Rakomelo and rembetika spilling into a Chora square
Astarti is a small bar whose real room is the square outside. Order at the counter, find space near the church wall and let the sound of Greek songs, rembetika and conversation carry across Chora. Rakomelo and ouzo make more sense here than chasing an elaborate signature list, although familiar mixed drinks are available. The mood is communal without the staging of a formal music venue.
Come after dinner when the square has filled but before every ledge is occupied. Astarti suits friends and solo travellers who enjoy informal seating and a soundtrack rooted in Greece; it also makes a characterful contrast with Aquarius elsewhere in Chora. Expect a bar, not a restaurant, and remember that online hours for seasonal island venues are only a guide. There is little shelter when the meltemi pushes through the lanes.
What visitors say
Google visitors repeatedly praise Astarti's friendly service, rakomelo, ouzo, Greek and rembetika music and the easy custom of taking a drink into the square. The available Tripadvisor material broadly supports its long-running reputation as a local-feeling Chora bar, but that platform's detailed, recent evidence is thin and does not establish a fully independent current consensus.
The review set contains very little recurring criticism; that absence should not be mistaken for proof of flawless service, given the limited second-platform narrative. Seating is informal and the music is central to the appeal, so visitors wanting a quiet table may not share the enthusiasm. Our take: choose Astarti for Greek music, local spirits and shared square life, then use a more conventional cocktail bar on another night.
Good to know
Local bar, Chora, Rakomelo, Rembetika, Greek music, and Square seating
