Walking into a traditional Greek Taverna is like being welcomed into a close friend’s home for a lovingly prepared homestyle meal. Plan to linger, savor local wine, inhale the enticing scents wafting from the kitchen, and eat delicious, wholesome food. The taverna is where friends and families gather to eat, drink, listen to music, and catch up on the local gossip and news while soaking up the atmosphere.
Tavernas tend to be small, intimate eateries with excellent, inexpensive local food.
What Characterizes a Traditional Taverna?
Tavernas are usually small, intimate, family run restaurants that offer locally sourced foods at reasonable prices. Greeks like to eat out often and their tavernas offer inexpensive places to dine. Tavernas are an integral part of Greek daily life and act as the town’s gathering place, much like English pubs. The service is relaxed, and patrons will often stay for an entire evening of food and music.
The romantic outdoor seating area at Metaxi Mas has a stunning view of the sea.
What Kind of Food Can You Expect In A Taverna?
Tavernas rely on simple, fresh ingredients, so plan to eat what is in season. Greek food relies heavily on local olive oil, honey, grilled meats, fish, cheese, bread, and vegetables, including eggplant and tomatoes. Taverna food is spiced simply, allowing the natural flavors to burst on your tongue. Foods like eggplant are elevated to gastronomic works of art. Locally made wines are poured freely. The robust, organic wines are minimally processed, and offer your palate a bright, clean taste.
An excellent medley of delicious food lovingly prepared and beautifully presented.
If you are looking for authentic Greek food prepared in a traditional style a taverna is a perfect place to choose. Reservations are recommended, especially on the more populated islands like Santorini, but are generally not essential. Your attentive staff provides a warm welcome and often serves a complimentary appetizer. The menu may look basic, but the fresh ingredients are perfectly prepared with minimal spices, to allow the glorious flavors to meld together and shine.
A luscious Pomegranate Cheesecake dessert to share.
Santorini
One of the best-known Greek islands, Santorini is a favorite tourist haven known for its whitewashed blue domed buildings, amazing sunset and sea views, lovely beaches, and an abundance of accommodations.
The exotic menus in Santorini’s popular restaurants are packed full of delicious food. Reservations are essential and your waiting time for a table can be hours, especially if there’s a sunset view. You’ll sit side-by-side with other tourists enjoying the island’s rich food bounty. But, if you meander away from the city centers, you’ll find enticing, intimate local tavernas that offer simpler food and a more relaxed experience.
Here are some Santorini restaurants that offer the most authentic and exciting taverna dining experiences.
The Traditional Village of Finikia
The winding and romantic streets of Finikia, a traditional Greek village on Santorini
Instead of fighting the crowds to eat in excellent, but expensive, upscale Oia restaurants, stroll about 15 minutes to Finikia and enter another world that still feels centuries old.
Finikia, a well preserved, traditional Greek village on the outskirts of Oia, features tiny cobblestone streets that meander up and down, and around the distinctive whitewashed buildings. Walking through Finikia’s softly lit streets, you’ll experience lots of local character and intriguing side streets to explore.
Traditionally known for its farming and vineyards, Finikia has large underground caves, called Kanaves, carved into the mountainside. Here, Santorini wines were made and stored. One of the most famous caves called Kanava was carved in1848 and was also used for celebrations and festivals.
Two wonderful tavernas, Lefkes, and Meze Meze, are within walking distance from Oia, the best place to see Santorini’s exceptional sunsets. Perched up on hillsides, these two tavernas provide excellent valley and sea views. They serve inexpensive, traditional foods that have been eaten by the locals for centuries. Each taverna serves excellent Greek and Santorini wines.
The variety of delicious dishes include Feta Cheese wrapped in Pie Crust with Honey and Sesame Seeds, and succulent Grilled Octopus with Feta. I love Octopus, and the Greeks prepare the most outstanding Octopus I’ve ever eaten.
Excellent pan-fried, crusted Greek Feta Cheese and covered with Sesame Seeds and Honey – YUM!
