GREECE
Where We Eat
A hand-picked collection of Greece’s most exceptional dining, from timeless tavernas to boundary-pushing kitchens. Each spot earns its place for its authenticity, seasonality, and unforgettable sense of place.
Breakfast And Brunch
Fresko Yogurt Bar
Image courtesy of Fresko
Athens
Price: €
Location: Adrianou 3, Athens
Vibe: Fresh, airy, modern Greek
Must order: Traditional strained Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts
Need to know: A favorite for breakfast before exploring the Acropolis; yogurt is made fresh daily from local farms
With its sleek marble counters and sunlit windows, Fresko elevates the humble Greek yogurt to an artisanal experience. Using only milk from small Peloponnesian dairies, they serve it the traditional way—unstrained, thick, and draped in golden honey. The perfect Athens morning fuel before climbing to the Parthenon.
Pelican Kipos
Image courtesy of Pelican Kipos
Santorini
Price: €€€
Location: Fira, Santorini, Greece 84700
Vibe: Elegant, botanical, timeless
Must order: Greek coffee with orange cake; omelet with local tomatoes and feta
Need to know: The garden opens early and stays calm through mid‑morning; reservations help in peak season.
Set inside a 400‑year‑old monastery garden, this leafy café is Santorini at its most serene. Mornings unfold under palms and citrus trees with proper Greek coffee, eggs, and house‑baked cakes; later in the day the space shifts to wines and light plates. It’s a quiet, elegant counterpoint to Fira’s bustle—linger and let the island wake up around you.
Stani
Image courtesy of Stani
Athens
Price: €
Location: Marikas Kotopouli 10, Athina 104 32, Greece
Vibe: Classic, old‑school, authentic
Must order: Loukoumades with honey and cinnamon; sheep’s‑milk yogurt with thyme honey
Need to know: Cash preferred; go early to skip the queue.
An Athens dairy bar from another era—marble counters, copper urns, and recipes that haven’t budged since the 1930s. Loukoumades are fried to order and doused with honey; the thick sheep’s‑milk yogurt tastes like the city’s past in a bowl. It’s unfussy, affordable, and still the gold standard for a sweet Athenian breakfast.
Liberty Breakfast Room
Image courtesy of Liberty Breakfast Room
Mykonos
Price: €€
Location: Mikonos 846 00
Vibe: Minimal, airy, relaxed
Must order: Eggs Benedict; avocado toast with poached eggs
Need to know: Best before 10 a.m.; it fills fast once cruise‑ship crowds hit town.
A breezy hilltop perch just above Chora where the morning feels surprisingly calm for Mykonos. The room is all pale wood and light, with a menu that does the brunch basics—eggs, pancakes, good coffee—cleanly and well. Come early, eat unhurried, and watch the island spin up beneath you.
Sousouro
Image courtesy of Trip Advisor
Paros
Price: €€
Location: Naoussa 844 01 Greece
Vibe: Breezy, modern Cycladic, health‑leaning
Must order: Smoothie bowls; avocado toast with local olive oil
Need to know: No reservations; expect a short wait after 10:30 a.m. in summer.
A Naousa favorite that nails the island‑morning brief: a whitewashed courtyard draped in bougainvillea, fresh juices, and bright, produce‑forward plates. Think smoothie bowls, pancakes, and tartines done with Greek olive oil and herbs. It’s casual but considered—the kind of place you return to twice in a weekend.
Starenio Bakery
Image courtesy of Starenio Bakery
Corfu
Price: €
Location: Gkilford 61, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Vibe: Cozy, local, time‑honored
Must order: Spanakopita or bougatsa with a freddo cappuccino
Need to know: Limited tables; takeaway is perfect for a Liston stroll.
Corfu Old Town’s long‑standing bakery‑café, where locals file in for warm pies and strong coffee before the lanes fully wake. Flaky spanakopita, syrupy bougatsa, and croissants come out in steady waves, and there’s just enough seating to pause before you wander the Liston. Honest, everyday Corfu—with better pastry.
Isalos Café
Image courtesy of Isalos Cafe
Hydra
Price: €€
Location: Επαρχία.οδος Μανδρακίου, Idra 180 40, Greece
Vibe: Seafront, easygoing, classic island
Must order: Freddo espresso; almond macaroons (amygdalota)
Need to know: Front‑row tables go first; shade is limited after late morning.
