8 Best Restaurants in Milos, The Cyclades

Romantic and rightly popular, Barriello has an enviable position with views of the sea and the village square. A 150-year-old mansion has been repurposed to good effect by charismatic owner Takis, where local ingredients, mostly grown on their own farm, are confidently presented. It's more fine dining than traditional taverna but the tastes are refined and recognizable and it is generally regarded as some of the best food on the island.

On a cliff-side setting by the brilliantly painted huts of Mandrakia is the island's best fish taverna. The very essence of summer is to be had on the large terrace on the waterfront. The view is sublime but the food more than punches its weight. Order a bottle of white from their well-chosen list and enjoy the best seafood with the waves splashing by your feet. With a no reservations policy, be prepared to wait for a table.

Magic happens in the kitchens of this farm-to-table eatery. A handwritten menu in a school exercise book guides you around the local approach of the Psatha family; if they can't grow it or rear it themselves, they don't sell it. The ingredients in front of you are born of the sun and the earth, all served in a leafy courtyard where geraniums fight for space with herbs for the pot. Quirky touches abound—your bread hangs from the back of your chair in a string bag, and meals are served on handmade terracotta—but it all makes sense in this singular evocation of the island's terroir.

The standout option for locals and visitors alike amid the tavernas that cling to Pollonia's pretty waterfront. Small plates showcase local specialties artfully presented, while mains update traditional recipes to luxurious gourmet dishes. Into its second decade, service is assured and friendly and it is one of the best places on the island to while away an afternoon or evening.

Tables meander out onto the alley at this relaxed Plaka restaurant where the focus is on fresh flavors, and classic recipes are refined but still recognizable. This is traditional Greek cooking at its best with a confidence in ingredients that taste of their environment. The personable staff keep things moving, even handing out wine to those waiting to dine. It is worth the wait.

The name means "ark of flavors" and the number one bakery in Milos is the place for breakfast in the shaded yard, or to stock up on lunch essentials before a trip to the remote beaches.

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.