Best Restaurants in Rhodes

Rhodes Town and the Old Town

Rhodes Town has the island’s biggest restaurant scene, with traditional Greek tavernas, modern restaurants and fine dining. I’d put it first on your shortlist if you want plenty of choice throughout your stay. Compare Rhodes Town restaurants rather than limiting every evening to the historic centre.

The medieval Old Town is part of Rhodes Town, not a separate resort. Choose it when the historic setting matters, with rooftop dining among the options. Browse Old Town restaurants separately to narrow your search within the walls.

A beautiful setting is not enough reason to choose a table. In busy parts of the Old Town, I’d look beyond the main squares rather than take the first invitation to sit down.

Lindos

Choose Lindos when you want dinner to feel like an occasion. Rooftop restaurants and views towards the Acropolis or St Paul’s Bay make it a strong choice for a romantic evening. Compare restaurants in Lindos by their setting as well as their menu.

Lindos deserves a place on your accommodation shortlist if scenic dinners are a holiday priority. It is less compelling for a routine meal if you are staying elsewhere and mainly want something convenient. Pick the restaurant carefully rather than choosing on the view alone.

Faliraki and Kallithea

Choose Faliraki for casual meals, family-friendly dining and international food alongside Greek options. Its broad restaurant choice makes it useful for families or groups with different tastes. I’d consider it as a base when easy everyday dinners matter more than a special setting.

Look towards Kallithea for seaside restaurants and romantic dining spots near Kallithea Springs. It suits an evening built around the coastal setting. Between these two areas, Faliraki is the stronger fit for variety; Kallithea is worth considering for a particular seaside meal.

Ixia and Ialyssos

Ixia combines modern restaurants, hotel dining and seaside sunset settings. Choose it when that mix fits your evening, particularly if you are already staying nearby. Compare individual restaurants rather than expecting every dining room to offer a sea view.

Ialyssos is worth considering for traditional tavernas and relaxed local restaurants. I’d lean towards it for an informal Greek dinner rather than making a sunset setting the main requirement. Neither area needs to become a cross-island outing if you already have suitable options near your accommodation.

Kolymbia

Kolymbia suits travellers who want relaxed resort evenings, with Greek tavernas and seafood restaurants among the choices. If you are staying here, I’d start locally rather than travel elsewhere for every dinner. For a food-focused base, consider it when relaxed meals matter more than the largest possible restaurant selection.

Pefkos and Lardos

Pefkos suits evenings that continue beyond dinner, with restaurants, cocktails and live-music options. It belongs on your shortlist if eating out and having a drink afterwards are central to your holiday. For a quiet meal, choose the venue carefully rather than booking somewhere for its evening entertainment.

Lardos offers a different setting: a traditional village with Greek tavernas and relaxed local restaurants. I’d choose it when you want an informal village dinner rather than a restaurant-and-bars evening. These areas offer different moods, so choose around the night you want rather than looking for an overall winner.

Kiotari and Gennadi

Kiotari is worth considering for seafront restaurants and fish tavernas. It suits a coastal dinner, especially when you are staying nearby. Make the individual restaurant’s location part of your choice if eating beside the sea is the main attraction.

Gennadi offers family-run tavernas and a village dining setting. I’d shortlist it as a base if informal taverna evenings appeal more than rooftop dining or lively restaurant-and-bar nights. For dinner alone, choose between Gennadi and Kiotari according to whether you want a village or coastal setting.

Coastal taverns or mountain villages?

Stegna and Agios Isidoros give you two alternatives to the main resort dining areas. Stegna has fish taverns at the beach, making it a coastal option to pair with time by the sea. Agios Isidoros is a mountain village with traditional coffee shops and taverns.

Choose Stegna when you want a beach setting, and Agios Isidoros when you want a village outing inland. Neither needs to replace convenient meals near your accommodation; one planned outing can add variety to your stay. If you want to explore coastal and mountain stops in one trip, I’d rent a car and choose a designated driver.

Choosing a traditional Greek taverna

Start with traditional tavernas if your priority is Greek cooking rather than a rooftop setting or a broad international menu. Moussaka, souvlaki and stifado are useful starting points, especially if this is your first Greek holiday.

