462 Best Restaurants in Greece

Elegant but unpretentious and located in Piraeus's prettiest spot—the Mikrolimano (little port) marina where sailboats, fishing boats, and yachts bob up and down in the sea—Papaioannou is a classic fish restaurant for those craving every kind of seafood (from mouthwatering razor clams, crawfish with spinach, and sea urchin, to marinated, grilled calamari and fried giant shrimp). For romantics, the ideal time to visit is sunset, although this is a great place to take your family for a fish feast or even have a stylish and tasty business lunch.

This family-run taverna at the foot of Mt. Parnitha is popular for its mountain views and cozy fireplace in the winter, as well as for its serene garden with tall plane trees providing a much needed respite from the summer heat. The menu is built around grilled meat, mostly ribs and chops, served by the kilo on heaping platters. Accompaniments include lightly fried zucchini, eggplant chips for dipping in the yogurt-garlic tzatziki, and delicious pies of wild greens wrapped in thick, hand-rolled phyllo.

Just around the headland west of Yialos harbor, Paradeisos nestles next to the closest stretch of beach to town, where it rents loungers for €5 a day and offers an array of water sports plus chilled beers, snacks, and dips, and even a small library of tattered paperbacks for beach reading.

Totem poles, colorful coconut lamps, tiki masks, and a raffia roof make this beach bar endearing in its evocation of the South Pacific, as if the setting wasn't transporting enough. Serving omelets, fruits, yogurt, and sweet Greek coffee for breakfast, the rest of the day runs an eclectic Asian-Mexican menu, alongside pasta and pizzas. Loved for over 25 years, it attracts a bohemian crowd who appreciate the diverse soundtrack and cracking cocktails.

Kalavrita has far more to offer, dining-wise, than its seaside cousin. This peaceful spot, just south of the busy Kalavrita Square, has an outdoor space away from the crowds, beneath a shady tree. The menu is just as comforting, and the lamb shank is some of the tenderest meat you'll come across. Rustic favorites, from rooster to wild boar, bulk out a menu that doesn't disappoint. 

In a restored sea captain's mansion, stone walls and arches provide the backdrop to some of the best food in Crete: traditional cuisine brought to life with modern techniques and presentation. A 24-acre farm is dedicated to supplying the restaurant with seasonal local produce, much of it organic, and the flavors really shine through. Stand-out bread is made from ancient grains, salads are creative, and there is pure theater when syglino, smoked pork chop, is bought to the table in a paper bag with smoldering thyme and sage leaves. Punchy cheeses, plentiful vegan and vegetarian options, and a brilliant wine list make this a must-go destination. Reservations are needed in high season as it gets very busy.

Set on the shady square where Hippocrates reputedly once taught in the shade of a vast plane tree, Platanos is a breezy space with an airy inner lounge and outdoor tables. Its limited menu of thoughtful mains utilizing only the best local ingredients is testimony to the attention paid to the cookery here—think glazed octopus slathered in grape molasses. Live music accompanies meals on some evenings, to boot.

For one of the best dining experiences in the city look no further than Presvia restaurant/bar. Housed in a carefully restored two-story listed building, formerly the Italian Embassy—hence the name Presvia, the Greek word for embassy. Owners George Tsolis and Yianna Tefa have expertly come up with playful takes on Greek and Mediterranean dishes. In summer you can dine out in the lovely courtyard or on the breezy little porch.

From flaky, buttery croissants to eggs Benedict on smoked salmon-covered brioche to many more sinful and super-satisfying bites and top-quality coffee blends, this is the ideal stop for a leisurely morning start or a quick, delicious escape from the city's frenetic pace.

A 19th-century mansion is the stage for one of Santorini's most storied eateries; a traditional white exterior and glossy painted door lead to a chic interior and a terrace with caldera views on all sides; people call to not only make reservations but to request specific tables. The food is a match for the surroundings; assured and confident, it is an elevated take on the traditional island cuisine with a very seductive wine list to complement it.

