The 8 Best Restaurants in Mykonos

Mykonos is a beautiful island at the heart of the Cycladic islands and has a strong international reputation. Of course it is known as an excellent place to party, but what better way to recover from a big night out than a fantastic meal at the waterfront? Or perhaps you may want to get a great start to your evening, with a romantic, candlelit meal by the lights of the Old Port? Whatever you fancy, Mykonos has all the great choices. There are many, many restaurants on the island, and some can be below quality for their price. This guide will cover some of the best places to eat out on Mykonos, from the central town of Chora, and around the island.

M-eating

Starting off is one of the restaurants which is widely agreed to be one of the best on the island. The chef cut his teeth by working in a number of five-star hotel kitchens, before coming to Mykonos to set up this comparable restaurant. It is housed inside a quaint, traditional Mykonian house, with the opportunity to eat out on the terrace, facing the cobbled streets outside. Or, if you prefer, there is a little garden, which is perfect for summertime dining. The food takes the best of local ingredients and transforms them into perfect Greek food. Chose meat dishes like lamb sous vide, or one of the excellent seafood mains. Their take on the well known Honey Pie of Mykonos is to die for. Reservations are necessary here.  

Funky Kitchen

A quirky place with a strong menu of fusion dishes, from the best of international to the local island cuisine. It can be found a little off the beaten path, on a relatively quiet street. Try a kopanisti pannacotta, seared tuna with aubergine mousse or lamb cutlets with cumin infused fava, the Greek split-pea puree. The signature dessert is the chocolate nirvana, which is equally heavenly as it sounds. The local fruit preserves and ice creams are also a great accompaniment to a warm summer’s afternoon.

Avra

Tucked away from the busy central streets of Mykonos Town, Avra is a great little restaurant to feel a sense of romantic seclusion. It is based in a small courtyard, surrounded by the traditional houses of Mykonos, and covered in a variety of vines and colourful plants, with orchids on every table. The food is European fusion and does well to combine the best of Greek cuisine with touches like wild mushroom and rocket and parmesan salad. The serving staff are extremely friendly and really know their craft, making this a top place for a romantic meal out. The recommended dessert is their delicious banoffee pie.  

Joanna’s Niko’s Place

Run by the friendly Irish lady, Joanna’s taverna is just a short walk to the beautiful Ammos Beach from Chora. It is well known for its excellent standard of all the great Greek delights you would expect at a good taverna, with an amazing view of the lapping waves of the sea. Go for a shared meze, like tzatziki, taramasalata, calamari and whitebait. Or maybe a traditional Greek dish like moussaka or grilled fresh fish. There are also plenty of vegetarian choices as well. Everything goes with a nice cold beer or ouzo, and it is the perfect place to soak up the friendly atmosphere until sunset. There are often performances of live Greek music to add to the total experience of this creative place.  

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I ❤️LOVE❤️ Greek food! Any sort of sharing food where you nibble lots of little things is bang up my street and so Greek food is bound to be! Everything is super fresh and has relatively few ingredients. Just YUMMY! ??? #food #instagood #bestoftheday #igdaily #summer

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Fokos

One of the most secluded beaches on the island, Fokos taverna stands as a relic of Mykonos’ past, before it became highly popular with tourists from all over the world. The building is considered one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades, made of rustic wood, stone and wicker. It is something of a gorgeous hybrid of traditional Cycladic architecture and a tropical Caribbean beachside taverna. The food brings the best of Greek taverna food, such as calamari and crispy Greek salads, with the delicacies of Mykonian cured louza and figs.

Hippie Fish

On Aghios Ioannis (Saint John) beach in the south west of the island is this beachside taverna. It is known as Hippie Fish thanks to its impressive seafood menu and great fresh catches. It is casual but classy, with amazing views of Delos island to compliment the great food. The location was made famous by the 1989 movie Shirley Valentine. Dishes include the catch of the day, fresh lobster by the kilo and sea urchin spaghetti. Scrumptious desserts like handmade baklava, brownies and Greek yoghurt with sweet preserves all make excellent after.

Nikolas Taverna

A charming family run taverna just off the beach of Aghia Anna. The seafood is caught by Nikolas himself, and the meat is reared on the family’s farm. The tavern has been run by the same family for three generations and is still to this day worked by many of the same family members. It is a fantastic place to get a solid, hearty meal, away from the thronging crowds in other parts of Mykonos.