3 Friends - one incredible clifftop wine bar.

By Lyndsay Scott

The island of Sifnos is one of the smaller of the Cyclades, only just getting a real name for itself with the hordes of visitors the Greek Islands welcome each summer. Each island has a personality of its own and as the ferry pulls in to the unassuming little port of Kamares, sensing the rugged, earthy and understated vibe - you just know this island is different to the others.

Perched on a clifftop in the old town of Kastro - overlooking a crystal clear cove with a swimming platform sits Loggia Wine Bar. Born in 2020 from 3 friends and their love of vinyl and low intervention greek wine, Nikos, Nontas and Orestis transformed an old taverna into a humble, authentic outdoor bar with a view you can only dream of. 

With backgrounds in the music industry, the owners wanted to bring a unique and relaxed space to Kastro, for friends and visitors to gather, listen to records or live music and eat tapas during the lively summer months. With only a tiny kitchen and serving window at the top of their imperfectly perfect open air stairs, it makes quite the impact through effortless styling - a type of ‘Greek grunge’. Think dinner candles stuck in empty wine bottles, and black power cords from the record players on show. 

Bookings are essential in peak-summer to snag a front row seat, and although when on vacay you may want to keep plans loose, it’s worth it. The view and atmosphere is second to none while you choose from over 100 biodynamic wines by the bottle - or a spotlight of 12 by the glass for a better understanding of the greek terrain, as well as tapas and snack boards. With Sifnos known as one of the most delicious islands, sampling the snacks is a must.

We arrive as Nikos places the fold out metal chairs and tables along the white washed cliff top, dodging a few playful kittens around his feet and the sun is gearing up for its nightly show. It’s balmy, relaxed, and I am considering throwing in my career to work here for the rest of my days. Pouring organic wine, talking to both holiday makers and locals in a multitude of languages, playing with the resident cats and scooting home on my banged-up vespa to my modest stoney villa after a night cap. Sigh.

One visit to Loggia however, was just not enough. We returned the next night for a more low-key experience, parked on the staircase with a bottle of the Aoton ‘Roditis Night Harvest’ (€32), 3 x naughty kittens and a just-enough-to-not-ruin-dinner bowl of salted nuts (free - as are most bar snacks in Europe!). With people watching now layered in to our view, it was one of the most memorable nights of this trip to Sifnos, if not the entire European visit. 

Some places have a special energy about them, it is hard to explain but an experience can stay with you long after you leave. Loggia wine bar is this for me. I can close my eyes and be transported there - I can feel the buzz of people discovering Loggia for the first time just like we did, and hear the wine glasses clinking as well as the crashing waves down below. 

There is a framed photo of the fairy-floss sky contrasting with the aqua mediterranean water hung on the wall of my mind - now that is powerful, considering I am actually freezing through the tail end of a Victorian winter. 

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What Else?

Loggia Wine Bar is located in the old town of Kastro - scooting there is easiest with parking on the outside of the old town. There are also 10 taxis on the island plus local buses.

It’s open every night from May - 30 September from 7pm. Bookings are essential for the front row seats, but walk ins are welcome on the steps. 

If you walk past Loggia to the north, follow the path around the bend for a spectacular view of The Church Of The Seven Martyrs, possibly the most famous site in Sifnos.