This week’s Karpathos destination is the eateries of this inimitable island. We’re going to take you to the best tavernas and restaurants in Karpathos where the foods we talked about last week leap off the menus, and the hosts make you feel right at home. When it comes to eating out, Karpathos is all about scrumptious meals and wholehearted hospitality!
If you’re wondering what the difference is between a taverna and a restaurant, here’s the bottom line: A taverna is basically a casual eatery with a well-stocked bar that serves ouzo, Metaxa, etc., and has live music (usually at night and into the wee hours). A restaurant can be more formal and may or may not have music. Some tavernas call themselves restaurants and vice versa. And some call themselves BOTH! Confused? Don’t be. You’ll figure out what it is when you see it. When in Greece, just go with the flow!
So where do you eat in Karpathos when you visit? With over 70 restaurants and tavernas (or tavernes in Greek) throughout the island, you never have to eat at the same place twice…unless you really want to.
Most people will stroll through a town and see what catches their eye (or nose). You could be wandering downhill in Olympos in the late afternoon and spot tables set by the side of a windmill overlooking the sea. Your first thought is WOW, what an amazing spot to enjoy the local, rustic fare, have a glass of wine and watch the sun set over the water (this place actually does exist, read on for more details).
You could be enjoying a day at the beach and, between swimming and sunbathing, you smell fresh fish cooking at the taverna overlooking the shore (lots of those). Suddenly you realize it’s lunchtime and that it doesn’t get more perfect than this…unless you throw in a Greek salad and some crusty bread. Eat a little, go for a swim, then eat some more.
This is the good life, Greek-island style!
Follow us for a tour of some of the notable tavernas and restaurants in Karpathos and see if you can pick a favorite…we dare you!
Food: Delicious and beautifully presented. Cooking classes by Gabriella, upon request!
House specialties: Gabriella's pasta, tarama, stuffed eggplant, zucchini fritters, eggplant salad, parmigiana, pestos, divine homemade tiramisu and Limoncello, the best cappuccino and espresso (mocha or macchiatto) on the island. Picnic sandwiches and pizza for the beach.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Pretty setting, warm and gracious host, interesting people, very social and fun!
View: Overlooks the Diafani fountain and breathtaking bay…a mini paradise!
Food: Delicious generous portions at very reasonable prices.
House specialties: Tzatziki, dolmadakia, eggplant salad, local cheeses, gyro, makarounes, fried calamari (freshly caught by Kosta), moussaka…if it’s on the menu, it’s great! An ouzo and loukoumathes drizzled with thyme honey are complementary.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Set in the mountains in a beautiful village, there’s a simple beauty to this taverna that’s very comfortable. The Spartan décor seems like a magical throwback to the island’s rustic beginnings. Very friendly and fun!
Menu: Local and traditional Greek fare, as well as giant pizza.
Food: Great food and service!
House specialties: Delicious homemade onion bread served with olive spread, tender veal. An ouzo to start and small dessert (fruit or homemade cakes) for a sweet finish are complementary.
Special drink: Try their "Ouzo-Orange" or "Bloody Ouzo."
Atmosphere/hospitality: The welcoming Diakos family goes out of its way to make sure everyone has a special experience. A roof garden adds a relaxing, lovely place to sit and listen to music.
View: Ideal view of Amoopi Bay from the terrace on the upper floor. For an unforgettable evening, go for an early dinner and watch the rising moon from the "balcony to the Aegean."
Menu: Traditional Greek fare prepared fresh daily. Check out the little yellow post-it note on the menu for the genuinely Greek dishes.
Food: Maria has watched her family cook delicious food for over 25 years so you know what she cooks comes straight from her heart. You can put in a special request with Stamatis a day in advance and he’ll gather the ingredients the next morning and have your meal prepared for you that evening.
House specialties: Oven-roasted lamb, goat kleftiko, moussaka, fresh fish soup, and shrimp saganaki. An ouzo and small dessert are complementary.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Small, simple, and intimate, with about 15 tables. Quick and friendly service. Stamatis and Maria are there to make sure everyone is happy and enjoying the finest on the menu.
Menu: Karpathian fare unique to Olympos. Not to be missed!
Food: Completely local and fresh. Great value!
House specialties: Kritamo toursi (fresh sea-greens salad), dolmathakia, stuffed zucchini blossoms, homemade bread, makarounes, lemony keftethes (lamb meatballs), kolokithokeftethes (zucchini patties), moussaka. Loukoumathes drizzled with thyme honey are complementary.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Rustic, ancient, charming, and welcoming.
View: A veranda that faces the valley on one side, and on the other, a terrace that overlooks the east coast of the island with breathtaking sea views. A great place to eat and watch the most spectacular sunset in the Aegean.
Food: Great service and gorgeous fish. The owner and his brother have a fishing boat and go out every morning to make sure they have fresh daily specials.
House specialties: This is a fish taverna featuring the best fish in Karpathos, if not all of Greece, so all things fish: Spaghetti with lobster, fried barbouni, tsipoura (sea bream), shrimp or mussels saganaki, hand-cut fries, fresh horta (wild greens sautéed with olive oil and garlic), Cretan raki (whiskey). Pagoto (ice cream) is complementary.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Warm and very friendly. A cozy beach waits across the road for an afternoon siesta. This is a place where memories are made.
