Places to Eat in Symi Island

From the first moment we set foot on Symi Island, we said, “I'm glad we came.” Every corner was a different beauty, everything we ate and drank had the peace of a vacation. We traveled, we ate, we swam in the sea, we soaked up the sun. Looking back now, I wanted to share it all with you like a conversation with a friend. You know how when you have a coffee, you tell people, “Look, you should definitely go to this place”, in that style, sincerely sincere. Who knows, maybe one day you will come to this beautiful island.

Pizzaria Forno A Legna: In the center of the island, we discovered a cute pizzeria with a very “Italian vibe.” Red and white gingham tablecloths, colorful walls, a small but extremely pleasant atmosphere. The pizzas were really delicious, you won't regret it. There is a cafe right next to it that serves pan-fried ice cream, it was very good.

Katsaras Taverna, Pedi Beach: Many people recommend it, you can try it. We called a boat for transportation. The last return is at 16:00, you should take this into consideration. Katsaras Taverna is on a long pier extending into the sea. But don't think “we can just sit on a sunbed and swim in the sea” because it is a different establishment and quite expensive. As for the food, we had Dakos salad and roasted goat meat. The salad was the classic Greek style, but with dried bread. The goat meat was really special, flavored with cloves and served with potatoes and rice. 

We returned to the center of Symi in the evening. We tasted the local wines.  We tried a white wine and it was dancing on the palate. As the boats slowly glided into the harbor, the wine and the conversation merged and we sat for a long time. The price was very reasonable, but the only thing missing was the lack of accompaniments such as cheese or fruit platters.

Maratonda Taverna: This is a family-run establishment. Dakos salad was also very delicious here. We had caciki and roasted goat with it. Again, it was cooked with clove grains, it came warm and left a mark on our palates. I can even say that it beat the goat meat we had the day before. We finished this lunch with one menu for two people and left some room in our stomachs for the evening.

Pantelis Greek Cuisine: For the finale, we had made a reservation in advance at Pantelis, one of Symi's most popular tavernas, and it's a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The menu is quite rich, we left the decision to the chef. When we asked for a half portion, they didn't normally do that, but they prepared it specially for us. We ordered seafood pasta and fish platter. Even the half portion of pasta was huge! It could easily feed four people. The prices are a bit high but definitely worth it for the flavor, presentation and ambiance.

For accommodation suggestions, you can check our Symi Island page.