Memorable meals: Dining in Greece | MY GREECE TRAVEL BLOG

Category: Memorable meals: Dining in Greece (page 1 of 5)

Bakeries, bars, cafes and restaurants to check out when you visit Athens

Tasting Table’s mouthwatering profile of noteworthy places to eat and drink in Athens

This article from Tasting Table will whet your appetite for places to get a great drink, snack or meal during your trip to Athens

Tastes of Athens: We don’t yet know if we’ll be spending any time in Athens on our next trip to Greece, but I have already bookmarked a timely Tasting Table article (pictured above) to help us decide where to enjoy a coffee, drink, snack or meal if we do manage to visit the city.

16 Places to eat and drink in Athens, Greece popped up while I was scrolling through news stories on my phone during a break at the gym. Thankfully, I didn’t have time to read it then, since writer Brandon Rich’s food and beverage recommendations would have left me feeling ravenous the rest of the day.

His profile includes two cocktail bars that have been named among the world’s best, and two restaurants on the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand listing. I instantly recognized the names of three of the four establishments, plus one of several Greek tavernas that Rich writes about. I wasn’t familiar with any of the other eateries — probably because, as Rich points out, “some of the best places you can eat and drink in Athens are still flying under the radar.”

His article spotlights bakeries and cafes, traditional tavernas and fine dining establishments, souvlaki joints and street food shops, describing signature drinks and dishes and must-try meals and beverages. The easy-to-read piece also provides links to websites for each venue, so you can obtain addresses and contact details, and read more about each place.

Mykonos restaurant guide 2023

January 5, 2023 / admin / 1 Comment

Mykonos restaurantx

Some of the most popular restaurants on Mykonos, including a few of our personal favourites, are seen in images from their social media pages: Top row (left to right) Avli tou Thodori, Mantri and To Maereio. Middle row: Nikolas Taverna, Pili and Rizes Folklore Farmstead. Bottom row: Sakis Grill House; Baboulas and Sea Satin Market.

Welcome to our 2023 guide to restaurant opening dates on Mykonos.

Keep scrolling down this page to see which places — including a number of exciting and much-anticipated newcomers to Mykonos — opened their doors during June and July.

On page 2, we profile dining spots that started their seasons during April and May.

Restaurants and tavernas that opened in January, February and March are listed on page 3.

July openings

Horio Art House cafe on Mykonos

A new arrival for this summer, Horio Art House cafe opened July 16. It serves coffees, lemonade and other beverages, fresh-daily home-made treats like traditional onion pie, as well as sweets, cheesecake and other desserts. The cafe also sells a large selection of handmade art and craft items, ideal for gifts or Mykonos holiday souvenirs. Horio is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Dalu Skygarden Cafe has opened in a new outdoor space at Kastro Panigiraki (which also happens to be the location of the island’s most famous open-air cocktail lounge, 180 Sunset Bar). A breakfast, brunch and coffee spot with a fantastic view, Dalu Cafe is open daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The popular comfort food restaurant Nolan near Syntagma Square in Athens is closing its doors temporarily and moving to Mykonos for the summer. Nolan is described by Michelin Guide as “a contemporary bistro” that “creates contemporary Greek-focused cooking with plenty of Asian influences, and enticing dishes that are fresh, colourful and perfect for sharing.” Nolan decided to do something different this summer while it undertakes renovations of its Athens premises, and it seized the opportunity to move its operations to Mykonos for July and August. Nolan Mykonos will set up shop at 25 Kalogera Street in Matogianni area of Mykonos Town, in the space that previously had been had been home to the Ceresio7 Mykonos restaurant. Nolan Mykonos is currently accepting online reservations for the period of July 18 to September 10. In mid-September, Nolan will return to its freshly-updated digs in Athens.

Are you planning to do some Greek island hopping this summer? July and August are the peak travel months in Greece, and seats on inter-island ferries are filling up fast. If you haven’t already booked your ferry tickets, click on the image above to arrange your transportation now!

