Top 5 fantastic restaurants to visit in Santorini, Greece

Psatha is a modern restaurant and cocktail bar celebrating an irresistible fusion of Mediterranean and Greek cuisine. The arched walls of the venue seamlessly merge the inside space and the outside sitting area, so guests can take in the Aegean Sea vistas while basking in the elegant ambiance. It possesses a welcoming seaside vibe, complete with white tables, wooden chairs, hanging diffused lighting, and a thatched roof. The interiors are lavishly designed using elements of bamboo, ocean rocks, and polished steel.

The kitchen invites you to savor a thoughtfully curated menu highlighting the freshest ingredients combined with herbs, spices, and exotic island produce. Diners can relish scrumptious dishes like grilled octopus with fava beans, pesto linguine with lobster tail, two mushroom risotto, roasted salmon filet with pea purée, and grilled sea bream with butter-glazed baby vegetables. Psatha also features an exclusive cocktail bar serving fruity smoothies and refreshing drinks like paloma – a citrusy mix of tequila, Cointreau, and grapefruit soda; creamy piña colada, and peachy bellini.

Opened in 1973, Aris is one of the oldest restaurants in Santorini that serves traditional and international cuisines elevated by local wine pairings. It features a lovely veranda hanging over the caldera cliff, providing endless views of the volcano under the stars and the seaside landscape. The establishment has an indoor dining room made up of minimalistic modern furniture, whitewashed walls, and several hanging landscape pictures which are a treat to look at. But like for every restaurant in Santorini, it is the shaded outdoor terrace that draws thousands of visitors to Aris. The veranda consists of different sections with gray and white wooden furniture, situated by the swimming pool of the Loucas Hotel in Fira.

The menu is designed by Chef Nikos Magganas, who has become a local legend thanks to his approach to cooking with respect and care for his customers’ desires. Some of the specialty items you can sample at Aris are grilled salmon and braised potatoes, seafood risotto, lamb shank with shrimp croquettes, and Sfakiani pie. You can accompany all your dishes with a glass of raki from their impressive wine list.

Fistikies is a vibrant restaurant in the heart of Santorini. It is situated near Kamari Beach, where pistachio trees (fistikies in Greek) have been traditionally cultivated for over a century and continue today. The quaint dining spot has a colorful and lively atmosphere with one of the best outdoor seating areas in the city. The interiors are tastefully composed of polished wooden furniture, beautiful pebbled flooring, and hanging paper lantern lights. The alfresco terrace includes cushy sofas, wicker lighting, and lots of natural greenery.

The menu consists of Greek and Mediterranean delicacies with a strong focus on seafood. Indulge your taste buds in specialty dishes like souvlaki, moussaka, sautéed chicken bites, orzo pasta with shrimp, crispy sea bass filet with steamed vegetables, fried codfish with potato-beetroot purée, and quinoa salad with grilled shrimp. Do not miss out on their decadent desserts: baklava and Greek custard pie. For an intimate and flavorful gastronomic experience, Fistikies is a must-visit restaurant in Santorini.

Situated in a courtyard directly across from the Santorini Arts Factory, Salty Bone is a simple, small, and inviting restaurant with an unmatched understanding of what seafood should taste like. The decor resembles a vintage veranda of a beautiful house: wooden lawn chairs, hanging miniature lantern lights, and rustic pebbled walls surrounded by trees.

The kitchen is run under the leadership of Chef Vassilis Akrivos, who combines traditional and ancient Greek recipes with new culinary ideas and techniques to create inspiring dishes. You can enjoy unique seafood delicacies, such as smoked eel with caviar, anchovy filets marinated with black garlic, eel with angel’s hair pasta, salted cod roe with onion, sea bass ceviche, and grilled truffle shrimp. The wine list comprises around two dozen labels from different parts of the country, with an emphasis on whites.

If you are a fan of succulent meats, the Lefkes restaurant in the scenic village of Finikia is the place to add to your checklist. In olden times, Finikia was the hometown of the farmers who worked on the volcanic-rich soil and the surrounding vineyards. Lefkes honors its locale by offering visitors authentic Mediterranean dishes created with fresh organic ingredients from nearby areas. The space is charming and serene in its ambiance, surrounded by a great deal of colorful decorative plants and flowers. The outdoor seating is rustic and homely, with simple wicker chairs, flooring full of rocks, and bamboo furnishings.

Patrons of the restaurant can get a taste of local hospitality by savoring signature dishes that combine time-honored Greek recipes. Start your meal with delicate appetizers like beef mousse meatballs and eggplant potatoes. Continue onto fresh salads made of watermelon and arugula, or cherry tomatoes with mint and feta cheese, topped with pine nuts. For the main course, relish entrées like lamb spaghetti, beef steak with potatoes, and truffled mushroom risotto. Finish your lavish dinner with their milk pudding served with a syrupy crust sheet filled with vanilla ice cream.

Santorini is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated Greek islands. The glistening golden beaches, white villas, and buzzing bars make it easy to fall in love with this heavenly place. And a host of cafés lining its cobblestone streets and a variety of taverns serving traditional food make Santorini a joyful destination for globetrotting foodies.

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