Rethymno - Entertainment and nightlife

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Food, events and entertainment in Rethymno town

Three main events are organised by the town every year. The Renaissance festival, from July till the beginning of September, with several exhibitions and performances of theatre and music by Greek and foreign artists or companies, the Carnival that takes place in the last Sunday before Lent, with a parade of decorated trucks and costumed groups and The Wine Festival, in July or August, inside the Municipal Garden, with free wine and Greek or folk Cretan concerts and dances.

There are lots of cafes and pubs, open all day, with outdoor tables, along the beach and the promenade, near Rimondi fountain and opposite the port. At the same areas, clubs and a number of places with live Greek or Cretan music ask for dancing till early in the morning. Greek people are used to go out after 23.00 and many after 01.00. First stop is at a cafe, or small restaurant, clubs get busy after 02.00. Winter nightlife in Rethymno is mainly concentrated in the area around the Rimondi fountain to the Venetian harbour and opposite the port. During the summer, larger open bars and clubs get busy, 5km to the east, among the big hotels.

• Figaro cafe: At M. Vernardou St., just after Neratzes mosque. Rock, pop. (Daily, 10.00-04.00).
• Nafpigio Cafe: Opposite the port. Techno, house, electro. Their current dj plays the best music in town. (Daily, March to December, 10.00-04.00).
• Fortezza club: The oldest and once the main commercial dancing club in town. Now renovated, aims to Greek people. In the middle of the Venetian harbour. Mixed Greek and mainstream dance. In the winter, on Tuesdays, it could host djs playing mostly progressive house. (Daily, 23.30-05.00).
• Galea club: During the winter La Conga Bar, at Salaminos St., near the Venetian harbour or Rimondi fountain, is the busiest club in town, gets full every night. Commercial dance and mainly Greek music. (Daily, mid-October to beginning of May, 23.30-05.00). In the summer moves to Misiria, 5 km east of the town. Big space, with swimming pool. In the daytime open as a bar by the beach or the swimming pool, in the night it turns to a club. Commercial dance and mainly Greek music.  (Daily, from June to end of September, 23.30-05.00).
• Ice Club: Near Rimondi fountain, next to Galea club, always full, commercial dance and light commercial  greek pop music for younger people. (Daily, mid-October to April, 23.30-04.00). In the summer it moves to Sfakaki, 10 km east of the town, as an open club. Daily from 00.00 to 06.00.
• Loca club: At the Venetian harbour. In the summer aims to tourists. During the winter greek and commercial dance. (Daily, 23.00-04.00).
• Metropolis club: Inside the Venetian harbour, next to Fortezza. In summer mainstream dance, for tourist entertainment. In the winter commercial pop and greek music. (Daily, 23.00-04.00).
• Rock Cafe: At the end of the promenade, where the Venetian harbour starts, mainstream dance, popular with tourists. (Daily, April to October, 22.00-04.00).
• Avlea Club: At Salaminos St., very busy, commercial dance and greek music. (Daily, mid-October to April, 23.30-05.00).
• Paralia - Living room: At the promenade, very popular trendy lounge cafe for locals. (Daily, 10.00-03.00).
• Exo: At the promenade, following the success and fashion of Living Room. Always busy, to watch the people strolling at the promenade. (Daily, 10.00-03.00).
• Punch Bowl pub: At Arabatzoglou St., near Rimondi fountain, it is like an Irish pub, the only one in town importing Guiness beer. Various music. (Daily, 10.00-04.00).
• Karma cafe: Opposite the port. Very busy mainstream cafe, for (very) young people. Greek, old rock, light pop. (Daily, all year, 10.00-04.00).
• Enetiko cafe: Above Fortezza club, with view to the Venetian harbour. Various. (Daily, from April to October, 23.30-04.00).
• Iguana: Summer very popular open bar, at Sfakaki, very close to Ice club, 10 km east of the town. On the sea, in between trees, with wonderful view. Pop, rock, Greek music. (Daily, from June to end of September, 23.30-04.00).
• Siesta:  Also very popular summer open bar, at Sfakaki, close and an alternative option to Iguana bar, 8 km east of the town. Pop, rock, Greek music. (Daily, from June to end of September, 23.30-04.00).
• Privilege club: Summer open club, 5km west of Rethymno, off the highway to Hania. Mainstream dance and commercial greek music. (Daily, from June to end of September, 23.30-06.00).
• Aeriko cafe : At a street by Salaminos St. Always very busy, mainly Greek music. (Daily, October to 23.00-04.00).
• Sholarheio: At Radamanthys St., near the Rimondi fountain. Live Greek music, in the style of the old rebetiko places. (Daily, October to April, 22.00-04.00).
• Oinodeio: At Salaminos St. Live Greek music. (Daily, October to April, 22.00-04.00).
• M. Vernadou street: The liveliest street of the old town, full of very nice small restaurants. Gets very busy every night, until early in the morning, inside the shops during the winter and outside on the street during the other seasons.