The long black-sand strip that starts at Perissa and runs south into Perivolos is where Santorini goes to lie down with a cocktail. This isn't the caldera's polished, expensive scene — the Perissa beach bars are looser, cheaper and built for the day: rattan loungers on the volcanic sand, a swim off the front, a DJ easing the afternoon toward evening, and drinks that don't need a second mortgage. The catch is that "beach bar" covers everything from a barefoot sundowner spot to a full-on party club, and they're spread over a couple of kilometres of sand. This guide names the venues worth your afternoon, explains how the sunbed deals work, and — because someone has to say it — flags one that's overrated for what most people actually want.
TL;DR — the Perissa & Perivolos beach bars
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Where are they? | Along the black sand from Perissa south through Perivolos |
| How do sunbeds work? | Usually free if you order food/drinks; otherwise a rental fee |
| Best boho sundowner? | JoJo — macramé, driftwood, easy music |
| Most stylish day club? | Wet Stories — plush loungers, DJ evenings |
| Most romantic for couples? | Seaside by Notos — cocktails, sunset setting |
| Party till late? | Tranquilo (Perissa) — but skip it for a calm day |
My honest picks: for a laid-back day I go JoJo for the boho vibe and Wet Stories for a touch more style; for a couple's evening cocktail, Seaside by Notos. If you want to actually party rather than lounge, that's a different night out — read on for who should skip which.
How the sunbed-and-drink deal works
Before the venues, the rule that governs all of them. At most beach bars along Perissa and Perivolos the sunbeds are effectively free — as long as you order. Buy a coffee, a cocktail or a plate of food and the lounger, umbrella and service come with it; sit down and order nothing and you'll be asked for a rental fee instead (commonly on the order of €10–20 for a set of two beds with an umbrella, more at the fancier clubs — confirm on the day). The practical upshot: pick a bar, take a lounger, order a drink or two across the afternoon, and you've paid for a full day on the sand for the price of the drinks. It's the single best-value way to enjoy Santorini's coast — far cheaper than anything on the caldera.
JoJo — boho sundowners on Perivolos
JoJo is the one I send people to first for the feeling of a Perivolos beach day. Its entrance is draped in macramé, the decor is driftwood and cushioned loungers, and the music stays easy — the kind of place that drifts happily from an afternoon on the sand into golden-hour drinks without ever getting shouty. By day it's a relaxed, friendly lounge on the black sand; later it lifts into a livelier evening scene. If you want the postcard-boho beach bar without pretension, start here. It sits toward the southern, Perivolos end of the beach — a lovely stretch covered in our Perivolos beach guide.
Wet Stories — the stylish day club
A little further along, Wet Stories is the polished one: rows of plush, bean-bag-style loungers under straw umbrellas, a proper Mediterranean menu, cocktails, iced coffees and a DJ that carries beach days into the evening. It's the closest the Perissa–Perivolos strip comes to a stylish caldera-grade beach club, but on black sand and at gentler prices. Good for a longer, more indulgent day where you want food as well as drinks, and it photographs beautifully if that's your thing. Come for lunch, stay for the sundown set.
Chilli Beach Bar — relaxed by the water
Chilli Beach Bar is the unfussy Perivolos option: thatched umbrellas, sunbeds and a full bar set right by the water, drifting from daytime lounging into evening drinks with none of the party-club energy. If your ideal beach day is quiet — a book, a swim, a cold drink, minimal DJ — Chilli does exactly that without trying to be a scene. It's a solid, honest beach bar for people who want the sand and the sea to be the main event.
Seaside by Notos — cocktails for couples
For an evening drink with someone you like, Seaside by Notos is the romantic pick along Perivolos: a restaurant-and-bar with a genuinely lovely seaside setting, big lounge chairs by the water, and a cocktail list they refresh each season. It leans more toward a stylish dinner-and-drinks evening than a barefoot afternoon, so treat it as a sundowner or a special meal rather than a lounging-all-day spot. Pair it with our where to eat in Perivolos guide if you want to make a night of it.
