Best Places to Eat in Ikaria: Restaurants & Local Food
The best places to eat in Ikaria range from fish tavernas beside small harbours to village restaurants serving Greek dishes and contemporary kitchens giving island ingredients a different treatment.
Food is an enjoyable part of exploring Ikaria, but geography matters when choosing a restaurant. A meal in Armenistis fits naturally into a day on the northwestern coast, while Faros and Magganitis offer options for visitors exploring different parts of the island. Mountain roads mean that a restaurant appearing close on a map may involve a considerably longer journey than expected.
This guide brings together six restaurants across Ikaria, alongside local dishes to look for and practical advice for planning meals.
Where to Eat in Ikaria at a Glance
| Restaurant | Location | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Mary | Armenistis | Contemporary Greek cooking and seasonal dishes |
| Anna’s Fish Taverna | Nas | A fish meal overlooking the coast |
| Kialaris Fish Tavern | Gialiskari | Greek food and seafood near the marina |
| Sta Perix | Akamatra | A meal while exploring the island’s interior |
| Feroi | Magganitis | Village dining during a south-coast outing |
| O Grigoris | Faros | Greek cooked dishes and grilled meat near the beach |
Opening days and menus can change with the season. Visitors should confirm arrangements directly, particularly outside the main summer months.
1. Mary Mary, Armenistis
Mary Mary is a restaurant in Armenistis serving modern Greek food with international influences. Its seasonal approach makes it a useful choice for visitors wanting something different from a conventional taverna menu.
The published menu includes dishes such as fava, baked giant beans, moussaka and an interpretation of Ikarian soufiko served with feta croquettes. These provide opportunities to try familiar Greek ingredients in more contemporary combinations.
The wine list also includes Ikarian producers, making the restaurant a convenient place to explore the island’s wines alongside dinner.
Mary Mary suits couples, small groups and visitors staying around Armenistis who want a more varied evening meal. Vegetarian dishes appear on the menu, although individual ingredients should be checked when ordering.
Best for: Contemporary Greek cooking in Armenistis.
Practical tip: Ask which dishes are seasonal specials rather than expecting every item from an online menu to be available.
2. Anna’s Fish Taverna, Nas
Anna’s Fish Taverna is in Nas, overlooking the coastline above the beach. Its setting makes it a natural option for visitors spending time around this part of northwestern Ikaria.
The restaurant is associated with fish and Greek taverna cooking. Rather than arriving with a fixed order in mind, diners should ask what fish is available and how it will be prepared.
A meal here can be combined with visiting Nas and viewing the remains of the Sanctuary of Artemis. The elevated coastal setting is part of the appeal, particularly towards evening.
Visitors seeking a table with a particular outlook should enquire when booking. A restaurant overlooking the sea does not necessarily give every table the same view.
Best for: Fish and a coastal setting in Nas.
Practical tip: For fish sold by weight, confirm the price per kilogram and the approximate total cost before ordering.
3. Kialaris Fish Tavern, Gialiskari
Kialaris Fish Tavern is in Gialiskari, close to the marina and the small Resurrection chapel. It provides another option for visitors exploring the northwestern coastline.
This family-run restaurant focuses on Greek cooking, including fish and seafood. Its location makes it particularly convenient for travellers staying in Gialiskari or visiting the surrounding coastal area.
A straightforward approach is to share starters and salads before choosing a main dish according to availability. Diners interested in seafood should ask what is offered that day rather than assuming every item will be locally caught or available throughout the season.
Kialaris also offers an alternative to travelling farther along the coast when a relaxed meal near Gialiskari is the priority.
Best for: Greek food and seafood near the marina.
Practical tip: Check the map for the Gialiskari location, as transliterations of restaurant names can vary between listings.
4. Sta Perix, Akamatra
Sta Perix is in the inland village of Akamatra. It adds a useful village option to an itinerary otherwise centred on beaches and coastal restaurants.
The restaurant serves Greek and Mediterranean food. It is worth asking about the day’s cooked dishes and available vegetable options rather than relying entirely on a menu found before travelling.
