Mykonos seafood is some of the best in Greece, from fresh grilled Aegean fish and lobster pasta to octopus, sea urchin and shrimp, served everywhere from rustic beach tavernas to chic town restaurants. This guide covers the classic dishes, the best places to eat, beach versus town dining, the costs and tips for fresh fish.
Seafood is a highlight of the cuisine in the Mykonos travel guide, complementing the wider Mykonos food guide. The sections below cover it in full.
What is Mykonos seafood like?
Mykonos seafood is fresh, simple and excellent, built around the day’s Aegean catch: grilled whole fish, lobster, octopus, calamari, shrimp, sea urchin and mussels, usually prepared simply with olive oil, lemon and herbs. It ranges from rustic beach tavernas to upscale town restaurants, all celebrating the sea.
Seafood is at the heart of Mykonian and Greek-island cuisine, and on Mykonos it is some of the finest you can eat, thanks to the island’s deep connection to the sea. The philosophy is simple: take the freshest possible catch from the Aegean and let it shine with minimal, expert preparation, typically grilled or fried and dressed with good olive oil, lemon, sea salt and herbs, so the natural flavour of the fish and shellfish comes through. The range is wonderful, from whole grilled fish such as sea bream and sea bass to lobster, octopus, calamari, prawns and shrimp, sea urchin, mussels and clams, often served alongside Greek salad, fava and local wine. You can enjoy it in every setting, from rustic, feet-in-the-sand beach tavernas to chic, upscale town restaurants and glamorous beach clubs, all celebrating the bounty of the sea. For seafood lovers, Mykonos is a real treat, set out alongside the guide to restaurants. The classic dishes are worth seeking out.
What are the classic Mykonos seafood dishes?
Classic Mykonos seafood dishes include fresh grilled whole fish, lobster pasta or lobster orzo, grilled octopus, fried calamari, shrimp saganaki, sea urchin, mussels and seafood meze. Simply prepared with olive oil, lemon and herbs, these dishes showcase the fresh Aegean catch and are found across the island.
Several seafood dishes stand out as Mykonos and Greek-island classics, and seeking them out is part of the pleasure. Fresh grilled whole fish, such as sea bream, sea bass or red mullet, is the cornerstone, typically priced by weight and served simply with lemon and olive oil to let the quality speak for itself. Lobster pasta or lobster orzo, the famous astakomakaronada, is a celebrated treat, rich and indulgent, while grilled octopus, tender and smoky, is a beloved meze often enjoyed with ouzo by the sea. Fried calamari, shrimp saganaki cooked with tomato and feta, sea urchin for the adventurous, mussels, clams and a spread of seafood meze round out the offering. Many places also serve fresh fish carpaccio, seafood risotto and pasta dishes at the more refined end. Sampling a selection of these, perhaps as shared meze with a cold glass of wine, is the ideal way to experience the island’s seafood, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos food. The best places span beach and town.
Where are the best seafood restaurants in Mykonos?
The best seafood in Mykonos is found at beach tavernas and town restaurants alike: legendary Kiki’s near Agios Sostis, long-running Kavos, stylish Hippie Fish at Agios Ioannis, Avli Tou Thodori at Platis Gialos, and town spots like Koursaros and Phoebus near Little Venice, from rustic tavernas to refined dining.
Mykonos has an outstanding range of places to eat seafood, spanning rustic tavernas and upscale restaurants across the beaches and the town. On the beaches, the legendary Kiki’s Tavern near Agios Sostis is famous for its grilled fare in a wild setting, the long-running Kavos blends traditional Greek cuisine with Aegean views, and the stylish Hippie Fish at Agios Ioannis serves fresh fish, seafood carpaccio and paella with a glamorous beachfront feel, while Avli Tou Thodori at Platis Gialos is loved for grilled fish and lobster orzo by the sand. In and around Mykonos Town, Koursaros near Little Venice offers over two decades of authentic Greek and Mediterranean seafood, and Phoebus, hidden among the old town’s whitewashed lanes, gives traditional Aegean dishes an innovative twist. There are also unique options, such as a Mexican-influenced seafood restaurant, for something different. From feet-in-the-sand tavernas to refined town dining, there is a seafood spot for every taste and occasion, set out alongside the guides to Agios Sostis and Platis Gialos. Beach and town dining differ in feel.
Should you eat seafood at the beach or in town?
Both beach and town offer superb seafood. Beach tavernas and clubs give a relaxed, scenic feet-in-the-sand experience with sea views, ideal for a long lunch, while town restaurants offer atmospheric old-town dining, from rustic tavernas to refined spots, perfect for dinner. The choice depends on the setting and occasion you want.
Where to enjoy your seafood on Mykonos depends on the experience you are after, and both beach and town have their charms. Eating seafood at a beach taverna or beach club is a quintessential Mykonos pleasure, with the relaxed, scenic, feet-in-the-sand atmosphere, the sound of the sea and lovely views making a long, leisurely seafood lunch by the water especially memorable, whether at a rustic taverna like Kiki’s or a stylish spot like Hippie Fish. Dining in Mykonos Town, meanwhile, offers the romance and buzz of the old town, with seafood restaurants tucked among the whitewashed lanes and along the waterfront, ranging from traditional tavernas to refined, innovative restaurants near Little Venice, ideal for an atmospheric dinner, often with a sunset view. Many visitors do both, enjoying a relaxed seafood lunch at the beach and a more dressed-up seafood dinner in town. Choosing by the setting and occasion, rather than the food alone, ensures the perfect seafood experience, set out alongside the guide to Little Venice. Knowing the costs and tips helps.
