Mykonos beach bar fleecing unsuspecting tourists charges local Greek man just $50 for oysters

The infamous Mykonos beach bar repeatedly accused of forcing tourists to pay sky-high costs warns locals away as a result of ‘it is costly’, but charges them just a fraction of what unsuspecting holidaymakers are charged. 

A string of consumers – all international tourists – informed DailyMail.com that they had been ‘scammed’ prior to now week after being compelled to shell out a whole lot of euros at DK Oyster, a beachfront restaurant on the ritzy Greek Island.

All the victims informed how they weren’t knowledgeable of costs earlier than they ordered and had been intimidated by burly waiters when handed their payments. Several claimed they had been lured into the bar by touts promising them free use of sunbeds in the event that they purchased just one drink every. 

DailyMail.com uncovered proof that solely international tourists had been being charged outrageous costs on the bar on the modern Greek vacation island. 

A local store employee who ordered in Greek was informed that he might have six oysters for just €30 – roughly $30 and at $5 per oyster it is practically 1 / 4 of the $18 per oyster international holidaymakers have needed to pay.  

He was then charged $50 for one cocktail ‘the dimensions of a soccer’ by waiters who informed him he was fortunate he wasn’t a vacationer as a result of it will’ve value ‘3 times the worth – and one of many bar workers laughed loud’.  

DK Oyster turned infamous in May 2019 when it charged a gaggle of American tourists greater than $800 for six plates of calamari, six beers, three rooster Caesar salad starters, two bottle of water and a glass of tomato juice.

When local store employee Costas, 32, carried out a take a look at for DailyMail.com to see whether or not locals can be charged the identical excessive costs on the bar when ordering in Greek, he was warned away by workers as a result of the ‘costs had been very excessive’.  

He mentioned: ‘They introduced me a cocktail after I had ordered in Greek. I had informed them that I lived in Mykonos and was a local man like they had been.

‘They first mentioned to me that I should not come into the bar, as the costs had been very excessive and that I may not have the ability to afford it.

‘As we obtained speaking, they turned pleasant and served me with a cocktail in a glass which had a rim which was in all probability the diameter of a soccer.

‘One waiter mentioned it was fortunate I wasn’t a vacationer, as my drink would’ve been 3 times the worth and one of many bar workers laughed loud.

‘But they nonetheless charged me $50, and I might’ve anticipated to pay in all probability not more than $15. But it was fairly a giant drink with many liquors combined in. I really feel slightly loopy and light-headed now because it was a robust drink.

‘But I’m sorry that tourists are being overcharged by that bar and I cannot be visiting it once more as I’m sad about this.

‘I used to be not conscious of this bar and the dishonest of tourists to Mykonos, however I’ll warn my prospects in addition to ask my associates to warn others too.’

Last week, New Jersey lawyer Theodora McCormick, 50, and her husband, say they had been slapped with a $557 invoice for a dozen oysters, two outsize beers served in big glass boots and two cocktails. 

But headlines in regards to the couple’s expertise failed to discourage the bar’s workers from shamelessly focusing on new victims final week on the bar and diner in PlatisGialos on the southern tip of Mykonos.

Danish nurses Amanda Miehs and Alma Rasmussen from Copenhagen had been left near tears after being requested to pay €533 for one Mojito, a Red Bull vitality drink and two plates of moussaka and calamari.

Amanda, 28, informed DailyMail.com: ‘We had been passing that bar they usually provided us using sunbeds for myself and Alma if we purchased a drink.

‘The beach was very crowded because the sunbeds within the different bars had been very busy, so we accepted.

‘We solely had one cocktail, a Red Bull and a few faucet water. They informed us it was €24 for the moussaka.

‘I saved asking them for the invoice or the menu in order that I might see what we might be in charged. But they by no means gave it to us till the tip.

‘One of the waiters mentioned a number of occasions that he couldn’t present us the charges as a result of he had given us a reduction and he needed to clear it along with his boss. 

‘During our time there our pal Paresa, who can be on vacation in Mykonos, referred to as us and mentioned that she hoped we weren’t on the bar that she had examine that had cheated folks out of money by overcharging.’

Alma, 25, added: ‘We turned involved and determined to depart. I noticed why the sunbeds subsequent to us had been principally empty as this will need to have been as a result of folks had been warned like our pal just informed us.

‘When we went contained in the bar to pay, they gave us a invoice for €553 which actually upset us and we informed them how indignant we had been.

‘We swore at them they usually swore again at us, however then they agreed to cut back the invoice by €118 to €433.

‘By then we just wished to get out of there as three of the waiters stood only some inches from our faces and saved saying we had been silly folks and that we needed to pay the money earlier than we might go away.

‘There had been no waitresses and solely males they usually scared us.

‘I’m wondering what would have occurred if we had refused to pay something various euros which is what it ought to’ve been. 

‘We are very upset and I can’t perceive how that bar is open when it has been publicly uncovered for dishonest tourists.’

