Samos is one of the cheapest islands in Greece. Whether it’s due to its proximity to Turkey or being far from major tourist routes, finding restaurants where you can eat well in Samos without spending much is particularly easy!Â
This guide obviously doesn’t aim to be a Michelin guide nor a complete list: we’ll look at some personally tested examples but, above all, share some good tips to understand how to spot the best places! 🙂
Where to eat well in Samos?
To find places to eat in Samos spending the right amount for quality dishes, it’s best to follow some simple rules.
The first is to avoid those places full of signs with photos of every possible dish: generally, the more photos there are, the more the restaurant is targeting tourists, often turning out to be bad quality.
The second is to avoid those places in a too favourable location (for example, restaurants right in front of the harbor promenade, with giant screens for matches or someone trying to drag in people (although, fortunately, you’ll find far fewer of these in Samos than elsewhere).
You might also be interested in: Best areas to stay in Samos
Another useful trick is to prefer restaurants where you see groups of local people rather than just tourists or places that look less commercial. You’ll be more likely to eat well there.
Where to eat good seafood in Samos at a reasonable price
I have no affiliation, incentive, or anything else with the place I’m about to mention: it’s here because I had such a great experience that I can’t help but recommend it… the best of all I tried!
The place I recommend where to eat in Samos is Remataki. It’s a restaurant located in Pythagorio, which you’ll find after walking the entire harbor promenade, with a simple but amazing setting: you can actually eat right on the beach.
Here you’ll find appetizers from traditional Greek cuisine (like delicious fried cheese or a combo of pita and tzatziki—here the pita is really good) and fish-based dishes like grilled octopus or swordfish, spending very little (we’re talking about as low as €20 per person and leaving fully satisfied).
Pita and gyrospita in Samos
I’ve already talked about pita and gyrospita in other guides on other Greek islands: for those unfamiliar, here’s a recap.
Pita is a typical Greek bread: you can see it in the photo above, on the blue plate. Visually, it’s thicker and softer than a flatbread, but it has a special taste to the point that pita tastes great even on its own, sprinkled with a bit of oil and oregano or paired with tzatziki (a traditional Greek yogurt-based sauce), which is also very good.
Pita is just the bread, which is then wrapped to make, with the filling added, one of the most famous Greek dishes: gyrospita: meat, vegetables, onion, and fries. Yes, it seems like a kebab, but it’s not… if it’s a good one, it’s a whole different story! And don’t call it a kebab in front of Greek people! 😀
Plain pita usually costs around €1 each: if you find it among the appetizers, give it a try!
Gyrospita, as traditional dishes, usually cost around €4 and are good also for a full meal, unless you’re absolutely starving: they can therefore be a good option for quick lunches or if you’re in a rush to move around!
Beach bars or restaurants with free sunbeds
Last tip, not necessarily about food but still useful: at most beaches in Samos, it’s easy to find restaurants or simple beach bars that offer free use of sunbeds/umbrellas to their customers.
You might also be interested in: Guide and map of Samos beaches
Each place has its own policy, but generally, a meal or some drinks will be enough for you to lie down without having to rent the sunbeds. For example, you could have lunch with a Greek salad for €7-8 and then enjoy a free sunbed for the whole afternoon.
For those who usually rent them, this could be a nice perk!
Now that you know how to find good places to eat, don’t forget to check out the other guides on Samos, such as the guide on where to stay or how to get around and where to rent a car in Samos!
