Modern Greek

There’s something I really love about the way Sifnos does modern food. It might look simple on the plate, but there’s nothing basic about it. These spots are taking beautiful, local ingredients and doing something clever with them, they are creating refined, thoughtful dishes that feel light and effortless but are full of depth and intention.

They’re not trying to reinvent Greek cuisine completely, but they are polishing it - stripping it back to its essentials and building something new from what’s always been there. It’s delicate, creative and incredibly well done. Food that both tastes good and is considered.

These are the places I’d book for a special night or when I want something that feels a little more than traditional Greek food.

Top Pick: Cantina - Kastro

This one has my heart. It’s tucked just below Kastro, right by the sea and the whole setting feels like a secret. You walk down the path and suddenly you’re in this tiny pocket of magic. The food is next-level, I had one of the best dishes ever, a grey mullet with Greek salad essence. It was the freshest, delicious and yet most delicate piece of fish. There is a set menu that changes daily depending on what’s good that day. Everything they bring out is so unexpected, but it all just perfectly works. The flavours are clean, clever and feel totally connected to the island. The staff know their stuff and the zero-waste philosophy is something I really admire. It’s not just the meal, it’s the setting, it’s the staff it truly is an experience. I strongly suggest you book way before you leave home as it books months in advance.