The notorious Mykonos beach bar repeatedly accused of forcing tourists to pay sky-high prices warns locals away because ‘it’s expensive’, yet charges them only a fraction of what unsuspecting holidaymakers are charged.
A string of consumers – all foreign tourists – told DailyMail.com that they were ‘scammed’ up to now week after being forced to shell out lots of of euros at DK Oyster, a beachfront restaurant on the ritzy Greek Island.
All of the victims told how they weren’t informed of costs before they ordered and were intimidated by burly waiters when handed their bills. Several claimed they were lured into the bar by touts promising them free use of sunbeds in the event that they bought only one drink each.
DailyMail.com uncovered evidence that only foreign tourists were being charged outrageous prices on the bar on the fashionable Greek holiday island.
An area shop employee who ordered in Greek was told that he could have six oysters for just €30 – roughly $30 and at $5 per oyster it’s nearly 1 / 4 of the $18 per oyster foreign holidaymakers have needed to pay.
He was then charged $50 for one cocktail ‘the scale of a football’ by waiters who told him he was lucky he wasn’t a tourist because it will’ve cost ‘thrice the value – and certainly one of the bar staff laughed loud’.
DK Oyster became notorious in May 2019 when it charged a gaggle of American tourists greater than $800 for six plates of calamari, six beers, three chicken Caesar salad starters, two bottle of water and a glass of tomato juice.
Greek shop employee Costas, 32, carried out a test to see whether locals can be charged the identical prices on the notoriously expensive bar. He ordered in Greek and was initially warned away by staff who said it was ‘expensive’ paid the equivalent of $50.80 for one cocktail by staff who told him ‘it was lucky I wasn’t a tourist, as my drink would’ve been thrice the value and certainly one of the bar staff laughed loud’. Despite saying he wasn’t hungry, he was offered oysters at €30 ($30) for a plate of six at €5 ($5) each, as a substitute of the €18 ($18) per oyster which the French tourists were charged
One ‘football sized’ drink for an area man cost $50. Many foreign tourists reported being forced to pay outrageous prices – while local shop employee who ordered in Greek was told that he could have six oysters for the equivalent of $30. At $5 a bit they’re nearly 1 / 4 of the $18-per-oyster that holidaymakers have complained of being forced to pay
Costas’s ‘football sized’ glass with a cocktail ‘with many liquors mixed in’. He said: ‘They still charged me €50, and I might’ve expected to pay probably not more than €15.’ His waiter said it will have cost ‘thrice the value’ if he’d been a tourist, prompting a loud laugh from the bartender
When local shop employee Costas, 32, carried out a test for DailyMail.com to see whether locals can be charged the identical high prices on the bar when ordering in Greek, he was warned away by staff since the ‘prices were very high’.
He said: ‘They brought me a cocktail after I had ordered in Greek. I had told them that I lived in Mykonos and was an area man like they were.
‘They first said to me that I shouldn’t come into the bar, as the costs were very high and that I may not find a way to afford it.
‘As we got talking, they became friendly and served me with a cocktail in a glass which had a rim which was probably the diameter of a football.
‘One waiter said it was lucky I wasn’t a tourist, as my drink would’ve been thrice the value and certainly one of the bar staff laughed loud.
‘But they still charged me $50, and I might’ve expected to pay probably not more than $15. Nevertheless it was quite a giant drink with many liquors mixed in. I feel slightly crazy and light-headed now because it was a strong drink.
‘But I’m sorry that tourists are being overcharged by that bar and I won’t be visiting it again as I’m unhappy about this.
‘I used to be not aware of this bar and the cheating of holiday makers to Mykonos, but I’ll warn my customers in addition to ask my friends to warn others too.’
Last week, Latest Jersey lawyer Theodora McCormick, 50, and her husband, say they were slapped with a $557 bill for a dozen oysters, two outsize beers served in giant glass boots and two cocktails.
But headlines in regards to the couple’s experience didn’t deter the bar’s staff from shamelessly targeting recent victims last week on the bar and diner in PlatisGialos on the southern tip of Mykonos.