Grilled Octopus is a local delicacy that was fabulous eating everywhere.
Lefkes
In 2016, the owner of the Kanava Cave joined forces with a famous Athenian chef, and—together with two other foodies—they created Lefkes in an old winery. The Lefke’s emphasis is on traditional taverna foods with a modern twist that enhances the dishes without sacrificing the flavor or essence of the original recipes.
Fabulous grilled Meatballs in Yogurt sauce at Lefkes.
The original winery structure is visible, and the multi-level restaurant has a few tables at each level, providing intimate and romantic spaces to dine. The bathroom has a glass floor cutout showcasing the original wine storage area below that is illuminated with soft lighting. This is a surprising and engaging reminder of the building’s history.
Michael and I enjoyed a table for two that was tucked away on a private balcony at Lefkes – Divine!
Meze Meze
On another side street within Finikia’s maze of footpaths, is Meze Meze. Translated, this taverna’s name means “small plates”. Meze Meze displays an extensive menu of inexpensive and delicious treats. And getting there is half the fun. Even using Google maps, you can arrive close enough to “see” the restaurant, but still be challenged to figure out how to choose the right path and get to the taverna’s entrance.
Meze Meze’s extensive listing of starters run between 6 and 10 euros. Its main dishes cost between 9 and 12 euros, so it is easy to sample many of them, and enjoy a delicious meal—including wine—without paying a huge bill.
The excellent fried Octopus with Fava at Meze Meze.
Metaxi Mas – Located in the Middle of the Island in Exo Gonia
The third taverna, Metaxi Mas, is in a class all its own. It is larger than most traditional tavernas but because of three separate dining areas, it retains an intimate feeling. Metaxi Mas’s food is consistently rated fabulous on every foodie website.
Succulent grilled Beef with Vinsanto sauce, served with sauteed Mushrooms, Asparagus and Potatoes flavored with fresh Thyme.
Every dish is excellent, and I wish that we had the time to dine there more than once. Don’t miss the Grilled Wild Boar Sausage; just one of their remarkable culinary delights. Metaxi Mas serves the boar sausage with mustard, coarse salt, Cretan green olive oil, and potatoes sprinkled with oregano – simple and delicious.
The Wild Boar Sausage at Metaxi Mas was incredible – served with Mustard, Potatoes with Oregano, and Olive Oil.
Insider Tip – Reservations are a must at Metaxi Mas. Metaxi Mas is at the end of a small street that can’t be navigated by car, and parking is nonexistent. A GPS will direct you to a nearby church parking lot. Park in the church lot, walk towards the church and then down the stairs. You’ll find Metaxi Mas at the bottom of the stairs.
Experiencing Tavernas on Santorini
When visiting Santorini, be sure to step away from the tourist centers to encounter an authentic Greek cultural experience focusing on perfectly prepared, fresh, local food. These three excellent tavernas provide the perfect settings to enjoy eating, drinking and soaking up the local atmosphere. Απολαύστε (enjoy!)
Sidebar Info:
Lefkes
Website http://lefkes.gr/lefkes-santorini/?lang=en
Hours Everyday 1.00p.m.-12.00a.m.
Address Finikia, Santorini
Phone number +30 2286 072211
Email info@lefkessanto.com
Meze Meze
Website no website
https://www.facebook.com/MezeMezeSantorini/
Hours Everyday 1.00p.m.-11.30 p.m.
Address Finikia, Santorini
Phone number +30 2286 072242
Email mezemeze.santorini@gmail.com
Metaxi Mas
Website http://www.santorini-metaximas.gr/en/
Hours Everyday 2.00p.m.-11.30 p.m.
Address Exo Gonia, Santorini
Phone number +30 2286 03132
Email info@santorini-metaximas.gr
Author and Photographer Bio –
Candi Licence is a Travel Writer and Blogger who is passionate about travel and culture. She loves to go off the well-traveled path to discover the heart and soul of each location. www.CandiandMichaelontheMove.com
Michael Straley is a professional photographer who specializes in Beauty and Fashion photography. www.straleyphotography.com
