Besides vathres, waterfalls and beaches Samothraki is also famous for its food. The island is dotted with small family tavernas where the owner is also the cook and the waiter.
Goat meat is a must-try on the island and one of the best places to do so is O Vrachos in Profitis Ilias. Other tasty local dishes include haslamas, kataifi, galaktoboureko and more.
1. Paradisos
Located at Profitis Ilias, this restaurant is known for its great fish dishes. It also offers a great view of Samothraki. The staff is very polite and willing to help. They speak English and even understand Romanian, so don’t worry about the language barrier.
The food is simple, made with local ingredients, just like a Greek grandma would cook it. Don’t forget to try the trachanopita (frumenty pie), and don’t miss out on the honey of Samothraki, which is one of the best in the world. The desserts are also delicious, including haslamas, a traditional sort of halva, and a variety of sweets with different fruits. You can also try the local beer Fonias or drink a glass of wine. The perfect end to the meal is a cup of Greek coffee called Ellinikos. It is served with a sweet pastry, or koulopita. You can also try some of the local cheeses. The food is delicious and the prices are fair.
2. O Vrachos
This restaurant is a must-try for all true Samothraki lovers. Skip it if you’re looking for cosmopolitan summer vacation, but visit it if you want to make new friends and try hitch hiking for the first time in your life or dance until the early hours of morning on the beach!
The food on this island is very varied and delicious. You will get to know Samothraki’s culinary traditions through dishes like katsikaki (roasted goat typically stuffed with rice and its offal) or a delicious home made omelet served with feta cheese and spinach, local traditional sorts of pies or haslamas with wild editable plants and trahana as well as the sweet baklava or kafeneion (local dark or blond Greek coffee).
It’s also a good idea to try the local honey that is considered one of the best in the world! It is used in both savoury and sweet dishes. Once you’ve tried it you won’t forget it.
3. Panagia Kremniotissa Taverna
A beloved beachside taverna for its delectable traditional Greek food and idyllic location. Guests rave about the friendly staff and fantastic hospitality, recommending the grilled octopus as the must-try dish.
The roasted goat is also excellent, even for those not fond of organ meat. The kokoretsi is seasoned to perfection and the desserts are divine. The tavern also serves up fresh, clean and tasty local beer Fonias as well as wine and Ouzo or Tsipouro.
Samothraki is a very religious island and the locals are very warm, open-minded and generous. If your visit coincides with one of the many local religious festivities, attend a kafeneion to immerse yourself in their culture and experience true Greek hospitality.
4. Therma
Therma Beach is a small pebbly beach by the harbor from where tour boats depart for daily circuits of the island. It’s backed by a thick forest of plane and horse-chestnut trees, and a profusion of rock pools. The water here is sulfate-rich and has therapeutic properties for rheumatic conditions. A commercial spa is in town, but you can also find free locations—one enclosed and attracting young people, the other open to all and favored by older folks.
On the island you’ll mostly dine at family-run tavernas where the owner is also the cook and the waiter. Here, the food is wholesome and delicious, served in a cozy setting with a creek playing a soothing symphony outside. The menus are typically hastily scribbled on notebooks or blackboards, and the prices reasonable. For a snack, try the local tyrosalata—cheese spread (varying degrees of spiciness) with fat yogurt, finely chopped peppers and olive oil. It costs 2.5 – 3 EUR and goes well with fresh bread.