10 Best Local Restaurants in Santorini

Metaxi Mas (Μεταξύ Μας) often makes lists of the best restaurants in Santorini, both published and by local recommendation, with great food and fantastic ocean views. It's tucked off the beaten path and forms a bit of a hidden gem of the culinary adventures to be had here. You'll get to eat by the sea with great views of the surrounding seaside villages and the ocean itself. Ingredients are locally sourced and of the highest quality, and the menu is Greek fusion food with tons of vegetarian and meat options on offer.

Among the menu highlights is the kadaifi stuffed with cheese, served with berry compote. It's located in the heart of Exo Gonia.

Argo Restaurant offers spectacular views of the volcano's caldera with fantastic sunset views and great cuisine served up in a trendy, yet casual and family-friendly environment. The restaurant is named after the ship of Jason and the Argonauts in Greek mythology, and the décor is designed to match a nautical theme throughout. It serves up Greek fusion cuisine with plenty of options from meats and seafood to pasta and vegetarian options.

Among the menu highlights are the house speciality shrimp saganaki, fave puré with grilled octopus and Santorini salad. This one is located right along the main footpath in the town of Fira so it's easy to access.

Parea Tavern is a lovely Greek restaurant serving up outstanding Greek and Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist in a warm, friendly and cosy setting. The restaurant opened in 2005 and is focused on the high quality of the authentic cuisine here. They source all of their ingredients with a sight on absolute quality and freshness, all from local providers. Just a few of the menu highlights include the lamb kleftiko, zucchini balls, tzatziki dip, Santorini salad, grilled octopus and Mousaka.

For those looking for something a bit more standard, you can go for pork chops and fries. Desserts include baklava and Banoffee, among others. It's in the heart of the village of Fira.

To Psaraki is a casual, jaunty eatery that overlooks the fishing port of Vilchada that serves up some of the best seafood around at prices that won't break the bank. This is a great spot to come if you're on a family holiday to enjoy great foods with spins that adults will appreciate and standards that kids will love, at reasonable costs. Some of the more popular menu items include whole grilled fish, sea urchin salad and stuffed sardines with fresh herbs. Desserts include pears poached in Assyrtiko wine.

To be sure you get a table with a harbour view, you'll want to call ahead for a reservation. It's all in the heart of the port town of Vilchada.

Melitini is one of the newer restaurants and cafes on Santorini and serves up traditional tapas with classical Greek décor and an amazingly family-friendly vibe. This restaurant quickly becomes a favourite with visitors coming back time and again because there's always something new on the menu to sample. This restaurant grew out of the Greek financial crisis when a former banker and childhood friend left their lives behind to open the first tapas restaurant serving only Greek products in Oia.

The food is made from family recipes handed down for generations so everything you get here is traditional in the literal sense of the world. Ingredients are also sourced from local partners for farm-fresh quality and sustainability.

To Pinakio is an unpretentious, cosy and overall entertaining Greek restaurant that pairs fantastic family-friendly dining with live music right at your table. This restaurant constantly has musicians playing traditional Greek music and as they play. They walk around the restaurant like bards of old and sit with the diners to encourage interaction and participation in the festivities. Because most of the songs are actually in Greek, this spot is largely populated by locals, but that also speaks to the quality of the food.

If you're looking for a spot to catch some true Santorini culture as well as enjoy fine family-friendly cuisine, this is it. They can be found in the town of Kamari.

Naoussa is centrally located in the heart of Fira and offers delicious traditional Greek cuisine with plenty of seafood, meat and vegetarian options available, plus spectacular sunset views. From here, you can also see fantastic views of the Volcano's Caldera and every so often at night, you'll get the chance to see live musicians perform. The atmosphere here is joyous and even raucous and occasionally you'll have plate smashings go on in celebration.

A few of the menu highlights include their classic Greek salad, outstanding moussaka, Tzatziki with pita, Saganaki cheese, Beef braised in tomato sauce, stuffed vegetables and Briam, among other treats. The décor and vibe here are laid back, friendly and casual to go with the food.

Anogi is a centrally located restaurant in the heart of Imerovigli village that offers homemade traditional Greek food with meat, pasta, seafood and vegetarian options. The food here is made and served up by a warm and welcoming couple who opened the spot 9 years ago and make all the food from their own traditional family recipes. The vibe here is casual and trendy and the staff is friendly and helpful. This place makes everything from scratch, even bread and desserts. The prices are also very affordable for family dinners.

It's worth noting that this one is wildly popular and lines are usually long to get in. It helps to have a reservation to secure your table before you get there.

Ouzeri offers up solid, good food in a casual, laid-back and welcoming setting with a traditional Greek tavern vibe, small plate foods and speciality liquor. An ouzeri is a type of Greek tavern that traditionally serves only small plates designed to be shared, called mezes. For drinks, expect the classic Greek liquor made with anise flavouring called ouzo. Ouzeri takes this idea to the next level by offering a full menu in addition to the standards.

This is a good place to stop after shopping at a local mall to kick back with fantastic views of the Aegean Sea. This spot is outdoor seating only and the chef is classically trained. The restaurant is in the heart of Fira.

Roka restaurant lies off of a quiet pedestrian lane and offers an escape from the hustle and bustle with beautiful garden dining, brightly-coloured décor and of course, great food. You can choose from outdoor dining or from any of 3 small dining rooms indoors. On cold nights, a wood-burning stove keeps the place toasty and offers that down-home, welcoming scent of a crackling fire. You can enjoy spectacular sunset views out back over the water, and they even offer a children's play area.

Whether you're in it for a family lunch or a romantic dinner, this Oia spot is a great option. Some menu highlights include lamb duology, handmade ravioli, skioufikta and grilled buffalo ribeye.