Best Places to Eat in Serifos: Restaurants & Local Food
The best places to eat in Serifos range from traditional restaurants in hilltop Chora to seafood tables beside Livadi bay and tavernas close to the beaches.
The island’s cooking offers more than fish and familiar Greek holiday dishes. Fennel fritters, baked chickpeas, capers, local cheeses and slow-cooked meat provide reasons to explore the menu beyond the grill section.
Livadi is convenient for visitors staying near the port, while Chora combines dinner with an evening walk through whitewashed lanes. Restaurants elsewhere can make lunch part of a beach outing, although transport and seasonal opening deserve attention.
This guide brings together five established options, chosen to offer different locations and styles of meal.
Where to Eat in Serifos at a Glance
| Restaurant | Area | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Marathoriza | Ano Chora | Traditional Serifian cooking |
| Aloni | On the route between Livadi and Chora | Greek cooked dishes, grilled meat and elevated views |
| Tis Kalis | Livadi | Fish, seafood and Cycladic flavours |
| To Bakakaki | Livadi | Meat-focused dining near the waterfront |
| Stefanakos | Psili Ammos | Combining a beach visit with a taverna meal |
1. Marathoriza: Traditional Cooking in Chora
Marathoriza is in Ano Chora, close to Windmill Square and the bus stop. Its position makes it a practical choice for a meal before or after exploring the upper settlement.
The restaurant focuses on traditional Serifian cooking, including appetisers and slow-cooked dishes. Its published descriptions feature fennel fritters, baked chickpeas and meat dishes alongside other Greek food.
These provide a useful starting point, but visitors should ask what has been prepared that day. Cooked dishes may be available in limited quantities, and an older menu photograph does not guarantee the same selection.
Marathoriza suits travellers interested in the island’s food traditions rather than choosing dinner solely for a waterfront setting.
Its location also allows visitors to combine the meal with time in Chora’s squares and lanes. Anyone staying in Livadi should check return transport before settling in for a late evening.
Best for: Exploring Serifian dishes during a visit to Chora.
2. Aloni: Greek Food Above Livadi
Aloni stands near the road connecting Livadi with Chora. Its elevated position offers views towards the port and the Aegean.
The restaurant combines traditional cooked dishes with grilled food. Published menu descriptions include fennel fritters, slow-cooked meat and other Greek recipes, giving mixed groups several directions to choose from.
The terrace is an important part of the appeal. Visitors seeking a particular view should request an appropriate table rather than assuming every seat has the same outlook.
Aloni is separate from both the harbour promenade and Chora’s central lanes. Check the approach and arrange transport according to the accommodation location.
It is worth considering for an evening where the meal and setting are the main event. Confirm current service hours before travelling, particularly outside the busiest summer weeks.
Best for: Greek cooking with an elevated outlook over Livadi.
3. Tis Kalis: Seafood in Livadi
Tis Kalis, also listed as Kalis Seafood Restaurant, is located in Livadi near the port.
Fish and seafood are central to the restaurant’s identity, accompanied by Cycladic dishes and daily choices. It offers a useful option for visitors planning a seafood meal while staying around the bay.
Ask about the available fish before ordering. Species, size and preparation affect both the meal and its price.
Where whole fish is priced by weight, confirm the approximate total first. Diners can then choose a few suitable accompaniments rather than ordering an unnecessarily large selection of starters.
The restaurant’s emphasis on Cycladic produce does not mean every ingredient is necessarily from Serifos. Visitors interested in provenance should ask which items are local.
Tis Kalis fits naturally into an evening around Livadi, with little need for additional travel when staying nearby.
Best for: A seafood-focused meal in the port settlement.
4. To Bakakaki: A Choice for Meat Lovers
To Bakakaki, sometimes written as Mpakakaki, is a meat-focused restaurant in Livadi.
Its interior draws on the character of an old grocery shop, while its waterfront position keeps it connected with the activity around the bay.
Grilled meat, rotisserie dishes and appetisers are the main reasons to consider it. Published descriptions also identify cheese dishes and other plates suited to sharing.
For groups spending several nights on Serifos, Bakakaki provides an alternative to repeated seafood meals. A salad and selected appetisers can accompany the meat without making the order too heavy.