Danish nurses Amanda Miehs and Alma Rasmussen from Copenhagen were left near tears after being asked to pay €533 ($541) for one Mojito, a Red Bull energy drink and two plates of moussaka and calamari
The ‘discounted’ €433 bill for Amanda and Alma’s order of 1 Mojito, a Red Bull energy drink and two plates of moussaka and calamari
Danish nurses Amanda Miehs and Alma Rasmussen from Copenhagen were left near tears after being asked to pay €533 for one Mojito, a Red Bull energy drink and two plates of moussaka and calamari.
Amanda, 28, told DailyMail.com: ‘We were passing that bar they usually offered us the usage of sunbeds for myself and Alma if we bought a drink.
‘The beach was very crowded because the sunbeds in the opposite bars were very busy, so we accepted.
‘We only had one cocktail, a Red Bull and a few tap water. They told us it was €24 for the moussaka.
‘I kept asking them for the bill or the menu in order that I could see what we can be in charged. But they never gave it to us until the top.
‘We only had one cocktail, a Red Bull and a few tap water. They told us it was €24 for the moussaka,’ said Amanda, 28
‘We just desired to get out of there as three of the waiters stood only just a few inches from our faces and kept saying we were silly people and that we needed to pay the cash before we could leave,’ said Alma, right
‘One among the waiters said several times that he couldn’t show us the fees because he had given us a reduction and he needed to clear it along with his boss.
‘During our time there our friend Paresa, who can also be on holiday in Mykonos, called us and said that she hoped we weren’t on the bar that she had examine that had cheated people out of cash by overcharging.’
Alma, 25, added: ‘We became concerned and decided to go away. I spotted why the sunbeds next to us were mostly empty as this will need to have been because people had been warned like our friend just told us.
‘After we went contained in the bar to pay, they gave us a bill for €553 which really upset us and we told them how offended we were.
‘We swore at them they usually swore back at us, but then they agreed to cut back the bill by €118 to €433.
‘By then we just desired to get out of there as three of the waiters stood only just a few inches from our faces and kept saying we were silly people and that we needed to pay the cash before we could leave.
‘There have been no waitresses and only men they usually scared us.
‘I’m wondering what would have happened if we had refused to pay anything greater than just a few euros which is what it should’ve been.
‘We’re very upset and I cannot understand how that bar is open when it has been publicly exposed for cheating tourists.’
Phillipe Lafaix and his wife Christin who live in Paris claimed they were charged €417 on Wednesday for six oysters each, two margaritas and a bottle of mineral water.
The oysters alone cost €213 which is sort of 4 times what diners at London’s famous Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill pay for its ‘Shellfish Platter’ featuring oysters, mussels, crevettes, clams and whelks.
When the couple challenged the bill and claimed it was ‘a blatant swindle’, the couple were led to the back of the bar and ordered: ‘Pay up now and get out.’
Phillipe Lafaix and his wife Christine who live in Paris (pictured at DK Oyster with their oysters and margaritas) claimed they were charged €417 ($424) on Wednesday for six oysters each, two margaritas and a bottle of mineral water. When the couple challenged the bill and claimed it was ‘a blatant swindle’, the couple were led to the back of the bar and ordered: ‘Pay up now and get out’
Company executive Phillipe, a Liverpool supporter, said they felt forced to pay the bill as staff were so menacing.
Phillipe, 59, said: ‘The person who served us called me silly and said I needed to pay €417 regardless that I told him we had never been shown a menu and that the value was a disgrace.
Company executive Phillipe Lafaix and his wife Christine (pictured). Phillipe, 59, said: ‘The person who served us called me silly and said I needed to pay €417 regardless that I told him we had never been shown a menu and that the value was a disgrace’
‘He said, ‘You’re silly and that’s what you should pay’, and I used to be going to refuse but we got scared when three men stood in front of us.
‘The bar was really friendly at first as we walked by, they usually said we could use the sunbeds without spending a dime if we had a drink.
‘We didn’t need to use the sunbeds, so we sat at a table on the front of the restaurant and ordered two margaritas, six oysters each and a few water.
‘We were there for an hour and as we’re on holiday we desired to calm down and at no time were we offered or given a price list so we could see how much they’d ask for the drinks.’
Christine, 58, who’s the director of a renewable energy firm said: ‘After they brought us the margaritas, they were in huge glasses filled to the rim.