Phillipe Lafaix and his spouse Christin who dwell in Paris claimed they had been charged €417 on Wednesday for six oysters every, two margaritas and a bottle of mineral water.

The oysters alone value €213 which is sort of 4 occasions what diners at London’s well-known Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill pay for its ‘Shellfish Platter’ that includes oysters, mussels, crevettes, clams and whelks.

When the couple challenged the invoice and claimed it was ‘a blatant swindle’, the couple had been led to the again of the bar and ordered: ‘Pay up now and get out.’

Company government Phillipe, a Liverpool supporter, mentioned they felt compelled to pay the invoice as workers had been so menacing.

Phillipe, 59, mentioned: ‘The man who served us referred to as me silly and mentioned I needed to pay €417 though I informed him we had by no means been proven a menu and that the worth was a shame.

‘He mentioned, ‘You are silly and that’s what you could pay’, and I used to be going to refuse however we obtained scared when three males stood in entrance of us.

‘The bar was actually pleasant at first as we walked by, they usually mentioned we might use the sunbeds for free if we had a drink.

‘We did not wish to use the sunbeds, so we sat at a desk on the entrance of the restaurant and ordered two margaritas, six oysters every and a few water.

‘We had been there for an hour and as we’re on vacation we wished to chill out and at no time had been we provided or given a value listing so we might see how a lot they’d ask for the drinks.’

Christine, 58, who’s the director of a renewable vitality agency mentioned: ‘When they introduced us the margaritas, they had been in large glasses crammed to the rim.

‘I believed there was no method in any respect that we might drink these empty and I puzzled if there may be some ulterior motive by the bar.

‘Maybe they served large cocktails like that so folks might get drunk and order an increasing number of drinks they usually can ask extra money

‘People wouldn’t know the way a lot they had been spending and just preserve ingesting.’

She mentioned she and her husband couldn’t end their huge cocktails earlier than the sobering second after they requested for the invoice

Christine mentioned: ‘More than €400 they requested for! I used to be shocked and thought the invoice for that one hour was greater than our flights to and from Paris as I had booked them six months earlier than.

‘The invoice additionally had an added €50 as a tip. I believed, ‘What for?’ All they did was serve us as soon as and the man on the entrance who was carrying all black had stared at us by way of his darkish shades the entire time and made us really feel very uncomfortable.

‘Maybe they had been setting us up and scaring us for when the invoice was to reach.’

Phillipe added: ‘When the invoice was given to me, I used to be shocked. When I informed them it was an excessive amount of, they requested me to come back to the again of the bar.

‘They confirmed me a tariff then and I noticed it was €18 per Oyster which was just ridiculous. The oysters weren’t even that good. They had been too dry and virtually tasteless.

‘My spouse and I dwell in Paris and we find out about nice meals. This was not good meals and the invoice was a scandal.

‘But it was like meeting the mafia. I felt I had no alternative however to offer them €417.91 to have the ability to go away. I did wonder if I ought to completely refuse, however I made a decision to not.

‘But I wish to warn others to not go there. They will get ripped off just like us. Mykonos is a pleasant pleasant vacation island, and I can’t perceive why the Mykonos authorities have not taken away the bar’s alcohol license.’

Mexican safety official Daniel Paz, 44, who was along with his spouse and two youngsters had been charged €275 for two cocktails and two comfortable drinks.

As they emerged from the bar, Daniel from Guadalajara, mentioned: ‘Disgusting. Outrageous and theft of my money.

‘I had no clue that this bar was going to deal with me like this till I obtained the invoice. In truth, they took my bank card charged it for €275 after which got here again with the invoice and the bank card receipt.

‘I couldn’t make a scene as a result of my two younger daughters had been right here. I did not need them to get upset if I shouted on the bar’s workers for dishonest us. I can afford this quantity as a result of my spouse and I each have good jobs.

‘But that also doesn’t give them an excuse to do that. I have no idea what to do besides settle for that they’ve taken my money and that I’ll by no means see it once more.

‘We are on vacation right here and the Greek folks have been very good to us. But these individuals are spoiling the identify and character of Mykonos.

‘I’m glad that the media are reporting on this bar. Tourists have to be warned. Somebody ought to stand exterior the bar with a banner warning the tourists to not enter.’

DK Oyster bar has its sunbeds crammed collectively in eleven rows beneath black umbrellas and is sandwiched between different bars and eating places the place foods and drinks may be purchased for a fraction of the worth.

The Acrogiali Beach Hotel subsequent door, which permits prospects to make use of their cell telephones at its tables to scan a QR code for menus and costs, charges just €14.5 for margaritas, and workers don’t cost ideas.

While sunbeds in neighboring bars gave the impression to be typically full final week, these at DK Oyster appeared far much less standard, suggesting that phrase had obtained round about its alleged scamming.