Ask about portion sizes before choosing several main dishes, especially when ordering for children or a smaller group.
Vegetarian diners should check the current menu rather than assuming that a selection of starters will necessarily meet their needs.
Best for: Visitors who want a meat-focused dinner in Livadi.
5. Stefanakos: Lunch Around Psili Ammos
Stefanakos is a taverna at Psili Ammos, one of the island’s best-known beaches.
Its location makes it particularly useful for visitors who want to combine swimming with a meal rather than return to Livadi during the day.
Greek taverna cooking is the focus. Check the available cooked dishes, salads and main courses when arriving, as the day’s selection is more useful than relying on a particular dish mentioned in a review.
A beach lunch can become busy when many visitors leave the sand at a similar time. Asking about a table earlier in the day may help when travelling as a group.
Restaurant service and beach arrangements should be treated separately. Confirm parking, access and any seating conditions rather than assuming that dining includes other facilities.
Return transport also matters if arriving by taxi or seasonal bus.
Best for: A taverna meal as part of a Psili Ammos beach day.
Local Food to Try in Serifos
Fennel Fritters
Fennel fritters appear under names such as marathotiganites and marathokeftedes.
They are a good introduction to the island’s herb-based cooking. Recipes and textures vary, so diners may encounter different versions rather than one standard preparation.
They work well as part of a shared starter selection.
Revithada
Revithada is a slow-cooked chickpea dish associated with the Cyclades and also prepared on Serifos.
Its appeal comes from simple ingredients and patient cooking. Ask whether it is available among the daily dishes, as it may not be prepared for every service.
Vegetarian or vegan diners should confirm the recipe used by the particular kitchen.
Local Cheese
Look for local cheese when available, including xinomyzithra or myzithra.
A salad using local cheese can provide a change from the familiar feta version. Names and styles vary across the Cyclades, so asking what the restaurant has is more useful than expecting one specific product everywhere.
Capers and Vegetable Dishes
Capers, pulses and seasonal vegetables are part of Serifos’s food traditions.
They may appear in salads, cooked dishes or accompaniments. Exploring these options can make a meal more distinctive than ordering only grilled meat or fish.
Honey and Local Products
Honey, wine and other island products provide further ways to experience Serifos’s food culture.
Availability is seasonal and production can be limited. Check the label or ask the seller when looking specifically for products made on the island.
Which Area Is Best for Eating Out?
Livadi: The Most Convenient Starting Point
Livadi offers several restaurant choices close to accommodation and the waterfront.
It suits visitors who want a relaxed evening without arranging transport after dinner. Tis Kalis and To Bakakaki provide contrasting options within the same general area.
Chora: Dinner with a Village Walk
Chora combines dining with squares, stepped lanes and views.
It is a rewarding evening destination, but visitors should consider access and return transport. A restaurant described as being in Chora may be near a road entrance or require walking further through the settlement.
Beach Areas: Build Lunch into the Day
A taverna near a beach can turn swimming into a full-day outing.
However, beach restaurants should be checked for opening dates and service hours. Do not assume that every bay has somewhere to eat or that a seasonal kitchen will remain open late.
Practical Tips for Eating in Serifos
- Reserve when location matters. Ask specifically about terrace or waterfront seating.
- Check daily dishes. Slow-cooked food may offer something different from the standard grill menu.
- Confirm whole-fish prices. Ask about weight and the estimated total.
- Explain dietary requirements clearly. Cheese, eggs or stock may be present in dishes that appear vegetable-based.
- Allow for the wind. An exposed outdoor table may be less comfortable on a breezy evening.
- Plan transport. Check the last bus or arrange a taxi before dining away from the accommodation.
- Check seasonal operation. Restaurant listings do not guarantee year-round service.
Planning Meals During a Serifos Stay
A varied short stay could include a traditional meal in Chora, a seafood dinner in Livadi and lunch near the beach.
Visitors staying longer can explore restaurants along their sightseeing route rather than making every meal a separate journey.
Choosing according to the current menu, location and preferred atmosphere is more useful than treating any restaurant ranking as a guarantee.
