A Guide to the Best Restaurants in Paros, Greece

If you know me at all you know that I love Greece. In fact, if you’re planning a trip to Greece, you’ve come to the right place because I have tons of blog posts to help you make the most out of your trip. I’ve now been to Greece five times and I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface. There’s so much to see and do in this beautiful country! One of the best things to do? Eat allll the Greek foods. On my last trip, I visited the picturesque Greek island of Paros and found one of my new favorite restaurants in the whole country. If this island is on your radar, keep reading for a guide to the best restaurants in Paros, Greece.

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Why should you trust my recommendations?

It’s a fair question to ask. In fact, it’s the one I ask every time I read a blog post. How do I know this person has good taste? How do I know they haven’t just been paid or sponsored to tell me that they like a place?

The reason I write this blog is to give you quality recommendations you can actually trust. They aren’t sponsored and every word I write is my own opinion. In fact, this blog post is going to even include restaurants I tried in Paros that I wasn’t a fan of.

Also, I’m a HUGE foodie. If there’s anything I know it’s good food. I’m that friend of yours who spends hours researching good restaurants and pouring over the menu. I’m Indian by heritage so you already know I’m allll about the flavor and I don’t stand for any bland shit. 

I truly believe that one of the best ways to connect to the local culture while traveling is through food!

Is Paros vegetarian friendly?

Traditional Greek food is very vegetarian friendly. Though there aren’t usually as many options for a main course, there are tons of appetizers and small plates that are naturally vegetarian. You can pretty much go to any Greek restaurant or pop into one of the many traditional tavernas and find something to eat.

All of the restaurants I have listed in this guide are ones that have really great options for vegetarians and, if you’re not a vegetarian, I’m confident that you’re still going to love them. I just can’t, of course, guarantee that since I didn’t try any of the meat or the seafood dishes (though lots of restaurants had fresh fish on their menu).

Restaurant scene in Paros

If you’re looking to try traditional dishes made from local ingredients, then you’re going to love the restaurant scene on the island of Paros. Trying the restaurants was one of my favorite things to do during my 3 days in Paros.

Paros has a variety of lovely restaurants from traditional Greek cuisine to more international flavors. You’ll find plenty of quaint, small restaurants, some with beautiful views along the water and others that are a hidden gem and tucked away among the winding streets. It’s important to note that in high season popular spots can get packed so either be prepared to wait or make reservations when you can. I found that most restaurants had reasonable prices, especially for their vegetarian dishes.

The best restaurant in Paros

If there is any restaurant you HAVE to eat at in Paros it’s Yemeni. This is hands down one of the best non-tasting menu dining experiences I’ve had and easily my favorite restaurant in all of Greece. It’s perfect for both a special occasion or you know, just a regular night because honestly you deserve it.

A little background for you

I had found this restaurant in my research prior to the trip and it was highly rated but so was pretty much every restaurant in the vicinity so it was hard to know if it was worth it or not. Nevertheless, I kept it on my list as an option. 

Once we got to Paros we stayed at this little no frills hotel called Manto that is owned by the nicest people ever. I highly highly recommend a stay here if you are looking for some traditional Greek hospitality.

Kostas, the owner, patiently explained to us the entire island, writing down recommendations, and getting us a car rental, all while his wife brought us some delicious coffee and homemade cake. He had such a good vibe that I trusted him and his recommendations so when he said Yemeni was his favorite restaurant, I was completely sold.

The one potential issue? We didn’t have a reservation and, because it is a popular restaurant, it apparently books out wayyy in advance. Kostas waved a hand at this concern and said, “just tell him that Kostas from Hotel Manto sent you”. 

Trying our luck with no reservation

We got to the restaurant and I went up to the owner and said “erm, Kostas from Hotel Manto sent us and said we have to eat here.” I was met by pure silence as he continued to check people in and coordinate with his waitstaff. I nervously shifted from one foot to the other…did he even hear me? After a few minutes when I was just about to say something, he goes “my lady, come back at 10 PM. I’ll have a table for you.” 

Sold! I’m fine with a 10 PM dinner if that meant I got to eat at this magical restaurant with no reservation.

We grabbed a drink and then walked back to Yemeni and saw that they had the cutest little corner table reserved for us. I was so unbelievably excited.

And then just when I thought I couldn’t get more excited, I saw the wine list and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The list was the most extensive one I’ve seen of Greek wines, with plenty of options for both red and white wines. The sommelier came over and after we explained we were vegetarian and the dishes we were thinking of trying he recommended a few options for a bottle of wine. 

What we ordered

We ordered chickpeas, a smoked eggplant dish, cheese pie, and dolmades. The sommelier came back with the wine and after my first sip, I immediately was in love…. with him, the wine, the restaurant, I’m not even sure who/what to be honest. I was just in such a happy place.

The chickpeas and the smoked eggplant dip arrived and the presentation was beautiful only outdone by the incredible flavors. I’ve, of course, had both of these dishes numerous times but I’d never tasted anything that punched the flavor up quite like this. In fact, I had to stop myself from moaning obnoxiously at the table.

Next up was the cheese pie and the dolmades and I’m fairly certain that the cheese pie changed our lives. It had a flaky phyllo pastry with a chutney and crushed pistachios and dear lord was it delicious. We finished up our dinner with orange pie with ice cream and some mastiha. Truly some of the most delicious food I’ve had in Greece. 

