Nafplio is one of the best towns in the Peloponnese for food, from fresh seafood by the marina to traditional tavernas in the marble old town and the finest Italian gelato in Greece. Its coastal position brings whole grilled fish and meze, its Argolid setting brings the red wine of Nemea and the olive oil and honey of the region, and its old-town lanes fill with tables in the evening. Knowing where to eat, what to order and what to pay turns a meal in Nafplio into one of the highlights of a stay.
This guide covers the food of Nafplio in full: the seafood of Boumpoulinas Street, the traditional tavernas, the waterfront, the souvlaki and meze, the famous gelato, the sweets, the wine of Nemea, the prices, the reservations and the meal times. Read it beside the full Nafplio travel guide, the guide to the best things to do in Nafplio and the guide on where to stay in Nafplio.
Where do you eat in Nafplio?
You eat in Nafplio in the tavernas of the marble old town, the seafood restaurants of Boumpoulinas Street by the marina, and the cafes and restaurants of the waterfront with their Bourtzi views. The old town holds the best of the town’s tavernas, ouzeries and modern Greek restaurants.
The old town is the heart of it. The marble lanes and squares of the old town are lined with tavernas, ouzeries and modern Greek restaurants, and the squares fill with tables in the evening, so the historic quarter is where most visitors eat, with the best choice and the finest atmosphere in the town.
Boumpoulinas Street is for seafood. The street across from the marina, Boumpoulinas, is the address for fresh fish, where family-run fish tavernas serve the local catch away from the busier harbourfront, so those who want seafood head there rather than to the more touristy promenade.
The waterfront is for the view. Along Akti Miaouli the cafes and restaurants look out over the harbour to the island castle of Bourtzi, so the seafront is the place for a coffee, a drink or a meal with a view, even if the food there trades a little on the setting.
What food is Nafplio known for?
Nafplio is known for fresh seafood, Peloponnesian taverna cooking, the red wine of Nemea, and the famous gelato of the Antica Gelateria di Roma. Whole grilled fish, meze, slow-cooked stews, barrel-aged feta and local sweets are the staples, drawn from the sea and the rich land of the Argolid.
The sea shapes the menu. As a harbour town, Nafplio serves fresh fish and seafood, from whole fish grilled with lemon and oregano to octopus, calamari and shellfish, so seafood is at the heart of the town’s food, best eaten at the fish tavernas by the marina.
The Argolid supplies the rest. The rich farmland and hills around Nafplio bring olive oil, honey, cheeses, vegetables and the red wine of Nemea, so the taverna cooking of the town is built on excellent local produce, from horta and stuffed vegetables to slow-cooked meat dishes.
The sweets are a highlight. Nafplio is famous for the Italian gelato of the Antica Gelateria di Roma, regarded as the best in Greece, and for Greek sweets such as galaktoboureko and spoon preserves, so the town rewards a sweet tooth as much as a love of savoury cooking.
Where is the best seafood in Nafplio?
The best seafood in Nafplio is on Boumpoulinas Street, across from the marina, where family-run fish tavernas such as Savouras serve the fresh local catch. These spots away from the harbourfront offer better fish and value than the more touristy promenade, with whole grilled fish the thing to order.
Boumpoulinas Street leads for fish. The street facing the marina, rather than the busy harbourfront, is where the town’s serious fish tavernas sit, so seafood lovers head there for the freshest catch, landed by local fishermen from Tolo, Drepano and the surrounding coast.
Savouras is the classic. The long-established family fish taverna of Savouras, also known as Psarosavouras, on Boumpoulinas Street, is famous for simple, fresh fish and shellfish chosen from the day’s catch, so it is the name most often recommended for seafood in Nafplio.
Whole grilled fish is the order. At the fish tavernas the thing to order is whole fresh fish, grilled and dressed with lemon and olive oil, alongside meze of octopus, calamari and shellfish, so a seafood meal in Nafplio is simple, fresh and built on the quality of the catch.
What are the best traditional tavernas in Nafplio?
