There are so many Greek Islands but only one has a reputation for its food – Sifnos. There are so many fantastic Sifnos restaurants that it’s hard to choose.
One reason so many Greek and French tourists come to eat is that the father of Greek cooking, Nikos Tselementes, was born and bred here. Although he may not be famous to the outsider, every Greek has a copy of his book Odigos Mageirikis somewhere in the house. Published in 1910, it remains the go-to for every Greek chef.
Book at least a week here to try every single one of the best Sifnos restaurants you can!
Where is Sifnos
Sifnos is in the Cyclades, a group of Greek islands, that is a fabulous summer destination in the Mediterranean. It is nestled in the middle between Serifos and Milos and about 81 miles from the port of Piraeus, right outside of Athens.
How to get to Sifnos
As the island is small and there is no airport, the best way to arrive on Sifnos is by boat. I recommend flying into Athens, spending the night at the Grande Bretagne, then book a cab to the Piraeus port (15 minutes in no traffic) for the next morning. The Seajets boat departs at 7am and takes about 2 hours. Otherwise, you can get into Athens later and take the 15:00 boat which is about 3 hours.
Getting around Sifnos, you really need a car and can book one from here and pick it up at the port upon arrival. There are always taxis as well.
What’s it like in Sifnos?
There really is not that much written about this tiny island, which is exactly what might attract you to Sifnos in the first place. If all you want is a quiet, lazy holiday by the beach, then Sifnos is perfect.
Unlike other Greek islands, every Sifnos chef has a reputation to uphold so it’s tough to get a bad meal anywhere and they have their own local specialities: mizithra, mastelo, revithada, revithokeftedes, manoura, etc. Most of the ten best Sifnos restaurants serve all of these.
Fun things to do on Sifnos
When you are not eating, you can lie by the beach or do a few activities. You can take a boat out to Folegrandos Island for the day or to the even smaller island of Poliegos. You can also find walking tours, cooking classes and even a cheese making class on GreeceTravel.com.
Where to stay in Sifnos
We stayed at the lovely Verina Suites in Platys Gialos, one of the nicest beach areas on the island, and it was absolutely perfect in our eyes: simple, yet chic, Hellenic-style villas, plus a lovely pool which never seemed to be busy.
The pool bar was near enough that a frappe or mojito was practically on demand depending on how early you wanted to party. The service was impeccable and everyone was so helpful and friendly. They even managed to get us a car, even though we had not pre-booked – not an easy task as the island was busy, or so they told us.
Read reviews about the Verina here.
Verina has another property as well, called the Verina Astra which is a little further away from the beach and there is also the luxury resort Elies Resorts is another option.
Or you can book a luxury Sifnos hotel directly here on Booking.com
Sifnos Restaurants
Breakfast at the Verina Suites Hotel
This is not your typical breakfast buffet – island honey, homemade apricot, apple, pear, banana preserves, toasted sandwiches, eggs all made to order, fresh fruit (peaches, watermelon, cherries, melon) and yogurt all washed down with freshly squeezed orange juice.
Greek-style French toast – egg-dipped lightly fried local bread dripping with honey and powdered sugar on top – was the pièce-de-résistance.
Everything is sourced locally and you can tell. Breakfast is open from 9 – 11 and almost everyone stays the whole time contemplating their next big decisions – which beach today and where to eat lunch!
Omega 3, Platys Gialos
Platys Gialos is one of the busier beaches, but it’s still relatively quiet. You’ll never have difficulty finding a lounge chair and umbrella. The water is warm and super clean.
Wander down the beach and head to Omega 3, the trendiest & tiniest spot on the island. Creative dishes using local produce and seafood: sea bream ceviche, potato salad with capers and fresh anchovies, tuna tartare and the like.
Omega 3, Platis Gialos 840 03 – open everyday 12pm – 12am
O Drakakis, Apollonia
Your first night, take a cab or drive your car to to Apollonia – the capital of Sifnos. Hands down one of the best places to eat for dinner was O Drakakis. It is so good you might want to eat there more than once! of course we ate there three times in one week, Nestled in between jewellery and scarves shops sits this local, everyone knows your name kind of, spot.
The moment we sat down, the table of three next to us leaned over and told us that we had picked the best place in town. They then proceeded to order for us: pickled vegetables from the kitchen garden, chicken with honey and rosemary, zucchini fritters with spicy tzatziki, on and on. They then took out a piece of paper and wrote down the rest of the places we needed to try while in Sifnos! Thanks to the kindness of strangers, we had a list of the best Sifnos Restaurants!
O Drakakis, Apollonia 840 03 – open everyday for dinner only 6:00pm – 2:00am
To Tsikali, Vathi Beach
Vathi beach is a long sandy beach is home to the fanciest resort on the island, the Elies Resort. To Tsikali is all the way at the end of the beach hidden from view by a wonderful church and monastery.
It can be super busy, and everyone eats what looks like the best roast chicken in the world. Even though I wanted to try the local mastelo (goat or lamb cooked in the oven with wine), I was swayed by the smiles on everyone’s lips as they tucked in and was not disappointed.
