Cheeky Tikis Zante Opens Friday 2nd May 2026 — The Laganas Strip's Legendary Pre-Drinks Bar Is Back

The strip is waking up. Lucky's Pub opened its doors on 17th April. Infinity Beach Club is back on 1st May. And now the next domino is confirmed: Cheeky Tikis officially opens for the 2026 summer season on Friday 2nd May.

If you've been waiting for the moment Laganas starts to feel like Laganas again, this is it. Cheeky Tikis isn't just another bar opening — it's the pre-drinks institution of the strip, the meeting point that every group ends up at, and the first proper sign that the season has properly kicked off. We're on the ground in Zante and we can confirm it: the tiki torches are going back up, the dentist chair is being polished, and by Friday night the place will be in full flow.

Cheeky Tikis Opens Friday 2nd May 2026

Cheeky Tikis officially opens for the 2026 summer season on Friday 2nd May, right in the heart of the Laganas Strip.

The timing is no accident. With Lucky's Pub already open and Infinity Beach Club launching the day before on 1st May, Cheeky Tikis joining the line-up means the strip is finally starting to function as a proper night out again — a pre-drinks bar, a beach club, and a pub all open within walking distance of each other. By the time most UK travellers land in mid-May, Cheeky Tikis will already be in full swing, with the rest of the Zante bars — Barcode, Sugar, Frozen Bubbles, Flavors and Loft — all following in the days and weeks behind.

If you're flying out in the first half of May, this is the bar you'll want to plan your first night around.

The Pre-Drinks Institution of Laganas

There's a reason Cheeky Tikis is the bar everyone names first when they're talking about the strip.

Voted TUI's #1 Nightlife in Laganas, Cheeky Tikis is the Hawaiian-themed tiki bar in the middle of the main strip — tiki statues, tropical décor, island vibes, the lot. It's intentionally the opposite of everything around it, and that's exactly why it works. You walk off a Greek pavement and straight into a Pacific island fever dream, and somehow that's the perfect way to start a night in Zante.

It's also the bar that consistently delivers on the things that actually matter on a holiday:

strong drinks, fair prices, proper entertainment, and an atmosphere that builds energy without burning you out before you've even left the strip. Live music, karaoke, tribute acts, DJ sets, pool tables — there's always something happening, and the staff have been doing this long enough to know exactly how to set up a group's night.

The Drinks — HeadFuckers, Fishbowls and Strong Pours

Let's get to the part everyone actually asks about.

Cheeky Tikis pours the strongest cocktails on the strip, with proper alcohol measures that haven't been watered down. The signature drink is the Haribo HeadFucker — a colourful, sweet-tasting cocktail that goes down far too easily and hits significantly harder than you're expecting. It's the drink that defines the bar, and you'll see it being passed across the room all night.

Then there are the fishbowls — perfect for a group of three or four to share, ideal for the photo, and another reason Cheeky Tikis ends up tagged in roughly half the holiday content coming out of the island.

If you're rolling with the Zante Bible discount wristband, exclusive deals are unlocked on cocktails, bombs and shots — see the wristband section below for how that works.

The Dentist Chair — Zante's Most Infamous Rite of Passage

If you've never been to Zante before, this is the part that needs explaining.

Cheeky Tikis has an actual dentist chair. You get strapped into it. Shots get poured directly into your mouth. It is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds, and it's become one of those Zante experiences that you genuinely have to do once — not because it's clever or sophisticated, but because every group that comes back from Zante has the video, and at some point you'll get tired of being the one who didn't.

It's the bar's most famous moment, and it's the kind of thing that turns a normal Tuesday in Laganas into a story you tell for years. Take the dare or don't — either way, you'll be watching it happen all night.

Where Cheeky Tikis Fits Into Your Night

The way the strip is supposed to flow, and the way it works best, is in stages.

Start your afternoon at one of the chilled-out spots — Relax, Frozen Bubbles or Flavors — somewhere you can sit, ease into the evening, and not blow out at 4pm. As the sun drops, move up the strip and hit Cheeky Tikis around early evening. This is where the night actually shifts gear: get the HeadFucker, do the dentist chair, and let the energy build properly.

From there, you've got options. Sugar or Barcode for the next round of pre-club drinks, then on to the main clubs in Zante — Aura Club (the rebranded Zeros), Cherry Bay, Rescue Club, or IKON for the bigger event nights including Nathan Dawe Mondays, GW House Wednesdays, and La Fiesta's Zante debut.

The whole strip is walkable end to end in 10 minutes. No taxis, no planning. Cheeky Tikis just happens to be the gravitational centre of it.

Save With Your Zante Bible Wristband at Cheeky Tikis

Cheeky Tikis is one of the 40+ verified discount partners on the Zante Bible Wristband program — a partnership we've had in place for years and one we personally verify every season.

That means wristband wearers unlock exclusive drinks deals at Cheeky Tikis that aren't available to the general crowd. Stack that across a week of pre-drinks and the wristband easily pays for itself in the first few nights, before you've even touched the food, club, and activity discounts elsewhere on the island.

The wristband comes free with every 2026 Zante Bible Event Package — no extra charge, no hidden fee. Pick up your tickets and your wristband from our office at Infinity Beach Club when you arrive.

What Else Is Opening on the Strip This May

Cheeky Tikis is the next big name to open, but it's far from the last. Here's how May is shaping up across the Laganas Strip:

• Lucky's Pub — open since Thursday 17th April

• Infinity Beach Club — opens Thursday 1st May (home of GRV)

• Cheeky Tikis — opens Friday 2nd May

• Loft — open since Friday 18th April

• Barcode, Sugar, Frozen Bubbles, Flavors — opening through mid-May

• Pure Beach Club, Cherry Bay, Karma Day Club — opening in the same window

By mid-May, the full strip will be firing on all cylinders, with the major events calendar — ABODE, Nathan Dawe, Tidal Boat Party, Champagne Spray, GRV, and GW House — kicking in shortly after.

If you want the full timeline of openings, our earlier breakdown covers the first bars opening for summer 2026 in more detail.

Lock In Your 2026 Zante Trip

If you're coming to Zante this summer and you want everything sorted before you fly, the Zante Bible 2026 Event Package is the cleanest way to do it.

• Standard Package — £119

• VIP Package — £144

• £5 deposit to lock in, balance paid before you fly

• Includes ABODE, Nathan Dawe, Tidal Boat Party, Champagne Spray and GRV

• Free Zante Bible discount wristband (Cheeky Tikis included)

• Backed by the Zante Bible Price Guarantee — find it cheaper anywhere else on the island and we'll refund the difference

No other operator in Zante can match that combination of events, value, and on-the-ground delivery.

The Strip Is Open. The Season Starts Now.

With over 15 years on the ground in Zante, we've watched plenty of seasons start. This one feels sharper than most. Venues are opening earlier, demand from the UK is higher than we've ever seen it, and the line-up — bars, beach clubs, events — is the deepest Laganas has ever put together.

Lucky's. Infinity. Cheeky Tikis on Friday. Everything else right behind.

Get your flights booked. Lock in your Event Package. Come and say hello at our office at Infinity Beach Club. We'll see you in the dentist chair.