The best traditional tavernas in Nafplio are in the lanes of the old town, serving Peloponnesian home cooking: slow-cooked stews, grilled meats, stuffed vegetables and meze, with local wine from the barrel. Places such as Aiolos and the family tavernas of the old town are long-standing favourites.
The old-town tavernas lead. Away from the waterfront, the tavernas tucked into the marble lanes serve the honest Peloponnesian cooking that Nafplio does best, from oven-baked dishes and stews to grilled meats and meze, so the old town is where to find a true taverna meal.
Home cooking is the draw. The traditional tavernas of Nafplio serve the dishes of Greek home cooking, such as moussaka, stifado, gemista and horta, made with local produce and often shown in the pot to choose from, so a meal is hearty, authentic and rooted in the region.
The atmosphere completes it. With tables spilling into the lanes and squares, local wine from the barrel and an unhurried pace, the old-town tavernas offer the atmosphere as much as the food, so dinner becomes a long, relaxed evening in the heart of the town.
Where do you eat on the Nafplio waterfront?
You eat on the Nafplio waterfront along Akti Miaouli, where cafes and restaurants look out over the harbour to the island castle of Bourtzi. The setting is the finest in the town, ideal for a coffee, a drink or a sunset meal, though the food often trades on the view over the harbour.
The view is the reason. The seafront promenade of Akti Miaouli faces the harbour and the Bourtzi, so its cafes and restaurants offer the best views in the town, making the waterfront the place for a coffee, an aperitif or a meal with the island castle before you.
It suits a drink or a coffee. Because the harbourfront trades on its setting, it is at its best for a sunset drink, a frappe or an ice cream rather than a serious dinner, so many visitors take their coffee or aperitif here and eat their main meal in the old town.
The sunset is the highlight. As the sun goes down behind the Bourtzi, the waterfront is the place to be, so an early-evening drink looking out over the harbour is one of the simple pleasures of Nafplio, whether or not you stay on for dinner by the water.
Where do you eat in the old town of Nafplio?
In the old town of Nafplio you eat in the tavernas, ouzeries and restaurants of the marble lanes and squares around Syntagma Square. The old town holds the best food in the town, from traditional tavernas to modern Greek and international restaurants, with tables filling the squares each evening.
Syntagma Square is the centre. The marble squares of the old town, above all Syntagma Square, fill with the tables of cafes and restaurants in the evening, so they are the social heart of dining in Nafplio, busy and atmospheric once the day cools.
The lanes hide the gems. Away from the squares, the narrow marble lanes of the old town hide small tavernas, ouzeries and modern Greek restaurants, so wandering the streets and choosing a place with a good crowd is part of the pleasure of eating in Nafplio.
The range is wide. From simple ouzeries serving meze with a carafe of wine to upscale modern Greek restaurants, the old town covers every style, so a visitor can eat cheaply and traditionally one night and finely the next, all within the historic quarter.
What is the best cheap eat in Nafplio?
The best cheap eat in Nafplio is souvlaki and gyros, the grilled meat wrapped in pita with salad and sauce, from the souvlaki shops of the town for around 8 to 10 euros a head or less. Bakeries and their savoury pies are the other budget staple for a quick, cheap meal.
Souvlaki is the budget classic. The souvlaki and gyros shops of Nafplio serve grilled pork or chicken in pita with tomato, onion and tzatziki for a few euros, so a full meal rarely tops 8 to 10 euros a head, making souvlaki the go-to cheap eat in the town.
Bakeries fill the gap. The bakeries of Nafplio sell spanakopita, tiropita and other savoury pies, along with bread and sweets, so a cheap and quick lunch is easily had from a bakery, ideal for eating on the move between the sights.
It suits a quick meal. Because souvlaki and pies are cheap, fast and filling, they are the answer for a light lunch or a quick bite that leaves room and budget for a proper taverna dinner in the evening, so they play their part in a day of eating in Nafplio.
Where do you find fine dining in Nafplio?
You find fine dining in Nafplio in the modern Greek and international restaurants of the old town, offering creative cooking, elegant settings and Nemea wine lists. Expect to pay from around 60 to 100 euros or more for two, with reservations advised in the busy season for the best tables.
