Greece is home to some of the finest ingredients in the world

And Skiathos is where you’ll taste them at their best

One of the greatest pleasures of visiting Greece is discovering how good food can be when it’s made with ingredients that grew under abundant sunshine, salty sea air and centuries of culinary tradition. Greeks have a way of cooking that feels effortless: simple flavours, big generosity and dishes that speak for themselves.

In Skiathos, food is not something you plan around — it becomes part of your holiday rhythm.

A Greek salad shared at the beach.

A plate of tzatziki at sunset.

Fresh fish cooked with nothing but olive oil and lemon.

A glass of ouzo that somehow tastes better by the sea.

Below is an overview of some Greek dishes you should absolutely try, along with our favourite bars and restaurants in Skiathos — places that make these flavours come alive in the most authentic and memorable way.

Classic Dips and Spreads

Greek cuisine offers an impressive selection of dips and spreads, each with its own story and character.

Tzatziki

Tzatziki is Greece at its refreshing best: thick Greek yoghurt (strained to remove whey), cucumber and garlic blended into the perfect creamy, cooling dip.

You can order it almost anywhere — but a few places do it exceptionally well.

Where to try it:

• Basilikos Restaurant – in Skiathos Town, open daily from 18:00 to 00:30. Generous portions, high-quality ingredients and reliable consistency.

• Taverna Ligaries – next to our OHLIVE Beach Villa. Their tzatziki is deliciously fresh and pairs beautifully with grilled meats and seaside views.

Taramasalata & Melitzanosalata

Taramasalata is made with fish roe, olive oil, lemon juice, onions and bread — salty, smooth and addictive.

Melitzanosalata is a roasted eggplant dip that tastes smoky, rich and perfectly Greek.

Both are staples on meze tables across the country and worth trying together.

Olives & Olive Oil: Greek Liquid Gold

Greece is the world’s top producer of edible olives, and olive oil has been a cornerstone of Greek life since ancient times. Legend says Athena gifted the olive tree to the city of Athens — a symbol of peace, wisdom and prosperity.

In Skiathos, many tavernas produce their own extra virgin olive oil, and once you taste it, you understand why Greeks drizzle it generously over almost everything.

Where to enjoy olives, meze & views:

• Bourtzi – Located on the beautiful peninsula dividing the Old and New Port. Morning coffee, brunch, cocktails or meze… whatever you choose, the view over the water is unforgettable.

Moussaka

The queen of Greek comfort food — layered eggplant and potatoes, minced beef or lamb, tomato, onions, garlic, cinnamon or allspice, and a rich béchamel on top. Warm, generous and full of flavour.

Where to try it:

• Marmita Restaurant – One of our favourites for fresh, local ingredients and beautifully prepared traditional dishes. Their moussaka is a true classic.

• Plakes – Skiathos Town – A charming spot in the atmospheric Plakes neighbourhood, offering homemade-style Greek dishes full of warmth and authenticity. Their moussaka tastes like something a Greek mother would proudly serve — comforting, rich and perfectly seasoned.

Grilled Meat: Greek Flavours at Their Heartiest

Greeks are masters of grilling.

Some dishes you’ll find everywhere:

Souvlaki

Marinated pork grilled on a skewer, served with tomatoes, onions, pita and tzatziki.

Simple, satisfying, a national favourite.

Gyros

Thin slices of seasoned meat (often chicken, pork or lamb) roasted on a vertical spit and wrapped in soft pita with onions, tomatoes and yoghurt sauce.

Where to try it:

• Exantas in Megali Ammos – They serve their own elevated interpretation of gyros on flatbread with creamy yoghurt sauce. The food is fantastic, and the views over the sea at Megali Ammos are spectacular.

• Yalos (Megali Ammos) — a lovely beachside spot for quick, tasty gyros or a fresh lunchtime Greek salad. Ideal between swims.

• NoName – Skiathos Town - If you’re looking for the best gyros on the island, NoName is the place locals whisper about and visitors fall in love with.

  Crispy edges, juicy meat, fresh toppings and just the right amount of sauce — everything is exactly how gyros should be.

  A simple spot, but one you’ll want to return to again and again.

Fresh Fish: Aegean Simplicity

Few experiences compare to sitting at a seaside taverna and ordering the catch of the day.

Fresh fish and calamari from the Aegean are grilled or lightly fried and served with ladolemono (olive oil + lemon).

Where to try it:

• Tarsanas (Kechria) — one of our absolute favourites. Argiris, the owner and chef, prepares fish to perfection. Choose your fish from his fridge, enjoy lobster spaghetti, and fall in love with this little paradise hidden among pine trees and olive groves. A true Skiathos gem close to our OHLIVE hillside villas.

Traditional Greek Salad

A Greek salad tastes different here — sweeter tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, fresh feta and olive oil that tastes like sunshine.

Where to enjoy it:

• Baracoa Beach Restaurant — cosy beachside dining with tasty salads and pastas.

• Panorama Restaurant magnificent town views and excellent Greek-Italian dishes.

Octopus & seafood meze

Grilled or marinated octopus is a Greek classic — tender, smoky and full of flavour.

Where to try it:

• Bakaliko – famous for seafood and endless meze with ouzo.

• Fish Tavern Akrogiali – known for sun-dried octopus, sea urchins and freshly caught crabs.

• Akre – offers refined Mediterranean seafood dishes served with a modern twist.

Honey, baklava & Greek desserts

Expect flaky pastry, nuts, custard and lots of honey. Greek dessert traditions are simple yet indulgent.

Favourites include:

• Baklava – nuts + honey in crispy phyllo.

• Galaktoboureko – custard-filled pastry in syrup.

• Greek yoghurt with thyme honey – simple and heavenly.

The spirits of Greece

Each Greek drink carries history and tradition.

• Ouzo – anise-flavoured, cloudy with water.

• Raki & Tsipouro – grape-based and often homemade.

• Retsina – wine flavoured with pine resin.

• Mastiha – refreshing liqueur made from mastic resin.

Where to enjoy cocktails:

• The Borzoi – iconic spot combining gastronomy, cocktails, music and art.

Parisiss Winery

Run by Giannis Parissis and his wife Maria, this boutique winery produces more than 100 wines from estate-grown grapes harvested by hand. Beautiful location, great wines and warm hospitality.