A stop here works best as part of a wider exploration of the interior. Visitors can plan their route around nearby villages and scenery, with lunch or dinner providing a break in the journey.
For travellers who enjoy discovering places beyond the main coastal bases, Akamatra offers a different setting for a meal.
Best for: Greek dining during a village excursion.
Practical tip: Allow enough time for the return drive, particularly when unfamiliar with Ikaria’s winding roads.
5. Feroi, Magganitis
Feroi is a café-restaurant in Magganitis on Ikaria’s southern coast. It is an option for visitors exploring the village and the surrounding area.
Its village location can make it a useful meal stop during an outing that includes Seychelles Beach. However, visitors should distinguish the restaurant’s location in Magganitis from the beach itself: Feroi should not be treated as a restaurant directly on Seychelles Beach.
The café-restaurant format also makes it worth checking whether a full meal or a lighter stop best suits the time of the visit. Ask what the kitchen is serving that day.
Opening arrangements deserve particular attention outside summer, when a journey specifically for a meal should be confirmed in advance.
Best for: A village meal while exploring the Magganitis area.
Practical tip: Plan beach access and restaurant access separately rather than assuming they share the same arrival point.
6. O Grigoris, Faros
O Grigoris is in Faros, near the beach on the eastern side of Ikaria. It serves Greek food, with local listings highlighting cooked dishes, grilled meat, souvlaki and vegetable fritters.
It is a useful choice for visitors wanting a traditional meal during a day around Faros. A selection of starters followed by a cooked dish or something from the grill offers a straightforward way to order.
The beachside location does not mean seafood must be the focus. Travellers who prefer meat dishes or familiar Greek cooking may find this a practical alternative to a fish-led meal.
Visitors staying elsewhere should check opening arrangements before making a special journey.
Best for: Greek cooked dishes and grilled meat near Faros Beach.
Practical tip: Ask about the day’s prepared dishes before choosing from the grill.
What to Eat in Ikaria
Soufiko
Soufiko is one of Ikaria’s characteristic vegetable dishes. It combines summer vegetables such as aubergine, courgette, tomato and onion with olive oil, although recipes and presentation vary.
It is a useful dish to seek out when exploring local cooking. Visitors avoiding dairy should check how it is served, as restaurants may add cheese or accompany it with cheese-based preparations.
Kathoura Cheese
Kathoura is a local goat’s cheese associated with Ikaria. It may appear on its own or as an ingredient in other dishes.
Asking whether a restaurant serves local cheese is an easy way to discover something beyond the standard selection of Greek starters.
Goat Dishes
Goat features in Ikarian cooking and is worth considering when available. Preparation varies between kitchens, so diners should ask whether the day’s version is roasted, stewed or prepared another way.
Ikarian Wine and Honey
A meal provides an opportunity to try wine produced on the island. Ask which local bottles or house wines are available and whether wine can be ordered by the glass.
Ikarian honey is another local product to look for, either with breakfast, in desserts or to take home.
Choosing Where to Eat
Visitors staying around Armenistis can explore Mary Mary, Gialiskari and Nas without building every meal around a cross-island journey.
Sta Perix works as part of an inland excursion, while Feroi and O Grigoris are better considered alongside plans for Magganitis and Faros respectively.
For a short stay, choosing restaurants near the day’s activities will usually leave more time for exploring. A longer visit allows greater variety without rushing between different parts of the island.
Practical Tips for Eating in Ikaria
- Confirm seasonal opening. An online listing does not guarantee that a kitchen is operating on the day of a visit.
- Ask about daily dishes. Cooked food and fish selections may change.
- Check seafood prices. Whole fish may be priced by weight.
- Explain dietary requirements clearly. Vegetable dishes can include cheese, butter or other animal ingredients.
- Arrange transport before drinking. Allow for the return journey when ordering wine.
- Reserve when a particular table matters. This is especially useful for coastal restaurants and evening meals.
The most rewarding approach is to combine a few planned meals with flexibility. A restaurant near the day’s destination, serving something seasonal, can be a better choice than a long drive to complete a checklist.