From line-caught calamari to grilled scorpion fish netted on the sea-soaked rocks of the Aegean, Greece is a world-class gourmet heaven.
Exquisite seaside settings and vistas of ancient temples combine with wonderfully authentic backstreet tavernas. Whether it’s fusion cuisine at a cool Athenian restaurant or sampling spiced goat in a mountain village, the choice is dazzling.
Here is our ultimate guide to gastronomic Greece.
Santorini
1800-Floga is housed in a restored sea captain’s mansion in Santorini. Refined and quirky, expect a creative menu at this award-winning eatery. Guests can dine alfresco on the rooftop, with breathtaking views of the famous caldera (volcanic rocks) and Aegean Sea below.
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Rhodes
Catch the freshest fish of the day – and potentially a glimpse of a local Greek celebrity – at Hatzikelis in Rhodes. This multi award-winning seafood restaurant offers signature dishes including lobster, jumbo shrimps, sea urchins and sun-dried octopus. Enjoy a choice of 100 wines from family-owned vineyards as you gaze out over the dramatic ruins of the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh.
For a more laid-back feel, Arhontiko is set in an old ship captain’s house that dates back to 1605. The interior is eclectic and traditional, but the seafood is regarded as some of the best on the island. Run by Dimitris and Flora, you are always assured a friendly welcome – plus there is an outdoor terrace offering views over the Acropolis.
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Corfu
In 2020, Etrusco in Corfu won two Golden Chef’s Caps Awards and was voted the best restaurant in Greece by Athinorama magazine. In the lush groves of Kato Korakiana, creative Corfu-inspired culinary art – from tender slow-cooked lamb to goat cheese ice cream with tomato jam – awaits you. You can dine amongst the olive trees in the beautiful open-air courtyard.
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Crete
In Avli in Rethymno, Crete, you can expect nostalgic Greek cuisine with a modern twist. Set in an atmospheric 16th-century Venetian merchant’s house, arguably the best Cretan cuisine on the island is served in a dining room that doubles as a multi-tiered internal garden. Drop in for a cooking lesson at the weekend, or browse its artisan produce shop.
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Mykonos
Liasti is a much-loved beach club and restaurant right on the sands of Lia Beach, which serves mouth-watering delicacies – from lobster tagliolini to organic vegetables that are grown onsite. The space is sleek, open and bright, and just steps from the azure water.
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Athens
The Michelin-starred Varoulko Seaside is a must for fine dining mainland style, and is widely renowned as one of the best restaurants in Athens. Chef Lefteris Lazarou cooks up a gourmet storm with an exquisite menu featuring dishes such as octopus carpaccio with smoked fava beans. With a glamorous waterside location overlooking yachts and fishing boats in Mikrolimano Bay, this venue has the ‘wow’ factor.
Funky Gourmet is true to its name. Awarded two Michelin stars, this fabulous eatery is Greece’s answer to Heston Blumenthal. The fixed tasting menu is all about creative Mediterranean cuisine: from foie gras disguised as a Ferrero Rocher, to a boiled egg and soldiers made from chocolate, fruit and vanilla sponge. A recent relocation means that you’ll now find the restaurant in the Athens Hilton Hotel – this is molecular gourmet heaven for city-lovers who want fresh, to-die-for dishes.
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Athens insider tip: For a table under the stars, and overlooking the ancient ruins of the stunning Acropolis, check into Strofi or Orizontes.
