Beer O'Clock

Beer O'Clock is a beer pub at Minotavrou 23, on a side street off Lions Square in central Heraklion, Crete, Greece. The pub's concept is a rotating tap and bottle list, with a different ale or wheat (weiss) beer to try on most nights, which makes it a reference point for visitors who want something beyond the Greek lagers that dominate most Cretan bars. Its location, just off the square that anchors the Old Town's evening scene, places it within easy walking distance of the Venetian Loggia, the city's main cafés and most central hotels.

The crowd is a mix of local beer enthusiasts, university-age drinkers, expatriates and visitors, generally from the early twenties upward. The dress code is relaxed: shorts, sandals and jeans are all normal. The atmosphere is that of a casual pub, with conversation, background music and a steady turnover of regulars at the bar. Music is incidental rather than the main draw.

The drinks programme centres on beer. Prices are low to mid range for the city, at about EUR 4-6 (USD 4.60-7) per glass or bottle, and the pub runs a happy hour from 4:00PM to 8:00PM, which suits early evening visits before dinner. Visitors who are unfamiliar with the rotating selection can ask the staff what is currently on offer; the pub's own concept is to encourage trying a different style each visit.

Opening hours are listed as daily from 11:00AM to 2:00AM, so the pub works both as an afternoon stop and as a late-night bar, without a significant difference between weeknights and weekends other than crowd size. Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest, with the late-evening crowd arriving after dinner. No cover charge is normally applied, and reservations are generally unnecessary except for larger groups, who may wish to phone ahead on +30 2810 344 161. Bottle service is not part of the offering.

The pub has its own website at beeroclock.gr. Because it opens at 11:00AM and keeps long hours, it is one of the more flexible nightlife options in Heraklion's centre, and it combines easily with an evening walk around Lions Square and the nearby Dedalou pedestrian street.