462 Best Restaurants in Greece

In the winding alleys of the Palia Agora in Naxos Town, Metaxi Mas is the local favorite for home-cooked taverna specialties year-round, making the meaning of its name, "just between us," very appropriate. For over two decades the Flerianos family has focused on the local flavors that Naxos has to offer—fresh vegetables, meats, cheeses, and seafood cooked in the traditional ways.

Come here just for the knockout views of Meteora and the Kalambaka plain below, and the food isn't bad either. Of course, to make sure you get a prime position on the veranda it's best to book in advance. For starters, along with typical mezes, they serve mushrooms stuffed with cheese and a deliciously rich melitzana saganaki (roasted eggplant) served in a claypot with bacon. Try the beautifully prepared lamb chops or the smirneika meatballs, swimming in a spicy tomato sauce. For dessert don't miss out on the syrupy orange cake with a scoop of ice cream.

A large fireplace, Metsovo costumes on the walls, old photos, and carved wooden furniture enliven the dining room. Try the vegetable pies, especially the kolokithopita (zucchini pie) made from bobota (corn flour), an unusual crust in Greece but an Epirote favorite. In addition, the saganaki (fried cheese) made with four Metsovo cheeses and tender lamb yiouvetsi (baked in tomato-wine sauce) are winners. The large wine selection includes good local choices, Katogi and Zitsa.

Small by name, but big on flavor, Mikro Kafe is the pick of the brunch spots in town. Spilling out on to the main street, eggs come all ways but many opt for the full English breakfast to set them up for the day. Crepes are sweet or savory, sandwiches are freshly made, omelets are from local eggs, and all dishes are lovingly garnished. Needless to say, the coffee is the best in town.

Nice views and a modern menu make this sleek, gastro-burger, tortilla wrap, and pizza restaurant perched on the harbor a must-go. Pulled pork, Bloody Mary ketchup, fiery chili sauces, and house-made pickles are made in an open kitchen, and the natty decoration and chilled atmosphere add to the good vibes for those who have tired of the local cooking.

Wonderful views over the best of the Athenian Riviera, the Vouliagmeni marina, and a small church shrine can make for an unforgettably romantic evening. The hip lounge atmosphere of this seafront café-restaurant is complemented by the Nouveau Greek menu created by chef Andreas Shinas, with the healthy seafood and Mediterranean options standing out from the rest.

A tasty stopover on the road up to Plaka, Mouratos invites you to indulge in home-baked delights. A panoramic view over Adamas and the sea is the setting for hearty breakfasts and Milian specialties. A special wine section is dedicated to the local offerings, a great souvenir.

This highly regarded restaurant is right on the water in Dapia and is the all-time classic bar and nightclub of Spetses (running since 1975). The food in the restaurant is pretty decent, too, and it's probably one of the better choices on the island. Lounge in the veranda's comfy armchairs surrounded by maritime antiques and savor the predominantly Mediterranean cuisine and cool cocktails, accompanied by piano music and a romantic view of the yachts moored in the quaint old port.

Meat is the order of the day here, typically served in huge portions, at decent prices, and with fries on the side. This robust grillhouse is a favorite with village locals, who make invariably friendly dining companions as you tuck into succulent lamb chops, great heaving hunks of pork, and local-style sausage, all with a glass of chilled Robola wine to hand.

This legendary Psarou beach restaurant is the place to go on the island for a healthy dose of excess—super-bling, self-conscious, and selfie-central, Nammos is the spot for late lunches next to the sea with the jet set. The eye-poppingly expensive Mediterranean fusion cuisine is actually good, but it's not really about the food and drink: tables are for dancing on rather than eating at, and champagne is for spraying over your fellow diners, racing-driver style. It is a place to be seen spending conspicuously, and depending on your sensibilities, you will either love it or hate it. For those who want to live the full lifestyle, there is a 26 room and 3 villa Nammos hotel next door.

Next to a yacht club's marina, this spot is just one of a couple of places in Corfu Town where you can swim, chill on a lounger, and admire the view after a morning's sightseeing.

Old-fashioned Greek fare, made with care and served by a friendly and accommodating staff, can be enjoyed on a breezy balcony; tables at one end get a caldera view. The decoration won't win prizes but the view will. Many consider the moussaka, served in an earthenware pot, to be the best on the island.

At one of the best seafront locations on the island, with Little Venice on one side and the windmills on the other, farm-to-table Mediterranean cuisine is the scene-stealer. The menu is plentiful, with diverse choices, but the philosophy is simple—the best organic ingredients from Greek producers cooked simply and with respect. Greek craft beers are well represented as are local wines on the drinks list. While the sea view is very Mykonos, the restaurant's overall design and concept is infused with 1950s Hollywood icons, thanks to the influence of one of the owners, a former LA restaurateur.

Inspired in its decor and the names of the dishes on the menu by old Hollywood glamour, this was Athens's first farm-to-table restaurant. Having received several awards over the years for its top-quality ingredients—mainly organic and sourced from small producers—as well as its great service and many healthy comfort-food options, it's also set up in Kifissia and Mykonos. The all-day restaurant has an easygoing and upbeat urban ambience and serves creative as well as classic modern Greek, Asian, Mediterranean, and North American--inspired cuisine to suit all tastes, moods, and dietary requirements. You can head here for a full brunch, lunch, or dinner or order a great bottle of wine accompanied by several appetizers to share with friends. If you have a sweet tooth, don't miss out on the dairy and sugar-free olive oil ice cream, which comes in several indulgent flavors.

This charming little taverna, all pastel colors and spindle-backed chairs, is a cozy retreat from the busy streets outside. Named after the chef's grandfather Nikolas Oinomagiremata, traditional hearty recipes are delivered with charm and, while there is no knockout view to distract you, the food works hard to keep you entertained.