June openings

Feel Good Cafe on Mykonos

A new arrival this season, Feel Good Cafe describes itself as a “conscious eatery” serving plant-based breakfast items, healthy superfoods, acai, bowls, coffees and “sunset mocktails.” The cafe also serves up a superb sea view from its patio. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Feel Good Cafe is situated on the peripheral road above Mykonos Town, opposite the Jumbo Toy Store near the roundabout.

One of the island’s most famous restaurants, Sea Satin Market by Caprice of Mykonos, was acquired by new owners this year, and it reopened for the 2023 season on June 16. It’s still in the same coastal location –beneath the iconic row of Mykonos windmills near the Little Venice seafront of Chora.

June 9 was opening day for Drakoulis Dry & Raw Mykonos, the first island member of the fine dining restaurant project of Drakoulis Butcheries (the others are located in the Kifissia, Kolonaki and Voula neighbourhoods of Athens). “Offering a meat experience unlike any other, Dry & Raw welcomes guests to enjoy a fusion of Mediterranean flavours and Japanese cooking with some of the best cuts of meat from around the world chosen with the help of our butchers to meet your tastes and wants,” says the company website. “Drakoulis Restaurants offer a signature 360 meat experience in an upbeat state-of-the-art environment that transforms by night with electronic music vibes.” You’ll find Dry & Raw at Agia Kirikia Square in Mykonos Town.

L'Artista Italian Restaurant on Mykonos

June 9 was grand opening day for L’ Artista, Osteria Da Roberto, a new Italian restaurant “where comfort food meets fine dining.” L’ Artista is situated mere steps from Agia Anna beach at the Old Port harbourside of Mykonos Town.

La Prosciutteria has arrived on the Island of the Winds this summer. Situated in the Mykonos Mediterraneo restaurant and bar complex at Lakka Square, it celebrated its arrival with an official opening party on June 7.

June 1 was opening day for the new Baladaya Mykonos, a “modern Greek tavern” at Paradise beach.

June 1 was opening day for Meraki Mykonos, the fine dining Greek cuisine restaurant and infinity pool bar at the Cavo Tagoo Hotel in Mykonos Town

The cabaret restaurant and nightclub Lio Mykonos opened June 1 with a new entertainment extravaganza, “Delicatessen”

Please click on the link below to turn to page 2, where you can see the restaurants that opened during April and May of this year.

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Taste Greece at Mia Feta, the only-one-of-its-kind feta bar and food shop in Thessaloniki

February 13, 2022 / admin / 0 Comments

Mia Feta Feta Bar in Thessaloniki Greece

Mia Feta and some of its many dishes and products are seen in a collage of images from social media pages for the Thessaloniki restaurant and retail shop

“Nettle risotto with feta mousse, truffled feta ravioli, feta panacotta with bee pollen and tomato jam. Who knew feta wasn’t just for Greek salad?” — the Mia Feta website

Feta fanatics: We absolutely LOVE feta. It’s our favourite cheese, and it seems we just can’t eat enough of it during our trips to Greece.

Want to see big smiles instantly appear on our faces? Just watch when restaurant or taverna staff serve us a crunchy Greek salad topped with a thick slab of delicious, creamy feta!

We love feta when it’s baked into food, too — savoury spinach and cheese pies, or stuffed peppers and eggplants — and enjoy it as a component of bean, briams or vegetable dishes (called ladera in Greece). It’s great on its own, as well, or with bread that’s been toasted and brushed with olive oil and a dusting of oregano. Fried feta with a sesame crust and honey drizzle is heavenly, while a watermelon salad with feta is a refreshing cool treat on a hot sunny day.

So you can bet your bottom Euro that, when we finally get to Thessaloniki for the first time, we’re going to make a beeline for Mia Feta, which bills itself as “the world’s first feta bar.”

