Dining on the laid-back island Milos means both great food and great atmosphere. From seaside tavernas to cozy garden eateries, you can find some unforgettable meals if you know where to look! Fresh fish and fried feta abound on this little volcanic island island in the Cyclades, but when you pair that with the perfect crisp white wine and charming setting, you can slip into that perfect vacation moment when all the stresses of life fall completely out of mind.
After tasting our way around the island, we’ve rounded up the 4 best restaurants on Milos – and ranked them in order. Usually dinner is the star of our restaurant experiences on vacation; however, we’ve never been more bewitched by the notion of nice long leisurely, vino-filled lunch than we have on the island of Milos.
#1 Medusa Taverna
This laid-back open-air taverna sits perched along the northern coastline near the town of Mandrakia. It has an unbelievable seaside location with shaded overhangs, rickety blue wooden chairs, and the shimmering Aegean Sea just steps away. Medusa is certainly a popular lunch spot, so if you have to wait, just grab a beer and walk down to the fishermen’s houses on the waterfront beyond the restaurant. You’re almost certain to stumble upon loads of freshly-caught octopus hanging on lines, waiting to be brought up to Medusa’s kitchen. Order a bottle of mineral-y white vino and venture beyond your normal seafood order to try something different, like their delicious salt water eel drizzled with olive oil and capers. Everything on the menu, from the Greek salad and bruschetta-style appetizer (must-order) to the fried zucchini balls and vinegar reduced octopus, is delightfully tasty and fresh. (More on Medusa: HERE)
#2 O! Hamos!
If you’re a foodie or just enjoy food… or really just EAT food for that matter… you’re going to want to check out O! Hamos! in the port town of Adamas. We can’t be certain, but there has to be someone’s talented Grandma cranking out the good stuff back in the kitchen. A favorite of Milos’ year-after-year summer sailing crowd, O! Hamos! probably has the most dynamic menu and best quality cuisine on the island. Basically, food-wise, it’s the best. Located directly across from beach, this popular taverna has an enchanting garden space with ivy-covered trellises and colorful pottery hung on the walls. Come for dinner or lunch, but either way (especially for dinner) you’re going to want to make a reservation. Must-orders include their rich, creamy baked cheese and zucchini appetizer, any of their amazing Greek salads, or tasty meat and cheese dishes sourced from their own farm. (More on the restaurant O! Hamos!: HERE)
#3 Embourios Taverna
The first two locals we chatted with upon arrival to Milos, pointed to this restaurant on the map when we asked for recommendations. We’re still not sure if Embourios is the restaurant or just the general name of the tiny settlement consisting of 3 boathouses and a restaurant. Either way, seek out ‘Embourios’ on your map and look for a white and teal lighthouse-looking-thing jutting out into the water. Best for a long leisurely lunch, the taverna serves plenty of tasty fried Greek favorites, fresh fish, and the best ‘fried feta with honey’ we had on Milos. The ambiance, though, is what really gets you. Sitting there on the remote western side of the island with nothing else around, the Aegean sea lapping against the restaurant floor, and not a peep of English floating in the air, we truly felt – just for a fleeting moment – that we, too, were Greek! (More on Emourios Taverna: HERE)
#4 Archontoula
Archontoula is located in the center of Plaka, Milos’ charming hilltop town. Stroll up into the center of town and you’ll inevitably find yourself at a buzzing, pedestrian-only intersection with a restaurant draped in fuchsia bougainvilleas on the corner. This is Archontoula, and it has the best al fresco dining you can find on the lively evening streets of Plaka. Honestly, the food here is pretty good- nothing earth-shattering – and the service is slow, but for a night out in town, this place just seems does the trick!
By: Brennan Shaffner
