Best Restaurants in Kokkari, Samos: Where to Eat by the Harbour

Kokkari doesn't have one single "best" restaurant: it has a cluster of family-run tavernas along the harbour, and the right one depends on whether you're after fish, a view or something other than Greek food. Almost all of them serve fresh fish and classic Greek dishes, so the real differences come down to location, atmosphere and what each place is known for. For the village itself, read our Kokkari guide.

Kalamies is a traditional taverna on the eastern side of the port, just before the small Lemonakia beach. It's widely considered to have the best view back across the village and the bay, and it cooks Greek recipes daily with local house wine. If the view matters as much as the food, book a table for sunset.

Meltemi sits a few steps from the sea, close enough that it feels like eating in a beach house. The menu is built around seafood: you choose your fish from the counter, and local specialities such as octopus salad and prawns sautéed in ouzo and garlic are the dishes people come back for.

Poseidon is a traditional family restaurant with one of the widest choices of seafood dishes on the island. The dining room is memorable in its own right, with a large corner of Byzantine icons, which makes it a good pick for a longer dinner indoors on a windy evening.

Apollon is right on the waterfront, in a traditional building with a warm, informal atmosphere. It leans towards Greek home cooking rather than a tourist menu: its spinach pies and stuffed vegetables are what it's known for, alongside local wines.

Piccolo Porto is the exception on this list: an Italian pizzeria in the centre of the village with an olive-wood-fired oven. It's the practical answer for a mixed group or for children who have had enough grilled fish after a few nights of tavernas.

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