
#WhenIn Santorini
My recent time in Santorini has me completely overwhelmed by its natural beauty and its wonderful people. This warm and heartfelt place is filled with so many gorgeous impressions and so much amazing food. The Greeks are incredibly kind and hospitable and emit such a genuinely good vibe, and the many great places I discovered all made it terribly hard to leave…
Where to stay:
Finikia Village near Oia is a real hidden gem, only accessible by foot (or donkey) and with labyrinth-like pathways, on which you greet your local Greek neighbors and save small kittens from playful puppies. Finikia also has some very good local restaurants and is situated close to Domaine Sigalas, Santorini’s best winery. It is a very private and quiet place, and we had a great experience staying at Georgis Apartments, a small bed & breakfast tucked away inside the Finikia labyrinth (Georgis literally had to draw little blue arrows on the cobble stones for his guests to find their way home).

How to get around:
Scooter!! I cannot stress how fun it is to share a scooter and drive around this beautiful island, hunting down amazing views and taverns. The roads, although quite steep at times, are very welcoming of scooters and ATVs, and the traffic is calm and used to the smaller vehicles on the road. We saw multiple ATVs break down, so I definitely recommend renting a scooter (Motor Inn had good reviews and were flexible with us picking up and dropping off at different locations).

Where to eat:
Breakfast:
Galini Café in Firostefani is fantastic for breakfast and brunch. They make amazing Eggs Benedicts, pancakes, and fresh-squeezed orange juice and have quite an impressive view of the cliffs and ocean.

Lunch:
Pelikanos in Oia Village makes solid Greek dishes and also has a phenomenal view. Their moussaka was the best moussaka I had on the island (and I ordered moussaka anywhere that offered it).

The Cave of Nikolas in Akrotiri is a lovely restaurant right down by the water, and you get to it by walking down a long flight of stairs from the main road (the best restaurants really make you work for it). They serve amazing seafood, and the service is warm and attentive. The scorpion fish tasted like a perfect fusion between halibut and lobster and was definitely the most memorable seafood experiences on the entire trip. It is also a convenient place to eat before or after visiting the archaeological site of Akrotiri.

Taverna Katina in Amoudi is situated directly below Oia Village, at the bottom of the hill, right by the water. This is a great place to re-energize with some grilled seafood and sangria, especially right after having jumped off St. Nicholas Island and taking a swim against some pretty interesting currents in the crystal clear waters.


Dinner:
Lefkes in Finikia Village is an incredibly charming restaurant with beautiful decor, a wonderful atmosphere, and good food. The kitchen takes a twist to the traditional Greek dishes, and the prices are very reasonable.

Argo in Fira is a popular restaurant that requires a reservation ahead of time (we booked a day in advance for a 10:15pm table the next evening, so it’s not like trying to get a table at Jiro’s). It is a reasonably-priced restaurant with a fantastic view of Fira Village and the ocean, and they make really good seafood and other Greek dishes.
Domaine Sigalas in Oia is one of the best wineries I have visited (that’s pretty ballsy to say having lived in San Francisco and frequented the best of Napa and Sonoma). Our server Nick, who looked like he had just returned from filming Troy, really knew his stuff and taught us much about wine making and soil influences of the wines in Santorini, all while we tasted a plethora of local wines. The winery was also able to offer some of the best food we tasted on the island. The kitchen only uses the best local ingredients, and you can tell the people behind the menu really made an effort. The eggplant tower and chocolate platter were simply incredible, especially when consumed while watching the stunning sunset beyond the vines.

What to eat:
Moussaka moussaka moussaka! It’s a m(o)ust and is equally delicious with and without meat.
The white eggplant of Santorini (sounds like a funky animal species, but is really just a harmless albino eggplant) is truly very delicious and is used in many of the Greek dishes offered around the island. I frequently asked to have some on the side, grilled and topped with olive oil.
Squid, octopus, and giant shrimp (grilled, not fried) are seafood specialties that are all prepared exceptionally well in Santorini, but as previously mentioned as far as seafood, my favorite had to be the scorpion fish.
All local vegetables are a treat on Santorini, probably the only place I would ever consider becoming a vegetarian (well, at least a pescatarian).
What to do:
Visit Finikia Village and enjoy the cute kittens I saved — you’re welcome.
Do wine & food tasting at Domaine Sigalas (ask for Nick).
Jump off of St. Nicholas Island near Amoudi Bay if you ever get there swimming against the currents.

Walk (or glide on the marble tiles) in Oia Village and enjoy the spectacular views.


Walk in Fira Village and hug a mule (mules are used for transporting goods, because there are no motorized vehicles in the villages, and they are better fitted for the job, as horses are too big for the narrow pathways, and donkeys are not strong enough).
Take the winding roads to Ancient Thera from Kamari Beach (you will think it’s awesome — your scooter not so much).

Visit Akrotiri. Remember to read the plaques and learn about Santorini’s very interesting history (or in my case, have your boyfriend read the plaques and tell you all about it).

Drive along the northern coast and visit the beaches of Paradisos, Ormos Armenis, and Koloumpos. It is a very peaceful drive with barely anyone else on the road, and you can stop for a picture or a swim in the ocean.

What not to do:
Don’t spend too much time in Perissa, unless you want to study a certain species of youngsters that party to very loud techno music.