Mia Feta recently celebrated its 8th anniversary of business as the flagship store of Kourellas, a family dairy that has been operating in Greneva, a town in the mountainous western Macedonia region of Greece, since 1960. Not only is Mia Feta a farm-to-table restaurant and bar, it’s also a retail food shop that sells the Kourellas line of dairy products as well as Greek wines and artisanal gourmet food items — such as cold-pressed olive oils, jams and spreads, olives, hand-made pastas, herbs and beverages — from producers around the country. And while feta is its signature product and namesake, it isn’t Mia Feta’s only cheese specialty — the restaurant and shop both offer a range of creative dishes and innovative products made with other cheeses, including anevato, anthotyro, graviera, kefalograviera, kefalotyri, kasseri and moschotyri.

Mia Feta is open daily for breakfast/brunch, lunch and dinner.

For breakfast and brunch, there’s a yogurt bar that features a variety of toppings such as fruits, nuts, seeds and sauces, while customers can choose from a menu selection of cheese pies and tarts, omelets and other egg dishes, sandwiches, coffee, tea and more.

The all-day menu lists a range of hot and cold dishes: soups; salads; cheese, vegetable and meat appetizers; mains like burgers, pastas, risotto, sausages and chicken; an extensive variety of cheeses (besides feta); a cheese fondue; cold cut plates; light bites and sharing plates; and desserts.

We would particularly love to try their chickpea and lentil salad with beetroot humus, feta, red pepper, sun-dried tomato, lime, bacon and kale; the Santorini fava beans with mushrooms, wild greens and crumbled smoked feta cheese; and the cheese variety plate featuring feta, anevato, kessari, kefalograviera, and moschotyri cheese with tomato and oregano. Among others!

An image from Mia Feta’s Facebook page shows a few of the specialty food products available in the shop and its online retail store

For anyone who can’t make it to the feta bar in person, products can be ordered online, through the e-shop on the Mia Feta website. Delivery is available throughout Greece and by DHL courier to anywhere in the world.

If you’re interested in reading more, have a look at the following:

♦ The Travel.gr Greece experience website profiled Mia Feta in its November 7 2021 article Three superb Thessaloniki delicatessens and a feta bar;

♦ In the post A feta bar in Thessaloniki, published on the Madame Ginger food, cooking and recipe website, writer Eleonora Kanaki called Mia Feta “one of the best places in Thessaloniki” to eat drink and shop.

♦ The Insights Greece travel, culture, design and style website wrote about Mia Feta in the article Thessaloniki: Home to world’s first feta bar

And for extensive information about feta, see the Greek Gastronomy Guide tribute to feta.

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Mia Feta Feta Bar is located at 14 Pavlou Mela Street in Thessaloniki (Tel: +302310221120).

Web: Mia Feta Feta Bar

Instagram: @miafeta_fetabar

Facebook: @miafetafetabar

Central Macedonia: A great four-seasons travel destination

January 11, 2022 / admin / 0 Comments

This is the lead video in a Central Macedonia tourism campaign that invites visitors to come “do something great.” The promotion includes four additional short films (see below) that will tempt travellers with fabulous photography of great things they can see and do in the region.

Greatness abounds: It’s widely known as the historic home of its king, Alexander the Great, in ancient times, but the mainland Greece region of Central Macedonia wants more people to discover that it’s also an incredible place for tourists to visit 365 days a year.

The region already attracts more than 7 million visitors annually, drawn to such internationally-known destinations as the city of Thessaloniki, the holy monasteries at Mount Athos, the beach-blessed Halkidiki peninsulas, and the tallest peak in Greece, Mount Olympus.

But Central Macedonia isn’t even on the radar for countless other people who have been to Greece, or who might be planning to visit, and aren’t aware there’s so much more to the country than Athens and the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes. Crete and Corfu. To show those potential visitors why they should give Central Macedonia a closer look, the region has produced five promotional videos that highlight the vast array of vacation experiences available for all types of travellers and their holiday activity preferences.

With spectacular cinematography, the 2-minute videos showcase some of the region’s magnificent landscapes and natural scenery, exciting outdoor sports and adventure activities, arts and cultural attractions, beautiful beaches, and its traditional and contemporary cuisine. The sheer breadth of the region’s natural and human-created wonders may be an eye-opening surprise to people who aren’t familiar with this part of Greece.

