What are the must-try Greek dishes?

Per region: Santorini fava and tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters), Cretan dakos (rusk salad) and lamb kleftiko, Athens souvlaki and gyros, Naxos potatoes and graviera cheese, Mykonos kopanisti (peppery cheese). Always order whatever the taverna grew or caught that day.

Santorini Secrets · Greece · restaurants

Best Restaurants in Greece — From Caldera Tasting Menus to Back-Street Tavernas

Q: Is tipping expected in Greek restaurants?

5–10 % is normal in tavernas. 10 % at mid-range restaurants. 10–15 % at fine dining. Many bills include a small service charge — check before adding more.

Hand-picked Greek restaurants — Selene, Metaxi Mas, Lauda, Argo, Lucky's Souvlakis, Bandiera Athens, Funky Kitchen Mykonos. Honest reviews of fine dining, tavernas, seafood, and Michelin-recognized spots from a Greek local.

TL;DR

In a nutshell

For Santorini specifically: Metaxi Mas (Exo Gonia) is the locals' #1 — book 4 weeks ahead. Selene in Pyrgos is the island's most celebrated fine-dining tasting menu (Tue–Sun, €€€€). Lauda at Andronis (Oia) has the best sunset dinner. For €15 souvlaki, Lucky's in Fira beats every restaurant in Oia. Avoid Oia's tourist-strip restaurants — head to Finikia, Pyrgos, or Megalochori villages instead.

Updated May 18, 2026By Pavlos Inglesis · Greek native, Founder & EditorReading time · 6–8 min

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From authentic island tavernas to Michelin-recognized experiences. Taste the best of Greek cuisine.

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What you'll find on this page

Greek restaurants fall into 8 broad categories: traditional taverna (the country's soul), seafood (psarotaverna), Mediterranean and modern Greek, fine dining (often with caldera views), Italian (heavy on the Cyclades), wine bars, vegan-friendly modern spots, and the venerable street-food souvlaki shop.

Reservations are essential at fine-dining venues (Selene, Lauda, Spilia, Funky Kitchen Mykonos) and at famous local favorites like Metaxi Mas — typically 2–4 weeks ahead in shoulder season, 6–8 weeks in July–August. Walk-ins work at most casual tavernas before 8 PM.

Pricing in Santorini and Mykonos runs 50–80 % higher than identical food on neighboring islands. A 6-course tasting at Selene is €120–€180; the same caliber menu in Athens is €80–€110. Stick to inland villages (Pyrgos, Megalochori, Finikia) and back-from-the-caldera streets for the best value.

Compare · sample listings

Side-by-side — at a glance

Per-person dinner price excluding drinks; Google ratings are aggregates as of May 2026.

Restaurant	Cuisine	Town	Price	Famous for	Google
Metaxi Mas	Greek · Med	Exo Gonia, Santorini	€€€	Beef carpaccio, truffle oil	4.7
Selene	Fine dining · Modern Greek	Pyrgos, Santorini	€€€€	Fava with smoked eel

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Explore Greek Restaurants

25+ restaurants found

Farm-to-Table, Traditional Greek

Lava Tavern

Santorini

Radically authentic Perivolos taverna serving traditional recipes with daily menu dependent on fishermen and farmer availability

4.6

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Grill & BBQ, Traditional Greek

Mavros Gatos

Athens

Beloved Pangrati neighborhood taverna serving exceptional meat dishes and traditional Greek cuisine with authentic old-school charm

4.6

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Taverna, Traditional Greek

Strofi Athenian Restaurant

Athens

Five-decade institution providing consistent Acropolis views with classic Greek cuisine from rooftop terrace since 1975

4.4

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International, Traditional Greek

Bandiera

Athens

Top-rated Psyrri restaurant specializing in rare Politiki cuisine traditions with Constantinople-influenced recipes and reasonable pricing

4.8

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Fine Dining, Grill & BBQ

Beefbar Santorini

Santorini

Prestigious international steakhouse in Oia bringing world-class meat cuisine and fine dining sophistication to caldera views

4.6

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Traditional Greek

Ella Greek Cooking

Athens

Family-owned urban Greek cuisine restaurant in Syntagma adapting traditional flavors for contemporary Athens dining

