There are many things to do in Chania all day long: A romantic old town to wander, stunning beaches to explore, adventurous escapes in the mountains, and an excellent choice of restaurants where to indulge in the unique flavors of Cretan cuisine. What about the nights in town?
Nightlife in Chania is quite relaxed and easy-going, the city is better-known for tranquil evenings in cozy bars and pubs rather than for its wild dancing floors… Yet, don’t be surprised to find out that there are a few hidden places where you can dance the night away also in Chania.
In this article, we will show you the trendiest nightlife spots in West Crete.
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Where to Stay in Chania
The island of Crete is so big and diverse that it’s almost impossible to make everyone happy when It comes to deciding on the best areas to stay on the island. In this section, we have included some of our favorite places to stay in Chania. If you want to spend your time in other regions of Crete, check this site.
Here are our top suggestions for where to stay in Chania. In most cases, budget means a stay for around $40 a night, mid-range is from about $50-80 per night, and luxury will cost about $100 per night or more.
Budget: When it comes to places to stay with a limited budget, check the great comfort of Cocoon City Hostel, we also suggest Casa Latina, in the old town.
Mid-range: With a more generous budget, discover the comfortable Fileas Art Hotel and El Greco Hotel in the Old Town of Chania.
Luxury: Among the most beautiful places to stay in Chania, we suggest Avra Apartments Venetian Harbour as well as Consolato Boutique.
Nightlife in Chania: Best Bars and Pubs in the Old Town
There are many places to check in the old town of Chania to spend a wonderful evening. Mostly, it’s all about bars, pubs, or speak-easy venues.
Some of them are hidden in the alleys behind the port, others close to the Marina. In no particular order, these are the top places you can check out in Chania’s old town.
Ka Mon Irish Music Pub
This Irish pub serves both Cretan and foreign beers (they’re known for their Guinness) and has a great atmosphere and music.
It’s perfect to go with friends and enjoy music as well as conversation. Besides, this pub has excellent reviews which have made it a place where people usually come back.
Location: Plateia Catechaki, Old Town – (6 pm – 3 am)
Sinagogi Café Bar
This pub is among my favorite places to have a drink and listen to some good music. Sinagogi is a night bar with an open roof and a great atmosphere.
it’s located next to Chania’s oldest synagogue, on a dead-end road in the heart of the old town. They serve very tasty cocktails at reasonable prices.
Although the music tends to be played at a fairly high level, it’s a favorite among people of every age. Sinagogi has styled corners, beautiful decorations, and a very friendly staff.
Location: Parodos Kondilaki, Old Town – (6 pm – 3 am)
Peacock Tail Bar
One of the best places in the old town for cocktails! Peacock Tail Bar has one of the most extensive cocktail lists in Crete.
And even if you don’t find the drink you want on the menu, their super-skilled barmen are there to prepare whatever it is you’re in the mood for!
Their beautifully crafted drinks are prepared with homemade syrup, unusual herbs, and local ingredients. Peacock Tail is a venue full of character in the heart of the old Venetian port of Chania.
Location: Kanevaro 7 A, Old Town – (7 pm – 3 am)
Rock Bar 53
Located in a fantastic position in Chania’s old town, Rock Bar 53 is known for its friendly staff and unique atmosphere.
Rock fans visit for the great music selection and the variety of beer and cocktails served. It’s a great little bar with top reviews. One of Chania’s must-go places when it comes to nights in town.
Location: Daskalogianni 53, Old Town – (6 pm – 6 am)
Fagotto Jazz Bar Chania
This relaxed place in the heart of the old town is set in an old Venetian Mansion with beautiful limestone arches and rustic walls. The place serves great drinks and a generous range of local and international beers.
Oftentimes, live jazz bands animate the summer evenings. During the high season, the place is also open in the morning for breakfast and brunch.
Location: Aggelou 16 – Old Town – (9 pm – 5 am)
Barfly
Another of my favorite places in Chania to have a drink and enjoy good rock music. Small but cozy and with beautiful decorations, Barfly is a simple bar where you can spend hours talking to friends and enjoying the great cocktails and draught beer selection.
In hot summer evenings, it’s possible to sit outside too. Do try their vodka with homemade orange jam if you’re in the mood for something sweet and unique.
Location: Potier 14 – Old Town – (7 pm – 6 am)
Plaka Music Bar
Colorful, great music, crazy decorations, tons of froth! Plaka Music Bar is known for the unique variety of beers, most of them Greek (either from Crete, from the mainland, or other islands), as well as for the eclectic decorations that add a touch of color to the street.
Pick a table under the colorful gazebo and sample some of the best beers being produced in Greece while you listen to some rock classics. During the rest of the day, they serve breakfast, brunch, and great salads for lunch and dinner.
Location: Sifaka 8, Old Town – (open all day)
KLIK Bar
Usually, when it comes to dance clubs, most of them are out of the old town, there’s one exception though: KLIK Bar.
This traditional place is behind the old Mosque of the Janissaries in the center of the old Venetian port. It’s loud, but the music selection is excellent.
KLIK is one of Chania’s best dancing floors, and unlike other discos in town, it made it to this list because it welcomes both tourists and locals. KLIK is usually jam-packed since early in the evening, especially in summer.
There are a few outdoor places available where you can sit and enjoy the romantic views of the Lighthouse. Drinks are very good and prices convenient.
Location: Sourmelis 2, Old Town – (4 pm – 5 am)
The Best Pubs and Clubs Near Chania
Those looking for a wilder scenario need to reach the coastal resorts of Agia Marina and Platanias to dance and enjoy long evenings.