Modern Greek leads the upscale scene. Several restaurants in the old town serve modern, creative takes on Greek cooking, with refined presentation and good wine lists, so those wanting a special meal find elegant dining alongside the town’s traditional tavernas.
The setting adds to the meal. Fine-dining restaurants in Nafplio often occupy handsome old buildings or courtyards in the historic quarter, so the setting matches the food, making for a memorable evening for a celebration or a treat.
Booking is wise. Because the best upscale restaurants are popular, especially at weekends and in high summer, reservations are advised for the finer places, so booking ahead secures a table and the best of the town’s more ambitious cooking.
What is the famous gelato in Nafplio?
The famous gelato in Nafplio is the Antica Gelateria di Roma, an Italian gelateria in the old town run by an Italian family, widely regarded as the best gelato in Greece. Made fresh with traditional methods, its cones and cups are a fixture of a visit, and no stay is complete without one.
It is the best gelato in Greece. The Antica Gelateria di Roma, tucked into the old town, is run by an Italian family making gelato and sorbet by traditional methods, and its reputation as the finest in the country draws a steady queue, so it is a highlight of eating in Nafplio.
The flavours are authentic. Made fresh with real ingredients, from pistachio and chocolate to seasonal fruit sorbets, the gelato is the genuine Italian article rather than mass-market ice cream, so it stands out even in a country full of good sweets.
It is part of the visit. Enjoying a cone from the gelateria while wandering the marble lanes or sitting on a square is one of the small pleasures of Nafplio, so a stop there is a fixture of any stay, as the guide to the things to do in Nafplio notes.
What sweets and desserts is Nafplio known for?
Nafplio is known for Greek sweets such as galaktoboureko, baklava and loukoumades, for spoon preserves of local fruit served with yogurt, and for the Italian gelato of the Antica Gelateria di Roma. The bakeries and patisseries of the town serve these alongside coffee through the day.
The Greek classics are everywhere. Galaktoboureko, the custard pastry in syrup, baklava, and loukoumades, the honey-drenched doughnuts, are found in the patisseries and tavernas of Nafplio, so the traditional sweets of Greece are well represented in the town.
Spoon sweets are a local treat. Spoon preserves, fruit cooked in syrup and served by the spoonful, often with thick yogurt, are a Peloponnesian speciality, so they appear on menus and in shops in Nafplio, a taste of the region’s traditional sweet-making.
The gelato tops them. Alongside the Greek sweets, the Italian gelato of the Antica Gelateria di Roma is the town’s most famous dessert, so between the patisseries, the spoon sweets and the gelateria, Nafplio is a fine place for anyone with a sweet tooth.
What wine goes with Nafplio food?
The wine that goes with Nafplio food is the red of Nemea, the great appellation an hour away made from the Agiorgitiko grape, whose smooth, deep reds suit the grilled meats and stews of the region. The tavernas serve local wine by the carafe, and the region also produces whites and rosés.
Nemea is the local red. The vineyards of Nemea, the largest appellation in Greece, lie an hour from Nafplio and produce deep, smooth red wines from the native Agiorgitiko grape, so the local red on any Nafplio wine list is likely to come from there, a natural match for the food.
It suits the taverna table. The reds of Nemea pair well with the grilled meats, stews and cheeses of Peloponnesian cooking, so a carafe of local wine is the classic accompaniment to a taverna meal in Nafplio, served simply from the barrel or by the bottle.
The region offers more than red. Beyond the Nemea reds, the wider Peloponnese produces whites and rosés, including Moschofilero from Mantineia, so a Nafplio wine list offers a range to match seafood as well as meat, as the guide to day trips from Nafplio notes for a Nemea wine day.
Where do you get breakfast and coffee in Nafplio?
You get breakfast and coffee in Nafplio at the cafes of the old town and the waterfront, from a traditional Greek coffee or freddo to a full breakfast of eggs, yogurt with honey and pastries. Syntagma Square and Akti Miaouli are the prime spots for a morning coffee before the day.
