222 Best Restaurants in Greece

When Rhodians want a traditional meal, they head to this simple little taverna on a residential street south of the walled city. Dining is in a plain room and on a sparkling-white terrace in warmer months, where you can compose a meal of such delicious mezedes as bakaliaros (salted cod) in garlic sauce, pumpkin fritters, and zucchini flowers filled with feta cheese. It's a bit of a walk, but worth it for the quality of food and to escape the hordes of the Old Town.

Occupying the same spot in the New Market since 1946, this traditional café has been trendily face-lifted but stays true to its roots with a menu of salty snacks, sticky sweets, and more substantial seafood dishes. Plenty of dishes here are homemade, laced with specialist local ingredients. It has an excellent value-to-quality ratio and is a hit while in this part of town.

Set at a tree-shaded crossroads in the depths of the countryside, Tristrato was formerly an old wayhouse and still retains many of the building's original features. It now functions as a restaurant where you're presented with whatever they've got cooking—generally a choice between meat or fish mezes with salads and dips, all traditionally Greek. The location at the head of two valleys means there's always a cool breeze for pleasant summer eating.

Abutting the Sanctuary of Poseidon and facing the sea, this multilevel taverna offers traditional Greek taverna fare. Open all day, a stone's throw from the beach, and away from the wind that blights much of Tinos, the art of the grill is key here. Local meats and homegrown vegetables feature and fresh fish is available, depending on the weather.

A tree shades the terrace and blue, multipaned storefront of the Tsinari Ouzeri, the last remaining Turkish-style coffeehouse (opened in 1850) and the only one to have survived the fire of 1917. During the 1920s it became the social hub for the refugees from Asia Minor who lived here. Now a café and ouzeri (a bar where appetizers are sold), it is especially popular before siesta time (12–2 pm) and gets busy again after 9 pm. Have an ouzo and share delicious appetizers such as melitzanonsalata (pureed eggplant salad), octopus, or charcoal-grilled sardines.

In the Faragas area of town, overlooking the old market and in the shadow of the castle, Typografio gets its name from the former newspaper office it inhabits. Thick stone walls border charming terraces where local ingredients are put through their paces with some panache. Presentation is a step-up from most tavernas and the romantic setting is often accompanied by local musicians playing in the square below.

The excellent island cooking here is spiced up by the sea views, which you can savor from a seaside balcony table or right on the beach below. The mezedes menu includes traditional favorites like leek pie, fried eggplant, and smoked pork. Grilled lamb chops and other main courses are served as well. Live music is performed many nights, usually not earlier than around midnight—in fact, the restaurant's name, Tzivaeri, roughly translates as "my beloved" and is the name of a popular Greek folk song.

Loved by the locals, this traditional Greek restaurant serves belly-busting portions of gyros, souvlaki, and grilled meats to queues of hungry diners. With plenty of outdoor seating shaded by the immense canopies of fragrant pine trees, and with pretty pendant mood lighting, it's a chilled out space to eat after a scorching day at the beach.

A favorite of tourists and locals alike, Vyzantino is directly on Plaka's main square—good for a reasonably priced, well prepared, and traditional bite (like stewed meats such as beef stifado, baked lamb, and stuffed tomatoes) with a front seat to all the action.

The setting for Wild Duck's terrace, among the cluster of eateries that line up across from the quayside, affords views out over the water—and the food is every bit as delectable. The menu eschews the typical taverna favorites for Italian and Greek-style bistro fare: pork fillets in demi-glaze sauces and crayfish kritharoto (a local take on risotto using orzo) join plenty of pastas and steaks that have been given a local twist.

This slightly chintzy seaside beach hut belies a stylish menu filled with organic, gluten-free, and vegan goodies. Its focus on all things veggie perhaps explains away the fresh and leafy decor, but in the evening it turns more sultry, with a range of mouthwatering and creative dishes like delicious oat-crusted feta dressed with a zesty salad; beef cheek ragout; and plenty more besides.

The Tsirou family cooks delicious Greek classics with a Tinian touch. Try the Tinian omelet with sausage and fresh potatoes, or for a more hearty dish go for the savory roasted local goat. The desserts are homemade and change with the season. Every Sunday during the summer you'll hear live Greek music along with your meal. It's open all year.