Taverna Loucas, Akrotiri Village
Tucked into the quiet back lanes of Akrotiri village — a 5-minute walk inland from the tourist trail — Taverna Loucas has been feeding locals and returning travellers since the 1980s with straightforward, honest Cycladic cooking at prices that feel almost anachronistic by Santorini standards. The shaded terrace under a pergola of bougainvillea is one of the most genuinely relaxed lunch spots on th
What to order
The grilled octopus, dried on the line outside and then charcoal-grilled, is the dish to start with — chewy at the edges, tender at the heart, served with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of local olive oil. Follow it with the fava me koukia, the island's signature yellow split-pea purée topped with capers and raw onion; Santorini's volcanic soil produces a fava with a nuttiness you won't find anywhere else in Greece.
For a main, the fresh catch of the day — usually whatever came into Vlychada harbour that morning — is simply pan-fried or baked with tomato and herbs. The house white is a local Assyrtiko, crisp and mineral, poured cold from an unlabelled carafe. Skip the tourist-facing restaurants near the archaeological site car park and make the short walk into the village for this instead.
The village itself
Akrotiri village is one of Santorini's least-visited settlements — a compact mesh of whitewashed lanes, a small central square with a plane tree, and a blue-domed chapel that dates to the 17th century. It sees a fraction of the foot traffic of Fira or Oia, which means you can actually hear yourself think over lunch.
After eating, wander the back alleys where you'll find a handful of small shops selling local products: Santorini capers packed in salt, sun-dried tomatoes (tomatakia), and white eggplant — all grown in the volcanic soil of the island's southern tip. It's the kind of low-key village afternoon that reminds you why you came to Greece in the first place.
Taverna Loucas, Akrotiri Village on video
More of Akrotiri
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Akrotiri →