The “Do Something Great” video, posted above, is the primary film for the tourism campaign. Published on YouTube and shared on social media platforms, it provides a general cinematic overview of Central Macedonia’s appealing travel attractions, while four other videos, posted below, shine a spotlight on destination features that appeal to specific visitor pastimes:

♦ Taste the Great! whets viewers’ appetites with images of mouth-watering traditional and contemporary cuisine;

♦ Sun the Great! displays brilliant scenes of gorgeous coastal landscapes to show that “nothing beats a sunny day on the beach”;

♦ Experience the Great! profiles some of the thrilling outdoor activities that sports enthusiasts can pursue, such as: mountain biking; skateboarding; surfing; rock climbing; scuba diving; alpine skiing; boating; and river rafting; and

♦ Admire the Great! spotlights cultural attractions, including: art galleries; museums; historic sites; monuments; memorials; churches, temples and monasteries; and music entertainment.

Each of the videos is well worth watching, and the full series takes only 10 minutes to view. We don’t have a favourite to recommend; although we’ve notched half a dozen viewings for the food film, and at least two apiece for the rest, we enjoyed them all.

If you’re interested in learning more about the region after watching the clips, you’ll find the Central Macedonia travel website (pictured below) is a great place to start your research and holiday planning.

Central Macedonia tourism website

Mykonos restaurants, bars, clubs & more: What’s new for 2021

August 18, 2021 / admin / 5 Comments

Baboulas Ouzeri has returned to the Mykonos Town harbourside alongside one of the island’s most-photographed landmarks — Mathios, the oldest hand-hewn fishing boat on Mykonos

Updated on August 25 2021

Island unlocked: After a long winter of Covid-19-related lockdowns ended and Greece reopened its borders to international tourists in the spring, Mykonos quickly bounced back to life.

Visitors arrived on Mykonos to find many familiar faces — their favourite bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels and shops — open and anxiously waiting to welcome them back.

Also eager to greet them were dozens of newly-established businesses opening their doors for the very first time — bakeries, cafes, coffee shops, bars, cocktail lounges, street food and casual eateries, fine dining restaurants, live entertainment venues, retail stores, hotels, rental accommodations, and more.

These new traveller-focussed enterprises further expand the already vast variety of drinking, dining, leisure and lodging choices on Mykonos, further cementing the island’s solid position and reputation as one of the top summer holiday destinations in the world.

In this post, we will introduce you to many of this year’s newcomers, along with some of the noteworthy newbies from last year. (We’re including them since this is essentially their first full summer of operation — the 2020 season started late and ended early due to disruptions caused by the Covid pandemic, while few people were able to visit Mykonos because of international travel restrictions.)

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Azul Condesa

Azul Condesa modern Mexican restaurant in Mykonos

With its “modern Mexican cuisine” and sweeping patio views of the sea and sunset, Azul Condesa has been drawing crowds since it opened on May 28. The menu includes nachos, soups, salads, starters, ceviche, tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, fajitos, burritos and main courses, along with beverage list ranging from classic and frozen margaritas to sangria, tequila, shots and a selection of popular cocktails. The restaurant takes pride in its homemade corn tortilla flours for tacos and burritos, and in its picanhas, beef tagliata and other meats seasoned in “unique and exceptional marinades of our Mexican chefs.” You’ll find Azul Condesa in the Argyraina area, along the peripheral highway above Mykonos Town.

Facebook: @azulcondesamykonos

Instagram: @azulcondesamykonos

Web: Azul Condesa Modern Mexican Cuisine

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Mykonos Social by Jason Atherton

Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton has chosen Mykonos as the location for his first restaurant in the Mediterranean. Designed as “a bespoke, all-day dining destination,” Mykonos Social opened June 16, and boasts impressive sea views from its open-air patio perched above the private beach of the luxurious Santa Marina Resort at Ornos. When they’re not mesmerized by the views, guests will be gobsmacked by the food — the menu features Atherton’s creative interpretations of Mediterranean and Greek cuisine. The restaurant bar serves Tiki-style cocktails and fine wines, while an in-house DJ plays the perfect tunes to match the clientele’s mood and the sublime resort atmosphere.

