A guide to food and drink in Samos

Exploring Samos' delicacies

Samos is famous for its traditional moussaka recipe, and the quality of the fish and seafood the local fishermen catch. Shrimp or prawn saganaki appears in most restaurants, and consists of succulent king prawns cooked in a tomato, garlic and ouzo sauce.

Many Greek restaurants serve quite large portions, so you might not need to order one main meal per person at your table. Instead, consider choosing a range of dishes and sharing them all – that way you get to try everything, and after all, a little indulgence is what a holiday to Greece is all about.

Fresh fish and Cypriot charm at Stella, Ormos Koumeikon

Stella is a charming family-run restaurant located in the small village of Kokkari. It specialises in homemade traditional Greek and Mediterranean dishes, and there’s no menu. Your chef will come to your table and discuss tasty options for you to choose from the catch of the day, such as octopus and fresh fish.

You can dine amongst the trees and greenery while you enjoy the scenic views in their shady terrace. When the sun goes down they turn on fairy lights to add a little bit of magic to your Greek island holiday.

The real Greece at To Kyma, Ireon

This friendly restaurant is a good place to sip a glass of ouzo and try delicious food while looking out onto the bay. It has a superb open air terrace that juts out into the sea, so you can take in amazing views over the small bay across to the mountains.

You’ll find a wide menu at To Kyma, and they’re happy to accommodate vegetarian and vegan diners so that everyone has a tasty meal they’ll really enjoy.

Try something new at Antonis Taverna, Chora

For fresh and tasty authentic Greek cooking with no fuss, try Antonis Taverna in Chora, near Pythagorion. The lovely courtyard of the taverna is a small paradise, and you can be as be adventurous as you like with your order.

You’ll find a menu here, but you can also ask them to bring you a mix of small appetiser dishes which are great to share. You could try out some perhaps unfamiliar local dishes such as Greek peppers stuffed with feta cheese, fried chickpea balls or tzatziki, which is a tasty cucumber and yoghurt dip.

Samos wine by The Ballad of Bill & Salome, Votsalakia

You’ll always get a warm welcome at The Ballad of Bill & Salome – Bill runs the place while Salome cooks up a fantastic Greek menu which changes regularly. All the Greek classics are made here – including shrimp saganaki, baked feta, traditional stews and salads – and they go brilliantly with Bill’s own wine.

There’s plenty of seating on both sides of this roadside restaurant, so you can always find a table where you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s an ideal place to go with the kids too as it’s also right on the beach.

Sunshine and Kosmos Tavern, Avlakia

Just along the coast from Kokkari you’ll find the picturesque fishing village of Avlakia. The village is home to the Kosmos Tavern, a traditional family-run restaurant on the located on the shores of a small bay. Here you’ll enjoy fantastic views across the water to tree-topped mountains while you dine.

At Kosmos Tavern they specialise in seafood such as octopus and prawns, classic Greek cuisine and barbecue grills such as spare ribs with peppers and mushrooms. They also serve a wide selection of delicious local wines to accompany your tasty meal.