4.6

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Mediterranean, Vegan & Vegetarian

TRANQUILO

Santorini

Pioneer vegetarian beachfront restaurant on Perissa black sand serving plant-based Mediterranean cuisine with beach community atmosphere

4.6

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Taverna

Granada

Athens

Nostalgic traditional kafeneio preserving authentic Greek coffee culture with neighborhood social atmosphere and cultural conversations

4.5

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Contemporary European, Fine Dining

Kuzina

Athens

Historic mansion restaurant where internationally trained chef Aris Tsanaklidis creates Michelin-recommended modern Greek fusion

4.5

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Contemporary European, Fine Dining

Muse Bistro

Athens

Elegant fine dining restaurant in The Gem Society Hotel offering sophisticated Mediterranean cuisine with artistic presentation

4.7

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Contemporary European, Taverna, Traditional Greek

Santorini Mou Tavern

Santorini

Finikia family taverna transforming into celebrity musical venue with owner-performed concerts and wedding reception hosting

4.5

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Street Food & Casual, Traditional Greek

Kokkalo

Santorini

Authentic Greek restaurant in Firostefani maintaining traditional preparation methods with honest pricing and consistent quality

4.6

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Decision framework

How to Order Greek Food Like a Local

A 4-step ordering ritual that gets you the best meal at any taverna.

Start with 3 cold meze, not appetizers
Order fava (yellow split-pea puree), tzatziki, and a horiatiki (Greek salad) to share. Skip the bread basket — it is rarely free and rarely worth it.
Order one hot meze before mains
Tomatokeftedes (Santorini tomato fritters) or saganaki (pan-fried cheese). Both arrive fast and quiet the table.
Order seafood by weight

Restaurants FAQs

What is the best restaurant in Santorini?

Locals point to Metaxi Mas in Exo Gonia — a hillside taverna with a sunset terrace, beef carpaccio with truffle oil, and a 4-week-out booking window. For fine dining, Selene in Pyrgos has been the most awarded restaurant on the island for over a decade.

Do I need a reservation at Santorini restaurants?

Yes for any caldera-view dinner, tasting menu, or famous local taverna (Metaxi Mas, Selene, Lauda) — book 2–4 weeks ahead. Walk-ins work fine at souvlaki shops, lunch tavernas, and beachside restaurants in Perissa or Kamari before 8 PM.

How much does dinner cost in Santorini?

Casual taverna with wine: €35–€55 per person. Mid-range with caldera view: €70–€110. Fine-dining tasting menu (Selene, Lauda): €140–€220 per person with wine pairings. Lucky’s souvlaki: €10–€15.

Are Santorini restaurants vegetarian-friendly?

Yes. Greek cuisine is naturally vegetarian-rich — fava, tomatokeftedes, gemista (stuffed vegetables), Greek salad, grilled vegetables, lemonato potatoes. Vegan diners can ask for horiatiki without feta. Selene, Krinaki, and most modern restaurants have explicit vegan options.

Is tipping expected in Greek restaurants?

About the author

Pavlos Inglesis

Founder & Editor · Santorini Secrets

Greek, born and raised in Athens. 14+ years writing about Greek islands and mainland regions, with first-hand visits to nearly every destination on the site. Local expertise in Cycladic culture, traditional Greek cuisine, and island travel logistics.

Greek Local
Cycladic Culture
Greek Cuisine
Island Logistics

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Editorial standards

How this guide is researched

✓Editorial review — recommendations combine first-hand experience, local contributors, and direct source checks where available.
✓No paid placements — we accept no fees to be included. Affiliate revenue (Booking.com, Get Your Guide) supports the site without changing what we recommend.
— volatile hours, prices, and operator details are labeled with their source and review context. .

What you'll find on this page

Restaurant

Cuisine

Town

Price

Famous for

Google

Metaxi Mas

Greek · Med

Exo Gonia, Santorini

€€€

Beef carpaccio, truffle oil

4.7

Selene

Fine dining · Modern Greek

Pyrgos, Santorini

€€€€

Fava with smoked eel

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