If a hike to Prophet Elias’ monastery has left you famished or your west Mediterranean cruise leaves you with a hankering for fresh seafood, here are the best places to eat in Hydra.
In the alleyways of Hydra’s port, this tavern-reference point for locals and foreign visitors serves authentic Italian recipes slightly teased with traditional products from Hydra. It’s open all year round.
Xeri Elia Douskos
If you are looking for a great Greek restaurant in Hydra, look no further than Xeri Elia Douskos. The food here is excellent and the service is fast. You can order delicious sea bream, lobsters and moussaka here. The prices are affordable. The restaurant has a good reputation among tourists. It is a perfect choice for family and friends.
It is one of the most popular restaurants in the city. It offers a variety of Greek and Mediterranean cuisines. It also serves wines. The staff is very friendly and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. It is a must-visit place for every tourist in Hydra.
The tavern is located in the back streets on a square and you can find it easily by following the locals. It has a traditional setting with live musicians playing the bouzouki and accordion. It is the oldest restaurant in Hydra and is over 200 years old. It is also the place where Leonard Cohen used to go in the 1970s. The restaurant is still open today and they play live music on the weekends during the summer.
Xeri Elia is located a short distance from Pacific Mineral Museum and is a good option for those who want to visit the museum before or after their meal. The restaurant is known for its fresh seafood and traditional dishes. The grilled octopus is particularly tasty. The restaurant is also very reasonably priced. It is recommended to book a table before going to avoid disappointment.
If you’re in the mood for dessert, try the baklava. This restaurant also offers a selection of wines and has excellent customer ratings. The service is quick and the staff are friendly. The ambiance is great and the menu has something for everyone.
Hydra is a beautiful and picturesque island, with its own unique feel. Its no-wheels policy prevents the island from being overcrowded or spoiled by overdevelopment. Its unique and quixotic character has a lot to do with its isolation. In addition to preserving the island’s heritage, the no-wheels policy also helps prevent it from becoming overrun with heavy traffic and massive hotels.
Petkakis
The small Saronic island of Hydra is renowned for its pretty old town, bohemian heritage and crystal clear waters but it’s also home to a good selection of restaurants. From traditional Greek taverns to more elegant eateries with Mediterranean cuisine, Hydra has something to please all palates.
Located in the centre of the city, Piato Restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Hydra. It offers delicious food and drinks, a relaxing atmosphere, and friendly staff. The restaurant is known for its fresh seafood dishes and tasty grilled meats. It also has a wide range of wine and coffee that can be enjoyed with your meal.
A few hours by ferry from Athens, Hydra is a car-free island that’s cherished and quintessentially Greek, a world away from the hustle of the capital. Its quaint streets, shady harbour and gorgeous bays make it a popular day trip or weekend getaway for Athenians, but its size ensures that it’s not overcrowded or commercialised.
The island’s cosmopolitan spirit is evident in its bars and restaurants too, with DJs spinning music in the high season and a more laidback scene off-season. The handful of pebbled beaches on the coast are lovely to laze around, with a few beach bars for a drink or bite to eat in the afternoons.
At Techne, which opened in early 2016, you’ll find carefully crafted modern Greek cuisine paired with uniquely Hydra ingredients. Chef Yannis Michalopoulos worked in top-flight London restaurants before setting up this beautiful waterfront spot, and it shows with plates of smoked feta croquette and lamb saddle served on tagliatelle.
Kodylenia’s is another waterside favourite, overlooking Kamini harbour a 15-minute walk or short water taxi ride from the port. It’s a popular venue for families with children and the food is very reasonably priced with dishes of grilled sardines, fried octopus and halloumi fries among its options.
The Four Seasons Hydra* at Plakes beach is a stylish take on a traditional taverna with a shady terrace wrapping around the building and a lovely view of the sea. The menu is mainly Mediterranean, with pastas and pizzas among the mains, although they do serve the classic kleftiko, a slow-cooked stew of lamb and potatoes wrapped in paper that’s so succulent it’s almost melting.
Kodylenia’s
Just a couple of hours from Athens, the car-free island of Hydra is a popular day trip or weekend getaway, thanks to its pretty old town, bohemian heritage and clear waters. Its popularity also means it has an unexpectedly good selection of places to eat and drink, from traditional taverns to fine-dining restaurants.
One of the best is Kodylenia’s, a broad shaded porch overlooking the little marina of Kamini. It’s crammed with whitewashed tables and the sound level is perfect – conversation flowing like water in a brook, the occasional motorboat passing, the clinking of forks on plates. There’s a taverna feel to the place but the quality of the food is as high as you could hope for.
The kitchen uses only Greek products – fava, oregano, capers and olive oil all come from a single region of Greece – as well as bringing in Kefalograviera and Haloumi cheeses directly from Cyprus. These ingredients are used to create dishes that go far beyond your typical taverna, such as perfectly cooked grilled octopus garnished with lemon and olive oil or lamb chops smoked on the grill with garlic, oregano and flat parsley.
Tables huddle under three big ficus trees on the outside terrace or there’s a nice, high-ceilinged interior for cooler weather. Service is attentive but unobtrusive. The menu is classic Greek – 8-inch kalamari flash-fried and served with a secret sauce, grilled shrimp in a tomato and herb salsa and fish straight from the harbour – but if you’re hankering for something more substantial try the steak saganaki or a plate of grilled sausages.
A sophisticated international mood makes Italian, again, feel just as right on Hydra as Greek come the evening. With a quirky decor – equipment from the days when sponge diving was the main industry on the island – and a playlist that mixes a little Demis Roussos with nostalgic Italian hits, this is an inviting spot for a glass of red wine and some spaghetti or a pizza.
Amalour
One of the most popular islands in Greece, Hydra has managed to avoid mass tourism and retains its breezy cosmopolitan island charm. The capital, Hydra Town, is a neo-classical maze of shady courtyards, tavernas and shops with awe-inspiring doors, balustrades, shutters and loggia walls that can be explored for hours on end.
Amid this quaint architecture and relaxed pace is a nightlife scene that’s surprisingly vibrant. From ouzo bars and tavernas to chic cocktail lounges, Hydra offers something for everyone at every hour of the day.
Hydra is known for its secluded beaches and pristine waters, but this tiny archipelago also has a wild side. At night, the island comes alive with pulsing ouzo bars and clubs that play a mix of jazz, rap and vintage heavy metal music.
Besides bars and restaurants, Hydra has many cafes and tavernas that offer great food and a wonderful view of the port. Grab a table on the waterside any time of the day to sip a cool drink and watch the boats come and go. A particularly good taverna is The Secret Taverna in Vlihos, which has a great Greek menu with fresh fish and lamb on the spit. The family-run atmosphere and fantastic dishes make this taverna a true gem.
Other good options include Isalos cafe on the port, Pirate Bar at the port and The Cool Mule for ice cream. You can also grab a seat in the shade by the port and people watch, or head up to Mount Eros for the best views on the island. The hike to the monastery of Prophet Elias is a bit steep but well worth it, as are the sweeping views over Hydra Town and the sea beyond.
As well as great dining options Hydra has a variety of boutiques and specialist shops, and there’s no shortage of places to pick up a souvenir or two. A novel shop is Georgia’s supply boat in the port, which delivers all kinds of goods to the island including booze, Ikea home furniture and food.