One of the few remaining authentic tavernas on the beautiful island of Mykonos, Kiki’s Tavern is incredibly popular during the summer months and wait times can be up to 2 hours — worth it? Absolutely.
Go out of your way A genuinely authentic taverna in Mykonos serving excellent grilled seafood. Come before midday or after 4pm to skip the queue. Wait Times, Reservations & Service
Up on the hill above the gorgeous Agios Sostis Beach, on the island’s north coast, you’ll find a large queue outside this small taverna. Yep, Kiki’s don’t take reservations — it’s walk-in only here.
Arrive before midday and you’ll probably get a table immediately — come after 1pm and you’re in for a long queue.
We arrived at about 1:30pm with a three-hour window before our flight back to Paris. The friendly owner (who greets everyone and memorises the queue mentally) informed us that we’d be looking at a two-hour wait. We decided to risk it despite him advising against it.
He quickly brought us two glasses of iced rosé on the house for the long wait and, nodding at the view, said that if you have to wait, “getting drunk with this view isn’t the worst” — he wasn’t wrong.
We ended up waiting maybe an hour and 20 minutes. Before we were seated, the (exceptionally) friendly staff served us a white wine and an Alpha beer for €8.
After we got the nod that our table was ready, service was rapid and our drinks came quickly. There’s no rush at Kiki’s, but you’re not waiting to order for long either.
Note that we overheard the owner tell a hungry group that it would be better to come around 4pm — after that, it doesn’t take long to get a seat.
The Food at Kiki’s Mykonos
Kiki’s Tavern is known for its no-nonsense, charcoal-only cooking (famously “no electricity” cuisine). The large open grill is right by the entrance, with two grill-masters meticulously managing big orders while keeping the coals at the perfect temperature.
The menu is small: a handful of starters, plus grilled seafood and meat mains. There’s also a self-serve salad bar, which looked great, but we came for the grill.
We kicked off with marinated anchovies (€12), bathed in a pool of delicious extra virgin olive oil. They had a great acidity that wasn’t overpowering, whilst retaining a lovely texture.
Next up was one of the highlights — their grilled aubergine (€14). It looks simple yet tasted incredibly complex. The flesh was delicate but carried a lovely charcoal flavour, dressed in a sea of excellent olive oil and garnished with spring onions and walnuts — addictive stuff.
For the mains we ordered their grilled, marinated chicken legs (€20) — probably the star of the show. Two part-boned legs, cooked to absolute perfection. The skin was mega crispy with a deep, satisfying, savoury charcoal flavour. There was an element of sweetness to the marinade — never overpowering — that worked perfectly. The meat was juicy and well seasoned. Grilled chicken perfection.
Finally, we had to order some grilled seafood, so we went for the calamari — a whole, relatively small one (baby, I think), with the tentacles served separately. Again, the cooking was spot on, the flesh with a delightful bite. The charcoal flavour was there but not overpowering. Delicious.
My Verdict
An absolute must-do if you’re after authentic Greek food in Mykonos. Yes, it’s far from the old town and the waits can be hefty, but you come to Kiki’s for the experience — which includes drinking a lot of wine in the queue!
Prices are, relatively speaking, very reasonable for Mykonos, and the cooking is top-notch. It’s simple, well-cooked Mykonian food with a stunning view and excellent service.
What to know before you visit
- No reservations — walk-in only. Arrive before midday for little-to-no wait; after 1pm expect up to two hours in peak summer. It quietens down around 4pm.
- It’s remote, up on the hill above Agios Sostis Beach on the north coast — a fair way from Mykonos Town, so you’ll want a car, scooter or taxi.
- Seasonal: open roughly late spring to early autumn
- Reasonable for Mykonos: starters €12–14, mains around €20.
- Rosé served by the owner is free while you wait, so settle in, enjoy the hospitality and the stunning view.
Address: Agios Sostis Beach, 84600 Mykonos, Greece
Website: https://www.instagram.com/kikis.tavern
