Santorini’s restaurant scene divides cleanly into two tiers: caldera-view dining with premium prices, and local spots away from the rim where the same food costs considerably less. The caldera premium is real - the same grilled fish that costs €15 at an Amoudi Bay taverna reaches €35–40 at a terrace restaurant in Oia with an unobstructed sunset view. Neither is a bad choice; they are different experiences. Prices listed here are approximate as of 2026.
Food Tours and Culinary Experiences
| Tour | Duration | Price (from) | Group Size | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini Wine and Food Tasting Tour | 4 hrs | from €70/person | Up to 12 | Three wineries, Assyrtiko tasting, local mezedes and fava |
| Santorini Cooking Class with Market Visit | 4 hrs | from €85/person | Up to 10 | Local ingredients, traditional recipes, shared meal with wine |
| Sunset Dinner Cruise with Greek Buffet | 5 hrs | from €110/person | Up to 20 | Caldera sailing, Greek buffet on deck, sunset views from the water |
| Oia and Villages Food Walking Tour | 3 hrs | from €50/person | Up to 10 | Tomatokeftedes, local cheese, fava tasting, village taverna stops |
| Santorini Street Food and Monastery Tour | 3.5 hrs | from €45/person | Up to 15 | Pyrgos village, local mezes, wine co-op, Profitis Ilias monastery |
Browse all Santorini food tours and culinary experiences → GetYourGuide
Oia - Amoudi Bay Fish Tavernas
The fish tavernas at Amoudi Bay, 300 steps below Oia village, represent the best value caldera-area dining on the island. There are four or five side-by-side restaurants on the water’s edge - Sunset Taverna, Katina’s, and their neighbours. Fresh fish is priced by the kilo (approximately €15–25 for a whole grilled fish as of 2026), calamari runs approximately €12–15, and the setting is exceptional: boats moored at the dock, cliffs rising overhead, no car traffic.
Lunch is quieter than dinner and slightly more affordable. The climb back up the steps after eating is the main deterrent; most visitors either pace themselves or take a taxi back up.
Roka and Lotza in Oia village proper are well-regarded mid-range options with caldera views - mains typically €20–35. Both require advance booking in summer.
Fira - Value and Quality Without the Caldera Tax
Fira has a broader range of prices than Oia. The main tourist drag (Ypapantis Walk along the caldera edge) commands premium prices; the streets running inland are substantially more affordable.
Mama Thira is a consistently reliable traditional taverna off the main strip - grilled meat dishes, moussaka, and stuffed peppers at approximately €12–18 per main. Popular with locals and travellers who have done their research. Nikolas (one of the oldest restaurants in Fira, on Erythrou Stavrou Street) is a classic Greek taverna with no caldera view and no pretensions - souvlaki, lamb chops, and the island’s fava at good prices.
For fish in Fira, Lucky Fish near the cable car station serves straightforward grilled seafood at lower prices than Oia, with partial sea views.
Gyros and souvlaki from the several small shops in the town centre run approximately €3–5 and are genuinely good - a quick lunch between activities without wasting half a day at a table.
Imerovigli - Caldera Views at Every Table
Imerovigli, the village between Fira and Oia, sits at the highest point of the caldera rim and has some of the most dramatic views on the island. The dining here is upscale.
Avocado is the best-known vegetarian and health-focused restaurant on Santorini - creative salads, grain bowls, and light dishes at approximately €12–20, popular for breakfast and lunch as well as dinner. Blue Note is more traditionally Greek, with caldera-view terrace dining and mains in the €20–35 range. Both require advance booking.
Local Villages - Best Value on the Island
The inland villages - Pyrgos, Megalochori, and Messaria - have traditional tavernas serving Santorinian food at prices significantly below the caldera restaurants. A full meal with wine in a village taverna typically costs €20–30 per person.
In Pyrgos, the highest village on the island, a cluster of small cafes and tavernas serve local dishes. The view from the Venetian castle at the top of the village extends across the entire island.
What to Order
Fava - the island’s most famous dish - is a smooth, creamy puree of yellow split peas grown in Santorini’s volcanic soil, typically topped with raw onion, capers, and olive oil. It tastes different here than anywhere else due to the mineral content of the soil. Order it everywhere.
Tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters) are made from the island’s small, intensely sweet cherry tomatoes - a product of the same dry volcanic growing conditions as the wine grapes. Chloro cheese and white Santorinian aubergine are also local specialities worth seeking on menus.
For wine, Assyrtiko is the correct pairing with most of the seafood and lighter dishes. Order by the carafe rather than the bottle for better value at mid-range restaurants.
The Caldera Premium - Worth Knowing
The best caldera-view restaurants in Oia charge roughly 2–3 times the price of equivalent food in Fira’s side streets or inland villages. A moussaka that costs €12 in Fira costs €22–28 with a caldera view. This is a straightforward supply and demand equation - the view is finite and the demand is enormous. If budget matters, eat well in Fira or a village and come to Oia for drinks only, which is a perfectly valid approach.
For the full island overview including where to stay and how to get here, see our Santorini travel guide. Planning your days? The things to do in Santorini guide covers the caldera hike, Akrotiri, boat tours, and wine tasting. For beach options, see best beaches in Santorini. Choosing between islands? Read our Santorini vs Mykonos comparison and Crete vs Santorini guide.
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See Also
- Santorini Travel Guide - island overview with caldera villages, accommodation, and getting there
- Things to Do in Santorini - Akrotiri, caldera hike, boat trips, and wine tours
- Best Beaches in Santorini - Red Beach, Perissa, Kamari, and hidden coves
- Best Tours in Santorini - sailing cruises, sunset catamaran tours, and food experiences
- Where to Stay in Santorini - comparing caldera-view hotels to budget alternatives
- Santorini Itinerary - how to structure your days across the island’s villages
- Greek Food Guide - understanding Santorini’s Assyrtiko wine and local cuisine