What to eat in Santorini

It’s always nice to try new things when you’re on holiday, but let’s be honest, sometimes you just want to eat something you know and love. We get that. And lucky for you, those Greek classics are even better on Santorini! Showcasing everything that’s great about Greek dishes, the moussaka here is an authentic slice of Mediterranean cuisine. Aubergines, ragu, grated cheese and a beautiful béchamel sauce – well, we’ve got another name for it: perfection. If you want to try an updated version of this classic, you can also find a number of restaurants who throw onions into the mix along with traditional herbs such as thyme, mint and oregano.

If you haven’t indulged in a kebab or two, it’s debatable whether you have even experienced food in Greece. A mainstay for meat-lovers everywhere, kebabs and souvlaki are simply delicious regardless of whether you’re ordering them from a restaurant or a street vendor. 

Seafood lovers rejoice! Santorini is home to some of the freshest fish dishes in all of Greece. Just forget ‘catch of the day’. Here, you can sit down at a seaside taverna and sample some catch of the morning. Popular menu items include grilled octopus and squid, fresh mussels in a tasty broth, sea bream, and some particularly large prawns. Another island favourite is what’s commonly known as sardela (pronounced sahr–theh–lah). While these are a lot like sardines or pilchards, at the same time they have their own unique taste. 

With all this talk about meat and fish, you’d be forgiven for thinking there were no vegetarian options – but you couldn’t be more wrong. The ‘mezze’ style of traditional Greek food means there are countless little dishes suitable for those who don’t eat meat. There are lots of locally grown peppers, tomatoes and aubergines – which are then stuffed with rice and herbs to create a truly tasty meal. One of the most quintessential Greek foods is spanakopita, a spinach and feta cheese pie. You’ll find it on every menu, in every café, in every market and also on every traditional Greek food stall. 

Vegans are also catered for with fabulous dishes like domatokeftedes – a traditional Greek dish of mint and tomato fritters which makes a wonderful palate cleanser.

What would a Greek food guide be without a sizeable section on Greek salad. Iconic in every sense of the word, it’s incredibly tasty no matter where you order it – but it’s particularly memorable when you can enjoy it in a seaside taverna watching the sun come down. For those not up to speed on Greece food facts, a Greek salad consists of a hearty portion of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, a healthy drizzling of olive oil, plus herbs and some fresh feta. There really aren’t many things which can better that.

When it comes to Greek street food, Santorini is right up there. Fira Town Square is a great place to go when you want to pick up a meal that won’t break the bank, with Nick The Grill being a particularly likely spot to find a mouth-watering gyros. Many locals can be found with street food in hand down on the island’s beaches, with Kamari and Perissa beaches being particularly good spots to track down something to your taste.  

Those with a sweet tooth will find numerous options to keep them happy on Santorini. Like many other Greek islands, Santorini is renowned for producing its own honey. This wonderful honey has a distinct flavour thanks to the variety of wild plants, herbs and flowers upon which the island’s bees feed. Popular desserts include well-known dishes like baklava, walnut cake, and also kataifi. This is a local treasure consisting of a soft and doughy dessert wrapped around chopped almonds, dusted with sugar and cinnamon, and finished with a huge helping of ice cream.