We were blown away by the amazing Mediterranean food options on the island. Basically, you can’t go wrong. But to make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of our 8 favorite places to eat in Santorini and the surrounding area!
1. Taverna Katina’s
This bustling but low-key restaurant is located at the Amoudi port on the Northwestern tip of the island. Taverna Katina’s is THE place for seafood on the island. It is set overlooking the sparkling waters of the Amoudi Bay. May we suggest watching the sun set at the Castle of Oia, then walk down the Oia steps to the port. Regarding what to eat, they specialize in delicious, fresh seafood and it’s best to ask your waiter what is recommended for that day. You can choose from a couple of different preparation styles. P.S. We were told Gordon Ramsay likes this place – can’t confirm or deny it for sure though!
2. Candouni
We were completely blown away by the hospitality of this romantic and authentic Greek restaurant in Oia. The owner welcomed us in and even allowed us to watch the sun set on his private terrace before whisking us back downstairs to dine. You must try the Greek salad here, as well as the grilled Haloumi cheese. The ambiance is very romantic as there are beautiful flowers everywhere and lots of flickering candles.
3. Kasteli
This restaurant is laid back and more casual than many of the restaurants in Oia, with picnic table cloth covered tables overlooking the Aegean Sea. Definitely try the lamp chops which are freshly prepared in front of you. The octopus and moussaka is delicious as well.
4. White Lounge Restaurant
This chic establishment serves modern Mediterranean cuisine with a stunning view over the caldera and surrounding waters. We recommend making a reservation through the website right around sunset time before dining. We particularly enjoyed the fritters and the souvlaki.
5. Drakos Taverna
This waterside taverna on Ios island (a 35 minute ferry from Santorini) is laid back and relaxed, but provides exemplary service and stunning views. We wandered over to the taverna during the day in order to reserve one of the waterside tables for that evening. Later on we enjoyed an absolutely delicious meal of seafood linguine, local cheeses of Ios, and calamari. They also gave us delicious complementary ice cream!
6. Ios Club
This is a swanky upscale dining experience. Check out our Greek Salad below, it looked very different than any other Greek Salad we ordered in Greece! Beverages are pricey but delicious. This is a place people go to socialize and to be seen. They were setting up for a wedding while we visited and it looked like it was going to be gorgeous.
7. Karma
Usually when restaurants have a super extensive menu it means they’re just OK at whatever they’re serving. Labeled an “Italian restaurant” on Google maps, Karma has a wide menu including many different varieties of pizza ranging from 7 to 12 euros a pop. They also serve up a delicious breakfast menu. All of the drinks we tried were wonderful as well. We would classify this as a laid back beach bar, and spent many hours lounging away in their brightly colored shaded hammocks looking out at the ocean.
8. Santorini Sky
This dining experience gets points for location and view, more than for the food (though the food was pretty good too). Advertised as being set on the highest point in Santorini, this private dome literally elevates your dinner to the next level. Food is from the nearby Agaze bistro, and we recommend the sea bass starter and mushroom risotto.
