Klio Cruise: Το μοναδικό Tiki Boat στη Θεσσαλονίκη

One Love One Boat

Klio Boat

How it all began…

April 1995…

In April 1995, the white boat (as it was then) set off from Ouranoupoli, Halkidiki, with the aim of offering cruises around the third peninsula, specifically Mount Athos. However, due to a weak tourist season, it decided to change course and find a harbour in Thessaloniki. According to the captain, nothing happened by chance. The blessing it received proved decisive, and on the day of the Holy Spirit, the idea was born to alter its route towards the city of Thessaloniki.

The first changes…

1995 - 1996

On 1 September of the same year (1995), the boat drops anchor in the port of Thessaloniki, right in front of the White Tower. A sheltered bay, with the potential to operate all year round. It was the first boat to offer short cruises in the Thermaic Gulf, at a time when the city lagged behind in tourism and very few people strolled along the seafront.

For a short period, it begins operating as a rebetiko venue, with live music and cold dishes.

A few months later, it decides to change its image completely and, under the name “Rock and Reggae”, it is transformed into a live music venue. Well known bands from all over Greece, such as Nightstalker, Soul Fire, Blues Wire, Panx Romana, One Drop, Diafana Krina, Aera Patera and many others, perform on the boat, leaving their own mark on the city’s nightlife. Overall, between 1996 and 1999 it hosted more than 800 live music concerts.

The «Makuti Kiosk»

1997 - 1999

In the winter of ’97, the decision is made to renovate the boat once again. An imaginative chessboard style entrance is created, and the entire interior is dressed with metal cladding, giving the space a more industrial feel. The captain, a restless spirit with artistic ambitions, doesn’t stop there. The following year, he redesigns the boat’s exterior, painting a rainbow, and in 2000 he breaks new ground by creating the first “makuti kiosk” (perhaps in the whole world) using makuti leaves of African origin.

An intense era…

1999 - 2007

For a decade, with the White Tower now as its permanent mooring, the boat goes through a vibrant period packed with people, concerts, and unforgettable nights that lasted until dawn. It becomes a magnet for the people of Thessaloniki, offering moments full of joy and emotion! From 2000 onwards, live performances become less frequent, making room for parties with a wide variety of music.

Adjustment to Greek crisis...

2008 - 2015

The country’s economic crisis left no one untouched. For “Klio” as well, a period of gradual change begins, moving toward a calmer and more alternative path. The era of constant and intense nightlife has come to a standstill and is now aligning with the prevailing mindset of the public. “Klio” adapts to this crisis by beginning to operate during morning hours as well, scaling back the concept of an “after bar,” as people have reduced the late-night outings they were once accustomed to.

Flourishing...

2016 - 2018

As the country emerges from the crisis, the growth of tourism helps reshape the city, and “Klio” evolves into a tourist attraction, welcoming guests from around the world while maintaining its spirit of innovation and change. With redesigned bar layouts on both decks, it prepares for a new era filled with boat parties and events.

Tiki Bar makeover...

2019 until now...

In 2019, the idea for something truly groundbreaking for our country was born: the transformation of the space into a Tiki Bar. It was a culture that perfectly matched the owners’ philosophy, as it embraces escapism—the desire to escape the stress and pressure of everyday life into something relaxed and carefree—along with tropical décor and, above all, exotic rum-based cocktails.

At the same time, a new chapter in the city’s nightlife began, with boat parties becoming a summer must, even among the city’s younger crowd. Featuring guest DJs from around the world, mainly inspired by Afro-Caribbean culture, the boat has built a fresh identity on the local scene and now stands as one of Thessaloniki’s most distinctive venues.