Authentic Taverns & Local Favourites
These are the spots I always end up coming back to - simple, honest food, no fuss, just really really good. The kind of tavernas where the menu stays the same (in the best way), the owner might be behind the grill and you’re often given something extra at the end that you didn’t ask for, whether its’s watermelon, a shot of mastiha or portokalopita (the most delicious orange cake), you are totally full but still happy it has arrived.
They’re not fancy and that’s exactly the point. This is where Sifnos feels most like her true self - warm, welcoming and full of heart.
To Tsikali - Vathi
Eating at this place is one of my absolute favourite things to do in Sifnos. It’s set right on the beach in Vathi, toes-in-the-sand kind of dining and it’s just got this perfect laid back energy about it. I always come here during the day, usually after a long swim in those beautiful blue waters and hungry in the best way, the kind of I’ve-been-swimming way.
The food is traditional but with a special touch - they actually make their own cheese here and you can taste the difference. Always order the horiatiki (Greek salad) because the cheese is next level, plus the keftedes (fried meatballs) which are golden and full of flavour. The revithada is also excellent, the gemista are so delicious, but honestly everything I’ve had here just tastes like someone’s grangma is at the back cooking for you. You know that might be the case as this is family owned and run!
It’s casual, it’s authentic and it’s the kind of spot you always want to go back to.
Tou Apostoli to Koutouki - Apollonia
This little taverna is tucked just on the main path in Apollonia and has such a homely feel to it. The kitchen is run by the grandma and/or aunts and you can taste the love in everything they make. Their mastelo is hands down one of the best I’ve had - lamb slow-cooked for hours (if not overnight) in wine and garlic until it’s falling apart tender and so full of flavour, served with roasted potatoes, I tell you next level good.
If they’ve got the stuffed bullhorn peppers on, don’t think twice - they’re sweet from the roasting, gooey inside and just ridiculously good. It’s unpretentious, proper home-style food and a great one to come back to when you just want something traditional and from the heart.
Taverna Chrisopigi – Chrisopigi
This place is really close to my heart. It sits right on the edge of the water with a picture-perfect view of the beautiful Monastery of Chrisopigi - where my daughter got married, so it already holds a bit of magic for me. We came here the day after the wedding with cousins from opposite sides of the earth and it turned into one of those long, happy lunches I’ll never forget. Let’s just say the lunch ended at 5.00pm!
The food was so simple and so good. The calamari was grilled just right and dressed with that classic Greek trio - olive oil, oregano and lemon juice - nothing else needed. Their keftedakia were another standout, golden on the outside and full of flavour. Everything felt easy and relaxed, the kind of place where you lose track of time in the best way. Another retsina, sue why not!It’s one of those spots I’ll always go back to - for the food, the view and the memories.
To Steki – Platis Gialos
To Steki became our go-to spot during the wedding celebrations, the perfect meeting place for family and friends. It's always buzzing and busy, so jump in early to get a spot during peak season. Unpretentious and authentic, the food here is just delicious. Their revithia - chickpeas slow-cooked in clay pots with spices, onion and olive oil, is a standout, so simple yet so flavourful. The moussaka was a hit among many of our guests as well. What I love most is the setting - right by the sea, under the shade of those big Athel pine. It’s the kind of place where you can sit for hours, enjoying great food, great company and making your own memories.
O Argiris - Agia Marina, Kamares
We were referred here for our last night a few years ago and it ended up being one of those evenings that stays with you. The taverna sits right at the edge of Agia Marina, just a short walk along the beach from where we were staying (that night walk alone was so beautiful) and the setting is something else - quiet, relaxed and completely open to the view.
The food was delicious - simple mezethes done really well, fresh seafood and meats - but what made it so special was the sunset. It was one of the most spectacular I’ve ever seen, and yes, I’m 100% that person who gets emotional over a good sky moment. We ordered a round of beers and rosé, had a few plates to share and just sat there, watching the light shift and everything slow down.
It was the perfect end to a trip and a place and moment I’ll always remember. If you're after dinner with a view that quietly blows you away, this is the spot.
Mosaiko - Artemonas
Mosaiko is what’s known as a mezethopoulio - a place that specialises in mezedes - or a tsipouradiko, where you drink tsipouro and nibble your way through a table full of small plates. And honestly, it’s exactly my kind of place. From the quirky interiors to the relaxed energy and the kind of food that’s made for sharing, this spot ticks all the right boxes for me.
We ordered what we always do - way too much - but everything was so good we had no regrets. One of my favourites was the tigania - little pieces of pork in a lemony mustardy sauce that paired perfectly with a classic Greek salad and something cold to drink. The whole vibe, especially sitting out in that beautiful little courtyard-verandah, just makes you want to settle in - sip something cold, share a few plates and let the afternoon or evening drift by. Which, let’s be honest, is what Greek food is all about.