The cafes serve coffee all day. Greek coffee culture is strong in Nafplio, so the cafes of Syntagma Square, the lanes and the waterfront serve everything from a traditional Greek coffee to the iced freddo espresso and cappuccino that Greeks drink through the day.
Breakfast is easily found. Many cafes and hotels serve breakfast of eggs, cheese, yogurt with honey, fresh bread and pastries, so a good start to the day is easy to find, whether a quick coffee and pastry or a fuller sit-down breakfast.
The setting makes the morning. A morning coffee on Syntagma Square or looking out over the harbour on Akti Miaouli is a fine way to begin a day in Nafplio, so the town’s cafes are as much about their setting as their coffee, ideal before the sights.
What meze and small plates to try in Nafplio?
The meze to try in Nafplio are grilled octopus, fried calamari, saganaki fried cheese, taramasalata and tzatziki, horta greens, and local olives and feta. Ordered as a spread to share with wine or ouzo, these small plates are the classic way to eat at a Nafplio ouzeri or taverna.
Seafood meze lead by the sea. Grilled octopus, fried calamari, marinated anchovies and shrimp are the seafood meze to try in a harbour town like Nafplio, so a spread of small plates from the sea, shared with a carafe of wine or a glass of ouzo, is a fine way to eat.
The classic dips and cheeses feature. Taramasalata, tzatziki, fava, saganaki fried cheese and barrel-aged feta are the staple meze of any Greek table, so they appear across the tavernas and ouzeries of Nafplio, best shared among a group with bread and wine.
Vegetables complete the spread. Horta boiled greens, gigantes baked beans, stuffed vine leaves and grilled vegetables round out a meze table, so a meal built from small plates covers sea, land and garden, the most sociable way to eat in the town.
Is Nafplio good for vegetarians?
Nafplio is good for vegetarians, as Greek cooking offers many meat-free dishes: horta greens, gigantes beans, stuffed vegetables, fava, dips such as tzatziki and taramasalata, cheese pies, and salads. The meze culture makes it easy to build a full vegetarian meal from small plates in any taverna.
Greek food is naturally veg-friendly. Much of Greek cooking is built on vegetables, pulses and cheese, so dishes like gemista stuffed vegetables, horta greens, gigantes beans, fava and Greek salad give vegetarians plenty of choice in the tavernas of Nafplio.
Meze make it easy. Because the meze culture lets diners build a meal from small plates, vegetarians can order a spread of dips, cheeses, vegetables and pies without needing a dedicated menu, so eating meat-free is straightforward in any taverna or ouzeri.
The bakeries and gelato help. Cheese and spinach pies from the bakeries, and the fruit sorbets and gelato of the Antica Gelateria di Roma, add quick vegetarian options through the day, so Nafplio caters well to those who do not eat meat.
How much does eating out in Nafplio cost?
Eating out in Nafplio ranges from around 8 to 10 euros a head for souvlaki, to 15 to 30 euros for a taverna meal, to 40 to 60 euros for two at a fish taverna, and 60 to 100 euros or more for two at an upscale restaurant. Prices are moderate for the quality, with seafood the priciest.
Budget eating is cheap. Souvlaki, gyros and bakery pies keep a light meal to under 10 euros a head, so the town is affordable for those watching the budget, with plenty of good, cheap food beyond the sit-down restaurants.
Tavernas are moderate. A traditional taverna meal of meze, a main and local wine runs around 15 to 30 euros a head depending on choice, so a proper dinner in the old town is moderately priced for the quality and the setting.
Seafood and fine dining cost more. Fresh fish is sold by weight and a fish meal for two runs around 40 to 60 euros, while upscale restaurants reach 60 to 100 euros or more for two, so seafood and fine dining are the priciest ways to eat, as the guide on where to stay in Nafplio notes for budgeting.
Do you need reservations for Nafplio restaurants?
You need reservations for the popular and upscale restaurants of Nafplio at weekends and in high summer, when the town is busiest, but casual tavernas and souvlaki shops rarely require booking. For a seafront table at sunset or a fine-dining meal in season, booking ahead is wise.
