Food lovers who appreciate authentic culinary experiences need never leave Pyrgos.
Looking for the best restaurants and bars in Pyrgos, Santorini? You’re in the right place.
Pyrgos is a timeless village in the heart of Santorini, where narrow alleys climb toward a Venetian castle and evening bells echo across whitewashed rooftops. But what truly makes the village unforgettable is its exceptional dining scene—from family-run tavernas to chic cocktail bars—all trusted by locals and verified by glowing reviews.
Many visitors cross the island just to dine here. As local hosts at Demeter Cave House, we’re delighted to share our favourite restaurants and bars in Pyrgos, all recommended by our own guests. Most are just a short stroll from our door.
Why Eat in Pyrgos, Santorini?
✅ Authentic, local flavours
✅ No tourist traps
✅ Stunning village views and sunsets
✅ Warm Greek hospitality
Whether you’re staying in Pyrgos or just visiting, these top restaurants and bars offer some of the best dining experiences in Santorini.
Modern Greek Dining in Pyrgos
Cava Alta | Something Unique in Pyrgos
A fusion of Spanish and Cycladic/Cretan flavours meets happily here at Cava Alta. The friendly staff, owners Minas and Anna welcome you with complimentary raki, olives, crunchy rusk, and a tomato tapenade dip. Outside the entrance a sign, enter as strangers, leave as friends: we are sure you’ll experience this welcome!
The menu is refreshingly different, with daily specials that make a nice change from standard Greek dishes. Try the donuts filled with slow-cooked oxtail, the refreshing fish ceviche, or one of the inventive salads. Diners consistently rave: “This place has it all—atmosphere, reasonable prices, and high-quality food… food presented like a high-class restaurant.”
The open-air roof terrace is ideal for balmy summer evenings with views over the pretty village of Pyrgos. On cooler nights, take a table in the cosy, vaulted cave-like interior.
Address: up a stair-lane from main square, Pýrgos
Contact: 00 30 22860 33932, cavaalta.gr
Opening times: 6pm until late (except Sunday)
Reservations: suggested in busy months
Rosemary’s | Sunset Views & Creative Menu
Rosemary’s has all the right Santorinian ingredients for a lovely meal: wonderful food, warm service, and breathtaking sunsets.
The restaurant spans two levels. The lower level is a cosy, protected courtyard (perfect when the meltemi winds blow), while the upper level offers panoramic island views (it can be breezy at times). The menu will satisfy meat and fish lovers and vegetarians alike. Fresh garden-to-plate salads and interesting starters are perfect for sharing.
For mains, standouts include slow-cooked lamb with rosemary (naturally!), served with bulgur wheat, tomatoes, onions, and eggplant. Or try the fresh mussels cooked in wine, followed by grilled seabass with vegetables.
Address: up a stair-lane from main square, then follow the signs.
Contact: 00 30 22860 31262, https://www.rosemarysantorini.gr/
Opening times: 3pm until 11pm
Reservations: suggested in busy months
Traditional Tavernas in Pyrgos
Metaksi Mas | Where the Locals Go
4.7★ (Google)
Hearty, delicious Greek food with a Cretan twist, a relaxed vibe, and grandstand views from the terrace make this friendly taverna a local favourite. Seating is inside a small vaulted converted house or outside on the terrace with views toward Anafi.
The salads are generous (easily enough for two) and filled with garden-fresh vegetables tossed in a perfectly zingy dressing.
Local dishes like Santorini fava, oven-roasted white aubergines, and feta in filo pastry with sesame and honey are stellar. Order a spread of starters and share them like the Greeks do.
For mains, try the chickpea stew with lime, dill, and smoked trout, the orzo hotpot with shrimp, mussels, and saffron, or the BBQ-grilled fillet steak sautéed with local Vin Santo wine. There’s plenty for vegetarians too: broccoli soufflé, grilled mushrooms, and vegetable risotto among the choices.
You’ll love the food, the friendly welcome, and you’ll likely want to return.
Metaksi Mas is located in Exo Gonia (2 km from Pyrgos).