"The only time this kitchen closes is if I'm sick," says Nikos Vile, who insists on cooking everything from mamboulas (a moussaka made with tomatoes) to maridakia (lightly fried whitebait) each day. You can sip an aperitif at the bar or hide out in the vine-covered courtyard.

Considered by many to be the finest of the city's seafood restaurants, family-run Nireas comes with little fanfare or pushiness, just impeccable service and a peaceful vine-draped setting apart from the hubbub of the center. Prices compare well with lesser spots in the city, especially for the quality of produce, and staff won't try to hustle you into spending big, as is the case with many seafood restaurants here where bills can suddenly rocket. Good service and quality food rule.

Sip quality coffee in the pretty garden setting of a Neoclassical mansion-turned-museum. Whether you want to see the country's most extensive collection of coins spanning through the ages or just head for the café to meet a friend, the experience is always pleasant. The menu includes salads, light snacks, and desserts as well as wine and soft drinks.

Diners at this side-street Thessaloniki institution rub shoulders with lawyers, students, out-of-towners, and workers from the Bezesteni market. Complete with an outside terrace, this family-run taverna sits opposite an old Turkish bath (loutra means "baths"). Try grilled koutsomoura (baby red mullets), grilled eggplant, mussels in rice pilaf, or smelt or shrimp sautéed in a casserole with cheese and peppers (saganaki). Do sample the owner's own retsina from the barrel and check if they have the exquisite kazan dipi, a marvelous flan with a slightly burned top, sweetened with a hint of rose water. For extra atmosphere, there's the bouzouki music every Friday and Saturday night.

On a picturesque pedestrianized square, this is one of the oldest tavernas in Plaka (established 1932). Although not as great as it was during its glory years when intellectuals and artists sat here sipping retsina until the early hours, it's still well worth a stop. It is a district landmark—set midway between the Tower of the Winds and the Museum of Greek Popular Musical Instruments. Most of the crowds prefer to relax under the courtyard's plane trees (which give the place its name) rather than dine inside the cozy dining room, at least when the weather is pleasant. Locals come here because the food is good Greek home cooking. Don't miss the oven-baked potatoes, lamb or veal casserole with spinach or eggplant, the stuffed squid, and the cheap but delicious barrel retsina. It's also open for lunch.

Perched above Agkali Beach with stunning views, this is the fish taverna you have been daydreaming of, with wooden chairs, paper tablecloths, and sea breezes to keep you cool. Comforting homemade food, moderate prices, and friendly service make this a must-visit on the island.

Since 1945 O Skotadis has been serving a large selection of mezedes for starters and mostly fresh-fish mains (a good option is the fried katsoula fish, cleaver wrasse), usually to be accompanied by ouzo, the classic Greek anise drink. See if you can snag a table (reservations are best) on the second-floor terrace with its panoramic view of Aegina's harbor. Don't forget to try the large fresh salad with caper leaves.

Locals and tourists pack the waterfront terrace, drawn in year-round (not all restaurants here stay open in the winter) by the quality of the seafood in this basic taverna with reasonable prices. Farm-raised crawfish (karavides) are simply boiled and sprinkled with lemon—a true delicacy. Crispy fried calamari and shrimp, tender grilled octopus, and whole fish such as chargrilled snapper are fresh as can be. Complete the feast with boiled greens, grilled eggplant salad, a large village salad, and a carafe of local wine. A good standby for the winter months when options are reduced. 

The antithesis of the noisy café-bars that proliferate across the road in Lakka Square. This is defiantly a tea shop; it has no pretensions to nightlife, it just serves wonderful teas in a variety of herbal and dried-fruit profusions on its rooftop terrace. Bliss. 

A well-kept secret bandied around by expats and locals. This ebullient street-side café-ouzeri in the old town bustles of an evening under the shadow of the plane trees. Classic Greek dishes are given the care and delight they deserve by a pair of chefs who have never met a pork skin they didn't want to crisp to perfection, and driven by what's fresh from the market. Musicians often stop by to soundtrack the evening.

Classic and modern Greek tastes with Mediterranean influences are served with gusto and finesse. Whether you're after a well-grilled, juicy steak or a hearty pasta dish, a fresh crisp salad, or fresh local fish, you're bound to enjoy the homestyle offerings at this quality place. Tables line the decorated exterior along steep Ploutarchou Street though year-round there are also seats indoors.

A location in the old town, near the lemony confection of Ypapanti church, makes this a serene spot to while away the evening. The restaurant was a popular local wine store dating back to the 1960s, and it is still run by the same family. Pick between seats on the street at the front for people-watching, or retire to the shaded patio at the rear, which is filled with fruit trees. The menu is a mix of Greek and Italian fare, though given a lighter touch than most places and with plenty of seasonal flair. 

Founded way back in 1898, this is one of the few remaining Plaka tavernas serving reliably good food with excellent Acropolis views. It doesn't draw the same crowd of locals as in the past, and it doesn't just serve fish, as the name suggests; rather, you'll find simple tasty entrées such as rooster in wine sauce, arnaki pilino (lamb baked in clay pots), moussaka, grilled meat, and wild mushroom risotto.

This lovely, unpretentious little restaurant in the trendy Ladadika district has become a local favorite. Delightful Greek-Mediterranean dishes are tastefully presented to reflect the chef-owner's culinary stint in France. As one would expect, the menu, written in chalk on a blackboard at the front of house, varies according to what's been netted at the local food market. The grilled fish is succulent and well-seasoned, showing a delicate touch, and the seafood risotto with a tomato pesto is a staple that keeps people coming back again and again. The great prices ensure Omikron always stays busy, so it's always best to book a table in advance.