Tranquilo — great for a party, not for a calm day (the honest skip)
Here's the callout. Tranquilo, back at the Perissa end, gets recommended constantly — and it's genuinely fun, a bamboo-fronted spot with dancing, cheap-ish drinks and a late 2am energy. But it's often oversold as a chill beach bar when it's really a party bar. If what you actually want is a peaceful afternoon of loungers and gentle music, Tranquilo is the one to skip — you'll get a crowd and a beat, not calm. If you do want to dance late on the beach, it's exactly right. Know which night you're booking. For the wider after-dark scene beyond the sand, see nightlife in Perissa and the /nightlife page.
The Perissa end — The Beach Bar and Waves
The Perissa end, closer to the village and the bus, has its own low-key mainstays that get overlooked in the rush toward Perivolos. The Beach Bar has been on this stretch of black sand since 1994 — wooden loungers under thatched umbrellas and a covered, sea-facing deck, working as an all-day bar-restaurant from morning coffee to evening drinks (it holds a solid 4.3 rating across around 250 reviews). A little along, Waves is the unhurried "chill-out bar" of the two: cushioned white benches and sun-loungers on the sand, club sandwiches and cocktails, and sea views without any party pressure. Neither is a scene — they're the honest, convenient choice if you're based near the village and just want the sand, a drink and a swim.
Day to night — when the bars turn up
Part of what makes the Perissa–Perivolos strip fun is that many of these venues live a double life. Through the day they're loungers, swims, iced coffees and easy playlists; as the afternoon tips toward sunset the DJs get louder, the drinks orders shift from frappés to cocktails, and the calmer spots either wind down or gear up depending on their character. Wet Stories and JoJo are the classic day-to-night performers — lovely for lounging, then genuinely lively into the evening. Chilli Beach Bar stays mellow throughout, which is exactly its appeal. Tranquilo barely gets going until late. If you want one venue to carry you from a swim at 3pm to drinks at 10pm, pick a day-to-night club and settle in; if you'd rather keep the beach calm and take your evening elsewhere, lounge at a quieter bar and move into the village after dark. The rhythm of the strip rewards a little planning — know whether you're chasing an afternoon, an evening, or both.
How to plan your beach-bar day
Work the geography. The Perissa end is closer to the village, buses and budget rooms; the Perivolos stretch to the south is where the more stylish clubs (Wet Stories, JoJo, Seaside by Notos) cluster, and it's quieter and prettier. Walk the strip once before you commit — pick the bar whose loungers and music match your mood, order a drink to claim your beds, and you're set for the day. Bring flip-flops (the black sand gets scorching), cash as a backup, and sunscreen. When hunger hits, most bars serve food, or step a block back for a cheaper taverna — the /restaurants page and our best beaches near Perissa guide cover the options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the sunbeds free at Perissa beach bars?
Usually, if you order. At most beach bars along Perissa and Perivolos, the loungers, umbrella and service come free when you buy food or drinks; sit without ordering and you'll pay a rental fee instead — often around €10–20 for a set of two beds with an umbrella, more at the fancier clubs. Confirm the arrangement when you arrive.
Which is the best beach bar in Perissa or Perivolos?
It depends on your mood. JoJo is the best boho sundowner spot, Wet Stories the most stylish day club with good food, Chilli Beach Bar the quiet, unfussy option, and Seaside by Notos the romantic cocktail choice for couples. For late-night dancing, Tranquilo at the Perissa end — but skip it if you want a calm day.
Do Perissa beach bars have DJs and parties?
Yes — several run DJ afternoons that lift into livelier evenings, particularly Wet Stories and JoJo along Perivolos, while Tranquilo at the Perissa end goes properly late (around 2am) as a party bar. For a genuinely quiet day, Chilli Beach Bar keeps things mellow. Pick the venue to match whether you want to lounge or dance.
Where are the beach bars — Perissa or Perivolos?
Both — it's one continuous black-sand strip. The Perissa end is nearer the village, the KTEL bus and budget rooms; the Perivolos stretch to the south is where the more stylish clubs cluster and it's quieter and prettier. Walk the sand and choose the bar whose vibe and music fit your afternoon before you claim a lounger.
