If you are planning a trip to Santorini, one of the most fascinating islands of the Cyclades, you will think first of relaxation and fun. In fact, the island is famous for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear blue sea, and lively but never exaggerated nightlife. But don't forget another fundamental aspect of a visit to Santorini, namely the discovery of its gastronomic and culinary traditions.
For the most part, the island's recipes belong to traditional Greek cuisine, although some restaurants there manage to give these dishes a truly unique touch. Greek cuisine, like Italian cuisine, is based on the Mediterranean diet, which is why the two traditions are very similar, although there are fundamental differences. Olive oil, spices, vegetables and fish also play a major role in Santorini. What are the most delicious specialities to be enjoyed on the island? Here is a list of 10 typical Santorini dishes and tips on where to try them.
1 - Moussaka
This is one of the Greek national dishes and resembles the Sicilian style aubergine parmigiana. It is therefore a flan characterised by alternating layers of fried aubergines and meat sauce, topped with a sprinkling of grated cheese. The layers are then covered with abundant béchamel sauce and the whole thing is finally baked in the oven.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €11.00
Main ingredients: aubergines, meat, béchamel sauce, cheese
2 - Domatokeftedes
These are tasty tomato meatballs, enriched with mint and onion. The dish is also popular with vegetarians and vegans, as it contains neither meat nor eggs.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner, snack
Average cost: €6.00
Main ingredients: fresh tomatoes, onion, mint
3 - Tzatziki
This dish is generally served as an appetiser but is great any time of day, even as a snack or side dish. It is a creamy sauce that is as simple as it is tasty, the only ingredients being Greek yoghurt, cucumber and garlic. It is one of the best-known and most popular recipes in Greek cuisine and usually accompanies croutons or pita bread, the typical white, soft and flat Greek bread.
Recommended for: always
Average cost: €5.50/6.00
Main ingredients: yoghurt, cucumber, garlic
4 - Gemistas
This is a dish of tomatoes or peppers (red and green) stuffed with rice and spices. There are several variations, some for instance adding minced meat, cheese or pine nuts to the filling, or using bulgur instead of rice. It is a summer dish (it can be eaten either hot or cold) both because it is light but tasty and because you can use tomatoes when they are nice and ripe.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €10.00
Main ingredients: tomatoes or peppers, rice (or bulgur), spices
5 - Feta
Undoubtedly the most famous Greek cheese, made from fresh sheep's and goat's milk, with 80% sheep's milk and 20% goat's milk. It is a mature, savoury, salty cheese with a semi-hard paste, white in colour and without a rind. It is eaten on its own, especially by those who like strong flavours, or used in various recipes, such as large salads.
Recommended for: always
Average cost: depending on the speciality containing it
Main ingredients: sheep's and goat's milk
6 - Gyros
The gyros is a dish that is part of the typical Greek street food. It has many similarities with kebabs. It consists of pita bread, the typical round Greek flat bread, to which is added a filling of pork meat previously cooked on long skewers and cut into thin slices. The meat is topped with tzatziki and a mix of vegetables.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner, snack
Average cost: €8.00
Main ingredients: pita bread, roasted pork, tzatziki, vegetables
7 - Baklavas
Finally a dessert, and what a dessert! This is a recipe disputed between the Greek and Turkish traditions, which claim its origin. Actually, baklava can be found in almost all the cuisines of Asia and the Balkans. It is a fairly complex dessert made up of several layers of thin sheets of phyllo dough and more or less finely chopped walnuts (or pistachios). The whole is soaked in a mixture of sugar and lemon juice or honey and spices with rosewater and baked. Greek tradition requires that the cake be cut into triangles, squares or rectangles before serving. A curiosity: Orthodox belief has it that the layers of the cake are 33, like the years of Christ.
Recommended for: always
Average cost: €4.00
Main ingredients: filo pastry, chopped walnuts or pistachios, honey, sugar
8 - Loukoumades
Here is another sweet, or rather sweet pancakes of Turkish origin. They are small balls that, once fried, are covered with honey, cinnamon and chopped nuts. The dish comes from the East and is usually eaten on St Andrew's Day: women prepare it and bring it to church during the mass dedicated to the saint. Why St Andrew? Tradition has it that it was the saint's wife who prepared these sweets for Jesus and his disciples when they came to their village hungry one day.
Recommended for: always
Average cost: €4.00
Main ingredients: cake flour, baking powder, salt, milk, water
9 - Peanuts Sesame Holy Nuts
Photo by Debbie Tingzon.
More of a snack than a real dish, consisting of peanuts covered in sesame and sugar. Usually served as an aperitif, they can be eaten at any time of the day because once you've tasted them, you won't be able to stop eating them!
Recommended for: always
Average cost: €4.50
Main ingredients: peanuts, sesame seeds, sugar
10 - Dolmades
A typical Greek dish and one of a kind. They are rice rolls wrapped in vine leaves and can have different fillings depending on the variant: pine nuts and sultanas, meat, raw or already boiled rice, fresh spices.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €2.30
Main ingredients: rice, meat, spices
Where to eat in Santorini: best restaurants, typical places and street food
Olive oil, cereals, fresh vegetables and fish are the basis of traditional Greek cuisine, but especially of the most beautiful jewel of the Cyclades islands: Santorini. Admired for its scenic white towns perched atop sheer cliffs, Santorini is a popular holiday destination at any time of year. To find out which are the best restaurants in Santorini (especially the street food ones), we have prepared a list full of goodies for you!
1 - Anemoloos
Description: family-run tavern, perfect for a romantic dinner of typical Greek delicacies
Speciality: tzatziki with meat
Average price: from €30.00 per person
Address: Exo Gonia - Get directions
2 - Aidani
Description: typical Greek place, away from the usual tourist routes and therefore mostly frequented by locals
Speciality: feta rolls
Average price: from €10,00 per person
Address: Vourvoulus Square - Get directions
3 - Melitini
Description: excellent restaurant in the centre of Oia, with the possibility to dine on the terrace admiring the sunset
Speciality: Greek tapas
Average price: from €25.00 per person
Address: Epar od Firon las - Get directions
4 - Meat Corner
Description: a paradise for Greek street food lovers, featuring Italian-speaking staff and fast but friendly service
Speciality: grilled meat
Average price: from €10.00 per person
Address: Fira, 84700 - Get directions
5 - Let's eat
Description: excellent street food place away from the city chaos. Highly recommended for tasty appetizers.
Speciality: Gyros
Average price: from €13,00 per person
Address: Imerovigli, 84700 - Get directions
