#agiossostis #kikistaverna #localfood #rawnature #hiddengem #mykonos #islandliving #localexperience #speakeasy
There are 2 types of travelers, those who make bucket lists of where and what they want to experience during their travel. They'll take photos in the same exact pose as the other 1384 people they saw on Instagram, hyper-edit the photo(s), tag whatever account that'll feature and share the photo proving that they were in "the" location/place that is trending. 8/10 times the trending places are overrated and are tourist traps.
Traveler type II, researchers the "it" places on social media, makes a mental note for familiarity if they end up there but mostly avoid it. Meets random people and locals to ask about the "hidden gems", the places that are not trending on social media, and over-priced, and stripped of culture. The places that have zero online presence and people aren't obsessively on their phones. These travelers are looking to explore places that are raw in nature, culture, and experience. Where the crowd is chilled, friendly, and most importantly PRESENT.
While social media and the web are great places for inspiration, knowledge, communication, social, etc., businesses that are heavily featured online tend to lose their identity and soul. Meaning, they no longer are about offering the best experience, food, service, party etc, but more about numbers. Quality over quantity is my motto in life. The trendy places typically follow the opposite moto, quantity over quality. For this reason I love to explore the hidden gems, be it on holiday or my home town, the low key places are the best!
Destinations like Mykonos, that are super trendy and mostly commercial, have very few hidden gems. In this blog post I share my favorite place on the island with you.
Agios Sostis, located in the northern part of Mykonos, this area stands out from the rest of the island. A strictly residential area with the exception of 2 boutique hotels and 1 local taverna. It is also the only major beach that is not organized. As discussed in my previous posts, almost all the beaches in Mykonos are organized with service, sun loungers, food & drinks, and music. The unorganized beaches are raw with nothing but its beautiful nature. Agios Sostis beach is absolutely stunning! I want to say it is the cleanest and nicest beach on the island but the truth is, all the beaches in Mykonos have sparkling clean waters and gorgeous views. The reason Agios Sostis beach stands out is because of its soft golden sand, tranquility, nudist friendly, and it's free!
There are 3 beaches in Agios Sostis that are accessible by car, the big beach that most people go to, Kiki's beach, the "secret" beach. The main beach is the big one, there you'll mostly see families and groups as its easily accessible by foot. Park your car on the side of the road and walk down the path til the beach.
Kiki's beach is a small cove like beach with limited space. Get there before 11:00 otherwise you won't find a place to settle. This beach is mostly occupied by tourists waiting to get into Kiki's taverna, a line worth waiting and i'll tell you why shortly.
Then there is the private beach, which I call "private" because the walkway to access this beach is in between private homes. This is my favorite beach to go solo. There are very few people who know of this beach. There are no rules, no pressure, no noise, and no clothes (take them clothes off and get lost in the magical waters). Just cold transparent waters and naked humans connecting with the sun, sea, and sand.
As mentioned above, Kiki's taverna is the only business establishment in the area and the only one of its kind in Mykonos. Kiki the original owner of the taverna started in over 30 years ago and although its under new management today, the place remains the same. With less than 30 tables seating up to 50 guests under a big tree (pergola), the taverna operated without electricity until 2007! How cool is that?! Kiki's is open from 12:30 - 19:00 7 days a week. Being that the taverna is first come first serve, the line to get a table is at least an hour wait. Don't worry waiting the que is not too bad, the owner gives out complimentary wine and water so just enjoy the pregame. One person is required to hold the line and the rest can go down for dive at the beach. If you're a company of 2, take turns holding the line and swimming at the beach, it's literally paradise.
Lastly, let's talk about Kiki's menu. They have a unique salad bar with 12 different salads and grilled dishes. I literally wait on line for almost 2 hours every Saturday just so I can eat the salads. My favorite salads are: macaroni tuna, pineapple carrot, tabbouleh, chickpeas with capers, and spicy giant beans. The combination of ingredients in their salads are mouthwatering! Do not skip the salad bar assuming its a regular menu. While Kiki's is known for its pork chops, I am more of a seafood/fish eater, so my go to on the grill is the seabass and octopus (the best on the island). I almost never eat dessert at the end of my meal, just not my thing, but at Kiki's, I never skip the homemade brownie cake they give on the house. It's incredibly moist and not too sweet, a perfect treat to enjoy with a espresso or greek coffee.
While some people go to church/synagogue/mosque on the weekends to fulfill their spiritual tank, my partner and I go to Kikis. Religiously, every Saturday/Sunday. It's not just the food which I love of course. It's the whole experience. The serene raw energy of Agios Sostis, the crystal waters, waiting the que for a table at Kiki's, the people I meet, and the staff at the taverna - all together, make me feel alive and enjoy island living.
If you're planning to go to Kiki's, I recommend going between 11:00 - 11:30 this way you have time to swim and make it for the first round of tables when they open at 12:30. Also, parking is very limited, therefore the earlier you get there the higher chance you have of finding a good spot.
For those who don't have patience to wait the line for Kiki's but come to Agios Sostis for the beach, make sure to buy snacks and drinks beforehand as there are no stores in the area. You can buy water and beer from Kiki's and use their restroom but that is it.