With its secluded beaches, tamarisk trees for natural shade and tavernas with fresh fish, Agathonisi is an alternative island hideaway.
The northernmost Dodecanese islet is home to a small population and three villages. Its main village is Megalo Chorio, which was built so it would not be visible from the sea in order to protect its inhabitants from pirate attacks.
1. Giorgos Taverna
This restaurant is a family business that has been in operation for years and is characterized by high quality food and homemade flavors. The fresh fish that they serve is brought from the sea by their family boats and is prepared in various ways such as grilled, fried or with pasta.
The warm and hospitable staff and the cozy atmosphere of this restaurant make it an ideal choice for your meals. The menu is combined with unique dishes from traditional Thassian cuisine and also includes grilled meat.
If you visit the village of Simi, you will find Giorgos Taverna in one of the streets near the main square. Although it looks as though the taverna has seen better days, the restaurant is still one of the best in Simi. It serves a wide variety of dishes from freshly caught fish and lobster to kebabs and chops. The prices are reasonable.
2. Atsidas Taverna
The menu here includes a wide range of classic dishes and is incredibly affordable. They also have a good selection of vegetarian options. It’s located near the port in Megalo Chorio. Atsidas Taverna is a great place to go if you want to get away from the crowds and enjoy some quiet time on your holiday.
Although Agathonisi is the northernmost island in the Dodecanese, it feels a world apart from Samos and other popular destinations. The village has a distinct sense of seclusion and offers a glimpse into another era when social networking was more local and less mediated.
3. Agios Georgios Restaurant
Located inside the hotel of the same name, this charming restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine prepared with fresh local ingredients. It’s perfect for energizing breakfasts, satisfying lunches, and refreshing late-night drinks just a few meters from the beach.
The menu is filled with classic Greek dishes that make the most of locally grown produce, meat, and cheese. Highlights include moussaka, grilled fish, and courgette fritters. The restaurant also offers a variety of vegetarian options. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, making it a great choice for family meals or intimate dinners.
Enjoy toes-in-the-sand dining with beautiful sunset sea views at this tavern. The staff are very friendly and the portions are generous. The restaurant is close to the beach and has indoor and outdoor seating, but it can get busy at sunset time. It is recommended to make reservations for dinner.
This restaurant is a must-visit in Naxos. It’s a modern take on traditional Greek cuisine with a focus on quality ingredients. The menu is filled with tasty grilled dishes like keftedes, souvlaki, and saganaki. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
A popular place for Greek food and drinks in the heart of Naxos Town. The restaurant has a great view of the port and the old village, and serves traditional dishes including moussaka, pork rosto, and saganaki. The menu also has a selection of pasta, risotto, and mixed grill plates. The wine list has plenty of Greek varieties, and the cocktail list is impressive as well.
A modern twist on traditional Greek cuisine with stunning sunset views over the bay. The menu includes a wide variety of meat and seafood dishes, plus vegetarian options. The grilled lamb and fish is particularly good, as are the saganaki and the stuffed peppers. The service is a little on the slow side, but the food is worth it.
4. Megalo Horio Restaurant
The food in this traditional restaurant To Kastro (The Castle) is very good and the service is also nice. It’s a good place for a family meal. The menu is quite extensive and includes traditional dishes from the Greek cuisine. You can try many delicious dishes and desserts at a very reasonable price. It’s located in Megalo Horio and is a very nice place to have dinner with your family.
The island of Agathonisi looks fairly rocky and barren but inland it shelters groves of figs, almonds, walnuts, pomegranates and olive trees. It’s also home to the most beautiful monastery in Tilos, Moni Agiou Panteleimona, with its fine 18th-century frescoes. The picturesque Potami Gorge is a pleasant walk while the old town of Livadia is sleepy and pretty.
Agathonisi is easy to get to and you can arrive by regular ferry boats from Leros, Patmos, Samos and Lipsi. There are also frequent buses from Athens and Thessaloniki. The island has some good beaches, but they’re not the main reason for travelling to this quiet island.
The largest and oldest village on the island is Megalo Chorio, built on a hill so that it’s not visible from the sea to protect its inhabitants from pirate raids. It was the capital of the island until 1880 and has a number of charming stone houses with lovely courtyards. It’s also home to the Municipality, a cultural center, the island’s school, a post office and grocery store and a few accommodations. The small settlement of Mikro Chorio is situated opposite and has only a few residents. It’s a pretty and peaceful village with a few tavernas and chapels.
5. Agios Panteleimonas Restaurant
The restaurant at the top of the hotel offers an exquisite medley of Greek, Mediterranean and international dishes. The menu is sourced from regional purveyors and reflects seasonal flavours. You can sit out on the terrace overlooking the deep-blue sea, or dine inside through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Located along the path towards the beach in Agia Galini, this is one of the more popular places to dine at the coast. They have a good menu that includes dorade, grilled sardines and the Alykes salad with potato, tuna, feta cheese, onion rings, tomatoes and cucumber. Everything is served with a side of French fries and the portions are large. The service is friendly and funny.
Another taverna that is worth trying is Mouragio. It is situated at the 4th taverna from the start of the beach in Agia Pelagia and is run by Stella and Nikos. Their fried zucchini, swordfish fillet and gyros are delicious! Their laugh is infectious and the atmosphere in the taverna is just wonderful.
In winter, the taverna is open and you can escape to the fire-warmed restaurant to enjoy smoked pork, soutzoukaki meatballs, Florina pepper pasta, homemade red wine and home-distilled tsipouro. They serve fresh fish daily too.
Take a boat from the port of Mykonos to Baos, a tiny islet that is part of the municipality of Mykonos. Local legend has it that vrikolakas (Greek vampires) were exiled to the island of Baos in order to keep them from returning to Mykonos! The islet has a beautiful sandy beach and is surrounded by clear blue water. The boat ride will take around 45 minutes and is a perfect way to spend the afternoon!