You already know that the food was incredible but the service was also top notch. Also, it was extremely reasonably priced (compared to dining in Boston) with the total bill at $108.

Just be sure to make reservations in advance!

Other restaurants to try in Paros, Greece

Now that we got my favorite restaurant out of the way, here are three more options for you. By the way, all of these restaurants are really good but I stand by my opinion that Yemeni has the best food on the entire island of Paros. 

Minoa

Also located in the narrow streets of Naoussa, this restaurant was another one of my favorites with some classic vegetarian options. We ordered a traditional Greek salad, zucchini fritters, halloumi, dolmades, and a trio of dips. We also got some bread that was really tasty (unlike a lot of the stale bread you get served in some touristy restaurants in Greece). They have some delicious dishes here with the halloumi being my personal favorite.

Kafenio Palia Agora

This traditional restaurant is fairly popular and for good reason. They have some delicious local dishes. I’m not sure the best time to visit this restaurant as they seemed to have a line no matter the time.

Our wait went by surprisingly quickly given how long the line was. They were very efficient in turning over tables without anyone feeling rushed. We got an eggplant dish with tomato sauce and drizzled in olive oil, tomato balls, and a zucchini pie. Pretty solid little spot.

Greco

This fast casual spot in Parikia was easily one of my favorite restaurants. We were getting beers around the corner and wanted a snack and found this spot to grab something to go and bring back while we enjoyed our beers. They also had plenty of seating right by the water so it is a great place for an affordable meal with sea views.

I was shocked at the number of vegan and vegetarian options there were on the menu and the staff was so friendly and willing to provide recommendations. We tried two of their vegetarian gyros and they were seriously phenomenal. 

Loukoumades (written on Google Map as: Λουκουμάδες “Το Παραδοσιακό” Loukoumades)

Okay not technically a restaurant but a little window. This spot is one of the best places to try Loukoumades which are deep fried dough soaked in sugar syrup or honey and cinnamon. I would grab one order to share as it’s a good portion (although if you want to eat it all, I’m certainly not judging). There’s nowhere to sit so just grab it and take it on the go as you head back to your hotel or to the many cocktail bars just a short walk away.

Places we tried but weren’t impressed by

Almond 

This spot had potential but missed the mark for me. They had a mix of international dishes and more traditional recipes with a healthy twist. We had the vegan moussaka which I was really excited to try. It was pretty good but not great. I think there wasn’t enough flavor for me and the restaurant felt a little overpriced for what it was.

Open Garden

Another good, not great restaurant that needed to dial up their flavors. They have plenty of vegetarian options on the menu and they also have a cute little garden patio area but we weren’t overly impressed by anything we tried.

The Best Bars in Paros, Greece

My favorite thing after good food and good wine? Cocktails, of course! Paros, especially Naoussa, has a great number of cocktail bars – some good and some excellent. Below are my favorite cocktail bars in Paros, Greece and a couple of excellent options to try local craft beer as well. 

56 isles

Easily at the top of the list is the only microbrewery on the island. We walked here from Naoussa but I don’t necessarily recommend doing that as it’s not a very pedestrian friendly walk. This cute brewery is the perfect spot for any beer aficionado, like my fiance who has tried over 1,500 beers all around the world. We both loved this brewery for its laid back vibes and its surprisingly good beer, especially the session IPA. Definitely worth a stop!

Come Back

This spot is right on the water which made me temper my expectations for their drinks. You know when a spot has beautiful views and then kind of phones it in on the actual food/drinks? I was prepared to be disappointed but was very wrong.

I had a delicious coffee Negroni and that, coupled with the sound of the crashing waves, was pure magic. Seriously, I’ve never had a coffee Negroni as perfect as this one. Come Back is the perfect place to grab a drink before you head to dinner. 

Trickster

Pretty solid spot. We tried the coffee tonic and Aegean pisco sour and they were both tasty. Maybe not as great as Come Back but still worth a try. It also has a really fun ambiance with seats facing the street so you can do some people watching. 

Kosmos

While we were waiting for our table at Yemeni, I got an aged rum egg white cocktail infused with mint and ginger and it was really delicious and unique. If you’re an egg white cocktail fan like I am, then you’ll definitely love this drink and spot!

Hops and Colors

This beer spot located in Parikia has beers from all around Greece so if you’re looking to try different craft beers from the country, this is definitely a must visit spot! Plus it’s got a great laid back vibe and while they don’t serve food, they let you bring your own. Also, a great place to watch the sunset or you can walk a block up to the water and watch it set there. 

Cocktail bars we tried but weren’t impressed by

Itria

We ordered a Mezcal Negroni which had way too much tabasco in it and an espresso martini which was underwhelming. I was a little disappointed considering the spot is so cute!

Medusa

We found this cocktail bar to be a bit overhyped. Their drinks were pricey and just okay. Nothing personally stood out here especially when there are so many other great options in the vicinity. 

Bottom Line

Paros is such a vibe with some truly delicious restaurants to check out. There is so much to see, do, and of course eat on this island that I know we only scratched the surface. If you have any of your own Paros recommendations to add or you tried Yemeni and want to let me know what you thought of it, please comment below!

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