Hydra’s harbor wakes early, and so does Isalos—the island’s perennial first‑coffee stop. Sit waterside as donkeys clatter past and fishing boats nudge into the quay, pairing a freddo with Hydra’s almond macaroons. It’s simple and exactly right for this island: sea air, good coffee, and a front‑row seat to port life.
Lunch And Dinner
Varoulko
Image courtesy of Varoulko
Athens
Price: €€€€
Location: Akti Koumoundourou 54, Pireas 185 33, Greece
Vibe: Refined, nautical, romantic
Must order: Saffron seafood risotto; catch of the day grilled over charcoal
Need to know: Book well ahead for terrace seating in summer; Michelin star since 2002.
Lefteris Lazarou’s Michelin-starred ode to the sea has been anchoring Athens’ fine-dining scene for decades, but the move to the Mikrolimano marina gave it the view it always deserved. The cooking is clean and precise—perfectly grilled fish, saffron-infused seafood risotto—paired with a Greek-heavy wine list. Time your reservation for sunset and you’ll understand why this is still the capital’s definitive seafood table.
Botrini’s
Image courtesy of Botrini’s
Athens
Price: €€€€
Location: Leof. Vasileos Georgiou B 24, Chalandri 152 33, Greece
Vibe: Modern, creative, intimate
Must order: Multi-course tasting menu; Greek wine pairing
Need to know: Michelin star; closed Sundays and Mondays.
In the leafy suburb of Halandri, chef Ettore Botrini fuses his Corfiot-Italian heritage with inventive, hyper-seasonal Greek plates. The tasting menus are cerebral yet deeply flavorful—think red mullet with fennel pollen, lamb with Cycladic herbs—served in a warm, contemporary space. Dining here feels like being in on Athens’ most elevated culinary conversation.
Selene
Image courtesy of Selene
Santorini
Price: €€
Location: Old catholic monastery, Thira 847 00, Greece
Vibe: Historic, dramatic, polished
Must order: Octopus with caper leaves; tasting menu with wine pairing
Need to know: Jackets suggested; request the monastery courtyard for summer.
Perched in a restored 19th-century monastery in Pyrgos, Selene is Santorini’s gastronomic landmark. Chef Ettore Botrini reimagines Cycladic flavors with precision—octopus with caper leaves, rabbit with vinsanto sauce—served under vaulted stone arches. The history, the setting, and the food combine into something close to theatre.
Matsuhisa
Image courtesy of Matsuhisa Mykonos
Mykonos
Price: €€€€
Location: Belvedere Hotel School of Fine Arts District, Agiou Ioannou 1, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
Vibe: Glamorous, high-energy, international
Must order: Black cod miso; jalapeño yellowtail sashimi
Need to know: The Nobu Matsuhisa Festival is held here every July; tables at sunset are prime.
The world’s most famous Japanese-Peruvian brand feels different on the Aegean—set on a breezy Belvedere Hotel terrace with sea views and a soundtrack that builds with the night. Signature black cod with miso, jalapeño yellowtail, and Mykonos-only specials pull a dressed-up crowd from across the Cyclades.
Statheros Restaurant
Image courtesy of Statheros Restaurant
Paros
Price: € - €€
Location: Naousa 844 01, Greece
Vibe: Rustic, cozy, community-driven
Must order: Keftedes (meatballs), dakos with myzithra, cod with skordalia
Need to know: Run by a Parian family; daily specials change based on what’s fresh that morning
Set just off the harbor in Naoussa, this traditional mezedopolio blends unpretentious comfort with island flair. The menu centers on shared plates—think crispy potatoes, homemade dakos, savory fritters, and fresh fish delivered with a generosity that feels as authentic as the cobbled alleyways themselves. It’s one of those places locals swear by and travelers stumble into on their second morning—and come back to again.
O Thanasis
Image courtesy of O Thanasis
Athens
Price: €
Location: Mitropoleos 69, Athina 105 55, Greece
Vibe: No-nonsense, rustic, beloved by locals
Must order: Pork or lamb souvlaki pita with fries inside
Need to know: Small queues form late afternoon; cash is always handy.
