What’s not to like about the Greek dinner table? Greece was named the most sustainable food destination in the world in 2021 by Lonely Planet.
In this article, we focus on some of Greece’s smaller, less touristed islands where can you find the freshest, most local, and tastiest food. This is not to say that delicious food isn’t found in more famous islands like Santorini and Mykonos. However, this article is designed to bring new appreciation to islands which deserve the spotlight.
Skopelos
Skopelos is found in the Northern Aegean and is known for its balanced cuisine. They always use local ingredients and recipes. Some of the crowd-favorite dishes are fish stew, stuffed squid, goat, and of course the traditional “Tiropita” cheese pie. One of the most popular desserts is avgato (plum spoon sweet). Locally, one of the most popular wines is Peparithios, a dry red variety which has been popular since times of antiquity.
Sifnos
Nikos Tselementes, one of the most famous chefs in Greece, was born in Sifnos. The island is known for its local dishes, like mastelo (lamb cooked in the oven), revithada (chickpea stew), ampelofasoula (long string beans), and also local cheeses including manoura and xinomizithra.
Also popular are dishes that feature capers, which were used in times of antiquity on Sifnos. One of the most popular caper dishes is called Kaparosalata, which is capers mashed with caramelized onion and dill. For dessert, you will enjoy almond sweets (amygdalota) which are found at traditional bakeries in the towns of Artemonas and Apollonia. Also popular for dessert is Melopita: a cheesecake-like sweet with local cheese and honey. After your meal, you can walk around and look at some of the most beautiful white buildings in Greece.
Lesvos
Lesvos is Greece’s third-largest island. It is known for its olive oil and ouzo, the national spirit of Greece that is flavored with anise. The most popular pairings with ouzo on Lesvos are meze plates like anchovies, roasted scallops and grilled octopus. Traditional dishes on the island of Lesvos include stuffed onions with meat and rice, sponge with zucchini, and meatballs with ouzo.
A unique food in Lesvos are the “Hachles” (χάχλες), which are crispy semolina flour “boats” filled with grilled vegetables, cheeses, or meats. Semolina flour snacks and savory cookies are also found in the rest of Greece, but only in Lesvos are they shaped like a boat. For dessert, you can enjoy spoon sweets from the local sweet shops. These are also great to take home as a souvenir.
Tilos
Tilos is the best island for a relaxing holiday with great local good products. The main tourist area of the island is Livadia, which is found at the bottom of the mountain. Here, you will find tavernas selling the most famous dishes of Tilos, like stuffed goat baked in the oven, pan-fried spinach pies and oven-roasted pork with wheat.
If you like sweets, you will surely like Pouggakia, a traditional pastry that’s filled with almonds and sesame. When you’ve enjoyed your phyllo-wrapped treat in the evening, you can take a walk down the boardwalk in Livadia.
Donousa
You may have never heard of this small isle in the Eastern Cyclades. Donousa is named after Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, and has some of the most beautiful white buildings in Greece. Nature in Donousa is full of wild herbs and grasses, many which are used in the island’s tavernas for local dishes.
Local bakeries feature pita pies filled with fresh herbs, greens, and meats. Most of the local Donousa restaurants serve a mix of seafood and meat dishes, which are usually accompanied by locally grown vegetables. A local favorite restaurant is Avli Donoussa, which has great sardines and calamari (squid). Classic Greek favorites like moussaka and pastitsio can also be found in seaside tavernas in Donousa, always accompanied by a glass of wine and a sunset over the Aegean Sea.
More Food Destinations in Greece
If you’re still hungry for more after reading about all the foods on Greece’s islands, check out our island-specific guides to see what foods are specialties on Santorini, Chios, Kalymnos, and Mykonos.
If you’ve read all the way through this article and wonder where the cover photo is from, it’s from one of our team’s favorite restaurants, Merastri Taverna, which is near Plakias in southern Crete.
