5 hidden gem bars and restaurants that you NEED to visit in Santorini
- Mar 10
- 7 min read
The best spots that aren't getting the recognition they deserve!
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Santorini has a reputation for being an influencer’s paradise - picture perfect, but overly busy and pricey. When we were booking our first trip to the island, we thought that all of the bars and restaurants would be ridiculously expensive, pretentious, and not serve particularly local or typical Greek food. We were instantly proven wrong! There are lots of absolutely incredible, and affordable, hidden gem restaurants in Santorini where you’ll be able to try high-quality, authentic local food.
Although there are some bars and restaurants where you pay a higher price to eat with a view (especially at sunset), we didn’t have one bad meal in Santorini. Prices vary depending on the resort you’re in, and even then every establishment is different, but there are some gorgeous budget-friendly options. You do have to know where to look to find authentic Greek food at more reasonable prices, and make sure you avoid tourist traps, which is why we’ve written this guide.
You can find our complete guide to bars and restaurants in Santorini in our downloadable Santorini Travel Toolkit. It also includes lots of other information you need to know about the island, from dodging tourist traps, to the best beaches, local language phrases, and even a digital map with every recommendation pinned to it!
We know there’s a lot of restaurants in Santorini, so we’ve created a short list of places we’ve tried and tested, and not only do we think they’re incredible, they’re also not ridiculously priced, or overly busy - true hidden gems. These bars and restaurants really don’t get the recognition they deserve!!
For the full list of all of our food and drink recommendations, from 5-star cocktail bars to the best 3 euro gyros on the island, check out our full Santorini Travel Toolkit here.
In Oia, it can be tricky to find quieter restaurants that are hidden gems, offering authentic food, as it’s the most popular resort on the island and usually completely packed throughout the summer. But only a few minutes walk back from the seafront is the gorgeous Karma restaurant.
This hidden gem restaurant has fresh, authentic Greek food, all made with healthy and locally sourced ingredients. Their outdoor seating area is bright and colourful, and the service is amazing too. All the staff were welcoming, kind and knowledgeable about the menu! They have a really affordable lunchtime deal too, if you’re looking for a bargain meal.
More than just a restaurant, Artemis Karamelogos is a vineyard, winery, bar, lounge and restaurant offering a great selection of local dishes.
We originally visited just for a wine tasting and a vineyard tour, but then stayed for a meal in their wonderful restaurant afterwards.
Every wine we tried was produced on site, and absolutely delicious. The staff couldn’t do enough for us - they explained every wine and dish in great detail, and even talked to us about the local traditions. We walked (or stumbled) out of their beautiful venue very full of great wine, food and knowledge about the island!
It’s one of the quieter, more peaceful wineries on the island as it’s between resorts and not on any of the major guided tours. Definitely a great place to relax for the day, try some local specialities and enjoy the peace and quiet.
The most affordable restaurant we’ve found in Santorini (aside from kebab shops or fast food). Triana Tavern is just a few minutes walk away from the main square in Fira, with local, fresh, authentic Greek and Santorinian specialities on the menu such as tomato fritters, fava beans, moussaka and souvlaki.
With very reasonable prices, quick service and mouth-watering local food, you really can’t miss this spot if you’re visiting Santorini’s capital. This is the definition of a hidden gem restaurant, and one we will be visiting over and over and over again!
Many bars in Santorini pride themselves on their view (but also charge for it in their drinks prices). Boozery is a brilliant but simple concept - a small bar where you pay much less than the average cocktail price across the island, for the same, or even better quality. But, your drink will be made to take away, so you can enjoy it whilst sitting on a bench watching the sea, or on a long walk by the seafront. An absolute dream, if you ask us, especially considering the cocktails are so well-made and unique.
If you’re looking for a luxury feel, you have to try Calm Collection’s on-site restaurant and pool bar, Katsaboo.
Their kitchen is open all day - ranging from brunch specialties to impressive evening meals. The atmosphere is brilliant any time of day and their service, food, drinks and location are all some of the best we saw on the island. What’s not to love?
It’s a short walk from the centre of Fira, making it a peaceful atmosphere and a great hidden gem restaurant and bar. Another spot we’d go back to again, and again, and again!
