There is a reason that Halkidiki is renowned for its cuisine, and that is down to the abundance of local ingredients that have shaped the way that the people of this region cook and eat.
For the most part, Halkidiki’s topography plays a major role. The three, prong-like peninsula’s that juts out into the Aegean create an expansive coastline where a fishing has thrived for centuries and a bounty of seafood is delivered from the local fisherman to coastal tables. Inland, the mountains of Holomontas, Itamos and Athon provide fertile soils that are ripe for farming vegetables and producing exquisite wines, honey and olive oils.
The result is a region that is packed with gastronomic treasures and a rich culinary heritage. Alongside traditional cafes and tavernas, you will find fine-dining establishments with extensive wine lists and excellent service dishing out experimental plates, looking to cater to the crowds of Northern Greeks that choose to spend their summers in Halkidiki or visit on day trips from Thessaloniki. It’s the perfect mix of factors that means the region has destination restaurants that rival those of even Athens.
The Best Restaurants In Halkidiki, Greece
Whether you are looking for a rustic taverna in a traditional mountain village or a refined culinary experience in a modern, harbourside eatery, you’ll find an abundance of fantastic bars, tavernas and wineries dotted throughout Halkidiki and never have to look too far for a good meal. Here are some of my favourite dining spots.
Akroyiali, Olympiada
Sitting on Halkidiki’s eastern coast and surrounded by lush, forest-covered mountains, the ancient city of Stagira is one of the region’s most important archaeological sites. Founded in 655 BC, it is best known as the birthplace of Aristotle, the famed philosopher who later became the tutor for Alexander the Great following the occupation by his Father, Philip II, in 349 BC.
While Aristotle probably once walked the beach of what is now the village of Olympiada which sits at the base of the crumbling fortifications, it’s now home to a quaint seaside village with a smattering of great beach bars and restaurants lining the golden beach.
Akroyiali Seaside Taverna is the best of the bunch. A taverna that has been run by the same family for 3 generations since 1924, it hugs the village’s golden beach with a terrace that spills out right onto the shoreline. It’s one of the best meals I have eaten in Halkidiki, with a menu that walks a fine line between their historic ‘grandma’s recipes’ and creative dishes made with local, seasonal ingredients such Olympiada mussels and freshly caught octopus, alongside homegrown veg and a few glasses of their ‘family wine’, which will come in an unlabeled bottle but holds its own against the produce of the region’s more well-known wineries.
Valtinger brewing, Kassandra
You can sometimes be a little hard-pressed to find a good, local brewery in Greece. While craft beer has been on the rise throughout much of Europe throughout the past decade or two, take-up here has been slow beyond a scattering of small-scale brewers and Athen’s burgeoning craft scene. Most of the time, drinkers have to settle for an ice-cold Mythos or Mamos, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there is also a demand for a drink that’s a little more experimental and unique.
Luckily, for fans of artisan ales, Valtinger Brewery’s bottleshop and taproom in Kassandria provides a welcome break from mass-produced lagers. With the owner’s German roots, Valtinger combines the experience of Bavarian brewing with Greek passion and has quickly moved from a ramshackle homebrew setup to become one of the region’s best craft breweries in just over a decade.
Marina, Potidaia
Marina Seafood Restaurant in Potidaia is considered to be one of Halkidiki’s finest. Modern and airy, the restaurant focuses on excellent service and only the finest, local fresh fish and shellfish.
The menu, put together by owner Konstantinos Kanakaris, is inspired heavily on the sea, such as the kakavia fish soup with vegetables and rockfish broth, tuna pastrami with soya gel and mustard seed pickle, and the smoked eel on an aubergine mash with tahini molasses and fried onion flakes.
The delectable deserts carry on the traditional Greek flavour, with halvas, Galaktoboureko, and kataifi-scented rice pudding all adorning the menu.
Marina is a must-visit in Halkidiki but can become busy at lunch and dinner, so making a reservation is essential.
Ergon Beach House, Nikiti
With a name that translates to ‘vocation’, there is no doubt that the owners of Ergon Beach House have their sights firmly set on one that is of a culinary nature. They own multiple high-end Mediterranean food shops and restaurants around the country and two food-focused boutique hotels in Athens.
Their outpost near Nikiti offers luxurious cabanas and glamping-style lodgings but retains the foodie theme.
The exquisite food bar churns out beach-side snacks and wonderful cocktails throughout the day for guests lounging on the sand beneath their wooden pergolas but becomes an enticing formal restaurant in the evening time where meals are served communally at long wooden tables beside the open kitchen and around the garden beneath both the stars and the pine trees.
Their signature breakfast features a variety of egg dishes, creamy yoghurt bowls, oats, sourdough bread sandwiches and a cup of their speciality coffee brewed to perfection. At the same time, the evening menu is packed with fresh fish and meze-style dishes. The various peinirli are a must, and make sure not to skip on dessert; the baklava pistachio ice-cream sandwich is a thing of beauty.
