The best food on Santorini — Metaxi Mas in Exo Gonia village, inland with no caldera view. Traditional Cretan-Santorinian cuisine executed at a higher level than anything on the caldera edge. Cash preferred (bring €40–60). Reservations essential. The Cretan sausages, grilled octopus, lamb chops, and house wine are the essential orders. Every serious food traveler and nearly every credible Santorini guide lists this as the island's best restaurant. The absence of a view keeps the prices reasonable and the quality uncompromised.
Why It Belongs on the List
The best food on Santorini — a hillside taverna in Exo Gonia village that locals and chefs recommend above all others. Creative Cycladic cooking with ingredients from the family garden. Reserve ahead; it fills nightly.
What Stands Out
- Best food on Santorini by wide consensus — no caldera view, that's the point
- Traditional Cretan-Santorinian: sausages, grilled lamb, octopus, local specialties
- Cash preferred: bring €40–60 per person
- Reservations essential: book 1–2 weeks ahead, non-negotiable in peak season
- Exo Gonia: 10 min by taxi from Fira or Oia — fully worth the trip
- Note: no caldera view and indoor/outdoor rustic setting; the food is why you come