Mykonos has a lot of shops, many selling overpriced souvenirs, clothing, and jewelry to cruise-ship day-trippers. That said, there are also a number of serious shops here, selling serious wares -- at serious prices. Soho-Soho is by far the most well known clothing store on the island; pictures of its famous clientele (Tom Hanks, Sarah Jessica Parker, and so forth) carrying the store's bags have been in gossip publications around the world. Maria will help the female clientele find the perfect outfit while just across the street, at the men's store, Bill will recommend the latest men's arrivals. 81 Matoyanni (tel. 22890/26-760). The finest jewelry shop is LALAoUNIS, 14 Polykandrioti (tel. 22890/22-444), associated with the famous LALAoUNIS museum and shops in Athens. It has superb reproductions of ancient and Byzantine jewelry as well as original designs. When you leave LALAoUNIS, have a look at Yiannis Galantis (tel. 22890/22-255), which sells clothing designed by the owner. If you can't afford LALAoUNIS, you might check out one of the island's oldest jewelry shops, the Gold Store, right on the waterfront (tel. 22890/22-397). Delos Dolphins, Matoyanni at Enoplon Dimameon (tel. 22890/22-765), specializes in copies of museum pieces; Vildiridis, 12 Matoyianni (tel. 22890/23-245), also has jewelry based on ancient designs.
Mykonos has lots of art galleries, including some based in Athens that move here for the summer season. Scala Gallery, 48 Matoyianni (tel. 22890/23-407; fax 22890/26-993; www.scalagallery.gr), is one of the best galleries in town. All the artists represented are from Greece, many of them quite well known. There is a selection of jewelry, plus an interesting collection of recent works by Yorgos Kypris, an Athenian sculptor and ceramic artist. Nearby on Panahrandou is Scala II Gallery (tel. 22890/26-993), where the overflow from the Scala Gallery is sold at reduced prices. In addition, manager Dimitris Roussounelos (tel./fax 22890/26-993; scala@otenet.gr) of Scala Gallery manages a number of studios and apartments in Hora, so you might find lodgings as well as art at Scala!
There was a time when Mykonos was world-famous for its vegetable-dyed hand-loomed weavings, especially those of the legendary Kuria Vienoula. Today, Nikoletta (tel. 22890/27-503) is one of the few shops where you can still see the island's traditional loomed goods. Eleni Kontiza's tiny shop Hand Made (tel. 22890/27-512), on a lane between Plateia Tria Pigadia and Plateia Laka, has a good selection of hand-woven scarves, rugs, and tablecloths from around Greece.
The best bookstore on Mykonos is To Vivlio (tel. 22890/27-737), on Zouganeli, one street over from Matoyianni. It carries a good selection of books in English, including many works of Greek writers in translation, plus some art and architecture books and a few travel guides.
Works of culinary art can be found at Skaropoulos (tel. 22890/24-983), 1.5km (1 mile) out of Hora on the road to Ano Mera, featuring the Mykonian specialties of Nikos and Frantzeska Koukas. Nikos's grandfather started making confections here in 1921, winning prizes and earning a personal commendation from Winston Churchill. Try their famed amygdalota (an almond sweet) or the almond biscuits (Churchill's favorite). You can also find Skaropoulos sweets at Pantopoleion, 24 Kaloyerou (tel. 22890/22-078), along with Greek organic foods and natural cosmetics; the shop is in a beautifully restored 300-year-old Mykonian house.
When you finish your shopping, treat yourself to another almond biscuit (or two or three) from Efthemios, 4 Florou Zouganeli (tel. 22890/22-281), just off the harborfront, where biscuits have been made since the 1950s.
