Pierro’s: Mykonos’ iconic bar that became known around the globe

The idea of Pierro’s bar was realized by Andreas Koutsoukos, a local Mykonian fisherman, and the famous Italian artist Pierro Aversa. In the summer of 1972, the bar opened its doors for the first time and wrote its own history in the island’s nightlife.

Dimitris Koutsoukos, the brother of Andreas Koutsoukos, the bar’s owner, as well as Vangelio Syrianou, the “soul” -as everyone called her- of Pierro’s, share with Mykonos Post stories and events that unfolded in a place that wrote its own history and left a strong imprint on the island’s map of nightlife.

“At first it was not exactly a bar. It was a place that had soft music, where you went to relax, grab a bite of the Italian delicacies it offered and have a drink” -Dimitris Koutsoukos

Mykonos, 1972: The beginning

Pierro’s opened in 1972 in the square of Agia Kyriaki in Matogiannia. Andreas Koutsoukos, a local Mykonian fisherman with a passion for life and entertainment, partnered with Italian painter Pierro Aversa, who was a well-known artist of the time and particularly loved by people. It should be noted that Andreas Koutsoukos was only 22 years old. The two of them opened this small establishment of 50 square meters in the heart of Chora, not having the slightest idea that in the future their establishment would become one of the most iconic bars of the island and a meeting point for the international jet set.

Pierro’s began as a before-dinner spot, with music from Broadway which the painter loved very much. Most began their nightly peratzada (promenade) there and continued on to other joints. There, you could leisurely have a drink and even grab a bite of something, such as a simple pasta dish, as there weren’t many food options. “The first year, I also worked there. At first it was not exactly a bar. It was a place that had soft music, where you went to relax, grab a bite of the Italian delicacies it offered and have a drink. Essentially, Pierro’s was the ‘warm-up act’ for Mykonos’ nightlife,” says Dimitris Koutsoukos in an older interview with Mykonos Post.

Aversa leaves Pierro’s

Andreas Koutsoukos had married an American woman and, as a result, spent a lot of time in America and specifically in New York. In Manhattan, he made a lot of acquaintances, mainly with nightclub owners, and at the same time he was introduced to disco music, which played in all the bars and clubs in the area. It was then that he decided to bring this new trend to Mykonos. However, Pierro Aversa apparently did not agree with this particular musical direction, as he preferred the Broadway vibes that were more suited to his own style.

Two years after the establishment was created, the Italian painter decides to leave Pierro’s. “I think he did not agree with my brother, who wanted to change the concept and turn it exclusively into a bar. Either way, the result was that Pierro’s became loved and made its own history in Mykonos’ nightlife,” Dimitris Koutsoukos explains about the Italian artist’s decision to leave the partnership.

“All of high society gathered at Pierro’s, mainly foreigners, from all over the world. Rich and poor, we were one back then. They joined the parties, danced, we’d get up on the bar and do shows together” -Vangelio Syrianou

The haunt of shipowners and high society

Who could have thought back then that this particular establishment would become a haunt for shipowners and famous jet setters from all over the world and would become famous for its incredible parties? And yet, Pierro’s won that bet! Everyone that went to Mykonos always stopped by. Prime ministers, businessmen, actors.

In the ‘70s and the ‘80s all the famous Athenians used to frequent Pierro’s. Metaxas, the Goulandris family, Karelas and Fix: Everyone was there. One big group. So were the most famous fashion designers, such as Gianfranco Ferrè, Jean Paul Gaultier and Valentino. And of course, the Greek designer Billy Bo, also known as Vasilis Kourkoumelis, who was a patron of Pierro’s and one of the island’s most iconic figures. Every week there was a party with a different theme and dress code. Back then people could enjoy themselves “freely”, without journalists and paparazzi.

“All of high society gathered at Pierro’s, mainly foreigners, from all over the world. The Greeks were all shipowners. Karelas, the Goulandris family, Chatzifotiou, Vardinoyiannis, Onassis, Chandris, the Drakopoulos family and more. People that were born rich, good people, people with prestige and dignity, not nouveau riche. They knew how to be polite, they didn’t look at the waiters or the waitresses as if they were inferior. Rich and poor, we were one back then. They joined the parties, danced, we’d get up on the bar and do shows together and they loved us as if we were their children”, Vangelio Syrianou says with disarming honesty to Mykonos Post.

The reputation as a gay bar

Pierro’s was especially known as one of the first gay bars of the island. Its owner, Andreas Koutsoukos, always stated that its philosophy was freedom. That means that it wasn’t just a bar for homosexuals, but a place that was free for all people. Without labels.

Around 1975, the first drag shows started to take place at Pierro’s. Andreas Koutsoukos, who knew a lot of people in America, started to bring to Mykonos young guys that worked on Broadway. In 1978, in fact, his license was taken away and the bar didn’t open for a whole month. The reason? Homosexuality, which at the time was banned by law. However, the drag shows continued and lasted until the end. Every day at Pierro’s was a celebration, and the people that came to the parties or the shows enjoyed the freedom that this bar generously offered them.

“We had parties and we had the guys from America, the transsexuals who were men and dressed up as brides. We also did fantastic shows with the late Carlos. He was a Puerto Rican dancer, with whom we put on costumes, dressed up and did cabaret type shows. One time, we dressed up as Tina Turner and Lisa Minelli,” Vangelio Syrianou recalls.

The stories and moments at Pierro’s cannot be detailed in five books, let alone an article. The establishment that became synonymous with nightlife in Mykonos was known all over the world. There wasn’t a Greek or a foreigner that hadn’t heard of the legendary nights in this small haunt (just 50 square meters) on a small island of the Cyclades in Greece. Having left a strong imprint on the map of nightlife, Pierro’s will remain forever in our hearts.

(All photos are from the archive of Dimitris Koutsoukos, whom we thank warmly)