We will be in Santorini the end of May and celebrating my 50th birthday! Looking for a great, memorable restaurant with good food, good service and great ambiance, and of course...a spectacular view of the sunset!! It doesn't necessarily need to be a fine dining experience (although not opposed to that if it's great) but definitely looking for a special spot. We're staying in Imerovigoli but can take a taxi anywhere. I know that where the sun sets will shift depending on the time of year you're in Santorini so keep that in mind when giving me your best tips :-) I've found a couple of spots that look good but the sunset drops behind the tip of Oia...so depending on what area you're in, you're not necessarily seeing the full sunset. Any other great restaurants...please chime in! Thank you so much!
Posted by
Irving
2945 posts
According to Rick Steves current guidebook any restaurant facing the caldera will work.
Posted by
4 posts
We enjoyed Aktaion in Firostefani for traditional Greek food. We reserved a table with sunset view along the wall about a week ahead. They reserve all the tables along the wall. When we first arrived they weren’t quite ready. Luckily we hung out right there because then, without warning, they told those of us who were waiting with reservations to go ahead and sit wherever we liked. They were all pretty good tables, but we got one with a spectacular view and a very memorable evening. A young man took our photo because it was so picturesque (bottle of wine on the table, sunset in the background) and then apologized to us for doing so without our permission. I just asked him to do it again with my phone! Then the owner topped it off with some complimentary Mastiha.
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3120 posts
Rick's response is not at all accurate, to say the least. If the goal is to sit at a table in a cliffside restaurant to watch the sun drop below the horizon, then "just any restaurant facing the caldera" WILL NOT WORK. Not all clifftop locations have an unobstructed view westward, and depending on the month, or which village you're in it's possible that that view will be blocked either by other structures, or the sun passing behind Thirassia Island across the caldera from Santorini, or the curvature of the island itself. In late May your best chance for an unobstructed sunset view would be at Le Moustache or the Athenian House in Imerovigli, or Strogili Restaurant, Pelekanos Restaurant, Fanari Villas Restaurant or Kastro Restaurant in Oia. I'm sure there are others. These are just the first that come to mind.
Posted by
OP
28 posts
Lee...thanks so much for the detailed reply. You get me! I know from where I live in the PNW, where sun sets varies greatly depending on the time of year. Of the restaurants you mentioned...if it were YOUR 50th birthday, which would you choose? And which one or two stand out to you as a great dining experience (good food, service, ambiance, etc.) ? Thanks so much.
Posted by
464 posts
A wonderful place to see the sunset in Oia is at Oia Gefsis. Make a reservation for the upper rooftop terrace. We enjoyed it so much that we came for a sunset dinner on 2 evenings in May of 2019. The sea bass, salmon, chicken souvlaki and potatoes were excellent. This restaurant is tucked away off the promenade in Oia. Right before the Clock Tower walk down a white path by a photo art shop and you will find this lovely taverna with beautiful sunset views.