These are Greek favourites, not dishes unique to Rhodes. A taverna can serve a good Greek meal without specialising in Rhodian recipes, so choose based on what you want to eat.

A traditional setting is appealing, but it is no guarantee of good cooking. Read recent reviews for comments about the food, and walk past places where staff pressure you to sit down. Seeing local people eating there can be a helpful clue, rather than a promise of quality.

• Choose familiar Greek dishes if you want an easy introduction to taverna food.
• Look for specifically Rhodian dishes if discovering the island’s cooking matters more than ordering familiar favourites.
• Choose the food first: village surroundings and traditional décor are bonuses, not reasons to overlook an unappealing menu.

Village dining in Agios Isidoros

Agios Isidoros is a mountain village with traditional coffee shops and taverns. It gives you a different setting for a meal away from the coastal resorts, with the option of a coffee stop too.

I'd choose it if exploring a village is part of the appeal, rather than travelling only for dinner. It is less suitable if you want a quick meal within walking distance of your coastal accommodation. The village setting alone is not a reason to pick one tavern over another.

My suggestion: If you want to combine Agios Isidoros with other inland stops, rent a car for flexibility. Use the Rhodes getting-around advice to plan the journey, and check your chosen tavern’s opening before making a special trip.

Rhodian dishes to look for

For a stronger taste of the island’s own cooking, look beyond the familiar Greek favourites. These Rhodian dishes to try include snails, goat and daisy shoots prepared in distinctive ways.

The dishes below are examples of Rhodian cuisine, not confirmed menu items at any particular restaurant or Agios Isidoros tavern. Use them as ideas when reading menus or asking about local specialities.

• What to order — snails with bulgur or cumin: two Rhodian preparations to look for if you enjoy snails.
• What to order — goat cooked in a clay pot: a local meat dish to consider when you want something beyond the usual Greek favourites.
• What to order — daisy shoots with garlic sauce: an option if you want to explore the island’s vegetable dishes. If you have dietary requirements, ask how the dish is prepared.

Stegna fish taverns and rouzetia

The fish taverns at Stegna beach make this a useful place to start your seafood search. I’d choose it if you want to combine time at the beach with a taverna meal. You can explore the area around Stegna before deciding how it fits into your day.

Rouzetia are small fish served fried with skordalia, a garlic sauce. They’re worth considering if you enjoy fried fish and garlic rather than looking only for a grilled fish main.

Crispy Symian small shrimps

Symian small shrimps are served fried and crispy at fish taverns. They’re another option if you enjoy crisp seafood dishes, rather than a larger fish dish.

Look for the dish by name when browsing menus. The name alone doesn’t tell you where that particular serving was caught, so ask about origin if that matters to you.

Choosing your seafood meal

Choose the food and the setting separately. A waterfront table may be part of your ideal evening, but a sea view tells you nothing about the seafood’s origin or preparation.

Stegna isn’t your only option: Kolymbia has seafood restaurants, while Kiotari has fish taverns and seafront restaurants. If you’re staying nearby, I’d start with restaurants in Kiotari rather than travel elsewhere purely for a coastal meal.

For a more focused search, browse seafood taverns in Rhodes. Start with the dishes you want to eat, then narrow your choice by location and setting.

• For fried small fish: look for rouzetia served with skordalia.
• For crispy small shrimps: look for Symian small shrimps.
• For a waterfront meal: consider the table’s setting separately from the seafood menu.
• For a mixed group: choose a menu that also works for anyone who doesn’t eat seafood.

Sea-view dining

Sea-view dining suits a relaxed lunch or an early dinner where the water is part of the experience. Decide whether you want to sit beside the shore or look across the sea from above. Both can be lovely, but they feel different.

Kiotari is a useful starting point for seafront restaurants and fish tavernas. Kallithea has seaside dining and romantic options near Kallithea Springs. Compare the sea-view dining options to narrow your choice by setting.

Keep the menu just as important as the scenery. A fish taverna makes sense if seafood is what you want; a broader menu may work better for mixed tastes. I’d choose somewhere everyone wants to eat rather than let the view decide the whole meal.

