Mykonos restaurants: where to eat and what not to miss
From pricey beach clubs to the midnight gyros stand: a short guide to eating in Mykonos, with money-saving and kosher tips.
- Eating out in Mykonos is expensive, especially at beach clubs and in Little Venice.
- Back-street tavernas in Chora and gyros stands are cheaper.
- Kosher food is available in summer only, through the Chabad house in the Old Town.
Plan one expensive meal at most, and eat the rest in simple tavernas. Check prices before ordering fish sold by weight.
Where to eat in Mykonos
Mykonos is one of the most expensive places in Greece to eat out, especially at the beach clubs and seafront restaurants. But alongside the famous names there are family tavernas, bakeries and gyros stands where you can eat well for less. The price gap between a restaurant at a smart beach and a taverna on a back street in Chora (the main town) can be huge. See also how expensive Greece is by island.
Restaurants in Chora and Little Venice
Chora has the widest choice. In Little Venice, the quarter whose houses are built over the water, bars and restaurants look out at the sunset and the windmills. Prices are high, and at sunset you need to arrive early or book. In the inner lanes there are long-standing tavernas such as Niko's Taverna and Kounelas serving fish and classic Greek food. After midnight, gyros and souvlaki stands in Chora are open for a cheap, quick meal.
Beach restaurants in Mykonos
- Beach clubs: at places such as Nammos on Psarou beach and Scorpios at Paraga, food is part of an experience of music, sunbeds and champagne. They are among the most expensive spots on the island, and in summer you need to book.
- Beach tavernas: smaller beaches have simple tavernas with fresh fish and salads at saner prices.
- Kiki's Tavern: a small taverna above Agios Sostis beach with no electricity and no bookings, serving mainly at lunchtime. You queue, sometimes for a long time, and that is part of the charm.
What to eat in Mykonos
- Kopanisti: a sharp, salty local cheese served on bread or rusks.
- Fish and seafood: mainly at the fish tavernas in Chora and on the beaches.
- Amygdalota: local almond biscuits, a good souvenir to take home.
- Classic Greek food: Greek salad, tzatziki, moussaka and souvlaki, as everywhere in Greece. See our guide to Greek food.
Worth knowing: one of the island's best-known specialities, louza, is cured pork, and the local sausages are usually pork too.
Kosher food in Mykonos
In summer a Chabad house operates in Mykonos Old Town, with Shabbat and holiday meals and kosher food to take away. Out of season there is no regular kosher food in Mykonos. Details in our guide to Chabad houses in Greece.
Tips for eating in Mykonos without overpaying
- Check the menu and prices before sitting down, especially for fish sold by weight. Ask to see the fish weighed before it is cooked.
- Have your main meal at lunchtime in a taverna, and keep the evening to gyros or a pastry.
- Buy water, fruit and snacks for the beach at a supermarket.
- A usual tip is 5 to 10 per cent when service is good. See tipping in Greece.
Visiting in winter? Most restaurants are closed. See Mykonos off season, and everything else on our Mykonos page.
FAQ
Is food in Mykonos expensive? Yes, especially at the beach clubs and in Little Venice. Tavernas in the back streets and gyros stands are cheaper.
Do you need to book restaurants in Mykonos? In summer, yes for the well-known beach restaurants and for sunset in Little Venice. Small tavernas usually not.
Is there kosher food in Mykonos? In summer, through the Chabad house in the Old Town. Not out of season.
What is the local dish of Mykonos? Kopanisti cheese and amygdalota almond biscuits. The famous louza is made from pork.
