Courtesy of Artie Photography (Artie Ng)/Getty Images
What to Eat in Santorini
While in Santorini, take full advantage of the fresh Greek fare. The island's climate in combination with its volcanic soil enhance flavors of the fruits and vegetables grown here. As such, Santorini has made a name for itself in the wine community, making a visit to one of the island's wineries a top attraction. In addition to delectable grapes, make sure cherry tomatoes (especially sun-dried), capers and white eggplant are part of one or more of your meals during your time in Santorini. The sweetness and white color of the eggplants here are a direct result of being grown in volcanic soil. Cherry tomatoes are another fruit that can attribute their taste to the unique soil. If you like eggplant, then you'll no doubt enjoy moussaka, a Greek-style lasagna that features layered eggplant, minced meat, fixins and spices topped with béchamel sauce. Other must-try Greek specialties include anything with olives and olive oil, especially a traditional Greek salad, as well as fava, a traditional dip made of fava bean puree.
Greeks are all about their dips. Along with fava and the famous tzatziki sauce (yogurt, cucumber and garlic), another must-try and uber-traditional dip is taramasalata, made from smoked fish roe and mixed with olive oil and lemon juice. Other popular small bites include dolmades and keftedes. Regularly served before meals, dolmades are seasoned rice often mixed with meat or vegetables and wrapped entirely in a grape or vine leaf. Keftedes are fritters commonly mixed with cherry tomatoes (tomatokeftedes) or grated zucchini (kolokithokeftedes). If you're after something heartier, you're in luck: The island, as well as the whole of Greece, have a penchant for grilled meats. Souvlaki, or seasoned skewered meat, often topped with tzatziki, can be found all over. Octopus, which you'll likely find hanging by its tentacles outside seaside tavernas, are also popular. And, of course, you can't leave without grabbing a gyro. Whatever you choose to eat, make room for dessert – baklava, a filo pastry layered with honey and ground nuts and loukoumades, or deep-fried donut holes sprinkled with hot honey and cinnamon, are local favorites.
You can find everything from quick gyros to casual eateries to upscale restaurants throughout Santorini. Head to Restaurant 1800 in Oia for fine dining and expertly presented Mediterranean cuisine. If you can, snag a table on the roof to enjoy sweeping views of the island's cliffs. Selene is another upscale option, conveniently located in Pyrgros, which houses a number of wineries. In Fira, the hundreds-year-old Taverna Nikolas is as traditional as it gets, offering classic Greek dishes at affordable prices. For a little romance, enjoy a candle-lit dinner at the edge of the caldera at Ambrosia.
Find the Best Restaurants in Santorini
- #1
Le Ciel Restaurant#1 of 42 Places to Eat in Imerovigli
$$ | International, Mediterranean, European, GreekEpar.Od. Firon-Ias, Imerovigli 847 00 GreeceRead More » - #1
Stoa Santorini#1 of 177 Places to Eat in Fira - #1
Jaipur Palace Santorini#1 of 15 Places to Eat in Karteradhos - #2
Confetti Dessert Boutique#2 of 42 Places to Eat in Imerovigli - #1
Armeni Restaurant#1 of 97 Places to Eat in Oia - #1
To Kafenedaki tou Emboriou#1 of 12 Places to Eat in Emporio - #3
FlyAway Creative Restaurant & Bar Powered by West East Suites#3 of 42 Places to Eat in Imerovigli - #2
Rakadiko MeRaki#2 of 177 Places to Eat in Fira - #1
Il Forno Pizza and Pasta#1 of 118 Places to Eat in Kamari
$ | Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, Neapolitan, Campania, Southern-Italian, InternationalPanagias Mirtidiotissas Kamari beach, Kamari 847 00 GreeceRead More » - #1
Santa Irini Bakery#1 of 62 Places to Eat in Perissa - #1
Misteli Restaurant#1 of 38 Places to Eat in Akrotiri - #3
Falafeland#3 of 177 Places to Eat in Fira - #13
Lombranos#13 of 738 Places to Eat in Santorini - #1
Aidani#1 of 3 Places to Eat in Vourvoulos - #2
Juicy Burger#2 of 118 Places to Eat in Kamari - #1
Terra Nera#1 of 4 Places to Eat in Agios Georgios - #1
Aroma Avlis Food & Wine#1 of 3 Places to Eat in Exo Gonia - #1
Meroula Restaurant#1 of 8 Places to Eat in Vlychada - #3
Gia Mas#3 of 118 Places to Eat in Kamari - #2
Margarita#2 of 34 Places to Eat in Perivolos
Explore More of Santorini
If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.