Food · Mykonos · Greece
What to eat in Mykonos
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Mykonos, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vijinn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Kopanisti, Louza and Mostra. Cocktail bars on the water's edge fill before sunset; arrive early or watch from the windmills and eat later in Chora's lanes. Fish and lobster are priced by the kilo; confirm the weight and price before cooking.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Kopanisti
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Service is usually not included.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Snack · Vegetarian
1.Kopanisti (Κοπανιστή)
Mykonos's protected peppery, fermented soft cheese, salty and sharp, spread on rusks or bread with a glass of wine or ouzo.
Where: Traditional tavernas in Chora and Ano Mera; delicatessens sell it in tubs.
Snack
2.Louza (Λούζα)
Air-dried pork fillet cured with salt, pepper and spices, sliced thin as a meze; a Mykonian and Cycladic speciality.
Where: Taverna meze platters and local delicatessens.
Snack · Vegetarian
3.Mostra (Μόστρα)
The island's version of a rusk salad: barley rusk topped with grated tomato, kopanisti cheese, olive oil and oregano.
Where: Tavernas and beach restaurants across the island.
Dish · Vegetarian
4.Mykonian onion pie (Κρεμμυδόπιτα)
A pie of onions, local cheeses and dill, made with or without pastry; a traditional island recipe.
Where: Traditional tavernas, especially in Ano Mera and around Chora's back streets.
Dish
5.Grilled octopus (Χταπόδι)
Octopus sun-dried on lines by the harbour, then grilled over charcoal and dressed with olive oil, vinegar and oregano.
Where: Seafood tavernas by the Old Port, in Little Venice and on the beaches.
Dish
6.Lobster spaghetti (Αστακομακαρονάδα)
Half or whole lobster cooked in a rich tomato sauce over spaghetti, a celebration dish sold by weight in island fish tavernas.
Where: Seafood restaurants by the sea; always ask the price per kilo before ordering.
Street food
7.Gyros and souvlaki (Γύρος / σουβλάκι)
Pork or chicken from the vertical spit or skewer, wrapped in pitta with tomato, onion, tzatziki and fries; the island's least expensive meal.
Where: Grill counters in Chora's lanes, open late for the after-bar crowd.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Amygdalota (Αμυγδαλωτά)
Soft almond sweets dusted with icing sugar and scented with rose water, a traditional Cycladic treat offered at weddings and sold in bakeries.
Where: Bakeries and sweet shops in Chora.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Ouzo and meze (Ούζο)
Anise-flavoured spirit diluted with water and ice, sipped slowly with small plates of olives, cheese and seafood.
Where: Ouzeris and tavernas by the harbour and in Ano Mera.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Freddo espresso (Φρέντο εσπρέσο)
Espresso shaken with ice, Greece's standard summer coffee; the freddo cappuccino adds a cap of cold milk foam.
Where: Every café and beach bar on the island.
Food experiences
Sunset drinks in Little Venice
Cocktail bars on the water's edge fill before sunset; arrive early or watch from the windmills and eat later in Chora's lanes.
Taverna lunch in Ano Mera
Slow lunches on the village square, with local cheeses, louza and meat from island farms, at lower prices than in Chora.
Seafood by the beach
Fish tavernas on the beaches grill the day's catch; it is sold by weight, so choose your fish and confirm the price.
Late-night gyros
After the bars, Chora's grill counters serve gyros and souvlaki into the early hours.
Quick bites and street food
- Kopanisti — Traditional tavernas in Chora and Ano Mera; delicatessens sell it in tubs.
- Louza — Taverna meze platters and local delicatessens.
- Mostra — Tavernas and beach restaurants across the island.
- Gyros and souvlaki — Grill counters in Chora's lanes, open late for the after-bar crowd.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Kopanisti, Mostra, Mykonian onion pie, Amygdalota, Ouzo and meze and Freddo espresso. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Fish and lobster are priced by the kilo; confirm the weight and price before cooking.
- Book dinner in high season, especially for sunset tables and well-known restaurants.
- Tavernas inland and in Ano Mera are better value than those in Little Venice.
- Greeks dine late; restaurants fill from about 9pm in summer.
- Many restaurants and beach clubs close from late October to April.
Tipping
Service is usually not included. Leaving about 5–10% in restaurants is customary, and rounding up for taxis and bars is common.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kalimera | Good morning |
| Kalispera | Good evening |
| Efharisto | Thank you |
| Parakalo | Please / you're welcome |
| Yamas | Cheers |
| To logariasmo, parakalo | The bill, please |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Mykonos famous for?
Kopanisti, Louza, Mostra and Mykonian onion pie. Mykonos's protected peppery, fermented soft cheese, salty and sharp, spread on rusks or bread with a glass of wine or ouzo.
+Is Mykonos good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Kopanisti, Mostra and Mykonian onion pie.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Mykonos?
Service is usually not included. Leaving about 5–10% in restaurants is customary, and rounding up for taxis and bars is common.