‘I assumed there was no way in any respect that we could drink those empty and I wondered if there may be some ulterior motive by the bar.
Phillipe and Christine Lafaix’s receipt at DK Oyster Bar with the tip added
Phillipe and Christine Lafaix’s receipt shows two margaritas at €58 each
‘Perhaps they served big cocktails like that so people could get drunk and order increasingly drinks they usually can ask extra money
‘People wouldn’t know the way much they were spending and just keep drinking.’
She said she and her husband couldn’t finish their massive cocktails before the sobering moment once they asked for the bill
Christine said: ‘Greater than €400 they asked for! I used to be shocked and thought the bill for that one hour was greater than our flights to and from Paris as I had booked them six months before.
‘The bill also had an added €50 as a tip. I assumed, ‘What for?’ All they did was serve us once and the person on the front who was wearing all black had stared at us through his dark shades the entire time and made us feel very uncomfortable.
‘Perhaps they were setting us up and scaring us for when the bill was to reach.’
Phillipe added: ‘When the bill was given to me, I used to be shocked. After I told them it was an excessive amount of, they asked me to come back to the back of the bar.
‘They showed me a tariff then and I saw it was €18 per Oyster which was just ridiculous. The oysters weren’t even that good. They were too dry and almost tasteless.
‘My wife and I live in Paris and we find out about great food. This was not good food and the bill was a scandal.
‘Nevertheless it was like meeting the mafia. I felt I had no selection but to offer them €417.91 to find a way to go away. I did wonder if I should absolutely refuse, but I made a decision to not.
‘But I need to warn others to not go there. They may get ripped off identical to us. Mykonos is a pleasant friendly holiday island, and I cannot understand why the Mykonos authorities have not taken away the bar’s alcohol license.’
DK Oyster, an infamous Mykonos beach bar accused of charging tourists sky-high prices continues to fleece unsuspecting victims
Mexican security official Daniel Paz, 44, who was along with his wife and two children were charged €275 for 2 cocktails and two soft drinks.
As they emerged from the bar, Daniel from Guadalajara, said: ‘Disgusting. Outrageous and theft of my money.
‘I had no clue that this bar was going to treat me like this until I got the bill. In actual fact, they took my bank card charged it for €275 after which got here back with the bill and the bank card receipt.
‘I couldn’t make a scene because my two young daughters were here. I didn’t want them to get upset if I shouted on the bar’s staff for cheating us. I can afford this amount because my wife 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 except accept that they’ve taken my money and that I won’t ever see it again.
‘We’re on holiday here and the Greek people have been very nice to us. But these individuals are spoiling the name and character of Mykonos.
‘I’m glad that the media are reporting on this bar. Tourists must be warned. Any person should stand outside the bar with a banner warning the tourists to not enter.’
DK Oyster bar has its sunbeds crammed together in eleven rows under black umbrellas and is sandwiched between other bars and restaurants where food and drinks may be bought for a fraction of the value.
The Acrogiali Beach Hotel round the corner, which allows customers to make use of their cell phones at its tables to scan a QR code for menus and costs, charges just €14.5 for margaritas, and staff don’t charge suggestions.
While sunbeds in neighboring bars seemed to be generally full last week, those at DK Oyster seemed far less popular, suggesting that word had got around about its alleged scamming.
DailyMail.com witnessed the bar’s all-male staff who dress in black attempting to snare tourists walking past by enticing them with offers of sunbed-use in the event that they purchased a single drink.
A waiter in a close-by restaurant who asked to not be named said: ‘My advice is just not to go in there as they make people pay an excessive amount of money by scaring them.
‘Everyone knows everyone on this beach. We just tell our customers and people staying in hotels here to steer clear of there.
‘But we worry that they could get offended with the opposite businesses. They usually are not nice people in there.’
A hotelier, who also asked to not be identified, said: ‘They’re giving a terrible name to Mykonos, and it looks as if they’re being allowed to proceed doing their bad business.
‘No person has stopped them. But regardless that increasingly individuals are becoming aware of them, there unfortunately will all the time be tourists who innocently go there and turn into victims too.’
When DailyMail.com visited the restaurant we were charged €212.50 for a plate of fried potatoes, two beers, six oysters and bottle of mineral water which was never ordered.