What should you know about cost and ordering seafood?
Fresh fish in Mykonos is usually priced by weight, so it can be expensive, especially at glamorous spots, and prices overall are high. Choose your fish from the display, confirm the price, look for fresh, clear-eyed fish, and book popular places ahead. Meze and simpler dishes offer more affordable ways to enjoy seafood.
Seafood on Mykonos is a treat, but it pays to understand the cost and how to order well. Fresh whole fish is typically priced by weight, per kilo, rather than per portion, so the bill depends on the size of the fish you choose and can become expensive, particularly for prized fish and at glamorous beach clubs and upscale restaurants, where Mykonos’s generally high prices apply. To order wisely, ask to see the fresh fish on display, choose your fish, and confirm the price and weight before it is cooked so there are no surprises, and look for signs of freshness such as clear eyes, firm flesh and a clean sea smell. Booking ahead is wise at popular and famous places, especially in peak season. For those watching the budget, ordering shared seafood meze such as grilled octopus, calamari and shrimp, or simpler dishes, lets you enjoy the island’s seafood for less than a whole prized fish. With a little know-how, you can savour superb seafood at the right price, set out alongside the guides to Mykonos on a budget and a Mykonos itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Is the seafood in Mykonos fresh and local?
Much of the seafood in Mykonos is fresh and locally caught, with tavernas and restaurants proud of the day’s catch, though as a busy island some seafood is also imported to meet demand. Choosing tavernas known for fresh fish, asking about the catch and picking from the display helps ensure freshness.
Freshness is central to the appeal of Mykonos seafood, and much of it is genuinely fresh and locally sourced, though it is worth knowing the full picture. Mykonos has a long fishing tradition, and many tavernas and restaurants take real pride in serving the day’s fresh catch from the surrounding Aegean, with fishermen supplying local fish and shellfish, so you can eat superb, just-caught seafood prepared simply to let its quality shine. At the same time, Mykonos is a small, very busy island with huge summer demand, so not every piece of seafood on every menu is local, and some is imported or frozen to keep up, which is normal across popular Greek destinations. To maximise freshness, choose tavernas and restaurants with a good reputation for fresh fish, look for places where you can see the fish on ice or in a display and pick your own, ask the staff what is fresh and locally caught that day, and favour whole grilled fish, which is usually fresh and priced by weight. Smaller, family-run tavernas and those by fishing harbours are often excellent bets. With a little care, you can be confident of enjoying fresh, local Aegean seafood at its best, set out alongside the guides to Mykonos food and restaurants. The fresh catch is the island’s culinary highlight.
What should you drink with Mykonos seafood?
The classic drinks with Mykonos seafood are ouzo, the anise spirit traditionally enjoyed with meze like grilled octopus, and crisp white or rosé Greek wine, which pairs beautifully with fresh fish and shellfish. Cold beer also works well, and a chilled glass by the sea completes the experience.
Part of the pleasure of Mykonos seafood is what you drink with it, and Greek tradition offers perfect pairings. The most iconic is ouzo, the clear, anise-flavoured spirit that turns milky with water and ice, traditionally sipped slowly alongside seafood meze such as grilled octopus, fried calamari and small fish; the combination of ouzo and meze by the sea, known as the ouzo-and-meze ritual, is a quintessential Greek-island experience and a wonderful way to spend a relaxed afternoon or evening. For fresh fish and shellfish, a crisp, dry Greek white wine, such as an Assyrtiko, or a chilled rosé pairs beautifully, their acidity and freshness complementing the delicate flavours of the catch, and Greece’s excellent wines are well worth exploring. A cold Greek beer is also a refreshing, casual match, especially on a hot day at a beach taverna. Whichever you choose, enjoying a chilled drink with your seafood while looking out over the Aegean completes the experience and captures the essence of island dining. Pairing the right drink with the fresh catch elevates a simple meal into a memorable one, set out alongside the guides to Mykonos food and restaurants. The drink completes the seaside feast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What seafood should you eat in Mykonos?
Classic Mykonos seafood includes fresh grilled whole fish, lobster pasta or lobster orzo, grilled octopus, fried calamari, shrimp saganaki, sea urchin, mussels and seafood meze. Simply prepared with olive oil, lemon and herbs, these dishes showcase the fresh Aegean catch and are found across the island.
Where is the best seafood in Mykonos?
The best seafood in Mykonos is found at beach tavernas and town restaurants alike: legendary Kiki’s near Agios Sostis, long-running Kavos, stylish Hippie Fish at Agios Ioannis, Avli Tou Thodori at Platis Gialos, and town spots like Koursaros and Phoebus near Little Venice, from rustic tavernas to refined dining.
Why is fish in Mykonos expensive?
Fresh fish in Mykonos is usually priced by weight, per kilo, so it can be expensive, especially at glamorous beach clubs and upscale restaurants where prices are high. Choose your fish from the display and confirm the price before it is cooked, and order shared meze for a more affordable way to enjoy seafood.