Popular places fill up. The best-known tavernas and the upscale restaurants fill quickly on summer weekends, when Nafplio is a favourite escape from Athens, so a reservation secures a table at the places most in demand, especially for dinner.
Sunset seafront tables are prized. The waterfront tables with a view of the Bourtzi at sunset are the most sought-after, so booking ahead is the way to secure one on a busy evening, particularly in the peak of summer.
Casual spots need no booking. The everyday tavernas, ouzeries and souvlaki shops rarely need a reservation, so for a relaxed, spontaneous meal a visitor can simply wander the old town and choose a place with a good crowd, no booking required.
When do restaurants open in Nafplio?
Restaurants in Nafplio follow Greek meal times: lunch from about one to three in the afternoon and dinner from about eight in the evening, often late into the night in summer. Cafes open through the day, and tavernas are busiest late, so an early diner often finds a quiet room.
Greek meal times run late. Lunch in Nafplio is taken from around one to three in the afternoon and dinner from about eight, with the tavernas busiest from nine onwards in summer, so eating on Greek time means later meals than many visitors are used to.
Cafes bridge the day. The cafes of the old town and waterfront open from the morning and serve coffee, drinks and light food through the day, so between the set meal times there is always somewhere for a coffee, a snack or an ice cream.
Early diners find it quiet. Because locals eat late, a visitor arriving for dinner at eight often finds a quiet room that fills later, so early diners get the pick of the tables while those who eat on Greek time enjoy the fuller, livelier atmosphere.
What local products can you buy in Nafplio?
Local products to buy in Nafplio include the olive oil, honey and herbs of the Argolid, the red wine of Nemea, barrel-aged and local cheeses, olives, and spoon preserves and sweets. The shops of the old town sell these regional foods, which make fine gifts to take home.
Oil, honey and herbs lead. The Argolid produces excellent olive oil, honey and wild herbs, so the food shops of the old town sell these regional staples, among the best and most typical products of the area to buy or take home.
Wine and cheese follow. The red wine of Nemea and local cheeses, from feta to harder mountain cheeses, are sold in the shops of Nafplio, so a visitor can put together the makings of a Greek meal or a gift of regional food and drink.
Sweets make good gifts. Spoon preserves, honey and traditional sweets are sold in the old-town shops, so they make easy, typical gifts to carry home, adding the flavours of the Argolid to the souvenirs of a stay in Nafplio.
What coffee do people drink in Nafplio?
People in Nafplio drink the full range of Greek coffee, from the traditional thick Greek coffee served in a small cup to the iced freddo espresso and freddo cappuccino that Greeks favour in the heat. The cafes of the squares and the waterfront serve them all through the day, hot or iced.
Greek coffee is the tradition. The strong, unfiltered Greek coffee, brewed in a briki and served in a small cup, is the traditional drink, sipped slowly, so the cafes of Nafplio serve it to those who want the authentic, old-fashioned cup.
The freddo rules the heat. In the warm months Greeks drink the iced freddo espresso and freddo cappuccino, so the cafes turn out these cold coffees all day, the drink of choice on a hot afternoon on Syntagma Square or the waterfront.
The cafe is a way of life. Because sitting over a coffee for an hour or more is part of Greek life, the cafes of Nafplio are places to linger and watch the town, so a coffee here is as much about the setting and the pace as the drink itself.
Is it better to eat on the harbourfront or in the old town?
It is generally better to eat in the old town or on Boumpoulinas Street than on the harbourfront promenade, where the food often trades on the Bourtzi view. The old-town tavernas and the marina fish tavernas offer better cooking and value, while the harbourfront is best for a drink or coffee.
The harbourfront sells the view. The restaurants along the harbour promenade have the finest setting, looking out to the Bourtzi, but many rely on that view rather than the kitchen, so the harbourfront is best enjoyed for a coffee, a drink or a light bite rather than a serious meal.
The old town and marina cook better. The tavernas of the old-town lanes and the fish tavernas of Boumpoulinas Street across from the marina put the emphasis on the food, so they offer better cooking and value, which is why locals and knowing visitors eat there.
