Boho and beach life

From hidden coves with electric blue seas to a game-changing foodie scene and scented hiking trails, there’s a mesmeric beauty to Rhodes you’re guaranteed to fall for. Pitched on its northern tip, Cook’s Club Ialysos provides the ideal springboard for ticking off its highlights, whether you’re looking for lazy beach days on buttery sands, its buzzing nightlife or the island’s top-of-its game restaurants.

You’ll easily fill your days, seeking out its instagrammable beaches and coves on this, the largest of the Dodecanese. Adventure lovers can explore the island’s rural spirit, along sage-scented trails and through orchards and olive groves. Delve a little further, too, into the island’s backstory and don’t miss a trip to the old town, exploring the maze of cobble-stoned alleys, medieval monuments, imposing castles and honey-hued buildings, draped in bursts of bougainvillea.

Next to our list of handpicked places below, our hotel team will be happy to provide you with more insider tips depending on what you are looking for.

 

BEACHES

Ialysos Coast

The usually windward north-western coast of the island stretches out in long, pebbled beaches, ebbed by the inky waters of the Aegean. After a thrilling afternoon catching waves and kite-surfing or windsurfing, settle onto the beach and gaze at mesmerizing sunsets with sand between your toes and salt in your hair.

Anthony Quinn Bay

It makes all the tourist guides, but for good reason. The sheltered Anthony Quinn Bay is an enduringly delicious mix of deep emerald blues, rocky shores and lush green vegetation. And thanks to a particularly beautiful underwater landscape, there’s also some of the best snorkeling on the island. 

Ladiko Beach

Located just 2km from Faliraki village, this picturesque cove has fine white sand and a small stretch of beach with sunbeds and one or two cafes. Just over the rocky foreshore, you’ll find a few secluded little spots to swim and sunbake in solitude.  

 

EATS

Ta Petaladika (Rhodes Old Town)

Medieval but always vibrant, the old town of Rhodes is a heady mix of tucked-away restaurants, hip and fun drinking dens and bars open until the early hours. Pitched on a lively alley, Ta Petaladika is a perennially popular place for locals and travellers to feast on seasonally-led dishes with ingredients plucked from its surrounding shores. Indulge in a lavish seafood plate or follow the lead of the locals with a delicious selection of “mezedes” or small sharing plates.

Taverna Yiarenis (Apollona Village)

Sitting at the foot of the green Profitis Ilias mountain, the village of Apollona is an intriguing spot to while a few hours. Make a beeline for Taverna Yiarenis and indulge in comforting, homespun dishes with authentic flavours, whether you perch in the traditional dining area or grab a table on its shady terrace beneath a wild and wonderful canopy of green, fertile vines.

Paranga (Apollona Village)

The lively rural village of Apollona acquired its name from the Temple of God Apollo, and it’s here you’ll find Paranga – a masterful cooking shack that draws locals and travellers from far and wide. Crafted from stone and wood, with interiors incorporating painted dishes and touches of Rhodian tradition, Paranga takes its cues from the earthy natural surroundings with a menu focusing on seasonality and food that’s good for the soul.

Santa Marina (Rhodes Town)

Nudging the outskirts of Rhodes Town and overlooking a small curve of sand with a scattering of craggy rocks is this boho-chic beachfront bar & restaurant. Interiors are serene and stripped back with plenty of wood and bamboo: hover over your sunbed and order a cocktail or three, take your pick from excellent small plates inspired by Greek and Mediterranean flavours, and gaze at the open kitchen, whether you arrive under bright blue skies or linger on warm moonlit nights.  

 

PARTY & DRINKS

Ronda Bar (Elli Beach, Rhodes)

Boasting a prime location in Rhodes Town, Ronda Bar is where all the cool kids go. A laid-back, all-day beach hangout with plenty of sunbeds and a chic, contemporary décor you’ll want to capture for your insta feed. Grab a quick bite or linger over cocktails for an afternoon of prime people-watching from the best spot on the beachfront.

Union (Rhodes City)

In the heart of the town, The Union Bar buzzes year-round in a space that blurs urban cool with industrial design. Live DJs take to the decks for livestream events running well into the early hours, and inventive cocktails and potent gins are doled out to drinkers looking to immerse themselves in the local scene.  

10GR (Rhodes Old Town)

For top-notch wines in an atmospheric, moodily-lit spot, 10GR Wine bar is an adults-only drinking den. Grab a nook and explore its curated collection of 250 wine labels, most of which hail from  Greece’s finest wine-growing regions, whilst gazing at artworks conjured by contemporary Greek creators.