Both little towns are just minutes away from the city center and the two of them have grown so much that they have become one long seaside strip populated with pubs, clubs, and beach bars. It’s here where Chania’s nightlife gets really exciting!
Eclipse Bar
Beach bar during the day and beach club at night, this place has a casual atmosphere and serves great cocktails with exotic flavors and ingredients.
Are you in the mood for a thrilling experience? Eclipse has also a dance pole that everyone is free to use.
Location: Platanias Square – (open all day)
Mylos Club
Mylos’ great DJ gives life to the night scene of Platanias every evening. They also serve great cocktails and it’s a must-go place for the young crowds holidaying in West Crete.
There’s also a romantic deck by the beach while the swimming pool adds some character to the evenings. It’s also a favorite among locals since they mix both international hits and Greek music.
Location: Platanias – (12 am – 6 am)
Kahlua Cocktail Bar
Another gorgeous bar in the area, this time in the center of Agia Marina, about 15 minutes from the Old Town of Chania.
Kahlua Cocktail Bar serves delicious cocktails combined with great music. Those interested in mixing sports and drinks would love to know that there are pub games available and that during big sports events, soccer and basket games are put on the big screen.
Location: Agia Marina – (open all day)
Utopia
Looking for a fun environment, but also romantic, serving great drinks, and playing good music too? Utopia ticks all the boxes!
Utopia is a must in Platanias, there’s a cozy area with outdoor seating by the beach in a very romantic setting. A beautiful club serving excellent cocktails which you should definitely visit if you’re looking to rock the night away in Crete.
Location: PEO Kissamou-Chanion road, Platanias (9 pm – 3 am)
These are some of the best clubs, pubs, and bars that you can check in Chania, Crete when you visit during your next trip to Greece. They all share a lively and fun atmosphere that will put you in a great mood.
They are the perfect way to end a day after swimming and sunbathing in some of Chania’s best beaches all day long.
What to Pack for the Perfect Crete Vacation
If you’re planning a trip to Crete, you’ll want to pack all the normal essentials, but here are a few things we strongly recommend bringing that may not have crossed your mind. For more, check out our Essential Crete Packing List.
– A Physical Guidebook – While travel blogs are great, we also definitely see the benefit of having a good paper guidebook in hand to refer to in your on-the-ground travel. We own and recommend the Lonely Planet Greece book as a starter, but you may also want to pick up the Lonely Planet Crete which covers the island more in-depth.
– A water bottle with a filter. While generally, the tap water in big cities on Crete is drinkable, we generally recommend using a water bottle with a purifying filter to reduce your plastic consumption and ensure you won’t drink any funny-tasting water on your stomach that could make your trip unpleasant! We recommend the GRAYL water bottle – it filters water perfectly in an instant so that you can even drink from lakes, bad taps, etc.
– Motion sickness pills. Crete bus rides can cause motion sickness! If you have a weak stomach as we do, save yourself and bring some non-drowsy motion sickness pills.
– Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, TP & other Balkan transit needs. Bathrooms in the Balkans on trains and buses tend to be… how can we say it?… not so well-stocked. Save yourself the disappointment and bring a mini-rescue pack of wet wipes & hand sanitizer.
– Travel safety items. We think Crete is very safe to travel, but at the same time, it never hurts to be prepared! Some people like to carry money belts, but neither Allison nor I use these.
Instead, we both carry the same PacSafe anti-theft backpack. It has locking zippers, slash-proof construction with metal mesh hidden in the fabric, and tons of other smart security features — all while being cute and stylish enough to be our everyday bag. We recommend it highly for both male and female travelers, as it’s neutral enough to be unisex. We also strongly recommend travel insurance! Our recommendation is at the bottom of the post.
Read more: Essential Crete Packing List: What to Wear & Pack for Crete
More Crete Travel Resources
Headed to Crete? We have some great travel resources to help you with your trip. First read our guide to planning a trip to Greece, which covers visas, budgets, vaccines, and much more. We also have a Balkan currency guide that explains how money works in Greece and local tipping customs.
If you’re still trying to work out where to go on the island, check out this perfect 2 days Heraklion itinerary as well as our guide to the best places to visit in Crete and our favorite Crete beaches.
If you’ll also be spending a few days in Chania, here is our guide to visiting Seitan Limania from Chania (which is our favorite beach in Crete) and Chania’s best Instagram spots.
If you will be spending time in Heraklion, check out our guides to the best Instagram spots in Heraklion and the city’s best restaurants and cafes.
If you’re interested in taking a day trip to Rethymnon, check out our Instagram guide to Rethymnon next, and perhaps our guide to things to do in Rethymnon and the best Rethymnon hotels.
If this will be one of your first trips to the Greek islands, check out our massive Greek Island hopping guide as well as our recommendations for where to go in Greece and when is the best time to visit.
We publish new content about the Balkans almost every day! For more information about traveling to Greece and the Balkans, bookmark our Greece and Balkan travel pages so you can find out what’s new before your trip.
Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!
I’m sure you’re aware that it’s a good idea to have travel insurance for traveling in Crete, the Balkans, or anywhere in the world! We have both been paying customers of World Nomads for the last three years. We love the peace of mind it gives us in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption.
Pin this Guide about Chania Nightlife for Your Next Adventures in Crete!
Gabi Ancarola is a translator and travel journalist living in Crete. She regularly writes about the island for several magazines about travel, gastronomy, and hospitality. She has published several travel guides about Greece and runs a local gastronomy tour in Chania. She loves cooking local dishes, taking photos, and driving on the mountain roads of Crete.
