The Best Santorini Restaurants: 6 Restaurants You Need to Try
Rana Good is the founder of Naïra NYC. A writer for publications such as Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Coveteur, Mens Journal and others, she created her own platform celebrating women of color.
People from around the world come to see Santorini’s beautiful whitewashed homes, blue-domed churches, and winding footpaths. They also come to enjoy the amazing cuisine the island has to offer, everything from street food to casual seaside fish restaurants to fine dining. I’ve visited the island many times truly indulged, here are my six favorite Santorini restaurants on the island
1. Varoulko
Santorini is famous for its stunning sunsets, however, many viewpoints are absolutely overrun by people trying to get the perfect photo when day turns into night. That’s why it’s an excellent choice to book an early dinner with an unobstructed view like Varoulko at the Grace Hotel. The outdoor seating gives you a panoramic view of the horizon and the Mediterranean Sea — and you can toast the sunset in peace. The food here is also stellar; try their crispy seabream toast which comes with a pea puree — a tasty and crunchy bite. The chef, Chef Lefteris Lazarou, is famous for his seafood creations so make to sure to get a fish filler or shellfish creation. The restaurant also has a great selection of Greek wines.
After a few days of feasting on Greek food at various Santorini restaurants you may want to dabble in another cuisine, and Nobu is always a good choice. This is another stunning sunset location where you can witness the sky change colors over a great cocktail. No Nobu visit is complete without tasting the classics like jalapeño yellowtail, rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce and black miso cod. They also have some unique dishes at this location like caviar tacos and beef carpaccio with caviar and truffle. And, of course you need to try some of their sushi.
3. Andronis Luxury Suites Breakfast (Pictured top)
Santorini is famous for abundant breakfasts, ones where you soak up the Mediterranean air outside overlooking the island’s strikingly white landscape. One of the best Santorini restaurants to get a luxurious al fresco breakfast is at Andronis Luxury Suites, a favorite among honeymooners. You can choose to have breakfast in your suite or head to the restaurant. I chose to head to the restaurant because the views are spectacular and you can eat while looking at the ocean and the famous Santorini coastline. Pick from an array of juices, coffees, and teas, then try their black truffle eggs served over greens which were a favorite. As you can see from the photo at the top of the article, I was super happy about my selection.
4. Pitogyros
Your meals don’t all need to be fancy or expensive in Santorini, come to Pitogyros for a quick and easy bite that’ll cost you less than 5 €. You can’t go wrong with their pork souvlaki which is served with tzatziki tomato, onions, and fries. Or go for the very shareable mixed grill which comes on a platter. If you’re more of a sandwich person there’s also a juicy ribeye option and plenty of salads and sides if you don’t want to eat meat.
5. Lauda
Lauda is the perfect blowout meal for a couple or family in the center of Santorini. Come here for an ultra-luxe dining experience where you can enjoy everything from foie gras to caviar to lobster if you have their eight-course Discovery tasting menu. At €185 per person, it’s a splurge (even for Santorini restaurants) but one you’ll remember for a long time. My favorite dish at Lauda was the yellowtail served with caldera seaweed and cactus, all of which came together for a great sour, salty, and cooling bite. As an uni lover, there’s also a great sea urchin dish on the menu which is flavored with coffee on the menu, an unexpectedly great combination.
6. Red Bicycle
Not too fancy but also not too casual, Red Bicycle is a restaurant institution in Oia and has been around for 15 years. The restaurant is located in a 19th-century mansion and offers stunning sunset views and overlooks the volcano caldera. Enjoy Greek dishes like dolmades, grilled calamari, seabass, and eggplant salad while the Santorini breeze blows through your hair. Among Santorini restaurants, it’s beloved by locals and tourists.
