34 Best Restaurants in The Cyclades, Greece

Since 1922, three generations of the Roussos family have offered hospitality and fine food in this tiny blue-and-white taverna. Outside, tables overlook the caldera; inside, murals and paintings are by the owner. Traditional recipes and local ingredients are given room to shine and are presented well by the attentive staff. If you are lucky enough to get a reservation, the cozy atmosphere may well find you chatting with fellow diners who are just as pleased with their choice.

The old open-air cinema, steps away from the main street, has been lovingly reimagined as the island's gastronomic hot spot. A romantic pastel-painted courtyard festooned with greenery fronts the clearest expression of Tinos's outstanding produce, where clever contemporary trends are married to traditional techniques and recipes. Elegant and beautifully plated, dishes are offered by a brother and sister team proud of their island heritage. Every Greek child knows the song "There was a little boat" (Itan ena mikro karavi) and every visitor to Tinos should know its impressive namesake.

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.

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 shout 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 terra-cotta—but it all makes sense in this singular evocation of the islands terroir.

Fancy dining with the sand between your toes and the waves lapping nearby? Palatia on Agia Anna Beach fits the bill with traditional fare and a stunning view. Decorated in simple Cycladic style, with tables on the beach itself the menu features fresh seafood specialties and Naxian plates created with locally sourced ingredients. The whole beach dining scene can only be bettered if accompanied by a blazing sunset.

Tucked in a quieter corner of Ornos Bay, Apaggio is sparsely decorated and lined with large open windows for a perfect, unobstructed view of the sea. Romantic fairy lights twinkle overhead as you peruse the menu of Greek classics but it is probably wiser to ask about the selection of local fish. Fresh and simply grilled, this is the authentic way to taste the Island.

A jasmine-shaded front garden, candlelit at night, and an antiques-filled salon are the charming settings in a centuries-old sea captain's house for this traditional family taverna. All the classics are there, but perhaps the best approach is to order from the sizeable meze selection, wash it down with the very palatable house white, and soak in the cozy atmosphere.

A breezy veranda at the edge of the village looks down to the sea and across to Naxos. You'll come for the views, but stay for the food—the terraced fields all around supply the raw ingredients that go into the traditional regional cooking. This is food like grandma used to make: hearty, wholesome, and honest.

The hangout that is such a caldera-side hit in Fira also has a welcoming presence in Pyrgos, where cocktails and light snacks are served on breezy terraces overlooking the village, vineyards, and the sea. This spot is especially popular at sunset, but does a brisk business throughout the day, when the bar brews great coffee.

Dimitris and Koula Kapris's beachfront taverna is popular both with sun worshippers on Agia Anna Beach and locals from Chora, who come here year-round to get away and sometimes to dance until the late hours, often to live music. The daily-changing menu is extensive and the fresh fish comes from the caïques that pull up at the dock right in front every morning. The house wine comes from their own vineyards.

Bright, multicolor decor sets this apart from your average grill shop as does the freshest of food. Family-run, the owners take a real pride in their establishment. Superclean, superfriendly, and all at superprices. Perfect for a just-off-the ferry souvlaki as well as for dinner.

With no telephone number or signs, this simple little family-run garden taverna would likely be missed if there wasn’t a constant line of people waiting to grab a table—in the summer, expect to wait up to an hour. The sea views of Agios Sostis Beach are relaxing, and the perfect thing to gaze at as you wait for your meat and fish dishes that will be expertly grilled on a barbecue. The specialty is the pork cutlet but most traditional Greek tavern dishes are served with salads and creamy dips. To find it, head down a few steps toward Agios Sostis, but before the beach, off the paved walkway, follow the smell of barbecue and look for a line of hungry people.

The number one bakery of Milos is the place to stock up for your lunch essentials before a trip to the remote beaches. 