Facebook: @MykonosSocial

Instagram: @mykonossocial

Web: Santa Marina Restaurants & Bars

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Platis Souvlaki Grillbar

Platis Souvlaki shop on Mykonos

People staying in the Platis Gialos beach area won’t have to travel into Mykonos Town anymore to get a taste of Greece’s favourite fast food treats — gyros and souvlaki. With the June 11 opening of Platis Souvlaki Grillbar, at the Argo Hotel, visitors can now grab a budget-friendly gyros on their way to or from the beach. The grillbar menu includes gyros and souvlaki served in either pita sandwiches or meal portions, vegetarian pita, sausage and kebab pita, chicken skewers, salads, appetizers and more, all at reasonable prices. Platis Souvlaki joins three other shops that opened at the Argo Hotel last summer — a bakery, fashion boutique and hair & nail salon, which you can read about on page 2 of this post.

Facebook: Platis Souvlaki Restaurant

Instagram: @platissouvlaki

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Woba Street Food

Woba Street Food Project on Mykonos

The Lakka area of Mykonos Town is always bustling with pedestrian traffic since it’s home to the Fabrica bus station and dozens of cheap ‘n cheerful cafes and bars. Woba Street Food Project by Haris Papazoglu has been drawing even more people to the area since it opened on June 12. Woba’s handmade, steamed bao buns have practically been flying out of the kitchen since opening day. The buns come with a choice of main ingredients including chicken, port, tempura shrimp, creamy mushroom, Caesar, rib eye and duck. There’s even bao buns with hot dog or chicken nuggets, and sweet boa with Buenno or banofee. The menu also offers buckets of chicken wings, nuggets and fried chicken; four varieties of fried potatoes; shrimp chips, crap popcorn and other finger foods; and Thai chicken or crispy duck salads.

Facebook: Woba Streetfood Mykonos

Instagram: @woba_streetfood_mykonos

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La Barran

La Barran Bar on Mykonos

Owned and operated by a couple of young lads who were born and raised on the island, La Barran cocktail bar quickly captures attention with its slick and curvaceous white bar and its distinctive illuminated ceiling. It’s situated on Enoplon Dinameon Street, which winds through one of the busiest bar and nightclub districts of Mykonos Town. (Regular visitors will know the location as the premises previously occupied by the Replay clothing store.) La Barran opened in late April, and has been a popular hangout for locals and visitors alike ever since.

Facebook: labarranmykonos

Instagram: @labarranmykonos

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JackieO’ Cantina

JackieO Cantina on Mykonos

Mykonos welcomed a new arrival to the JackieO’ family on June 21. The JackieO’ Cantina is a casual eatery situated right next door to its eldest sibling, the highly popular JackieO’ Town Bar on the Mykonos Town seafront. (The middle child of the family is the JackieO’ Beach club at Super Paradise.) The cantina menu includes a selection of dosas, gyros, souvlaki, salads, sides and beverages. Customers can either dine indoors or sit at tables on the open-air patio overlooking the harbour — a great spot for people watching.

Facebook: JackieO’ Mykonos

Instagram: @jackieomykonos

Web: JackieO Mykonos

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Koozen

Koozen restaurant on Mykonos

For summer 2021, Aeolos Resort has opened a new in-house fine dining restaurant, Koozen, which offers a menu of Greek and Mediterranean “comfort cuisine” created by renowned Greek chef Athinagoras Kostakos, culinary director of the Meraki restaurants in London and Riyadh, as well as Scorpios and Noema on Mykonos. For Koozen’s a la carte menu, Kostakos has conceived dishes that will take diners “on a trip to the traditional flavours of Greece, with modern touches,” says the Aeolos Resort website. Guests seem to be enjoying their culinary journeys; in reviews posted on TripAdvisor, they have praised the service, flavours and high quality of the food, and have commented that Koozen’s prices are very “reasonable” and “affordable” by Mykonos standards. Koozen opened in May, and operates from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Instagram: @koozen_mykonos