View: Magnificent view of the charming bay of Finiki and the island of Kasos.
Food: Delicious and beautifully prepared. Can accommodate vegetarians.
House specialties: Oven-roasted lamb, makarounes, homemade pies and cakes.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Warm and very friendly. Victoria speaks five languages and is happy to tell you about the history of the island.
Food: Huge portions, delicious Greek food, inexpensive. Kosta grows his own vegetables and takes pride in the food he serves.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Friendly, good service. A welcoming, magical oasis that seems to pop up in the middle of nowhere.
House specialties: Stifado (rabbit, lamb, or beef stew with pearl onions), gyro, pork and lamb souvlaki, kleftiko, greek salad, crab salad, makarounes, octopus in vinager, moussaka, horta. An ouzo or wine and fresh melon are complementary.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Friendly, funny brothers manage the taverna. Tollis Ekizoglou, the waiter, greets you with a smile, suggests the best dishes on the menu, and keeps you entertained with his stories. They also have a pool where you can swim and eat poolside.
View: Terrace overlooks the beautiful bay of Lakki.
About: More than 110 years old, The Life of Angels started out as a coffee shop for the men of the villages to gather, talk, enjoy a demitasse, play tavli (backgammon), and perform traditional Karpathian music. Built in 1830 by Zoedia Karavias, it remains a one-of-a-kind structure on the island.
Food: Generous servings of locally sourced, organic produce and meats from Karpathos and Crete. Traditional Greek cuisine using family recipes passed down for generations. Zoe, the heart of the restaurant, made it her mission to support local farmers, feature vegetarian fare, and offer home-cooked foods (like she would to guests in her own home)—it’s no wonder this eatery is seriously popular with tourists. Cooking classes are offered during the day for customers who are interested in learning how to make a specific dish.
House specialties: Fresh beef stifado and oven-baked Karpathian lamb.
View: The best view of Pigadia bay.
Food: Fresh vegetables and succulent meats. Raki and loukoumathes are complementary.
House specialties: Moussaka, kleftiko, horta, grilled tsipoura alongside a legendary baked potato with a yogurt sauce.
Atmosphere/hospitality: Friendly, quick, and attentive staff.
View: Pigadia harbor or charming side-street.
Food: Reviewers claim the pizza is like dining in Italy (for when you need a break from Greek food). Try the onion, tomato, and olive red pizza.
House specialties: A variety of pizza and pasta dishes, including Pizza Crado with mascarpone cheese and a garden-fresh summertime spaghetti with tomato and pesto.
View: Charming side street with Pigadia harbor partial view.
Food: The food is average but Pelagos is actually popular for their live music, meze, and drinks. We suggest you come to Pelagos after dinner for traditional Greek bands, dancing, and a nightcap (or two).
Atmosphere/hospitality: Friendly and welcoming family. Slow food service but great music and a fun time.
Music: Yes! It starts at 8:30pm and goes until midnight, featuring musicians like Konstantinos Maris, a brilliant lyra player. Then the traditional Karpathian three-piece acoustic group takes over and plays into the wee hours. If you want to try the local dances like the sousta, this is for you!
These were the tavernas and restaurants that received high marks for food, atmosphere, cost, and hospitality. We also put together a slideshow (below) of tavernas and restaurants that deserve honorable mention~plus they're really pretty!
Most Karpathian restaurants and tavernas have wonderful local dishes as well as traditional Greek fare. Their rustic round bread loaves, spanakopites, and pickled wild sea-fennel salad are to die for, but so are their souvlaki, dolmadakia, stuffed tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini flowers.
If you find yourself in an area with no clue as to which eatery is good, there’s one simple rule: When in doubt, follow your nose. Is the smell of the food like a Siren call? Is it shouting “Come, sit, EAT!”? Is the aroma making you suddenly ravenous and feeing weak in the knees? If you answered yes to any of these Qs, you have your answer. Add a stunning view (which is typical here but not necessary), good hospitality, and reasonable prices (most are!), and an ouzo or cold Mythos beer (which will make everything look and taste even better) and you have the makings of a meal fit for a Greek god…YOU!
For more Karpathos taverna/restaurant listings check TripAdvisor.com. It’s the only organized online list at the moment. Note that the town attributions aren’t always correct and their rating system is a bit off, so click on the individual restaurant listings and read the comment section for reviews, and to see which town they’re actually in.
I hope you found your kefi (food or feline) in our Karpathos taverna tour. To try a popular taverna specialty, see our recipe for Kritamo Toursi in our blog Pickling~Greek Island Style. For more on Greek-island cooking, check out our blog Greek Cooking with a Karpathos Island Twist. Stay tuned for more segments on the island's history and culture! If there's anything you'd like to know about Karpathos or its foods, let us know and maybe we'll do an entire blog on it.
Reminder, our new cookbook Kukla’s Kouzina: A Gourmet Journey~Greek Island Style, Meze (Appetizers & Petite Plates), is available on AMAZON. This is the first in a series that we have developed and we’re excited to see this dream become reality! For details about the book and us, go to our BOOK page. Meze will complete its gourmet journey when it arrives in your home!