The best restaurants NorThern Islands Of The Aegean Sea

A little out of the way, on the heights of Chios, this small tavern, a little hidden in a beautiful courtyard, is one of the best addresses in town. And one of the oldest: it opened in 1882! You will find here unique dishes inspired by local products and classic dishes of Constantinople cuisine, such as beans cooked with mandarin puree. Fish is not his specialty, but the meats are excellent. Wine "by the kilo" and excellent ouzos. Reservations are recommended.

An appointment by the Greeks at the time of the aperitif, both for the map and the view of the port.

A nice terrace in a garden, just a few steps from the harbour. Traditional Greek cuisine.

Ouzerie to excellent grilled fish and meat grills and amazing variety of mezze. Toasted octopus is a delight.

You will not find a menu in this tavern, which is very popular by the local population. Take a look in the kitchen.

Despite a location that - a priori - does not dream, it is one of the best addresses of Mytilene. Try seafood, especially squid stuffed with feta and herbs. And the race, by taxi, will cost you no more than € 3.

This tavern is one of the favorites of Ikariots who come here all year round to enjoy the generous cuisine served here. The chef, Eleftheria, is known for her successful interpretation of zucchini fritters, a great Greek classic, and for her pitarakia, small puffs with local cheese. We appreciate this good table without fuss, where you can sit comfortably on the terrace with a view, in the freshness of the trees and groves. For meat lovers, we recommend the grilled meats, very successful.

Open since 1960, this tavern is a must. Everyone stops here for lunch at Martha's, a real little local institution. Under a veranda cluttered with flowerpots, you will enjoy mussels, fresh fish, and excellent local meats, especially a delicious lamb with eggplant. In addition to mussels, lobster spaghetti and fresh fish, you'll also find great casseroles and other stews. Most of the products used are taken from the Lemnian seas and lands.

A good sign here: the majority of the customers are Greek and the restaurant does not need to open in the evening. A few tables shaded by two large plane trees await visitors without a reel. Here, the daily specials (soutsoukakia, gemista and other moussakas) leave very, very quickly. We probably tasted one of the best pasticios on the island. Whose recipe is it? Mystery... We can guess that the establishment, which opened in the last century, has seen a few generations of people come and go. Really an excellent value for money.

If you push your waterfront walk a little further north, passing Romaikos, you will arrive in this relaxed family tavern, and especially the tables laid on the sand. Leaving the centre of Myrina, we go back in time a little bit with customs as we like them. Here, you can choose your daily specials from your mother's kitchen across the street (salads, meatballs, delicious vine leaves...). Open all day long, the place is also ideal for a drink or coffee between two dives.

We like this restaurant for its absolutely ideal location, at the end of the pier of Myrina: dominated by the rock of the kastro and below the small church of Agia Paraskevi, the tables that are spread out there enjoy a postcard setting. The view of the bay and the port of Myrina offers a touching landscape, in contrast to the severe fortifications. Beyond the decor, the kitchen delivers all the usual classics, relatively well prepared, including spaghetti with lobster, the specialty of the place. During the day, you can enjoy the shade of the tamarisk trees.

The tables of this pretty traditional tavern are pleasantly set in the shade of mulberry trees, in the unspoiled village of Kontias. You can enjoy authentic cuisine, especially the meatballs of the mother, the most famous specialty of the menu. But don't hesitate to try other mezzes, especially from the sea: the mussel saganaki is particularly good, thanks to the freshness of local mussels. Don't miss the opportunity to taste also the traditional cheeses of Lemnos, including melichloro and kalathaki.

This tavern overlooking the beach of Nas is one of the best tables of the island. You can taste fresh fish, perfectly grilled. Be careful with the bill though: get the price of the fish confirmed before ordering because fresh fish is expensive. Otherwise, opt for all the delicious dishes prepared by the hostess, especially her baked chickpeas and her kathouropites, turnovers with local cheese, the kathoura, and vegetables. The spaghetti with lobster is a must of the house. To be enjoyed in the evening, under the setting sun.

This pleasant tavern is located slightly behind the small port of Limnia: you can eat the best fish dishes and mezzes from the sea in the area! The owners of the place have their own caïque which brings back a daily catch, guaranteeing the absolute freshness of the fish prepared here. We sit at the large tables on the vast terrace and let ourselves be tempted by an authentic and tasty home cooking. The service is warm, the portions are generous and the prices very reasonable. To be washed down with a local ouzo, like the Kazanisto.

This charming place spreads its tables on the beach, and even under the rocks overlooking the small church of Aghios Ioannis tou Prodomou, about 8 km north of Myrina. Here you can taste delicious fresh fish, grilled as it should be, and other sea products, the specialty of the house. To be accompanied by tasty eggplant (with mackerel or octopus) and fava from Lemnos. The setting is truly enchanting, particularly romantic at the end of the day, facing the setting sun in the west. Not to mention the quality of the cuisine, which is on point.

Perched at the western end of the village of Avgonima, the tavern To Asteri is one of the best on the island. You can sit on the panoramic terrace overlooking the coast in the distance and the setting sun at the end of the day. But the most spectacular thing is what you get on your plate: delicious traditional, homemade dishes, including fresh pasta prepared by hand in the village streets. The stews (coq au vin, goat with tomato, beef stew) and spit-roasted meats (suckling pig, kontosouvli, kokoretsi) are delicious.

In the beautiful village of Thymiana, known for its quarries from which the building stones of the Kampos estates are taken, this tavern is a well-kept secret. The locals frequent it widely but the tourists have not yet discovered it. A traditional and family-run restaurant, we sit in the backyard, under the beautiful trees, to enjoy a menu with local flavors. When it's in season, don't miss the house's marinated artichokes. Other simple delights: the fava, particularly successful, and the small fried dishes.

The Karnagio is located at the end of the old port, where the old shipyard used to be. An exceptional beach bar, notably for its immaculate marble beach, with beach furniture in the boho chic trend, the Karnagio is a little jewel in Liménas. One comes here to swim in comfort, of course, but also for its breakfast brunch, to be accompanied by a good espresso freddo and its light lunch menu of fresh and tasty mezzes. Don't miss the sunset too, to be admired with a drink on the west side or on the roof.

This pretty tavern spreads its tables outside under the big plane trees of the small square of Agios Dimitrios, before arriving to Christos Rahon. One comes here for its delicious home cooking, which honors the Ikari products, such as the goat cheese of kathoura, the local olive oil or the traditional stews like the vegetarian soufiko. For the amateurs, the dishes based on kid are famous here. We like the very relaxed atmosphere, in the calm of the village, which sometimes welcomes some musicians in the evening.

Friendly outhouse near the island's old port and traditional Greek cuisine tasted and approved by the locals! The fava (creamy split pea purée) is exceptional here, as are marinated anchovies, octopus cooked in wine, sardines, meatballs and the very tasty tyrokafteri (watch out, this is spicy cheese) and many other well-cooked specialities. Excellent mezzés in general and, of course, a fine menu of ouzos and Macedonian wines. In summer, it is served in a courtyard. Lively, it can get very noisy!