Web: Aeolos Hotel Restaurant

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Drunk Monkey

Drunk Monkey bar on Mykonos

The Covid pandemic forced restaurants and bars around the world to add delivery and take-out service options to keep their businesses afloat during lockdowns. On Mykonos, two young entrepreneurs saw a promising opportunity and established Drunk Monkey, a take-away cocktail bar that also offers delivery service. The bar opened in early July of 2020, inviting visitors to “explore the island with a cocktail” and reminding them: “Cocktail first — Because no great story ever started with a glass of water.” The bar’s distinctive take-out containers and logo were soon spotted all over the island. You’ll find Drunk Monkey next door to Niko’s Taverna, behind the Mykonos Town Hall. This year the bar opened July 20 for its second season.

Facebook: @drunkmonkeymykonos

Instagram: @drunkmonkeymykonos

Web: Drunk Monkey Mykonos

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PERE UBU Mykonos

Pere Ubu Mykonos restaurant at Kalesma hotel on Mykonos

PERE UBU, the in-house restaurant at the new Kalesma luxury hotel, has been making its mark as one of the island’s top destinations for fine dining under the direction of Chef Costas Tsingas, whose gastronomic philosophy “blends fresh local produce with high-end culinary craft” to take diners on a refined journey through flavour.” “From Athens to New York, he watches, listens & tastes, creating a culinary tapestry that touches on the best of global gastronomy. Connected to the world, rooted in Greece, PERE UBU Mykonos is a journey into contemporary dining,” the restaurant’s social media pages say. “We serve small ‘mezes’ plates, full meals or light lunches by day, and by night PERE UBU transforms into a vibrant social hub with innovative cocktails and gratifying menus,” the Kalesma website states. Indeed, the restaurant has regularly hosted sunset entertainment by DJs Yiannis Mitsokapas and Evridiki from Zucca Radio, and on July 22 held a special summer barbecue feast “guided by the culinary craftsmanship of Beastalis.”

Facebook: @PereUbuMykonos

Instagram: @pere_ubu_mykonos

Web: Kalesma Mykonos Fine Dining

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What a Ride

A collage of photos of the What A Ride toasteria in Mykonos

The take-away shop What A Ride quite literally became the toast of the town when it opened in early July, offering a satisfying and scrumptious street food alternative to burgers, gyros and souvlaki. Its signature toasted sandwiches — “no ordinary toasties,” as the shop proudly proclaims — have been taking its customers’ tastebuds on a deliciously fun ride. The menu includes such tantalizing toast fillings as steak, cheese, and lobster, and What a Ride sells a selection of craft beers and wines to complement its custom toasties-to-go. You can find the toasteria on Polikantrioti Street near the harbourside promenade. It operates from early evening until the crack of dawn, so it’s a perfect place to grab a late-night bite to eat while clubbing and bar-hopping (or an early breakfast if you manage to party until daybreak).

Facebook: What a Ride Mykonos

Instagram: @whataride.mykonos

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Farma House

Farm House music club on Mykonos

A “new concept” venue spotlighting the “experimental sound of Mykonos,” Farma House is an open-air lounge where guest DJs play sets from sunset until late at night. It describes itself as “the other place” of the after-hours Sanctus club in Mykonos Town, and features some of the artists who perform there. Farma House opened on June 25, and its DJ lineup so far this summer has included Brina Knauss, Patrice Baumel, Arodes, Ivory and Joy Rapotez. The club is situated at Ftelia beach on the site of the former Farma restaurant.