Mix them for the best of both. Many visitors take a sunset drink on the harbourfront for the view and then walk into the old town or to the marina for dinner, so combining the two gives both the setting and the best food, the ideal approach in Nafplio.
Where can you eat late at night in Nafplio?
You can eat late in Nafplio at the tavernas and ouzeries of the old town, which serve well into the night in summer, and at the souvlaki shops that stay open latest of all. Greek dining runs late, so the old town stays lively with diners long after the tavernas of other countries have closed.
The tavernas serve late. Because Greeks eat late, the tavernas of the old town keep serving well into the night, especially in summer and at weekends, so a late dinner is easily had, with the squares at their liveliest from nine or ten onwards.
Souvlaki stays open latest. The souvlaki and gyros shops stay open latest of all, so a late-night meal or a bite after a drink is always available, making souvlaki the answer for anyone hungry after the tavernas wind down.
The bars carry the night. The ouzeries and bars of the old town keep going after the kitchens close, so the evening runs on with drinks and meze, and Nafplio stays gently lively late into the night without a heavy club scene.
What classic Greek dishes are on Nafplio menus?
Nafplio menus carry the classics of Greek cooking: moussaka, pastitsio, stifado, gemista stuffed vegetables, souvlaki, grilled fish and octopus, Greek salad, and dips such as tzatziki and taramasalata. Alongside these national staples sit Peloponnesian specialities and the fresh seafood of the coast.
The oven dishes are staples. Moussaka, the layered aubergine and mince bake, pastitsio, the baked pasta, and stifado, the slow beef and onion stew, are found on tavernas menus across Nafplio, so the hearty oven and pot dishes of Greek home cooking are always available.
The grill and the sea feature. Grilled meats and souvlaki, whole grilled fish and octopus, and seafood meze fill the menus of a coastal town, so the grill and the sea give the lighter, fresher side of the Greek table alongside the baked dishes.
The salads and dips accompany all. Greek salad, horta greens, and dips such as tzatziki, taramasalata and fava accompany every meal, so a Nafplio table is built from a spread of these staples shared among the group, the familiar and much-loved dishes of Greece.
What is a Nafplio food or wine tour like?
A Nafplio food tour walks the old town tasting local specialities, from cheeses, olives and cured meats to sweets and wine, with a guide explaining the food and history. A wine tour heads to the nearby Nemea vineyards for tastings, so both combine eating and drinking with the culture of the region.
A walking food tour samples the town. Guided food tours lead visitors through the marble lanes of the old town, stopping at tavernas, bakeries and shops to taste cheeses, olives, cured meats, sweets and local wine, so a tour is a way to eat widely and learn the stories behind the food.
A wine tour reaches Nemea. Tours to the wineries of Nemea, an hour away, combine tastings of the Agiorgitiko reds with the vineyards and the ancient site, so a wine day pairs the pleasures of the table with the scenery and history of the region.
Both add context to the food. With a guide to explain the produce, the history and the traditions, a food or wine tour turns eating into an introduction to the culture of the Argolid, so it is a rewarding way to begin a stay focused on the food of Nafplio.
Where do you drink in Nafplio?
You drink in Nafplio at the ouzeries and wine bars of the old town, the cafe-bars of Syntagma Square and the lanes, and the cocktail bars near the waterfront. From ouzo and tsipouro with meze to Nemea wine and cocktails, the town has a lively evening scene concentrated in the historic quarter.
Ouzeries pour the traditional drinks. The ouzeries of the old town serve ouzo and tsipouro with small plates of meze, the traditional Greek way to drink, so those wanting the local experience settle in for a slow evening of spirits, meze and conversation.
Wine bars showcase Nemea. Wine bars and the better tavernas pour the reds of Nemea and other Greek wines by the glass, so wine lovers can taste the region’s bottles, often with a board of cheese and cured meats to accompany them.
Bars fill the evening. Cafe-bars on the squares and cocktail bars near the waterfront keep going into the night, especially in summer and at weekends, so Nafplio has a relaxed but lively nightlife, centred on the old town rather than any club scene.
