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We've compiled the best of the best in The Cyclades - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This beautifully designed patisserie offers a range of delicious bijou creations that look like works of art. Gorgeous and chic, they are the best sweet treats on the island and would not look out of place in a Parisian boutique. A breezy shaded terrace with views is a great place to take a break and indulge yourself.
The life-size black-and-white cow outside tells you that you have arrived at the best ice cream shop on the island. Made from Syros milk by an Italian ice-cream maker, funky flavors exist alongside the classics.
Descend into the rustic interior of this bakery and you will feel like you have stepped back in time; Gioras dates back to the 18th century and is the oldest working wood-fired bakery in the Cyclades. Take a couple of pies for the beach, or sit with a coffee and a slice of baklava and breathe in the history.
A short walk through Isternia's mazelike streets leads to an unexpected terrace in the shade of a plane tree that overlooks the Aegean. Sitting here makes you understand how the gods must have felt, idly toying with the people below. Grab a table at the front if you can, order a spritzer and soak in the rays of the dying sun—the view is one of the best in the islands, a pure blue wall of sea and sky.
Candy lovers of all ages will adore this bright little shop where sweet alchemy happens when multicolor lollipops and sweets are made before your eyes.
On the road to the windmills, this is the prettiest place to relax over breakfast. Under a bougainvillea shade, healthy plates of yogurt, muesli, and fruits are perfect pick-me-ups to start the day, alongside classic eggs and crepes.
The smart option for tasty street food in Fira—the Middle Eastern--inspired dishes are a delight here—quick, healthy, and inexpensive. There is a small indoor dining area but the steps and benches outside are a great place to swap tips and photos with fellow travelers.
This pastry shop and bakery is the local go-to for anything traditional and sweet. It's known for Tinian specialties such as almond paste candies called psarakia tinou, and cheesecake bites made with Tinian cheese called gliko tiropitaki tsibiti. You’ll find yourself walking away with little gift boxes filled with your favorites, but before you go try their homemade ice cream.
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.
Run by the Paros Kite Pro Center and EuroDivers crew, this is the best place to recuperate after a session on the waves. Great omelets and breakfasts are offered along with pizza, burgers, pasta dishes, and fresh juices. Indulge in retail therapy at the sister surf shop next door.
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.
Winding whitewashed streets lead to this little beauty serving superlative local products at great prices. A tiny courtyard with a treasure trove of a shop behind it awaits in Ano Syros—small plates of delicious homemade joy are your reward. Tuck in with a flask of ouzo or their hand-squeezed lemonade with ginger.
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.
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.
Food fashions come and go in Mykonos, but one thing that never goes out of style is souvlaki. Get the cleanest and tastiest in town at Pepper—tiny, with just a few tables outside, this is the answer to all your street-food needs.
Greek cuisine was always vegan friendly, and now Rhino has brought street food into the 21st century. Souvlakis are reimagined with tofu nuggets and mushrooms, Greek salad gets vegan feta, and lentil and beetroot burgers leave you feeling healthy and virtuous. A nice change from the many meat-centric tavernas, the delicious food is a must for all.
The balcony overlooking the caldera on top of this café-cum-bakery-cum-pizzeria is a prime spot for lazing over breakfast, a coffee, or a home-baked pastry. Open all year, too, for soothing summer ice cream or warming winter waffles.
On the backstreets of Naousa, this is the place for healthy breakfasts and brunch. A white-tiled interior is decorated with goofy art and handwritten blackboards extolling the superfoods used in their dishes. Think home-baked granolas, avocado on toast, fruit smoothies, and quinoa salad. Replenish your vitamins and minerals, then return in the evening for delicious cocktails until the early hours.
Offering a variety of rich homemade ice creams, fresh waffles, and minisize "waffins," Waffle House has expanded since it opened in Naxos Town to the country's capital in Athens. Nevertheless, the Naxos original is a local favorite, and tables get packed here.
