24 Best Restaurants in The Northern Aegean Islands, Greece

This waterside favorite serves seafood that's grilled to perfection including the island's famous sardines, all caught locally. It's best to enjoy the fresh fish and seafood, garden-grown vegetables, and tantalizing homemade dips as small mezedes to be shared. Make a reservation or get there early as it fills up quickly. The family owners also rent upscale houses a short walk away. 

A standout among the many affable places along the harbor front, Elia is a little more sophisticated than its neighbors and with a modern European focus offers a refreshingly eclectic take on Greek cuisine with a big nod to local flavors. Fish-focused, the dishes are meticulously presented and as pretty as a picture. As you would expect, the wine list is full of Samian vintages as well as a few of the best from the rest of Greece.

Take a water's edge table at Skala Sikaminia’s oldest taverna, under the shade of the mulberry tree where Myrivilis used to write, and watch the fishing boats track in and out of the tiny harbor. You would be remiss to not eat fish here; ask what the catch of the day is and order some fried zucchini to go with it, maybe some calamari, the house Skamnia salad, and, of course, some ouzo.

This centuries-old landmark on the main thoroughfare between the old and new harbors dates back to Ottoman times, and is perhaps the best place in town to sip ouzo—you'll be sat beneath a vine-shaded terrace with fresh flowers on your table and plenty of old-world relics to eye while you wait. A long list of mouthwatering and excellent-value mezedes are on the menu, such as smyrneika soutzoukakia (spicy meatballs), octopus in wine sauce, long-cooked chickpeas, baked aubergines, and homemade sausages, plus traditional desserts.

A favorite stop in Chios Town is this cool ice-cream shop that has been making its best-selling ice cream for nearly 100 years. It is open from 10 in the morning until 10 at night and it is always busy. The praline is famed, but new flavors are given a trial every month and you have to try the mastica when in Chios.

This social enterprise restaurant was founded by four Greek women seeking to integrate the refugee population into island society. Volunteer-run and offering employment to refugees from the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond, the refugee chefs cook a global cuisine: you can start your meal with Syrian tabbouleh, then have Ethiopian fava stew as a main, and an Afghan sweet for dessert. Pick up a copy of their cookbook as a souvenir of your visit.

Family portraits hang below a wood-beam ceiling that shows off its 19th-century distillery origins, but it is the jasmine-scented yard that sees most of the theater. Traditional cuisine is combined with modern gastronomy to great applause—this is food worth cheering. Turkish influences appear in the use of citrus, soft fruits, spices, and salads are particularly inventive, but let the menu lead you where you fancy; you will not be disappointed.

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.

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.

This friendly family-run spot in the hill village of Kagiani, next to Varia and just south of Mytilene, has wonderful views of Mytilini town, the Aegean, and Asia Minor beyond. Grilled octopus, crisp fried fish, stuffed zucchini flowers, and flavorful salads are served in traditional Lesvos style as small plates to accompany ouzo. It's best to reserve in the busy summer months, when locals and returning visitors crowd in to enjoy the evening breeze and twinkling lights.

For nearly 50 years sunset dinners have been a specialty with views over the island and harbor from the large, wide veranda of this yellow-and-green-dressed charmer. Leave the fish dishes down in the harbor, up here the emphasis is on hearty meat—grilled lamb chops are nicely spiced, lamb is slow-roasted in earthenware pots, sausages are piquant and punchy, and the salads enormous and fresh.

An ever-popular ouzeri and grill on shady Thassou Street in the Old Town is an almost mandatory stop while shopping along adjoining Ermou Street. Fresh grilled baby calamari and lightly fried courgette flowers stuffed with cheese are among many enticing bites that accompany the generous selection of ouzo. Some evenings local musicians come and play rembetiko (Greek folk music), which makes the ouzo taste even better.

In the quaint seaside village of Petra, this pretty garden restaurant set amid potted plants and vine-matted pergolas specializes in grilled meats. The usual gyros and souvlaki are offered but it serves traditional Greek favorites, too—lamb chops, kebabs with yogurt, and a wide selection of local cheeses. Family-owned and freshly spruced up, it's a popular spot for the locals who sit down to chit-chat over coffee throughout the day.

Nice views and a modern menu make this sleek, gastro-burger, tortilla wrap, and pizza restaurant perched on the harbor a must-go. Pulled pork, Bloody Mary ketchup, fiery chili sauces, and house-made pickles are made in an open kitchen, and the natty decoration and chilled atmosphere add to the good vibes for those who have tired of the local cooking.

The fishing boats bobbing in the water only a few feet away supply the kitchen with a rich daily fish selection. Meats served at the simple taverna include homemade sausage, and lamb or beef on the spit. You can sit outside among the ivy and blossoms, where Limenas, Mesta's working harbor, unfolds before you. On colder days, enjoy the fireplace with the locals. The owner rents studio apartments within walking distance.

Get past the silly name, and you will find surprisingly assured cooking at this stylish harbor-front trattoria. A cozy outdoor area is a romantic venue for handmade pizza, pasta, and risotto dishes to be shared with a glass or two. The open kitchen also does a good selection of grill dishes and salads—it makes a nice change from taverna style eating.

Very cool and chic, the industrial-style decor wouldn't be out of place in New York, never mind sleepy little Samos. A cosmopolitan, international menu serves up brunch-style dishes, alongside freshly roasted Brazilian coffee. At night, the lights dim and creative cocktails are served as the trendy crowd watch the sunset on the small upper deck.

The enormous anchor and octopuses drying on a line outside are signs that you are in for some seriously good seafood. Tables set on a wooden deck are just a skipping-stone's throw from the break of the waves. Walk past in the morning and you will see last night's catch being delivered as the chefs lovingly stuff grape leaves on the terrace. Authentic and traditional, this is the ultimate farm-and-sea to table taverna in town.

With views across the waterfront, the Sugar House's display cases heave with all manner of biscuits, cakes, and baked goods. From morning until night, locals and travelers alike come in search of the ultimate sweet treat. A coffee and a cake, or a bowl of ice cream, makes for an indulgent break in the day at this cute little patisserie. 

"The Chickens" has been a Samos institution for over 50 years serving simple yet delicious seasonal dishes throughout the day in a laid-back atmosphere. Unashamedly rustic and traditional, it is famous for its grilled chicken, obviously, but also for a homemade meze selection that remains faithful to the past.

A regular Pythagorion clientele frequents this simple fish taverna in a vine-covered garden courtyard on a quiet, tree-lined side street a block back from the harbor. Honest and authentic, lovers of uncompromized and uncomplicated dishes will not be disappointed. A grill on the terrace is expertly handled and dishes are often simply garnished with local vegetables, a splash of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. 

Up the hill toward the top of the village you will find this popular gathering spot with tables straddling a bridge that crosses the main thoroughfare. The menu consists of local favorites and most of the delicious produce is homegrown. You can't go wrong with a simple Greek salad and a plate of locally made and surprisingly tasty touloumotiri (a cheese left to mature in a goat's skin).

On the harborfront, two spoons is what you will need to share the delicious sweet creations from this cozy little coffee shop. Shaded waterside tables are just the place to enjoy decadent desserts all handmade on the premises. Fruit salads and healthy bowls are offered at breakfast but islanders flock here for the indulgent cheesecake, mille-feuille, and ice-cream creations.

Sometimes it seems like everyone in town gathers at this friendly harborside spot, where the emphasis is on fresh seafood and traditional home dishes. What distinguishes this locale from its neighbors is the quality of its ingredients and the skill of its cooking. Locally grown vegetables and Samos wines accompany the meals, which are served with care by the friendly staff.