all a colourful setting that feels more contemporary than the competition. Hail one of the handsome barmen for an expertly mixed martini or Manhattan. Peckish? You can have dinner here, too.

“Let’s dance!” suggests a Bowie-inspired lightning flash of neon art at this edgy cocktail bar, where tasselled vintage lamps hang above a glass counter filled with old cassette tapes. Alternative-music fans come here for the great playlist and regular DJ sets, enjoying the pop-art-sticker decorations and arty knick knacks as much as the beats. Try their potent take on tiki rum cocktail the Zombie – but maybe just the one.

Here’s a petite, under-the-radar watering hole in the bar quarter around Milatou Street. It’s a quirky affair, with classic art muralled on its walls and bird-boxes mounted here and there. Live music bands and singers often appear, playing upbeat rock and folk, and you’re more likely to see people sipping wines and beers than complex cocktails. There’s a bohemian, Parisian wine-bar feel at first glance. But the young crowd of twentysomethings and students in jeans and logo T-shirts is pure 21st-century Greece.

This convivial scarlet-painted cafe spills out onto the pavement – it’s all tables of smokers and drinkers – serving unusual creations garnished with plenty of fruit and herbs. Drinks come in milk bottles or shell-shaped glass dishes, maybe topped with whipped egg-white foam and knocked up by enthusiastic, chatty staff. Try the Greek-yoghurt-infused piña coladas. Just passing by? You can get Negronis to go, among other options, neatly poured into sealed glass flasks.