If you like any of the food you sampled in the restaurant, the on-site deli has a whole host of Ergon-branded Greek delicacies to take home with you or enjoy in the moonlight at their open-air cinema, possibly paired with a glass or two of local wines.
Mare Nostra, Kassandra
Kassandra, Halkidiki’s glitzy westernmost peninsula, is has a reputation for its known for its vibrant nightlife, beach bars and younger crowds that flock here from Thessaloniki each weekend to make the most of the beautiful beaches and party scene.
Beach clubs have popped up all along the coast to cater for these youthful visitors; places where chic, cocktail-flinging bars spill down onto the shoreline filled with day beds and sheltered loungers. Mare Nostra is a fairly glitzy, boho-inspired venue beside the turquoise waters and white pebbles of Pefkochori Beach. Palms, swings and hammocks line the area surrounding the restaurant which offers greek specialities such as oysters, salads and fresh fish on its main menu, or a selection of burgers and sandwiches if you’re looking for a lighter bite.
Prices are a little high (expect to pay around €25 for a lounger and umbrella set), but it is worth it to lounge in the sun amongst the palms with everything you need to need for a relaxing day by the sea.
marigoula, Poligiros
Gourmet twists on traditional, home-cooking are the order of the day at this 80-year old wine bar and taverna. Owner Sophocles Giagtzoglou originally took inspiration from the cafe run by his grandfather, Kaplanis, and has transformed Marigoula into one of Halkidiki’s culinary hotspots, using his in-depth knowledge of Greek cuisine and ingredients to put together an enticing farm-to-table menu that combines fantastic cuts of meat from Greek blonde cattle with classics that are both creative and determined by seasonality.
Platanorema Farm
Hidden away in a serene countryside location between the legs of Sithonia and Athos, Platanorema Farm is spread across 35 acres of lush land where you will find country-cottage-style guesthouses, playgrounds, outdoor adventure activities, as well as an organic garden where crops are produced for their rustic restaurant.
The menu is relatively typical of the region but gives a veritable feast of flavours, from semi-wild bred meats such as pork and veal (the pork, quince and plum stew is well-worth sampling), rooster in wine sauce, and goat cooked in herbs all prepared with ingredients that come from the farm and local area, alongside cheeses and an extensive list of wines from Chalkidiki and Mount Athos.
As well as the restaurant, the small, on-site zoo and farm make it a popular destination for local children and families, featuring donkeys and ponies, semi-wild pigs, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, peacocks, hens, ducks, geese, pheasants, and guinea fowl. However, when you’re thinking about how cute the animals are, it’s worth remembering that many of them will end up on Platanorema’s tables.
Mihaloudis Tavern, Kalyves
There is something so homely about a Greek Taverna and the style of meal that they offer. It’s a communal experience, with plate after plate of magnificent mezze dishes gradually filling the table to be shared and passed around over conversation, wine, and good company.
Mihaloudis Tavern, in the quiet village of Kalyves, is the perfect example of this. Hugging the seafront next to a pristine beach, this traditional spot has an unfussy menu that consists of grilled meats, fish, salads, bread and dips; a veritable feast that is brought out to the table one platter at a time until your stomach is fit to burst.
Vouka, Afytos
The word ‘vouka’, or βούκα, is a folk word meaning ‘bite’. More specifically, it refers to just on bite, the most delicious bite, or the last bite of a meal. It could be a parent asking you to have a vouka before leaving the table or a loved one asking for just one vouka from your plate.
There are there Vouka restaurants – in Afitos, Kassándra, and Thessaloniki – each offering a delightfully modern take on Mediterranean cuisine that is innovative while remaining completely authentic. The slow cooked pork and seafood orzo are a must, followed up with the traditional bugatsa for dessert.
Getting to Halkidiki
Halkidiki doesn’t have its own airport, but it is easily accessible via Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG), which has regular flights from most major UK airports and connections through Athens.
You will find a taxi stand at the airport’s entrance to transfer you to your hotel or to the nearest KTEL bus station if you wish to take public transport to Halkidiki. Alternatively, you can take a private transfer. I usually use Get Transfer, who will arrange for a driver to meet you on arrival. They will always arrive at a specified time or check the latest flight arrival times in case of delays. Pick-up at the airport with a nameplate is also included in the service price.
There are no train lines in Halkidki, so visitors arriving by rail will have to alight at the train Station of Thessaloniki before transferring to the KTEL bus station to continue their journey onto Halkidiki. From here, there are regular services to the most popular resorts and villages on all 3 peninsulas. Once in Halkidiki, there are buses that connect the villages and either run daily or several times per day, throughout the year.
However, if you are planning on visiting off-the-beaten-track locations or don’t want to have to rely on bus timetables, I highly recommend renting a car to traverse the region upon arrival at Thessaloniki airport. Discover Cars are a great company to use for this as they allow you to compare multiple providers before booking.