Address: Éxo Goniá, 100m down stair-lane from top church (ample parking next to it)
Contact: 00 30 22860 31323; santorini-metaximas.gr
Opening times: 1pm until late, most of the year (closes for two months in winter, usually Dec-Jan)
Reservations: always recommended even in low season
Penelope’s Ouzeri | Consistently guests’ favourite place to eat
4.5★ (Google)
Relaxed and informal, Penelope’s is the place to kick back and enjoy traditional Greek “Mama” home-style cooking. It feels more like being invited to a Greek home than dining out.
Penelope, the founder, lovingly recreated recipes handed down from her grandmother. No wonder it’s won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. Expect the fluffiest fried tomato balls, succulent meatballs, homemade dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), and classic Greek salads with sun-ripened tomatoes, local capers, cucumber, and feta. Penelope’s chunky fava (yellow split pea purée) is a hit—best eaten with crunchy village-style bread. The Briam is a wonderful vegetarian option, a Greek-style ratatouille that’s absolutely delicious.
Prices are fair, and the best tables are outside under the bell tower of the adjacent church with perfect photo opportunities. The restaurant is small and very popular—booking is essential!
Address: Half way up the hill of Pyrgos – there are signs
Contact: 00 30 22860 33192.
Kantouni – classic Greek flavours in Pyrgos Square
4.6★ (Google)
In the heart of Pyrgos’ square, shaded by whispering pine trees, Kantouni feels less like a restaurant and more like an open-air gathering place. The food is honest, generous, and cooked with a touch of nostalgia—the kind of flavours you’d expect if a Santorini grandmother invited you to her Sunday table.
Diners write about it with the same warmth: “Best gyros in Pyrgos… reasonable prices and service was great! Highly recommend!” and “Beautiful fresh tasty dishes… I loved the cheese balls and grilled octopus… portions were huge and the atmosphere was perfect.” Another guest said it was “one of the best meals of our trip—kontosouvli pork skewers and lamb chops that were simply unforgettable.”
Franco’s – not to be missed at sunset
Sunset at Franco’s Café Bar, high inside the old castle walls, is magical.
Franco himself ran the famous Franco’s Bar in Fira for 20 years before retreating to the tranquility of Pyrgos in 2006. Originally from Turin, Italy, he arrived in Santorini in the late 1970s and never escaped its magic.
Newsweek International described Franco’s Bar in Pyrgos as one of the “World’s Best Bars.” Sip something cold, take in the music, and watch the sun slip behind the caldera. An absolute must.
Bar Rita – a newcomer to Pyrgos’ foodie scene
Housed in a beautifully restored old captain’s house, Bar Rita is Pyrgos’ newest culinary gem—offering sweeping village views, laid-back elegance, and genuine Greek hospitality.
Its small but perfectly formed menu is all about quality over quantity: marinated anchovies with pink peppercorns, smoky melitzanosalata, and traditional octopus xydato deliver big, authentic flavours. Creative salads like the “Rita” (with zucchini, green apple, dates, and radish) or the “Santorini” (cherry tomatoes, capers, black olives) celebrate the island’s bounty.
The mains impress too, from grilled sea bass with beetroot salad to stuffed kalamari and beef tagliata in pepper sauce. Brunch is also on offer, with local pies, fresh eggs, and small plates perfect for a lazy start.
Behind the bar, craft cocktails, local wines, and chilled Greek spirits make it the ideal spot for sunset drinks on the terrace.
Rita Bar is a true hidden gem—intimate, soulful, and unmissable for anyone exploring Pyrgos. Click here for the location
Selene | Award-Winning Fine Dining
The award-winning fine dining restaurant used to be located in a traditional arcaded house in the pretty village of Pyrgos. It has recently located to the Katikies Gardens Hotel in Firostefani.
As for the food, you’re in for something special here. The team of chefs select the best ingredients from Santorini and the surrounding Cycladic islands and showcase them in a modern and innovative way. Try the sautéed squid with Santorinian Fava, lemon confit and mussel broth or local lamb with eggplant, chick pea purée and lamb reduction.
An extensive and selected wine list completes the scene. You can expect friendly attentive service and guaranteed taste bud tantalisation.
Address: Katikies Gardens Hotel, Firostefani www.selene.gr
Contact: 00 30 22860 24395 (bistro) 22860 22249 (main restaurant)
Opening Times: 7-11pm
Price: 75-100 Euros (per person for 3 courses) without drinks.
Read more about Pyrgos Village, Santorini