A friendly Corfiot restaurant housed in a classic early-19th-century building just behind the famous Liston arcade, Rex has been a favorite of the locals since the early 20th century. Hearty stews are on the menu alongside examples of modern regional fare such as slow-cooked lamb shank kleftiko with couscous and Corfu-style rooster. Look on the menu for specials that might also include some other unusual dishes.

A pastel-yellow courtyard hidden among the sea captains' mansions is where those in the know come to eat in Ia. Elegant and delicious, these modern Greek updates on classic cooking are rays of sunshine among the more tourist-oriented fare elsewhere. Rooted in island ingredients, this is food to make you smile. Friendly and down-to-earth staff help to make the experience memorable and the all-Greek wine list is particularly strong on the local Santorini offerings.

Back in Fira, the restaurant that set Santorini on its own gastronomic trail continues to entice and impress in its new incarnation in the imposing setting of an 18th-century Catholic monastery. The ingredients of the Cyclades are redefined under the watch of Michelin-starred chef Ettore Botrini for a one-of-a-kind experience—this is some of the finest dining in Greece.

For many repeat visitors a trip to Paros is unthinkable without a visit to Siparos. This storied eatery is along the coast of Naousa Bay in the beach town of Santa Maria and well deserves its reputation as one of the island's finest. A stunning seaside location is enhanced by an elegant and modern design. Bold, contemporary tastes are teased from traditional recipes but it is in the fish dishes that the local Paros flavors sing loudest.

On a tiny pedestrian street a block back from the harbor, sweet sorcery takes place. Extraordinary creations are offered; minitarts, macarons, and éclairs that would grace the finest Parisian patisserie. The pastries are beautifully presented and look like they belong on a Michelin-starred dessert menu. Tea and coffee is served in fine china; choose the charming interior or the alleyway tables but be prepared for serious cake envy from passersby.

This place shines with an original style of cuisine that the restaurant describes as an "earthy philosophy" (which has earned it Michelin's Green Star), because all of its fresh ingredients are organically grown in chef Tassos Mandis's garden in Aleopochori village just outside of Athens. Set in a beautiful 1920s mansion with a warmly lit two-level garden, Soil presents a gourmet set menu of 15 dishes that changes every season and transports diners from the sea to the land via dishes that honor seafood, meat, and fruit and vegetables in visionary and indulgent ways. Note that the beautiful ceramic crockery is all handmade by Mantis' wife, Elia Lampiri, at her MUD LAB studio.

Globe-trotting chef Fred Chesneau finally set down roots in Paros, bringing French-influenced dining to the island. A romantic flower-filled garden with white ironwork furniture is a pretty match for the weekly changing fixed menu that features the best locally sourced seasonal produce. Just 30 lucky diners each night get to experience a food journey that may take them from Paros to Paris via Bangkok and Tokyo.

The first of the Ammoudi fish houses that opened in the 1980s is still a standout among the several excellent tavernas that line the quay in this tiny fishing port just below Ia—you can walk down and take a cab back to town. Lapping waves, bobbing fishing boats, and tables so close to the water's edge that a clumsy move might add a swim to the evening's entertainment, testify to the freshness of the fish, which is simply grilled. Most diners arrive in time to witness the sunset, but the meal often steals the show.

A deli-cum-meze restaurant serving the authentic cuisine of the Karamanlides, who were once inhabitants of Cappadocia and Cilicia in Asia Minor. Huge hams, salamis, smoked camel meat, and cheeses hang in abundance over the counter and are displayed through a glass counter. Try the homemade pies baked in a stone oven with sudjuk spiced sausage, minced meat, or various cheeses and vegetables. Salad dishes include Maria's spicy cheese salad, tabbouleh, creamy chickpeas with avocado, and eggplant salad.

This Kokkari institution is not just next to the beach, it is actually on it—take a table a few yards from the water and watch the sun set over the hills on the other side of the bay. An eclectic menu races around the Ionian Sea, offering traditional Greek classics alongside surprisingly good pizza and pasta from Italy, all at great prices. The vegetables and oil come from the family farm, and the dynamite Moschato wine comes from their vineyard high on Karvouni mountain.