Facebook: @farmamykonos

Instagram: @farmahouse_mykonos

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Baboulas

Baboulas Ouzeri on Mykonos

There’s always plenty of new things to discover on Mykonos, but occasionally something old is suddenly new again on the Island of the Winds. Like Baboulas Ouzeri, for example. Long-time visitors to Mykonos will remember Baboulas, which is situated on the harbourfront area of Mykonos Town called Kaminaki. With its traditional tables and chairs positioned on the rocky shoreline alongside a brightly painted fishing boat named Mathios, Baboulas was one of the most picturesque places in town — a veritable magnet for photographers long before Instagram existed. Mathios was an island icon, attracting tourists eager to snap pictures of octopus hanging from its sail ropes against a stunning backdrop of shimmering turquoise water and the whitewashed buildings lining the opposite side of the harbour. Starting around 2012, the Baboulas location began operating as a restaurant called Salparo Seafood. But this year Baboulas is back, offering simple and authentic Mykonian cuisine, ouzo and Greek spirits — and friendly service — “just like the old days.” And while much has changed on Mykonos during its hiatus — especially the island’s culinary scene, which has seen the arrival of scores of high-end restaurants — Baboulas is proud to call itself “the least gourmet restaurant on the island.” Baboulas re-opened on June 14 and will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year.

Facebook: @baboulasmykonos

Instagram: @baboulasmykonos

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Parthenis Cafe

a collage of photos of Parthenis Cafe in Mykonos

The Parthenis men’s and women’s clothing shop at Alefkandra Square has been a Mykonos retail icon since it was opened in 1978 by internationally-recognized Greek fashion designer Dimitris Parthenis. The boutique has long been a must-visit shopping stop for fashionistas, who appreciate the Parthenis aesthetic that combines “comfort with simplicity, enveloped through a timeless twist of elegance, deeply linked to the essence of Greek summer.” This summer, the shop added a cafe and lounge, which has been designed to exude the same characteristics — “simplicity, comfort and elegance” — as the clothing brand and the historic house in which its flagship Mykonos is situated. The outdoor space offers visitors a place to enjoy the Little Venice scenery and sunsets while relaxing with a cocktail, glass of wine or a meal, with a DJ playing music curated to follow the local mood, rhythm and flow.

Facebook: @partheniscafe

Instagram: @partheniscafe

Web: Orsalia-Parthenis

Please click on the link below to continue reading on page 2, where we preview more of the exciting new places to drink, dine, party and relax on Mykonos.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

First vegan hotel in Greece, Koukoumi, set to open on Mykonos this summer

April 19, 2020 / admin / 1 Comment

This 2-minute promotional video explains the inspiration and philosophy for the new Koukoumi Hotel, and features beautiful views of famous Mykonos landmarks and island scenery

Holistic lifestyle hotel: The first — and only — authentically vegan hotel in Greece is set to open its doors on Mykonos this summer, promising to bring both “a breath of fresh air” in hospitality and a “new life philosophy” to the Island of the Winds.

Situated on a hillside near Ano Mera, in close proximity to Kalafatis, Kalo Livadi and other top southern coast beaches, the 4-star Koukoumi Hotel is a project of the Kontiza family of Mykonos. The property has been designed in traditional Myconian architectural style and boasts 14 “boho chic” suites, a restaurant featuring ethnic, Mediterranean and Greek-inspired vegan and raw cuisine, a swimming pool, spa and fitness center, and its own fruit and vegetable garden.

“Koudoumi” is a Myconian word which translates as “sheltered from the wind” and “a cozy place for snuggling.” To stay true to its name, the hotel has been conceived as “a peaceful sanctuary” where sophisticated travellers can “enjoy life without harming animals, the environment, or [them]selves,” the Koukoumi Hotel website explains.

Rooms include spacious standard, superior and executive suites that can accommodate up to 3 guests each, as well as deluxe and master suites that can sleep two persons each.

The hotel restaurant will offer a completely vegan menu, and pledges that its delicious recipes “will challenge you to reconsider everything you believed about food before!”

The Koukoumi Spa has been designed as a “haven of relaxation” in which guests can detox, de-stress and rejuvenate “with soothing massages, healing treatments for face & body or by using the sauna.”