For a calming view of Naousa harbor and a taste of Greek seafood specialties done to perfection, head to Mediterraneo. Spruced up in 2022, here's the place to try traditional Greek taverna appetizers, including fresh grilled octopus and marinated anchovies, and dips like taramosalata (fish roe dip) and fava dip topped with caramelized onion, before mains that add a bit of contemporary creativity. A favorite is the dark and delicious black risotto with cuttlefish. Also delightful is the seafood orzo as well as a marinated grilled squid, crisped to perfection with the right dash of Mediterranean spices.

On a trellised lane by the harbor, this family-run taverna is a Tinos favorite, serving a wide range of Greek traditional and Tinian dishes. Main-course favorites include spicy lamb cooked in paper and calamari stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, and peppers. Starters such as local artichokes in vinegar sauce or hot eggplant slices wrapped around cheese, mint, and green pepper, and a light, rich mille feuille dessert might bookend a meal here. The name means "between us," and a friendly air prevails. The decor is traditional—pale stone walls and high stone arches—the staff is welcoming, and a fireplace in winter and summer air-conditioning keep it open year-round.

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 nearly 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.

It seems that just about everyone in Santorini looks forward to a meal at this village taverna. Even though the name means "between us," the secret is out and the key to success appears to be to keep it simple—the kitchen sticks to traditional home-style cooking from Santorini and Crete. You can only reach this rural outpost by car or taxi, though Fira is just a 10-minute ride away, so do make a reservation before you leave as it gets very busy.

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.

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.

This charming little taverna, all pastel colors and spindle-backed chairs, is a cozy retreat from the busy streets outside. Named after the chef and owner'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.

Except for the summit of Mt. Zas, there is no better viewpoint on the island. Next to the church of Panagia--Ai Giannis, a series of terraces give 360-degree views of the island. Open from midday, it is a great place for a coffee or a glass of wine to survey the lush green land beneath your feet or for a longer sojourn, the cuisine is hearty and traditional, strong on local meats and cheeses.

On the corner at the end of Agios Fokas beach, San To Alati—"like salt"—looks over the water and seven different islands are visible on a clear day from this whitewashed little taverna. The menu is wrapped in a fairy-tale book cover, and magic continues in the kitchen as the gifts of the sea are transformed into crowd-pleasing local cuisine with modern touches and super presentation. For once, the desserts and wine choice are not an afterthought.

Giorgos Vidalis's café and restaurant occupies a sophisticated and well-preserved neoclassical building on a pedestrian-only street. Select from international- and Mediterranean-influenced dishes, to be enjoyed daytime on the upper terraces that overlook the Turkish fountain and the passing scene. At night, it's interior is an ambient blend of pastel colors, elegant furnishings, and marble-topped tables. Try the Symposium salad, a delightful mix of French lettuce, avocado, grilled shrimp, and citrus vinaigrette. Main dishes include the sole fillet with parsley and basmati rice, and the Tinian veal fillet with peppercorns and roasted vegetables. The Greek wine list is impressive.

The queues that sneak around the block tell you who cooks the best fish in Tinos. At the far east of the harbor—Tarsanas means boatyard—a stylish wood interior and two outside areas are the setting for distinctive dishes prepared with the finest ingredients. The menu is based on fresh produce with respect to the traditional Tinian kitchen, and all the dishes are served in smaller sampling portions, with correspondingly small prices—all the better to do more sampling!

Tradition counts for everything at this family-run taverna. Like his parents who ran Klarinos before him, Andreas Ragoussis only uses homegrown vegetables and local meat in his dishes. Up the stairs, on the square, it has been here for years and rightly so.

They don't make them like this anymore. A handful of tables sit under lilac bushes outside this grocery store/café/mezzotaverna in the mountain village of Myrsini. The menu is scribbled into a school exercise book by hand and froutalia, the rich island omelet always features. Like stepping back into the 1950s, villagers come and go into the shop piled high with tins and packets, soap powder, and toothpaste.

Located in the central market, To Kastri is run by the Women’s Union of Syros, a group of ladies who cook 10 dishes a day—home cooking so good that local housewives secretly buy food for their midday meals here. Open all year, this cafeteria often sells out by early afternoon.