DailyMail.com witnessed the bar’s all-male workers who dress in black making an attempt to snare tourists strolling previous by engaging them with affords of sunbed-use in the event that they bought a single drink.

A waiter in a close-by restaurant who requested to not be named mentioned: ‘My recommendation is to not go in there as they make folks pay an excessive amount of money by scaring them.

‘Everyone is aware of everybody on this beach. We just inform our prospects and people staying in resorts right here to keep away from there.

‘But we fear that they could get indignant with the opposite companies. They will not be good folks in there.’

A hotelier, who additionally requested to not be recognized, mentioned: ‘They are giving a horrible identify to Mykonos, and it looks as if they’re being allowed to proceed doing their dangerous business.

‘Nobody has stopped them. But though an increasing number of individuals are turning into conscious of them, there sadly will at all times be tourists who innocently go there and change into victims too.’

When DailyMail.com visited the restaurant we had been charged €212.50 for a plate of fried potatoes, two beers, six oysters and bottle of mineral water which was by no means ordered.

We went to the restaurant after Theodora McCormick, 50, a lawyer from New Jersey, final week mentioned she and her husband had been outraged by their huge invoice whereas on trip on the ritzy Greek Island. 

She mentioned she and her husband had been wanting for a taxi again to their resort on the final day of their vacation when a workers member at DK Oyster mentioned they might name a cab inside.

Mrs McCormick mentioned: ‘I informed my husband, ‘Oh, why do not we name a taxi and seize a drink.’ That was my large mistake.’

When she requested for a cocktail menu, she mentioned the waiter did not carry one and as a substitute listed drink choices aloud.

The couple ordered two beers, two martinis, and likewise a dozen oysters which Mrs McCormick mentioned the waiter nagged them into having.

The beers arrived in big glass boots, every containing round three pints, and the couple braced themselves to pay premium costs.

‘Mrs McCormick mentioned: ‘It was Mykonos, we knew it was going to be ridiculous. 250-odd euros, that is what we had been considering. But after we obtained the invoice, it was round €500.

‘My husband was like, ‘There’s obtained to be a mistake.’ 

She mentioned after they complained ‘a gaggle of massive, hulking males’ surrounded them till they agreed to pay. ‘They don’t have any feminine waiters,’ she added.

Mrs McCormick mentioned she realized in hindsight that the restaurant was an apparent ‘scam’.

But bar proprietor Dimitrios Kalamara, referred to as the couple ‘wannabe influencers’ who had been making an attempt to realize consideration.

TripAdvisor has been flooded with ‘one star’ evaluations for the bar, giving it a ‘horrible’ ranking and warning guests of its overinflated costs.

One disgruntled vacationer wrote: ‘Never once more, Never once more, by no means once more. They have overcharged us like 30 occasions greater than regular. We have excepted excessive costs, But no more than €200 for just three drinks.’

Another wrote this week: ‘Scam. If you possibly can’t conduct business pretty then do not. Way too costly they usually do not let you understand prematurely.’

A 3rd buyer posted on the positioning: ‘Steer away! Over costly and a vacationer entice! Nothing greater than an everyday Taverna however 10 occasions dearer. No one will pay €90-€100 for a beer, Come on like, it may’t be justified.’

Another wrote final Thursday: ‘I used to be not conscious of the dangerous evaluations. My mistake. €250 value for 70 Euro restaurant worth meals a number of drinks. DO NOT VISIT!’

Earlier this month, Canadian newlyweds Alex and Lindsay Breen had been charged $410 for a beer, a cocktail and 12 oysters on the bar

DK Oyster boss Mr Kalamaras has persistently been unrepentant about his costs, insisting that they’re justified by the standard of his meals and the beautiful beach-side location.

He denied prospects’ claims that they don’t seem to be informed costs earlier than they step inside, saying he had positioned blackboards on the entrance to the restaurant displaying his costs.

Mr Kalamaras accused lots of his reviewers on TripAdvisor of mendacity, saying ‘no grownup of their proper thoughts’ would order a drink with out seeing costs beforehand.

His restaurant web site has 4 ‘set menus for dinner’, with no costs listed.

For using sunbeds and umbrellas, the bar says they’re free however provides in capitals: ‘THE MONEY YOU PAY WORK AS A DEPOSIT.’

It additionally tells the purchasers who use the sunbeds within the first two traces (skirting the surf) ‘You have to purchase a bottle of champagne DOM PERIGNON.’

The web site says: ‘Imagine the solar setting behind the horizon; really feel the final gentle of day getting dimmer and the coolness of the evening slowly settling in.

‘This is the time while you want to be with the one you love, treating them with a romantic dinner, or with your pals, to begin your night in class and magnificence, with the best tastes.

‘Dinnertime on the DK Oyster is a chic affair, virtually as if it was set in a distant land, away from the summery enjoyable of the beach; but, it blends in concord with the seashore vibe, making you are feeling like the complete beach is yours, set for your pleasure solely!’