To Tsikali, Vathi Beach – open everyday 12:30pm – 10:30pm (no website)
Vroulidia Taverna
This beach might be considered a bit of a treacherous route to enjoy a gorgeous beach and amazing calamari, but it’s worth it. Straight down, no guard rails and not a paved road in site – make sure you have a 4×4 or be super adept at driving.
Arriving though you will find a few of intrepid souls eating at the prettiest cove on Sifnos. Here the taverna delivers right to your lounger if you want or you can chose to sit on their porch. Sun dried fish and octopus were their specialties and their House Greek Salad also had tiny sun-dried fish mixed in with the mizithra. Wine and watermelon will give you the courage to get back up the hill later on that afternoon. Up was much easier than down. Drink safely!
Vroulidia Taverna, Vroulidia Beach – I know it’s open for lunch but couldn’t find the exact hours!
Chrysopigi Tavern
Our favorite taverna lunch of the trip was at this simple beach taverna. It has an amazing reputation and well worth it. How can a salad, grilled octopus and yiouvetsi (lamb cooked with orso pasta) be the favorite? Everything was just was cooked to perfection.
The cove is lovely especially when you are lying in the sand gazing toward one of the important monasteries on the island. You can sit on the beach or climb down the rocks near the monastery to get to the water.
Be forewarned: there are no lounge chairs or umbrellas, so get there early to grab your spot under one of the lovely Cedar trees. If you are feeling enthusiastic you can walk the hour-long path to Faros – another lovely cove.
Chrysopigi Tavern, Chrysopigi Beach – open everyday 10:00am to 11:00pm (no website)
To Limanaki, Faros
At this lovely port restaurant, you chose your dinner from fish that had been caught that day. Served with salad, delicious grilled potatoes and a bitter cooked green, it might be one of the simplest meals, but cooked to perfection. Don’t miss the homemade gooey desserts.
As the sun sets, the lights from the path to Chrysopigi turned on and you could see people making their way back in the night.
To Limanaki, Faros – no hours listed but I was there for dinner (+30 2284 071425)
Fish Tavern Captain Sifakis, Seralia
Down some scary steps and through Seralia’s maze of streets you arrive at this taverna. Hovering over the sea, you could practically dip your toe in the water. Seralia is a tiny spot right below the heavenly, perfectly picturesque hilltop town of Kastro.
Here you can tried manoura, the local hard “spicy” cheese! Enjoy the peace and solitude as well as the fish. Then head up to Kastro to see the gorgeous church.
Fish Tavern Captain Sifakis, Seralia – no hours listed, but I was there for lunch! (no website – +30 697 987 9280)
Leave this restaurant for your final night in Sifnos. It’s in the port town of Kamares and one of the most famous of the island’s restaurant. Here splurge on one of our favorite greek dishes – Lobster Spaghetti!
Tables are set up outside on the beach, so it’s perfectly fine to take off your shoes. Every table around has come for Lobster Spaghetti as well. Served in a oversized ceramic dish, it takes up the whole table
Captain Andreas Fish Taverna, Beachfront, Kamares – no website, but I was there for dinner!
Loukoumades Aggelon, Apollonia
Leave room after O Drakakis for these little round cushions of pure sugar! Even though it’s easy to be swayed by chocolate covered ones, order the original with honey and cinnamon. There is beauty in simplicity!
Loukoumades Aggelon, Apollonia 84003 – no website but I was there after dinner, so it’s open late!
Best Bits to leave you with
So if sun, beach and food is what you want from a holiday in Greece – Sifnos is the island for you! If you want check out a the party island of Mykonos, read my post all about!
PIN IT LATER
Looks lovely, I bet you are just as relaxed as the cat in the pic after this trip.
I was!! That cat adopted us and fell asleep on our porch very day!
You’re killing me with this post. Greece AND foodie best bits!? Well done. I’d follow you anywhere!
Thanks so much!
Eating that kind of food in that kind of setting seems like a personal heaven. I hope to make it back to the Greek islands while I’m based in Barcelona!
It was!! You must go!
This post is overwhelming to the senses! I could only image what it was like to be there in person. Your photos reaffirm everything I imagine Greece to be – deep blue water, whitewashed towns, and amazing seafood. Thanks for sharing these mouthwatering bits; I can’t wait to go to TBEX in Athens =)
Thanks so much! It is all good – more on Athens coming!
I can’t wait to finally get to Greece in October. Won’t be beach season, but it will definitely be eating season!
It’s always eating season there! Can’t wait to meet up and eat together.
Now I am seriously thinking of traveling around Greece a bit after TBEX!
You have to – I would love to go up North.
I must admit that I hadn’t heard of Sifnos before. Now I really, really want to go there to eat and chill. Lovely!
It would be right up your alley!
That looks like seafood heaven!
I, um, can see a cat *gorgeous*
Never heard of Sifnos before you mentioned it yesterday – what a glorious place you found!
It is and the cat is for you!!
I haven’t even had a chance to tell you that Greece is on my radar for next year, so this post is just what I needed! I started drooling at #1; that breakfast sounds divine.
This island is perfect! Come to TBEX and start with Athens!
Oh my gosh I think I just drooled on my computer.
The next time I head back to Greece I have to make sure to make it over to Sifnos. The food looks absolutely divine!