The hotel also has an indoor fitness center, staffed by a personal trainer and sports nutrition advisor who can tailor cross-functional training programs to help guests develop their own specific physical fitness programs and wellness goals.

Reservations can be made through the online booking page of the Koukoumi Hotel website, or through the hotel’s listings on booking.com, TripAdvisor and Expedia.

Below are several renderings of rooms and hotel facilities; additional images and information can be found on the Koukouimi website and on the Koukoumi Facebook page. A number of photos also can be viewed on the hotel’s Instagram.

A rendering showing an exterior view of Koukoumi Hotel on Mykonos

A rendering of the swimming pool at Koukoumi Hotel Mykkonos

Koukoumi Hotel Mykonos fitness room

A rendering of a suite at Koukoumi Hotel Mykonos

Koukoumi Hotel Mykonos 2020 opening announcement

A look back at our fabulous Greek Easter feast on Lesvos

April 19, 2020 / admin / 0 Comments

Roasting lamb on the spit at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

Lamb roasting on the spit at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

Staff at Delfinia Hotel in Molyvos roast lamb on the spit — the main course for the hotel’s special Greek Easter holiday meal in 2019

Memorable meal: Today — Sunday, April 19, 2020 — is Easter in Greece, the country’s biggest and most important holiday event of the year. Last year, we got to celebrate Greek Easter for our first time ever while vacationing on Lesvos island. Although it was only 12 months ago, it feels much, much longer, since time seems to have slowed to a crawl during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

We were staying at Delfinia Hotel & Bungalows in Molyvos at the time, and jumped at the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Greek Easter meal that the hotel was hosting on its open-air, seaview breakfast patio.

It cost us €25 each, an absolute bargain for the excellent quality and splendid variety of delicious food that was served. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the afternoon feast, we managed to snap a few photos of some of the delightful dishes we enjoyed, and have posted them below.

The menu for the Delfinia Hotel’s Greek Easter meal

Greek Easter dinner salad buffet at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

Greek Easter salads and cheeses at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

Two views of the wonderful salad and cheese selections on the buffet

Greek Easter dinner side dishes at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

Rice and baked pasta side dishes on the buffet

Greek Easter dinner side dishes at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

Three of the side dishes: mushrooms (top), zucchini fritters (center) and cheese pies

Greek salad at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

We started the meal with a Greek salad, olives and tzatziki

Greek Easter side dishes at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

Next up was a plate of yummy baked pasta, cheese, rice, cheese pie, zucchini fritter and mushrooms (all so delicious, we went back to the buffet for seconds)

Greek Easter kokoretsi dish at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

The first main course was a large serving of kokoretsi. If you love organ meats, you would love this spit-roasted traditional dish.

Greek Easter lamb and potatoes at Delfinia Hotel on Lesvos

The centerpiece of the meal: spit-roasted lamb with roasted potatoes

Red dyed eggs for Greek Easter

Baskets of red-dyed eggs for the Easter game of tsougrisma

The buffet included an array of mouth-watering Greek sweets and pastries, which we unfortunately forgot to photograph before devouring them.

The afternoon feast lasted a few hours, following which we took a long walk through Molyvos to get some exercise and work off some of the gazillion calories we had just consumed. [Click here for links to previous blog posts in which we have published photos from our walkabouts in the beautiful town of Molyvos.]

Greek Easter won’t be the same this year because of social distancing rules and lockdown restrictions in Greece during the Covid-19 pandemic, so there won’t be any group festivities like the one we enjoyed at Delfinia Hotel. With luck, though, things will return to normal for next year and, with even more luck, we might get an opportunity to experience another wonderful Easter meal in Greece.

Category: Memorable meals: Dining in Greece (page 1 of 5)

Taste Greece at Mia Feta, the only-one-of-its-kind feta bar and food shop in Thessaloniki

“Nettle risotto with feta mousse, truffled feta ravioli, feta panacotta with bee pollen and tomato jam. Who knew feta wasn’t just for Greek salad?” — the Mia Feta website

Central Macedonia: A great four-seasons travel destination

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