Santorini Restaurants: Where to Eat in Oia, Fira, Perissa and Akrotiri

Alkiona sits on the right of the main road into Oia coming from Fira, just past the large yellow church, and plays Greek music in an authentic, non-commercial setting. The menu runs to pizzas, salads, pastas, fish and grilled meat, with plenty of wines and friendly service. The Greek salad, the tzatziki (heavy on cucumber and garlic), the tuna pizza and the gyros were all very good, the fries crisp and the bread fresh, and the tuna pizza was large and generous. We came back almost every evening on our 2011 and 2013 stays in Oia, close to where we stay at Leandros Suites, and skipped paying a premium for a caldera view we already had at home. Our verdict: very good, a 9 out of 10.

Taverna Blue Sky stands on the stairs from the church square in Oia down to the bus terminal, in a blue building with a large terrace. The pasta and spaghetti were delicious, the Saporo and other salads very good, and the spicy cheese dip is worth ordering. Lamb chops and grilled dishes came with crispy fries, fresh bread, a drinkable house wine and a complimentary sweet dessert, with friendly service and reasonable prices for Oia. Our verdict: very good and affordable, a 9 out of 10.

Art Cafe is a cafe in Fira with a beautiful caldera view, on the quieter left end of the cliff near the big white church. Two cappuccinos cost 4.50 euro each (2009), normal for Santorini, and the coffee tasted good, though the milk was not warm and the glass of water had to be asked for. Our verdict: reasonable, a 7 out of 10.

The Select Lounge Cafe sits in a cobbled street of Fira with a magnificent view you pay for. Coffee starts at 4.80 euro (2011), and the menu covers coffees, ice cream, cakes, fruit and normal salads, breakfasts, omelettes, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches and main dishes. Our cappuccino and warm chocolate cake both tasted very good, and the bill came to 21 euro. Our verdict: good, an 8 out of 10.

Levante is a cafe, restaurant and cocktail bar on the beach at Kamari, serving soups, omelettes, salads, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, breakfast and cocktails. The bread came whole and fresh, the coffees hot, the food well presented and the service friendly and correct. Our verdict: good, an 8 out of 10.

Dolce Cafe stands on the corner of the main access road and Kamari beach, serving breakfasts, cakes, desserts, coffee, ice cream, omelettes, yoghurt and sandwiches. Our cappuccino and warm apple pie with ice cream and whipped cream were delicious, the coffee good and served with a glass of water, and the service friendly. Our verdict: very good, a 9 out of 10.

Dodoni Cafe is a small cafe near the departure terminal in the port of Santorini, serving sandwiches, croissants, ice cream, snacks and Illy coffee. Service was friendly and the harbour view is nice. Our verdict: reasonably good, a 7.5 out of 10.

Cafe Bar Restaurant Spartacos is a large internet cafe, bar, restaurant and pizzeria at the harbour of Athinios, serving coffee, omelettes, croissants, sandwiches, crepes, appetizers, salads, grilled food, spaghetti and pizza. We had a coffee while waiting for the ferry; the seats were comfortable, the people friendly, the prices normal, and the cappuccino came with a glass of cold water. Our verdict: reasonably good, a 7.5 out of 10.

Taverna Panos sits on the large beach of Monolithos, serving fresh fish, grilled dishes, omelettes and appetizers, with beautiful views and friendly staff. Our cappuccino (Illy) and omelette were fine, at reasonable prices. Our verdict: good, an 8 out of 10.

Corner Snack Bar stands at the end of Perissa beach on the waterfront near the church, serving coffee, breakfast, sweet and savoury crepes, sandwiches, omelettes, burgers and club sandwiches. The cappuccino was excellent, our club sandwich and a crepe with turkey, cheese and mushrooms tasted good, the fries were crisp and the service was fast and friendly. Our verdict: good to very good, an 8.5 out of 10.

Visanto is our little pearl among the Perissa restaurants, on the waterfront near the plastic donkey on the boulevard, serving Greek food alongside the Thai and Indian dishes on its sign. We ate here all three evenings of our Perissa stay, working through the curries from mild to hot with fabulous side dishes. The ambiance is nice and it is a good spot for a drink afterwards. Our verdict: very good, a 9 out of 10.

Cyclades Restaurant sits on a corner on the right of the main road into Perissa. We had an English breakfast: the nescafe coffee we did not like, but the toast, marmalade, butter, white beans, sausages, bacon, eggs, tomato, cucumber and glass of water were all fine, for 5.90 euro (2011) and not bad at the price, with friendly people. Our verdict: reasonable to good, a 7.5 out of 10.

Akrotiri Snackbar is a small snack bar with a very large terrace at the bus stop on Akrotiri Beach, serving drinks, coffee, small snacks and sandwiches. The coffee was good and the ham, cheese and tomato or feta and olive sandwiches were okay and inexpensive. Our verdict: reasonable, a 7 out of 10.

Portobello Grill is one of the restaurants by the main square of Akrotiri where you park. We ordered a platter for two of saganaki (flambeed cheese), stuffed mushrooms, tomato balls and spinach pie, and everything, including the house wine, tasted good. Our verdict: good, an 8 out of 10.

Restaurant Maria stands near the main square of Akrotiri, at the start of the village coming from Fira. We had oven potatoes, a Greek salad, tomato croquettes, a cheese omelette, meatballs in tomato sauce and the house wine; everything tasted very good and was well seasoned. Our verdict: very good, an 8.5 out of 10.

Villa Galinia is one of the two restaurants at William's House in Akrotiri, where we stayed. We tried a bit of everything - Greek salad, meatballs in tomato sauce, tomato balls, saganaki (flambeed cheese), tzatziki, roasted peppers and chicken - with very friendly service, good wine and a nice atmosphere. Our verdict: really good, an 8.5 out of 10.

Zafora is another restaurant on the main square of Akrotiri. We tried stuffed peppers and tomato, tomato balls and a pizza special; the food had little taste, and the pizza was a thick-based Greek one with barely any tomato sauce, too much cheese, fatty meats, canned mushrooms and cold canned tomatoes. Our verdict: adequate, a 6.5 out of 10.

Snack Bar Kabia sits on the beach of Kambia, where we stopped hungry after a long walk. The club sandwich was toasted bread with cheese and canned tuna, topped with four slices of cucumber, and the fries were not crisp, while the special omelette was left three-quarters uneaten. The service was very nice but the food and prices did not match the location. Our verdict: if only the food were as good as the location and the view, a 5 out of 10.