• Beside the sea: choose this when being close to the water matters most.
• An elevated sea view: choose this when you prefer a wider outlook over immediate shoreline surroundings.
• Food-first dining: if the scenery is only a bonus, narrow the choice by cuisine before comparing views.

Sunset and rooftop dinners

For sunset, the direction of the view matters more than the restaurant’s height or distance from the sea. A bay can look beautiful in evening light without showing the sun dropping towards the horizon. Compare sunset restaurants when seeing the sunset itself is your priority.

Ixia offers seaside sunset dining alongside modern restaurants and hotel dining. It’s a useful starting point if you want the sea and evening light together. Browse restaurants in Ixia with that setting in mind.

Lindos is a strong choice for a romantic rooftop dinner, with restaurants offering Acropolis or St Paul’s Bay outlooks. Those are different views, so choose the backdrop you actually want rather than simply choosing a rooftop. Explore restaurants in Lindos for a closer comparison.

Rhodes Old Town also has rooftop restaurants within its medieval surroundings. That suits an evening focused on the town’s character rather than the shoreline. A rooftop setting describes where you sit, not a promise of a sea view, sunset or quiet atmosphere.

Choosing a special-occasion table

For an anniversary, birthday or dinner for two, choose the mood before the backdrop. Romantic does not have to mean formal: a relaxed seaside meal may suit you better than rooftop dining.

My suggestion: shortlist places where you would still want to eat after dark, when the view matters less. Then use the scenery to make the final choice. That keeps the food and the time together at the centre of the evening.

• For a scenic dinner for two: start with Lindos rooftops or Kallithea’s seaside options.
• For sunset by the sea: start with Ixia, keeping the actual outlook central to your choice.
• For a relaxed seafood occasion: look at Kiotari’s seafront restaurants and fish tavernas.
• For cocktails and a livelier evening: Pefkos has evening dining and live-music restaurants; that mood may suit a birthday better than a quiet date.
• For mixed tastes: prioritise a menu that suits the whole table. A striking setting cannot make up for a meal nobody is excited about.

Breakfast, brunch and coffee

Many cafés across Rhodes serve breakfast and brunch. I'd choose this option when you want to sit down before sightseeing, rather than eat on the move. Compare nearby breakfast and brunch spots instead of making a special journey for your first meal.

If you only want a drink and a pause, focus on coffee in Rhodes rather than a full brunch menu. For a lighter eating day, choose breakfast around your appetite rather than committing to three full restaurant meals.

Gyros and street food

Gyros and souvlaki are useful choices for lunch between activities or an informal evening meal. I'd pick them when eating needs to fit around your day, rather than become the day's main event. Find nearby gyros places before deciding where to stop.

This can also work for a flexible family meal without a long restaurant visit. Look at the menu together first, especially if someone has strong food preferences. Quick food is not necessarily a light meal, so order to your appetite.

Bakeries

Greek bakeries offer bread, pastries and sweet desserts, making them useful for breakfast or a snack between meals. I'd choose a bakery over brunch when you want to keep moving. Browse nearby bakeries for a stop that fits your route.

A bakery also gives you an alternative to another full lunch when you are only a little hungry. Choose what appeals at the counter rather than planning around a particular pastry. If you want a proper seated break, a café is the better starting point.

Ice cream and desserts

Rhodes has gelato shops and dessert cafés, so you can make something sweet a separate stop. Choose an ice cream stop for a treat between activities, or a dessert café when you want to linger. Compare ice cream stops near where you are already spending time.

My suggestion: leave dessert undecided until after your meal. If you still fancy something, choose between ice cream, a bakery sweet or a café dessert rather than automatically ordering another course.

Quick meals versus sit-down dining

For a smaller food budget, start with gyros, souvlaki and bakery food. These let you keep the order simple rather than paying for several courses. Browse gyros spots in Rhodes if you want a quick meal between sightseeing stops.

A taverna suits a slower meal with Greek dishes and something to share. Higher-end dining suits an evening when the setting and service matter alongside the food. Menu prices change, so use the restaurant’s current menu when setting your budget.

