I was already a huge fan of Greek food heading into our recent trip to Greece, but was blown away by how amazing every single thing we ate was. Added bonus: If you’re a low carb diet, there are plenty of options to indulge without feeling any guilt.
When we arrived in beautiful Santorini we were overwhelmed by the number of beautiful restaurants serving up Greek fare. But, with a little research and the guidance of our friends, we made reservations at some of Oia’s most delicious restaurants. Here’s our round up of where to eat in Santorini:
Set in the mansion of a captain, the 1800 restaurant is a beautiful restaurant that dates back to 1845. We were blown away by the décor and how the restaurant took pains to decorate with antiques and pieces from the period.
Now, onto important matters: Food. We sat at a table on 1800’s rooftop at around 8 p.m. and enjoyed an aperitif as the sun began to set right before our eyes. For those looking to partake in Santorini’s famous sunset, 1800 is the perfect place to watch the sky turn brilliant shades of pink, orange and purple as you sip on some Greek wine.
The menu at 1800 is vast and has a fair share of Greek classics that are presented more elegantly and modern than some of the other restaurants we spotted. I opted for the cod, given how fresh all of the fish in Santorini is. It was cooked to perfection and presented in such a delectable way with a vile of sauce tucked into its side that I could use to my own liking. It was served with a bed of greens and celeriac, meaning it was a tasty dish but super light. We also tried their lamb, which was delicious and came with a side of couscous. We particularly loved the sauce that the lamb was served with.
The service was wonderful and the chef sent out a bunch of extras for us to really sample the cuisine. Watermelon and whipped cream drinks? Fine by us! I rarely write about bread baskets because I avoid them like the devil, but the bread was too good to pass up, and it came with Greek olive oil that is just amazing and way different from Italian olive oil. We loved the ambiance at 1800 so much that we wound up staying well after dinner and sipping on cocktails while watching the sky change colors. It’s a really romantic venue and the perfect place to wine, dine and take in the view. For the men: there is a menu of Cuban cigars to choose from and enjoy on the roof with your aperitif.
Located at the Andronis Exclusive, Lycabettus is a gorgeous outdoor restaurant on a cliff with views of the Aegean for days, and food just as good as the views. Lycabettus gets our award for the best cocktails in all of Greece. This may have led to us getting a little tipsy at dinner, but it was well worth it. Their aperol spritz is amazing, so definitely give it a try. Even better was a passion fruit concoction on the menu called the “Bartender’s choice.”
Our meal at Lycabettus was long and lingering, aided by the fact that the chef sent us out loads of dishes to try gratis, all of which was ornately presented. One such dish was a deconstructed Greek salad which was delicious. We started with seared tuna in a peach sauce with couscous that I honestly could have eaten for the rest of my life. It was cooked perfectly and the sweetness from the peach perfectly complemented the salt of the tuna. Both of us rated that two thumbs up. Next, I had a wonderful cod (couldn’t get enough cod on this trip) that came in a puree with beetroot. My friend had seabass that was also cooked nicely and came in a delicious, colorful broth.
Although we were too full to even contemplate dessert, out came another surprise from the chef: a tasting block of delicious desserts and pastries, from seared marshmallows to chocolates and tiny cakes. We ended dinner with nice glasses of ouzo, when in Greece!
if you’re heading to Santorini, you’d be remiss not to make a reservation at Lycabettus. Make sure to book early, as seats on their patio do fill up. Added bonus: they have a no children rule!
Right on Oia’s main street, you’ll find Red Bicycle by the iron bicycle that sits atop the doorway. Walking in, the restaurant is the epitome of shabby chic: think all-white everything and hanging lanterns. The restaurant is housed in a 19th century mansion with the dining room outside overlook a cliff.
The wine list was a standout (they do not serve cocktails) and there is a major focus on Santorini’s wines, which have a different taste from other wines because of the volcanic nature of the region. If you’re into wines, this is definitely a restaurant you should book.
The food portions were dainty but packed with flavor. For a starter, we shared the deconstructed spinach pie, which was delicious. We also had a Greek salad that was a twist on the classic, with tomato-flavored ice cream. I then had seabass with vegetables while sipping on Greek white wine.
The restaurant has an ethereal, boho vibe, which we appreciated.
Booking a trip to Santorini? Check out our Travel Guides:
Travel Guide: Where to Stay in Santorini
Travel Guide: A Day at Sea With Sunset Oia Sailing
Travel Guide: Where to Eat in Mykonos