If you don’t feel like spending hours researching more places to eat and drink, things to do and to avoid, learning key phrases in Greek and figuring out how to avoid tourist traps, you could leave it to the experts and download our Santorini Travel Toolkit.
Not only that - it comes with unlimited access to our Ultimate Map of Santorini, which has the main landmarks, hidden gems, and the best cafes, bars and restaurants across the island highlighted on it. This means no more scanning through reviews, or scrolling for hours trying to find that one influencer-recommended spot you saved on your phone weeks ago. It's all in one place, and you can even see your own location so you know which spot is the closest.
You can get access here:
Here’s some more useful information you might like to know about Santorini:
How do I get to Santorini?
Santorini is easy to access by air, as it has its own international airport. There are regular direct flights from several airports in the UK, and flights to and from Athens several times per day. There is a public airport bus that takes you to Fira, or you can pre-book a taxi or airport transfer. You can also access Santorini by ferry from mainland Greece or other Greek islands.
Where should I stay in Santorini?
We stayed in some beautiful apartments called Nostos Apartments Fira which we couldn't recommend more. They were central to Fira and ours even had a rooftop terrace (and Jacuzzi) with a sea view! They had everything you need for a stay on the island, especially if you'd like to have a few takeaway or homemade meals in your accommodation to save on spending money.
We mentioned Katsaboo restaurant in this guide, which is attached to the Calm Collection Hotel & Suites - also in Fira. If you're looking for a relaxing, luxury break where you will meet the friendliest staff, eat incredible food and chill with cocktails or coffees by the pool - this is an amazing place to stay.
If you don't fancy this one, don't worry, there are plenty of other options for accommodation in Santorini. Have a look for something that will suit your group size and budget below:
How do I find my own hidden gem restaurants and bars in Santorini?
Our main tip for finding the best hidden gems is this: Don’t be afraid to venture away from main streets or squares. Our favourite meals have always been those that are unexpected, maybe not the most aesthetic or right on the seafront, but those that you stumple upon when you're wandering up and down the streets of a smaller neighbourhood. Realistically, eating a three course meal at a posh restaurant, at sunset, with wine, in Santorini is going to be expensive, and very busy. Maybe worth the money for the experience, but not something you want to do every night. Don’t be afraid to go back a couple of streets, and try the slightly less aesthetic restaurant that offers greek classic dishes instead of pasta and pizza.
Do I need a visa to visit Santorini?
Citizens of most countries do not need a visa to visit Greece for a stay of up to 90 days. Read our Schengen Agreement post to find out more details about this rule.
The rules of entering Europe have changed. Take a read of our handy European travel rules post for more information.
What's the currency in Santorini?
The currency of Greece is Euros. You can change money when you arrive or withdraw from ATMs, but be aware of high conversion fees! Some ATMs may charge you to withdraw money, even if your bank doesn't. It's always best to pay in local currency.
We found that almost everywhere takes both cash and card in Santorini.
What languages are spoken in Santorini?
The official language of Santorini is Greek, but English is widely spoken as it is a major tourist destination. It's always polite to learn a few phrases, though!
What's the weather like in Santorini?
Santorini is an island, and therefore can be windy throughout the year. It may be warm in the daytime in spring and autumn, but the temperature drops on an evening so be sure to bring a jacket.
Here's the average high / low temperatures for each season in Santorini:
Spring: 20°C / 14°C
Summer: 29°C / 22°C
Autumn: 23°C / 17°C
Winter: 14°C / 10°C
Always make sure to check the forecast before your trip so you pack the correct clothing. This is the current weather in Santorini:
What's the time zone in Santorini?
Santorini is in the Eastern European Time Zone, usually 2 hours ahead of the UK.
What are the best things to do in Santorini?
We always try and give you a few great recommendations of things to do on our Sightseekr Inspiration posts but there are even more tips, a full list of sightseeing spots and bars and restaurants, plus cutlural information in our Santorini Travel Toolkit. Alternatively, if you're looking for a more detailed, personalised itinerary, check out our MakeTheMost travel planning service.
Or, if you're just looking for an activity to fill another day, have a look for the best activities, excursions and other things to do in Santorini on GetYourGuide.
