Entertainment In Kos

There is nightlife to be found everywhere on Kos. In Kos Town, you can wander along the harbour and find plenty of entertainment. In the daytime, much of the focus of activity is on or around the beaches on all of the islands coasts.

Eating out

In Greece, eating out in restaurants is a national pastime and is undertaken at a very leisurely pace, whether the dining takes place at an elegant restaurant or a local taverna. Traditional Greek cuisine is uncomplicated, relying on fresh meats or seafood, vegetables and simple seasonings.

Typical dishes to be found on menus throughout Greece include meatballs, shrimp, octopus, squid, stuffed vine leaves, squash balls, tzatziki (a cucumber salad with garlic and yoghurt), small sausages, cheese, olives and eggplant dip. Greeks often have mezedes, or hors d'oeuvres, as lunch. These are served at an ouzeri, where ouzo, an anise-flavored liqueur, is featured, or at a mezedopolio, where locally produced wine or beer is the house specialty. Both of these types of eateries are open during the daytime only.

For evening meals, tavernas will offer specialties such as kebabs, paidakia (grilled lamb or goat chops), stifado (braised beef and onions), moussaka (lamb and eggplant with a bechamel sauce) and pastitsio (lamb or goat with macaroni and tomatoes). Restaurants, taverna, ouzeri and mezedopolio are found in abundance in all the tourist areas of Kos, and much of the food is reasonably priced.

Local cuisine

The local cuisine on Kos follows the traditional Greek menu, supplemented by a large number of dishes featuring local seafood. Tourists will also find international fare available.

Theatre and music

In July and August, the town of Kos hosts the annual Hippocrates Festival. This festival includes cultural events such as traditional and modern dance recitals, concerts by local artists, performances of both ancient and contemporary Greek plays and numerous art exhibitions.

For evening entertainment throughout the year, there is quite a good selection of venues in Kos Town. Platanos, which is just across from the Hippocrates tree, features live jazz. The Fashion Club at Dolphins Square is a lively spot with an impressive light and laser show. There are two popular discos on Zouroudi, called Heaven and Calua.

If youre interested in the bar scene, there are a number of choices including the Blues Brothers on Dolphins Square, Hamam on Akti Kountourioti and Beach Boys at Kanari 57. If you prefer something a bit quieter, another option is an outdoor movie at the Open Cine Orfeas at Odos Vas. They show relatively recent films, often in English.

Shopping

Whether youre looking for jewellery, quality leather goods, fine ceramics or just a souvenir or two, Kos has an impressive array on offer. There are all sorts of shops located in all of the tourist areas, and they are normally open from 09:00 to 22:00, seven days a week.