Symi Restaurants

Manos owns the Taverna with the best fish on the island, and many people come from far away to taste his plates! Don´t worry about high prices. Fusj IS expensive in the Med, however it is important to have it prepared fine (and not only let it burn black on a charcoal grill, as in usualy Tavernas!)

In the evenings, often (rich) turkish people come over and tey party sometimes half the night...

Favorite Dish: Shrimp Saganaki and Mussel saganaki! It´s DELICIOUS!!!

With only 2 nights on Symi we decided on eating once in Yialos and once in Chorio and apparently Georgios is the place to try. A popular taverna with outside seating - first of alll you are requested to come in to the kitchen where the chef lits the lids on the pots and pans so you can see what you would like!

Favorite Dish: So much choice but we decided on stuffed corgettes and aubergines - delicious - followed by chicken stuffed with pine nuts and gorgously flavoured rice and beef metaxa (tenderr beef in brandy sauce) for me - three big chunky slices of it too! We were given the wrong billl at the end but it was soon sorted out - it was really busy but the waiters worked so hard to keep up with everyones requests. Meals were just over 30 euros with drinks.

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I past this place on the way to our apartments at the Opera House - well in fact i actually tripped in a big divot on the concete just outside and went flying on my hands and knees. :-(

The waiter here was so helpful in picking me up and sitting me on a chair with ice packs for my knees until I had recovered sufficiently from the shock and dizzinesss. The menu looked really tasty here and very reasonable so it became an obvious choice for our first evening meal here.

Favorite Dish: We stated off with a few starters - mixed beans, fried courgettes and aubergines and of course a favourite Tatziki. That was delicious enough to start with but so was the main course of tender lamb and pasta. All good home greek cooking, tasty and quite filling with the geneous portions.
With drinks and two courses for two it came to a very reasonable 25 euros. A free desert was offered at the end too. Became quie popular in the evening so we weren't the only ones who enjoyed the food and service here.

Syllogos is one of the original Symi tavernas, located in Chorio at the top of the Kali Strata.
Run by Lefteris and Lemonia, a friendly couple, who are happy to welcome you to their taverna, help you decide what to eat/drink, and show you the kitchen if you want to see what dishes are on offer.
Eat inside, or out, with views over the Pedi Valley

There are few cafes and restaurants along Kali Strata, some are set together right next to village square. They give you some shadow, something to eat or drink and great views. Even if just for a glass of water, these are very nice places to sit in and take some rest.
Also, they are not overcrowded as genarally not that many tourist go all the way up the Kali Strata.

Having a lunch in Thalos is a must while on Symi. The greek specialties they serve are delicious and not too expensive. The ones you shouldn't miss are: greek salad, tzatziki and bread with fresh olive oil, mmmm. The tables outside are standing just by the water so the breeze is cooling you in a hot summer day. Its atmosphere is soo relaxing, you just feel like you could sit here forever.

The Nireus is one of the top hotels of Symi, in fact maybe it's the best. It has a canopied eating and drinking area set back from the water, and it has some tables that are right by the waters edge - you couldn't get closer. It amazed us how many people chose to sit away from the water. I suspected that the prices for a waterside table at this swanky hotel were quite expensive. I was in for a pleasant surprise...

Favorite Dish: We only stopped here for Coffee & Cake - well, to be more precise, Frappé & Cake, and we stopped here more than just once!
The Greek Islands claim to be "the home of the Frappé" and who am I to argue. It's served everywhere, and the ones at The Nireus were possibly the best. Susan had a Bailey's Frappé, I had it plain, without the alcohol.
The cakes were delicious too - we had walnut cake (rich with honey syrup, of course) and katafia.

A nice place in the row of restaurants, cafes and bars that run just past the end of the harbour, towards the busy centre of this little town. The tables are all out front, under a leafy canopy - this is common in these parts, and I have no idea what kind of tree or vine that it is that they train to provide these canopies.

Favorite Dish: The food was excellent, as was the service, but once again, I cannot remember what it was, other than that it was pasta. I think on Symi I was just too busy enjoying myself (and my food) to make notes about what I ate at each meal ;-)

Great Italian food, served outdoors down a sidestreet in the Yialos part of Symi. The restaurant has a wood fired pizza over, and you can actually watch them making and firing the pizzas if you're in the right seat.

Favorite Dish: We started with a salad of rocket (ruccola), tomatoes and parmesan to share and then we both had different Pasta dishes. Oh how I wish I could remember what they were! Usually I take a picture, but this time the waitress took a picture of US, which is kinda no good when you try to remember what meal you had!

When I was in Rhodes (& Symi) I fell in love with "Greek Yoghurt & Honey". It's not like I haven't had Greek Yoghurt before, nor had it with honey... but over there it was somehow "nicer". The yoghurt is thicker & creamier; the honey is more flavoursome & fragrant; the weather is warmer; the views are better.
So anyway, this one day on Symi I happened to have Yoghurt & Honey at every meal, and in this one place I had only that, for my lunch, even though it was from the "breakfast" section of the menu. And it was sublime!

Favorite Dish: Yoghurt, Honey & Walnuts