8 Best Restaurants in Spetses, The Saronic Gulf Islands

Spetses's most renowned restaurant has been evolving since it first opened almost three decades ago, and the owner, Giorgos—a local who grew up on the island working in his father's taverna—still loves what he does and it shows. Everyone from fishermen to Hollywood headliners know him by his first name, and a meal here is not to be missed, not only for the innovative upscale Greek-Mediterranean dishes and thoughtful wine list, but also for the elegant and romantic seafront setting and candlelit tables on a little pier jutting into the bay. Try the ceviche made with the catch of the day, the island's traditional fish a la Spetsiota and the grilled jumbo prawns. The restaurant also hosts events like weddings and parties.

At the back of the Anargyreos and Korgialenios School, overlooking Kaiki beach and the waters beyond, sits this lovely pine-shaded café. Named after the John Fowles classic (Fowles was a teacher at the school back in the day), the Magus Art Cafe is set in the school's beautiful gardens. The coffee is good, the snacks decent, and the cocktails satisfactory but these consumables are merely a secondary reason to spend a few magical hours here.

Dine on the seafront veranda in movie-star style at the iconic Poseidonion Grand Hotel, where this award-winning restaurant serves local island dishes that have been inventively redefined. Many ingredients come straight from the hotel's own organic farm, harmoniously complementing the headlining fresh seafood. Aside from the à la carte menu there's a sensational six-course degustation menu that starts with a playful welcome appetizer and pairs some of Greece's finest wines with masterfully made and beautifully presented dishes. All this overlooking Poseidonion Square and the Argo-Saronic gulf beyond. Reservations essential. Next door is the trendy Palms Bar where they serve delicious cocktails.

Hop onto the island's charmingly old-fashioned "taxi service"—a horse and carriage—at sunset and settle comfortably on the terrace of this award-winning restaurant, housed in a Neoclassical mansion from 1802 and overlooking a picturesque yacht and sailboat-filled marina. Order a cooling, spicy cocktail as you scan the menu and enjoy the relaxed yet sophisticated vibe. Like many of the other top restaurants on the island, fresh fish is the key ingredient here, and the chef at Orloff likes to include hints of Mediterranean and Asian tastes without overpowering the prime ingredient. Although the pasta and meat dishes are of high quality, aim for the seafood and fish selection to get a real island feel, and don't miss out on the delicious fava (yellow split pea dip). 

This delightful patisserie-cum-coffee shop in Dapia serves fresh cakes, chocolates, and the quintessentially Greek island almond macaroons.

This highly regarded restaurant and music "boit" is right on the water in Dapia and is the all-time classic bar and nightclub of Spetses (running since 1975). The food in the restaurant is pretty decent, too, and it's probably one of the better choices on the island. Lounge in the veranda's comfy armchairs surrounded by maritime antiques and savor the predominantly Mediterranean cuisine and cool cocktails, accompanied by piano music and a romantic view of the yachts moored in the quaint old port.

Sit on the waterside veranda or the garden across the taverna and savor seafood mezedes and fresh fish in one of the more affordable (although somewhat noisy) restaurants on this overall pricey island. The house specialties are the fish soup, astakomakaronada (lobster with spaghetti), shrimp saganaki (cooked with melty feta cheese), and crayfish. Magirefta (oven-baked dishes) include stuffed aubergines and oven-baked lamb. The chef makes a mean baked apple for dessert, but before you order, know that miniportions of baklava, karydopita (walnut cake), and spoon sweets with yogurt are on the house.

The owners of this spot are as unapologetic about the bad pun in their name as they are about the supertasty souvlaki they dish out. Order traditional gyro or souvlaki wrapped in a lightly grilled pita bread, to eat in or take out. They even cater to vegetarians, with haloumi, fresh summer veggies, or mushrooms wrapped in pita bread.