Owner Tassia Dendrinou has become something of a local culinary celeb in recent years, with a couple of cookbooks to her name, and her quayside restaurant attracts celebs such as Tom Hanks, a frequent visitor to Fiskardo. Her menu is creative, with dishes such as octopus and chickpea puree and mussels stewed in Robola wine that makes fine use of the island's specialty ingredients. 

These old-school twin eateries, sharing the premises and kitchen, are located just off one of the Old Town's car-free shopping thoroughfares and are patronized as much by locals as by travelers—always a good sign. Oven-cooked dishes simmer in the open kitchen, while the savory aromas of lamb, pork, and chicken waft from the grill.

An unassuming yet high-profile and nicely renovated taverna, this classic restaurant recently celebrated a century of opening, and its devotees enjoy simple, traditional yet top-quality Greek food. From cabinet ministers, diplomats, and actors to intellectuals, its repertoire of loyal diners fills out the place at lunch and dinnertime, but always with a low-key vibe. The appeal is simple: skillfully prepared, flavorsome traditional Greek classics such as moussaka (layered eggplant and ground beef in fluffy béchamel sauce), and memorable side dishes like sweet shrimps in a homemade mayonnaise. The menu adapts daily to what's fresh at the open-air market with mainly ladera-style specials cooked in olive oil.

It's a little hidden on the Agora, but this cherished family-run establishment, dating back to 1897, is a must-visit. Skyrian cuisine fills the menu---the taverna offers dishes like lemon-infused goat, lobster pasta, and moussaka, all prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The cozy garden setting, coupled with the warm hospitality, will really make your trip to Skyros.

Noulis sits on the very edge of the Old Town, stashed away like some treasured secret. It's a little pricier than the average taverna, but its small-plate menu is full of thrills. If chef Andrianos Andrianopoulos can't turn your dish into a flaming inferno in front of your eyes, he's not happy—order the cheese flambé and guard your eyebrows. More homely delights are found in the fried anchovies, punchy skordalia (garlic-potato dip), or the lamb shank with artichokes that arrives bathed in a citrus-heavy gravy that demands to be mopped up with bread. A welcome escape from the crowds of quayside or Staikopoulou Street.

This famous taverna in the charming hill village of Kinopiastes has been in business since 1936 and is still run by the same family. The fixed-price menu includes all the food and wine. It begins with an endless series of small meze plates, followed by a main course, and concludes with a selection of local and exotic fruits and desserts. Toward the end of the meal, the live music and Greek dancing begin; patrons are encouraged to join in. The floor show does not take place every night, so ask about the schedule when you call to book. The famous clientele have included Jimmy Carter, Anthony Quinn, and Jane Fonda.

A stately menu taking inspiration from its Mani roots makes this breezy waterside restaurant the pick of Limeni's harborside dining. Dishes hum to the tune of the region's famed smoked pork sygklino, myzithra cheese, and a bounty of fresh seafood, from parrotfish atop wild greens plucked from the Taygettus mountains, to its impressive Greek "sushi."

There's a lot of fun to be had at this lively taverna, where tsipouro is more the order of the day than its wide range of gyros and souvlaki dishes. That said, its food is plentiful and delicious—and if you're lucky, your visit will coincide with a set from its resident three-piece rembetika band, who really get things going.

Koutouki ("little box"), aptly named for its diminutive interior, is a good value, just one reason this place is so popular with the locals. All the taverna favorites are here, but order something made with the local cheese, or the amazing hilopotes (local pasta) cooked in a chicken broth, or the divine celery-leek-and-beef meatballs. Anything served in this taverna is delicious and honest, and the local wine isn't bad either. Kali Orexi! (Good appetite!)

A traditional stone house built in 1850 is the setting for hearty lunches and dinners. In winter, dine near the fireplace and relish hot soups, lamb chops by the kilo, and grilled local talagani cheeses. In summer, the leafy terrace is one of the best seats in town, with salads, pastas, and fish dishes balancing out the traditionally meat-heavy mains. This is easily the most ambitious of Delphi's crowd-pleasing eateries, and it never fails to disappoint.