The island’s cuisine is authentic and encompasses the local tradition. Local cheeses, meats and produce form the basis of dishes that are creative yet unpretentious.
In Chorio and the port of Psathi there is a choice of restaurants, fish taverns and traditional cafes. Here are our picks of the best:.
1. Avli tou Samplou
If you’re craving great food in a remarkable setting don’t miss out on this place. Its exceptional chophouse dishes are based on locally sourced ingredients and served with a heartwarming touch of hospitality.
The best dishes are melitzanes (eggplants cooked in a rich fresh tomato sauce) and briam (a mix of roasted vegetables usually made with zucchini, eggplants, potatoes, fresh tomatoes and plenty of olive oil). You must also try their moussaka which is the most delicious you’ll ever taste.
Enjoy a unique Kimolian atmosphere while being treated to traditional cuisine by this family-run restaurant. Their grilled meats are especially noteworthy, as well as their lamb chops. You can’t leave without trying their Loukaniko sausage, either! It’s a must-have dish on the island. It’s braised with almost nothing added, and the meat is so tender it melts in your mouth.
2. To Kyma
A taverna that is quite literally in the middle of the main village Chorio, To Kyma serves up heartwarming Greek fare and genuine hospitality. It is one of the few restaurants that stays open throughout winter, and it’s a place where time seems to stand still and you become a part of the community.
To Kyma offers grilled octopus, a smorgasbord of lamb chops and a whole bunch of other meaty dishes and seafood. Lavraki, a bread-like pizza with onions, peppers and olive oil, is an island classic, and To Kyma also serves a good version of the dish.
Bemba Sardi is a true Kimolos icon, not just through her cooking (read our review of Sardis here), but as an active member of the self-organised Kimolistes movement who promotes the island by inventive happenings like open-air cinema installations in the medieval castle and at various beaches.
3. Bemba’s
Everyone who has visited Kimolos says the same thing: “Did you eat at Bemba’s?” or Sardi’s, as this family-run taverna and rooms to rent by Aliki beach are known locally. This is the place to go for seafood, Kimolian classics like tomato balls and cabbage, squash, ladenia, and tyrenia.
The cozy ambience and sound of the jukebox make for a memorable experience. The menu also highlights traditional elements of the island: cheeses, local meats, fresh produce, and herbs foraged from nearby fields. The platings are creative but unpretentious and the novel combinations feel entirely natural.
4. Sardi’s
The best place to get a taste of authentic Kimolian cuisine, Sardi’s (locally known as Mpempa’s) is the kind of place that people talk about years after visiting. Located in a charming alley by Bonatsa Beach, this long-established traditional taverna is beloved for its festive atmosphere, premium quality home-style dishes and an excellent selection of ouzo.
Beba, the owner and chef of Sardi’s, is one of Kimolos’ main brand ambassadors not only through her cooking but also through her self-organised initiative, the Kimolistes, which aims to promote the island’s unique culture with inventive happenings ranging from pop-up open-air cinema installations to open-air lending book clubs.
5. Polyaigos
A restaurant run by a family whose members all work there, Polyaigos has a cozy atmosphere and dishes that reflect its roots. Most guests are regulars, some have been coming for years.
Local products are used to create the best Kimolos dishes including thyme honey, rusks, tomato paste and the local manoura and xino cheeses. Other island specialties include ladenia, kolokithenia and tirenia, as well as the savory lamb sausages called skordalia.
Kimolos is petite; there’s just one main village and everyone knows each other. As a result, a good reputation is a big deal on this tiny island. That’s why restaurants like Bemba’s and Sardi’s attract locals who return again and again.