When DailyMail.com visited the restaurant we were charged €212.50 for a plate of fried potatoes, two beers, six oysters (pictured) and bottle of mineral water which was never ordered.
The fried potatoes that made up a part of DailyMail.com’s €212.50 order at DK Oyster
We went to the restaurant after Theodora McCormick, 50, a lawyer from Latest Jersey, last week said she and her husband were outraged by their massive bill while on vacation on the ritzy Greek Island.
She said she and her husband were on the lookout for a taxi back to their hotel on the last day of their holiday when a staff member at DK Oyster said they may call a cab inside.
Mrs McCormick said: ‘I told my husband, ‘Oh, why don’t we call a taxi and grab a drink.’ That was my big mistake.’
When she asked for a cocktail menu, she said the waiter didn’t bring one and as a substitute listed drink options aloud.
The couple ordered two beers, two martinis, and in addition a dozen oysters which Mrs McCormick said the waiter nagged them into having.
The beers arrived in giant glass boots, each containing around three pints, and the couple braced themselves to pay premium prices.
‘Mrs McCormick said: ‘It was Mykonos, we knew it was going to be ridiculous. 250-odd euros, that is what we were considering. But after we got the bill, it was around €500.
‘My husband was like, ‘There’s got to be a mistake.’
DK has a poor rating on Tripadvisor – with scores of former customers warning of its rip-off prices and aggressive staff – but tourists keep being lured in
She said once they complained ‘a gaggle of massive, hulking men’ surrounded them until they agreed to pay. ‘They haven’t any female waiters,’ she added.
Mrs McCormick said she realized in hindsight that the restaurant was an obvious ‘scam’.
But bar owner Dimitrios Kalamara, called the couple ‘wannabe influencers’ who were trying to achieve attention.
TripAdvisor has been flooded with ‘one star’ reviews for the bar, giving it a ‘terrible’ rating and warning visitors of its overinflated prices.
One disgruntled tourist wrote: ‘Never again, Never again, never again. They’ve overcharged us like 30 times greater than normal. We have now excepted high prices, But not greater than €200 for just three drinks.’
One other wrote this week: ‘Scam. For those who cannot conduct business fairly then don’t. Way too expensive they usually don’t let you already know prematurely.’
A 3rd customer posted on the location: ‘Steer away! Over expensive and a tourist trap! Nothing greater than a daily Taverna but 10 times costlier. Nobody will pay €90-€100 for a beer, Come on like, it could actually’t be justified.’
One other wrote last Thursday: ‘I used to be not aware of the bad reviews. My mistake. €250 price for 70 Euro restaurant value food just a few drinks. DO NOT VISIT!’
DK Oyster owner Dimitrios Kalamara has called those that complain in regards to the charges ‘wannabe influencers’ trying to achieve attention
Earlier this month, Canadian newlyweds Alex and Lindsay Breen were charged $410 for a beer, a cocktail and 12 oysters on the bar
DK Oyster boss Mr Kalamaras has consistently been unrepentant about his prices, insisting that they’re justified by the standard of his food and the stunning beach-side location.
He denied customers’ claims that they usually are not told prices before they step inside, saying he had positioned blackboards at the doorway to the restaurant displaying his prices.
Mr Kalamaras accused lots of his reviewers on TripAdvisor of lying, saying ‘no adult of their right mind’ would order a drink without seeing prices beforehand.
His restaurant website has 4 ‘set menus for dinner’, with no prices listed.
For the usage of sunbeds and umbrellas, the bar says they’re free but adds in capitals: ‘THE MONEY YOU PAY WORK AS A DEPOSIT.’
It also tells the purchasers who use the sunbeds in the primary two lines (skirting the surf) ‘You have got to purchase a bottle of champagne DOM PERIGNON.’
The web site says: ‘Imagine the sun setting behind the horizon; feel the last light of day getting dimmer and the coolness of the night slowly settling in.
‘That is the time while you want to be with your beloved, treating them with a romantic dinner, or together with your friends, to begin your evening in elegance and elegance, with the best tastes.
‘Dinnertime on the DK Oyster is a chic affair, almost as if it was set in a distant land, away from the summery fun of the beach; yet, it blends in harmony with the seashore vibe, making you’re feeling like the whole beach is yours, set to your pleasure only!’