Ever-busy, always buzzing, this iconic souvlaki joint near Monastiraki serves some of the juiciest pork and lamb souvlaki pitas in the city—wrapped in warm pita with crisp fries and tangy tzatziki, it’s everything the perfect gyro should be. Generous portions, wallet-friendly prices (around €3-4 for a hearty wrap), and crowds of locals serve as testament to its lasting popularity.
To Stachi
Image courtesy of Happy Cow
Crete
Price: €€
Location: Defkaliona, Epimenidou 5, Chania 731 34, Greece
Vibe: Cozy, soulful, family-run
Must order: Stuffed zucchini flowers
Need to know: No meat or fish on the menu; everything is seasonal and made fresh to order.
A humble vegetarian taverna elevated to cult status thanks to meticulous cooking, organic ingredients, and a devotion to Cretan traditions. The daily-changing menu celebrates slow food—think stuffed zucchini flowers, bean stews, and handmade pasta in a fragrant cinnamon-tomato sauce.
Neoria Fish Tavern
Image courtesy of Google Reviews
Crete
Price: €€
Location: Akti Enoseos, Chania 731 00, Greece
Vibe: Local, breezy, seaside-authentic
Must order: Grilled sea bass; fried shrimp
Need to know: Reservations recommended if you want a sunset-side table
Anchored right on Chania’s harbor, this family-run fish tavern sidesteps the tourist traps with a rotating roster of daily-fresh catch—think grilled sea bass, shrimp, and calamari, all expertly prepared and simply presented. The service is warm, the prices fair, and dining while the sunset fades behind Venetian rooftops feels deeply atmospheric.
Spondi
Image courtesy of Spondi
Athens
Price: €€€€
Location: Pirronos 5, Athina 116 36, Greece
Vibe: Romantic, polished, timeless
Must order: Tasting menu with wine pairing; monkfish dish
Need to know: One of Greece’s most consistently Michelin-listed venues, reservations are essential.
An Athenian fine-dining institution that has held Michelin acclaim for over two decades, Spondi redefines Mediterranean elegance. From shellfish bisque to monkfish in ponzu with Kampot pepper, every dish is beautifully complex, refined, and paired with impeccable service in a stone-walled, candle-lit courtyard.
Desserts And Sweets
Terkenlis
Image courtesy of Terkenlis
Thessaloniki
Price: €€
Location: 30 Tsimiski str & Aristotelous str corner, 54636
Thessaloniki
Vibe: Nostalgic, iconic, always perfect—just sweet enough
Must order: Baklava; chocolate-covered tsoureki
Need to know: It’s a chain—but founded by one family and still deeply revered.
A family-run pastry temple in Thessaloniki since 1948, Terkenlis is the place locals queue for—signature baklava, kadaifi strands dripping in honey, and chocolate-covered tsoureki. The flawless execution and mid-century elegance make it an essential stop for anyone chasing syrupy perfection in Northern Greece.
Melenio Pastry
Image courtesy of Trip Advisor
Santorini
Price: €€
Location: Nik. Nomikou, Oía 847 02, Greece
Vibe: Romantic, scenic, indulgently traditional
Must order: Ekmek kataifi; galaktoboureko; walnut cake
Need to know: Grab a coffee and step outside—the view is as sweet as the dessert.
Perched in Oia, Santorini, Melenio is where sunsets meet syrup—its display of galaktoboureko, ekmek kataifi, and walnut cake makes it a confectionery haven. With an Aegean vista, delicate filo layers, and syrup that hits just the right note, it’s the perfect pause between wandering and golden-hour cocktails.
Ta Serbetia stou Psyrri
Image courtesy of Trip Advisor
Athens
Price: €€
Location: 105 54, Eschilou 3, Athina 105 54, Greece
Vibe: Gritty-cool, artisanal, elevated-old-school
Must order: Chocolate baklava; karidopita
Need to know: Ideal with tea or Greek coffee; a popular stop on Athens food tours.
A hidden gem in Psyrri where time-worn pastries meet orbital sweetness—Talented pastry chefs reimagine Greek classics like karidopita (spiced walnut cake) and baklava with nuance. Their desserts are rich but refined, each one a precise, affectionate nod to nostalgia and place.
