Choosing Your Setting: Village, Coast or Old Town
The atmosphere is as important as the menu. For iconic views, Lindos offers rooftop restaurants overlooking the Acropolis, though this often comes at a higher price. Rhodes Old Town provides a magical setting with its stone courtyards, but it pays to be selective and avoid the aggressive touts on the busiest streets. Quieter alleys often hide authentic, better-value tavernas.
For a more traditional experience, head to an inland village like Apollona, Embonas or Lardos. Here, you'll find family-run tavernas serving generous portions of home-style Greek cooking, often at a lower cost.
Where to Find the Best Seafood
Rhodian seafood cooking is beautifully simple: whole fish grilled with lemon and olive oil, or charcoal-grilled octopus with oregano. For the freshest catch, visit the fishing villages. Stegna is a top choice for a seafood lunch on the shore, known for grilled octopus and shrimp saganaki. Haraki’s family-run tavernas serve excellent sea bream by a calm bay, while the small port of Kameiros Skala is where fishing boats unload right next to the restaurants.
Authentic Rhodian Dishes & Where to Try Them
To taste the island’s unique cuisine, venture into the mountain villages. Embonas and Siana are the places to go for kapamas, a tender, slow-cooked goat seasoned with herbs. Psinthos and Apollona are renowned for pitaroudia, crisp chickpea patties best eaten freshly fried. For breakfast, stop at a village bakery for handmade spinach pie (spanakopita) or a sesame bread ring (koulouri). Don't leave without trying melekouni, a local sweet of sesame, honey and spices, for which Apollona is especially famous.
Related Rhodes guides
Next, read our local guides to Stegna, Lindos and eat like a local. Check the details of the specific place or listing before you book, as general island advice will not fit every trip.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-try local dishes in Rhodes?
Look for pitaroudia (chickpea fritters), kapamas (slow-cooked goat), and giaprakia (the Rhodian version of stuffed vine leaves). For a unique local sweet, try melekouni, made with sesame seeds and honey.
Where is the best area for a romantic dinner?
Lindos is a classic choice for romance, with its candlelit rooftop restaurants offering views of the Acropolis. Alternatively, the quieter courtyards in Rhodes Old Town, like the one at Marco Polo Mansion, provide an elegant and atmospheric setting.
What's a good choice for a quick and inexpensive meal?
Pita gyros is the go-to for a quick, filling and affordable meal, widely available in Rhodes Town, Faliraki and Lindos. Souvlaki skewers are another great option; look for them in the Old Town's smaller side alleys for better value and flavour.