Greece Travel Guide (Part 1) – Best Places to Eat in Greece

I’m a huge foodie, so eating at good restaurants is always an important part of vacationing for me, no matter where I travel. I was excited to explore the dining options in Greece, as this cuisine has always been one of my favourites. I’m a total sucker for fresh olives and feta, warm pies and souvlaki, and don’t even get me started on the gelato and frozen yogurt. My expectations were exceeded on all fronts, with a myriad of options to choose from. For those with a more lackadaisical approach to dining, Greece is the place for you. The options are incredible …and endless! From fine dining to casual cafes, there’s something for everyone’s tastes buds and budget.

After spending just over a week in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, I compiled a list of my top 5 restaurants in Greece, best souvlaki joints, and greatest gelato/ frozen yogurt shops. While I’m sure there are many incredible places Nitin and I didn’t get the chance to check out, the culinary experience at these top 5 had our taste buds dancing in delight.

TOP 5 RESTAURANTS IN GREECE

M-eating – Mykonos

Located in the heart of Mykonos town, this place is quite romantic, but not in the conventional sense. Nitin and I requested a table outside, where we found ourselves part of the upbeat and entertaining Mykonos vibe. We started dinner at 11:30pm, and while the restaurant was completely packed, we found it to be extremely calming and romantic. Our table was filled with luscious flowers and candles, and the grey and white theme added the perfect touch of modern elegance. I recommend the octopus to start, which is served with green fava and black fish roe. The lamb fillet is a great choice for a main dish, full of zest and flavour. To sum up these dishes in one word …YUM! The food is unparalleled, and the service was top notch, so a definite recommendation when in Mykonos town.

Floga – Santorini

Situated in Oia, Floga is a small restaurant with a big name for itself. The food is amazing, and the view is beautiful – just what you would expect from Santorini! If you make reservations in advance, ask for the corner table on the terrace, which has a great view of the caldera. If it gets chilly and you forget to bring a sweater, the lovely staff are more than happy to provide you with a shawl to wear for the duration of your meal. Perched on top of a cliff, you’ll find yourself enjoying mouth-watering food, served by an attentive team of waiters. I had the fish (Santorini speciality) which was delicious, and Nitin opted for chicken souvlaki, for what I believe was the 7th night in a row. If you find room for dessert, I recommend the crème brûlée, which is served with quite the little fire show.

Avra – Mykonos

If you’re looking to dine somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of Mykonos town, Avra is the place for you. While this restaurant is located within Mykonos town, you’ve got to travel down a few narrow alleyways before reaching this enchanting secret garden. With candles dimly lit around you, and soft music playing in the background, be prepared to dine under colourful bougainvillea and cacti, while enjoying extraordinary food and good service. The tzatziki and sesame feta are great choices for apps, and the moist and flavourful chicken souvlaki is a delicious entree, which Nitin and I both opted for.

Argo – Santorini

While in Santorini, Nitin and I met up with some friends who recommended we dine at Argo, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with their choice. Located within the town of Fira, this restaurant features views of the caldera, as well as huge menu that will leave you wanting more. We started with the tzatziki (surprise, surprise), shrimp saganaki (not my personal fav) and the fried calamari. The entree choices range from grilled souvlaki to pizza and pasta to gourmet seafood options, with a section dedicated to vegetarian dishes. The service was good, the wine was delicious and the overall ambiance was modern and relaxing, perfect for a night out on the town.

Attikos Greek House – Athens

Nitin and I were only in Athens for one night, and Nitin had made reservations at this restaurant as he heard the view was amazing, and indeed it was! We had a beautiful table overlooking the Acropolis and city of Athens, both of which are stunning when lit up at night (scaffolding aside). The food is fresh and delicious, but I will advise that the service is quite slow here (it took 45 minutes to get our drinks). If you’re not in a rush, this is an ideal place to enjoy great company, magnificent views and delicious food.

I want to give an honourable mention to Scarpa Bar in Mykonos. While not a restaurant, this bar offers incredible views of the sunset and some of the best cocktails I’ve ever had.

If you’re looking for more recommendations, a great place to check out in Athens is Athinaikon Restaurant. We had a fabulous lunch here, and the place is filled with locals so you know they’re doing something right. Bring on the authentic Greek cuisine!

BEST SOUVLAKI IN MYKONOS

In terms of casual eats, Nitin and I were on a mission to find the best souvlaki in town. After trying what seems like a hundred options, here are our top three choices, all of which are in Mykonos town;

Pepper Souvlaki & More

We heard so many great things about Pepper, and had to see for ourselves if it was really worth the praise. I can assure you, it is! We spent a solid 30 minutes wandering the town on a mission to find this place, and when we finally did it was well worth the search. The perfectly packed chicken souvlaki is handmade and prepared to order. Filled with perfectly cooked fresh meat, and topped with the special Pepper sauce, it is absolutely delicious. These guys don’t skip a beat. Pepper is unlike the rest of the souvlaki restaurants we visited, in that it is more of a sit-down style dining, with the bill being delivered after you have finished eating (take-out is an option as well).

Jimmy’s

While it may not be the most neatly packed souvlaki, it is quite delicious and the meat is extremely moist (serious party in my mouth)! Guess that’s what happens when you’ve been in business for 30 years. Located near the main entrance of Mykonos town, it’s hard to miss this place, with the large signage and walls overflowing with pictures of tourists.

Souvlaki Story

The chicken souvlaki is delicious and tender, but ours came served on corn pita bread (not my preference), so make sure to ask for classic pita bread if you’re not a fan of the corn pita like myself. With limited seating, this place delivers quality food and good service.

While there aren’t as many souvlaki places in Santorini, I recommend checking out Lucky’s Souvlaki in Fira if you get a chance …delicious!

TOP GELATO/ FROZEN YOGURT PLACES IN MYKONOS

For those who follow along in Twitter and Instagram, it’s no surprise I have a huge sweet tooth! Upon arriving in Greece, I was pleasantly overwhelmed with the gelato and frozen yogurt options, and I’m pretty sure I tried at least half. While the vast majority of the places are great, here are my top two picks which really stood out from the crowd, both located in Mykonos;

Happyo

This place is known for its scrumptious frozen yogurt, using fresh Greek yogurt and milk. With a handful of flavours to choose from, there are a range of toppings available to make your own creation, and if you’re on the daring side, they recommend the honey (I wasn’t that brave). I kept my order simple, with chocolate frozen yogurt, topped with strawberries.

I Scream

Located close to the windmills, we would head here after enjoying the nightlife in Mykonos town. This homemade ice cream prepared with fresh milk is to die for! I hopped between the chocolate and lemon gelato, while Nitin usually went with the stracciatella.

And there you have it folks, the best places to eat in Athens, Mykonos & Santorini!

καλή όρεξη (bon appétit)!

Dining at M-eating