Restaurants and Tavernas in Rhodes

Rhodes excels for it can boast some of the finest restaurants and tavernas in Greece that will give diners a genuine taste of typical Greek cuisine. The island can satisfy every gourmet because the local cuisine is a real delight for the senses. 

There is an abundance of restaurants and traditional tavernas in Rhodes City as well a number of traditional tavernas in the villages of Rhodes where you can taste the delicious local food. Rhodes Town and Lindos have lots of good restaurants, offering international cuisine, from Italian and Chinese to traditional Greek. Other resorts have a decent spread of restaurants and bars as well. When in Rhodes look out for seafood and local wines. Treat yourself to a meal alfresco within sight and sound of the sea and enjoy a meal of grilled seafood, a meze of tasters, perhaps including tender octopus or spanakopita (savory phyllo pastry parcels with a filling of chopped spinach, and feta cheese), a slice of melon, a glass of chilled island wine, and a thick, strong Greek coffee to finish.

Dining out is exceptionally common in Greece. The 'Taverna' and 'Estiatorio' (restaurant) are widespread, serving traditional Greek food at affordable prices. The main difference between a restaurant and a Greek taverna is the way the food is served. In a restaurant you chooses your own meal, served on a big plate, while in a taverna you share a wide array of food (called mezedes) that is placed in the middle of the table so everybody could reach for his or her favourite food. Besides the typical Greek food like Greek salad, Souvlaki or Moussaka, you will be offered a wide range of fish and seafod in Rhodes. It is also very common in Greece to eat out in tavernas late into the night. Dining out is part of the Greek culture and enjoying a get together over dinner is for the Greeks as important as enjoying the food. Lots of laughing and story telling accompany a dinner out therefore a dinner in a taverna might take several hours.

'Hilopites' (a sort of pasta cooked with tomato sauce or meat), 'mousaka' (the famous dish with potatoes, aubergines, cheese and bechamel), 'soupiorizo' (squid risotto), or 'pastichio' (macaroni with béchamel and tomato sauce) are only a few of the plethora of Rhodian specialties. The village of Afandou is famous for its casserole meat dishes, cooked in earthenware pots, along with tender potatoes and fresh onions. When in this village you should also have a taste of a delicious local dish called 'pitaroudia' (courgette fritters).

Fast-food has also become very popular in Greece with local chains such as Goody's springing up (local equivalent of McDonald's). Even though fast food is gaining in popularity in Greece, people still rely primarily on the rich and extensive repertoire of Greek cuisine. In addition, some traditional Greek foods, especially souvlaki, gyros, pita such as tyropita or spanakopita are often served in fast food style and places selling them can be found at almost every corner in Rhodes City and the villages of Rhodes.

Rhodes is also famed for its wide choice of mouth-watering sweets such as 'kataifi', 'baklava' , 'talagoutes' (pancakes with honey, walnuts, sesame and cinnamon), as well as the local 'belekounia' (a sesame and honey sweet).

*For more information on Greek cuisine click here. 

Rhodes Restaurants and tavernas well worth a visit