Where is the best romantic dinner in Nafplio?
The best romantic dinner in Nafplio is at a table in the marble lanes of the old town or on a rooftop looking to the fortress, or on the waterfront at sunset facing the Bourtzi. Candlelit tavernas, courtyards and modern Greek restaurants make the town ideal for a romantic meal.
The lanes set the mood. A candlelit table in the narrow marble streets of the old town, with tavernas and restaurants spilling out under the balconied houses, is the classic romantic dinner in Nafplio, intimate and full of atmosphere.
The rooftops and courtyards add views. Some restaurants occupy rooftops or courtyards with views to Palamidi or over the town, so a romantic dinner can come with a backdrop of floodlit fortress walls, a memorable setting for a special evening.
The waterfront brings the sunset. A table on the waterfront at sunset, facing the island castle of Bourtzi lit against the water, is the other romantic choice, so couples can pair their meal with the finest view in the town, as the guide to things to do in Nafplio notes.
Where do families eat in Nafplio?
Families eat easily in Nafplio, where tavernas welcome children and serve familiar dishes such as grilled meats, pasta, chips and Greek salad, and souvlaki shops and the gelateria please young eaters. The traffic-free old town lets children move freely while parents linger over a meal.
Tavernas welcome children. Greek tavernas are family places, relaxed and used to children, and their menus of grilled meats, chips, pasta and salad suit young eaters, so families dine comfortably in the old town without needing special children’s menus.
Souvlaki and gelato please the young. The souvlaki shops and the Antica Gelateria di Roma are sure hits with children, so a cheap souvlaki dinner followed by a gelato is an easy and popular family meal, keeping everyone happy at low cost.
The car-free streets help. Because the old town is paved and closed to most traffic, children can move about safely while parents eat, so the squares and lanes are relaxed places for a family dinner, as the guide on where to stay in Nafplio notes for families.
What street food does Nafplio have?
The street food of Nafplio is souvlaki and gyros, savoury pies from the bakeries, and the gelato and sweets of the old town. Cheap, quick and eaten on the move, these are the snacks that fill the gaps between sights, from a gyros pita to a spinach pie or a cone of gelato.
Souvlaki leads the street food. The grilled meat of souvlaki and gyros, wrapped in pita with salad and sauce, is the classic Greek street food, so the souvlaki shops of Nafplio serve the quickest and cheapest hot meal, eaten standing or walking the lanes.
Bakeries add the pies. The bakeries sell spanakopita, tiropita and other savoury pies, along with koulouri bread rings and sweets, so a cheap snack or light lunch is always at hand from a bakery, ideal between the fortress and the museums.
Sweets finish on the move. The gelato of the Antica Gelateria di Roma and the sweets of the patisseries are the sweet street food of the town, so a cone or a pastry eaten while wandering is part of the pleasure of a day in Nafplio.
What is a good food day in Nafplio?
A good food day in Nafplio starts with coffee and a pastry on Syntagma Square, takes a bakery pie or souvlaki for lunch, an afternoon gelato from the Antica Gelateria di Roma, a sunset drink on the waterfront, and dinner of seafood or meze in the old town with a carafe of Nemea wine.
Begin with coffee and a pastry. A food day starts with a Greek coffee or a freddo and a pastry at a cafe on Syntagma Square or the waterfront, the Greek way to ease into the morning before the sights.
Snack light through the day. A bakery pie or a souvlaki makes a cheap, quick lunch, and an afternoon gelato from the Antica Gelateria di Roma is the essential sweet stop, so the middle of the day is filled with the town’s street food and sweets.
End with a taverna dinner. A sunset drink on the waterfront leads into dinner in the old town, of fresh fish at a marina taverna or a spread of meze with a carafe of Nemea red, so the day ends with the best of the town’s cooking in its finest hours.
What seasonal foods does Nafplio have?
Nafplio’s food follows the seasons: fresh fish and seafood year-round, spring greens and lamb around Easter, summer tomatoes, aubergines and figs, autumn grapes and the Nemea wine harvest, and winter citrus, olives and oil. Eating in season means the best of the Argolid’s produce on the plate.
