5 Best Restaurants in Nafplion, The Peloponnese

Noulis sits on the very edge of the Old Town, stashed away like some treasured secret. It's a little pricier than the average taverna, but its small-plate menu is full of thrills. If chef Andrianos Andrianopoulos can't turn your dish into a flaming inferno in front of your eyes, he's not happy—order the cheese flambé and guard your eyebrows. More homely delights are found in the fried anchovies, punchy skordalia (garlic-potato dip), or the lamb shank with artichokes that arrives bathed in a citrus-heavy gravy that demands to be mopped up with bread. A welcome escape from the crowds of quayside or Staikopoulou Street.

Nafplion locals are demanding when it comes to seafood, so it's a credit to this attractive, nautical-themed taverna on the waterfront that locals pack in to enjoy expert dishes made from fresh catches. The kitchen sends out such traditional accompaniments as a memorable taramosalata (fish roe dip) as well as a few meat dishes, including exquisitely seasoned and grilled lamb chops.

A cute little breakfast and brunch spot just up from Syntagma Square. Organic produce and homemade jams and cakes make this a great little find, though it's so tiny that it can only cater to a few people. Get there early—it shuts at 2 pm.

Charcoal-grilled meats are the specialty in this snug, high-ceilinged old room tucked away in the backstreets off the harbor. There's usually a slew of off-the-menu blackboard specials, which are worth scrutinizing and typically stray away from the more standard mezedes and moussakas that dot the regulars. The warm hospitality and accomplished cooking make this a steady favorite. 

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.