• Quick meal, per person: count your chosen food plus a drink. Compare the same serving format—a gyros plate is not the same order as a wrap.
• Taverna meal, per person plus shared dishes: count each person’s main and drink, then add shared starters, salads and sides to the table total.
• Higher-end dinner, per person: count the courses you want, plus drinks and any separate sides. If choosing a set menu, read what the stated price includes.
• Holiday balance: I’d mix simple lunches with a few longer dinners rather than make every meal a restaurant occasion.

Comparing a full meal price

Compare the full order rather than judging value from one cheap main course or the view. A menu only gives you a useful comparison when you include everything you plan to eat and drink. A scenic table may be worth paying for, but it is a different choice from finding the lowest-cost dinner.

For two people, build a sample order: two mains, a shared starter or salad, and your chosen drinks. That gives you a table total; divide it by two for the average cost per person. Add dessert or coffee if you expect to order them.

• Keep the comparison consistent: use the same number of courses and similar drinks at each restaurant.
• Separate shared and individual costs: a salad ordered for the table belongs in the shared total, not in every person’s allowance.
• Include the small extras: count bread, water, sauces and sides where they carry separate prices.
• Read drink sizes: a glass, carafe and bottle are different orders. Compare both the quantity and price.
• Leave room for dessert: some tavernas offer fruit or dessert as a hospitality gesture, but budget for anything you choose to order.

Seafood pricing and extras

With seafood, the pricing unit matters as much as the number beside it. Read whether the menu quotes a portion, a whole fish or a price by weight. The method can differ between dishes and restaurants.

If fish is priced by weight, ask for the chosen fish’s weight and total price before it is cooked. If the price is per kilogram, multiply that rate by its weight in kilograms. For a price per 100 grams, the rate applies to each 100 grams—not the whole fish.

For shared fish, keep its total separate from the per-person cost, then add sides, starters and drinks. A seafood main and a whole fish with separate accompaniments need different calculations. You can shortlist seafood tavernas in Rhodes once you know which kind of meal you want.

• Per portion: use the stated portion price and check which accompaniments are included.
• Per whole fish: clarify whether the quoted amount covers that fish or is a weight-based rate.
• By weight: agree on the total for your chosen fish before cooking, rather than working from the displayed rate alone.
• For the table: include separately priced salads, potatoes, bread and drinks before dividing the bill between diners.

Reservations and seasonal opening

When reserving, confirm the restaurant’s seasonal opening dates, kitchen hours and any deposit or cancellation terms. Give your date, preferred time and group size, and keep the booking confirmation.

For a special dinner, I’d secure the restaurant before arranging the rest of the evening. If you’re happy to choose somewhere on the day, keep an alternative nearby rather than relying on one venue.

Children, dietary needs and table requests

Tell the restaurant about children, dietary requirements, accessibility needs and seating requests when you book. Be specific about what you need, such as a high chair, step-free access or space for a pushchair.

For allergies, explain the ingredient and discuss how the kitchen can handle it, including cross-contact. For vegetarian or vegan meals, ask about ingredients rather than choosing by the dish’s name alone.

If a sea-view or rooftop table is the reason you’re going, request it explicitly. Ask whether that seating can be confirmed, rather than leaving it as a preference.

Getting to dinner and back

For a relaxed evening with drinks, I’d choose somewhere within walking distance or arrange a lift both ways. If you’re taking a bus, check the current outward and return services through the Rhodes Island Guide’s bus advice before choosing your dinner time.

If you want to combine village meals with exploring, compare car rental prices and local deals. Agree who will drive before ordering alcohol, and leave time to reach the restaurant from your parking place.

If you’re planning dinner after landing, arrange your Rhodes airport transfer around your arrival. Keep that evening’s table time flexible enough for baggage collection and possible flight delays.

Booking a food experience

Choose food experiences if you want a planned food activity rather than just a restaurant meal. Read what’s included, where you meet and how long it lasts, and discuss dietary needs before paying.

My suggestion: choose the activity around what you want to taste, not just a convenient start time. Browse traditional Rhodian dishes for ideas, then match them to the experience description.

For activities or transport around the meal, use the Rhodes Booking Marketplace to arrange the wider outing. Reserve your restaurant table directly with the venue.