Spring brings greens and lamb. The spring, around Easter, brings wild greens, artichokes and lamb to the tavernas of Nafplio, so a visit then finds the fresh produce and festive dishes of the Greek spring on the menu.
Summer is for vegetables and fish. High summer brings ripe tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and figs, alongside the peak of the fishing season, so summer tavernas serve the fullest range of vegetables and seafood, at their best in the warm months.
Autumn and winter bring the harvest. Autumn is the grape and wine harvest at Nemea, and winter brings citrus, olives and the new season’s olive oil, so the cooler months offer the harvest foods of the Argolid, as the guide to the best time to visit Nafplio notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to eat in Nafplio?
The best place to eat in Nafplio depends on what you want. For fresh seafood, head to Boumpoulinas Street across from the marina, where family-run fish tavernas such as Savouras serve the local catch away from the busier harbourfront, with whole grilled fish the thing to order. For a traditional taverna meal of Peloponnesian home cooking, the lanes and squares of the old town are best, serving slow-cooked stews, grilled meats, stuffed vegetables and meze with local wine from the barrel. For a meal with a view, the waterfront along Akti Miaouli looks out over the harbour to the Bourtzi, ideal for a sunset drink or coffee even if the food trades on the setting. And for the famous gelato, the Antica Gelateria di Roma in the old town is regarded as the best in Greece. Most visitors mix them: seafood or a taverna dinner in the old town, a drink on the waterfront, and gelato while wandering the lanes.
What food is best to try in Nafplio?
In Nafplio the food to try first is the fresh seafood: whole fish grilled with lemon and oregano, grilled octopus, fried calamari and shellfish, best at the fish tavernas by the marina. From the traditional tavernas, try the Peloponnesian home cooking, such as slow-cooked stifado, moussaka, gemista stuffed vegetables and horta greens, washed down with the red wine of Nemea from the barrel. Order a spread of meze, dips such as tzatziki and taramasalata, saganaki fried cheese, and local olives and feta, to share with wine or ouzo. For something cheap and quick, the souvlaki and gyros of the town are excellent value. And leave room for the sweets: galaktoboureko, spoon preserves with yogurt, and above all the gelato of the Antica Gelateria di Roma, widely held to be the best in Greece. Between the sea, the land and the sweets, Nafplio offers a full picture of Peloponnesian food.
How much does a meal cost in Nafplio?
Meals in Nafplio are moderately priced for the quality. A souvlaki or gyros with the trimmings rarely tops 8 to 10 euros a head, making it the best cheap eat in the town, and bakery pies are cheaper still. A traditional taverna meal of meze, a main course and local wine runs around 15 to 30 euros a head depending on what you order. Fresh fish is sold by weight and is the priciest choice, with a seafood meal for two at a fish taverna typically around 40 to 60 euros including sides and drinks. Upscale and fine-dining restaurants reach 60 to 100 euros or more for two. So a visitor can eat very cheaply on souvlaki and pies, moderately in the tavernas, and expensively on seafood and fine dining, with plenty of good options at every level. Prices rise a little in the peak of summer and at the most sought-after waterfront and upscale tables.
What wine is best to drink in Nafplio?
The wine to drink in Nafplio is the red of Nemea, the great appellation an hour away in the hills of the Argolid, made from the native Agiorgitiko grape. Its smooth, deep reds are the natural match for the grilled meats, stews and cheeses of Peloponnesian cooking, and the tavernas serve local wine simply by the carafe from the barrel as well as by the bottle. For seafood and lighter dishes, look to the whites and rosés of the wider Peloponnese, such as Moschofilero from nearby Mantineia, which suit fish and meze. Many restaurants in Nafplio carry good lists of Nemea and Peloponnesian wines, and a day trip to the wineries of Nemea, combined with the ancient site and stadium there, is a rewarding way to taste the region’s wine at source. Whether from the barrel in a taverna or a bottle from a good list, the red of Nemea is the classic wine to drink with a meal in Nafplio.