The windmills that line Mykonos’s coastline indicate that it’s a windy island, but Buddha Bar’s exclusive beach cove provides a welcome shelter from the breeze. The restaurant is part of a large hotel and golfing resort that sits on the South West of the island, just 15 minutes from Mykonos town. In keeping with the rest of Mykonos, the vibe is relaxed but sophisticated: there’s no dress code but diners look effortlessly glamorous.
On the balmy July night that my Mother and I visited, both the restaurant and bar areas were buzzing. From the moment we arrived in the dining area, we couldn’t help but feel relaxed; looking over the panoramic view of twinkling waves and luxury yachts (with a cocktail in hand) was simply heavenly.
Whilst we’re on the subject of cocktails, let me just say they’re the best on the island. Their menu is creative and unlike any other cocktail menu I’ve seen before. Whilst there, we tried two of Buddha Bar’s signature drinks; the Bubble Wrap and the White Princess. The champagne based bubble wrap was delicious and fruity, the perfect beverage to start a glitzy evening. The White Princess was out of this world; a zingy combination of gin, lemongrass sake and lime juice, topped with a creamy passionfruit and vanilla foam – it sounds bazaar but it really worked.
Buddha Bar specialise in oriental dishes, which makes a refreshing change from other Greek establishments on the island. To sample a mix of the Asian fusion flavours, we ordered the Vietnamese spring rolls which were served with a passion fruit dipping sauce, tuna tartare and, finally, chicken gyoza dumplings; and that was just our starter! As a lover of sushi, the tuna and avocado tartare was the stand out dish for me, although the light, yet crispy, chicken dumplings were equally as scrumptious.
The highlight of my meal has to be the roasted black cod which was the best black cod I’ve ever tasted. Every mouthful was a joy and I really didn’t want it to end. The freshly-caught fillet was served alongside a soy roasted aubergine, marinated in a Yuzu sauce; it was simply stunning.
For her main course, my Mother tried the Thai red curry shrimp and lemongrass rice. Unlike the salty flavours of the cod, the curry was spicy and creamy, but worked beautifully with the citrus rice. The prawns were huge and cooked to perfection. I should say we were both immensely impressed with the quality of the seafood.
Next up was pudding where we indulged in both their cheesecake and chocolate dessert. On the night we dined, the cheesecake flavour was summer berry and my only complaint is that it was too Moorish! Coated in nuts to add texture, the inside was packed with rich flavour. The cocoa based dessert, simply named ‘Chocolate Textures’ does exactly as the name suggests and offers a selection of delicious treats in different forms: from mousses to macaroons, it’s a chocolate lover’s paradise.
Buddha Bar has a live DJ most nights and, after dinner, guests have the option of moving to the bar space where they can dance until the early hours. On the night we dined the DJ played a fabulous mix of Balearic house as well as modern mixes of old school songs which had the whole restaurant grooving.
In a nutshell, Buddha Bar really captures the essence of Mykonos; it’s not just a romantic space but also one huge party. If you’re seeking a lively restaurant in a stunning location where the food is delicious and the drinks are divine, this is the venue for you.
Address: Ornos Bay, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
Phone: +30 2289 023220
Web: buddhabarbeachmykonos.gr/
