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One of the best things about Nafplio is that it's genuinely difficult to eat badly here.
Unlike some Greek tourist towns where every waterfront spot serves the same reheated moussaka, Nafplio has a proper food culture β shaped by demanding Athenian weekenders who've been coming here for decades and won't tolerate mediocre cooking.
The Old Town alone has dozens of restaurants crammed into its narrow streets, and the marina waterfront adds another row of tavernas. That's the good news. The challenge is figuring out which ones are worth your limited evenings β because there's a difference between "perfectly fine" and "you'll be thinking about this meal on the plane home."
I've eaten my way through Nafplio across multiple visits, and these are the restaurants I'd steer you toward. Some are well-known, some fly under the radar, and a couple sit outside the Old Town where most visitors never venture. They're organized by what you're in the mood for, because that's usually how you decide where to eat on any given night.
If you're looking for where to stay, I've put together a separate guide to the best hotels in Nafplio.
Nafplio's Best Restaurants by Mood
Traditional Tavernas
To Omorfo Tavernaki
The name translates to "The Beautiful Little Tavern," which could easily sound like marketing. But the place earns it. Set in a lovingly restored 19th-century building on one of the Old Town's most charming pedestrian streets, with an olive tree shading the courtyard that's probably been there longer than anyone can remember.
What makes it special isn't just the setting β it's the cooking. Family-run since 1997, the kitchen turns out traditional Greek dishes with the kind of care that comes from actually loving the food rather than just serving tourists. The drunken chicken (slow-cooked in red wine with peppers) is a standout, and the stuffed sweet horn peppers are worth ordering even if you think you don't like peppers.
Cuisine: Traditional Greek
Price: β¬β¬ (β¬20β35/person)
Location: Staikopoulou Street, Old Town
Best for: Couples, anyone wanting an authentic taverna experience with real character
Reserve? Recommended in summer, especially for groups.
Taverna Vyzantio
Tucked into the Old Town with tables surrounded by colorful bougainvillea, Vyzantio serves a mix of Greek and Serbian cuisines β an unusual combination that works surprisingly well. Hand-cut potatoes, coal-roasted meats, handmade appetizers, stuffed tomatoes and peppers. Everything feels made-to-order.
What I appreciate most about Vyzantio is the pricing. In a town where some restaurants have quietly crept upward, this place serves genuinely delicious food at prices that make you do a double-take. The owner is the type who'll pick for you if you're torn between options β and he's always right.
Cuisine: Greek-Serbian
Price: β¬ (β¬15β25/person)
Location: Old Town
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers who don't want to sacrifice quality
Reserve? Not usually necessary, but arrive by 8:30 PM in peak season.
Vasilis
A neighborhood favorite that locals protect fiercely. The portions are huge β genuinely double what you'd expect β which means the menu prices look steep until you realize you're getting enough food for two meals. Traditional Greek cooking, generous house wine, and an atmosphere that's more "Greek family gathering" than "restaurant."
They used to have two locations; as of 2025, there's just one. If you see a table of Greeks laughing loudly and ordering another carafe of wine, you're probably in the right place.
Cuisine: Traditional Greek
Price: β¬β¬ (β¬20β30/person, huge portions)
Location: Old Town
Best for: Groups, big appetites, value-seekers
Reserve? Yes, especially weekends.
Seafood Restaurants
Savouras
If you want the definitive Nafplio seafood experience, this is it. A proper fish taverna with no-nonsense wooden tables, blue-and-white tablecloths, and a display case of fish that were in the sea this morning. The owner has been going to the fish market at dawn for over 40 years β no suppliers, no shortcuts.
Walk up to the ice display and pick your fish. The kakavia (fisherman's soup) made with the day's smaller catch is exceptional. Everything is simply prepared because when the raw ingredients are this good, elaborate technique just gets in the way.
Cuisine: Seafood
Price: β¬β¬ββ¬β¬β¬ (β¬25β45/person, depending on fish selection)
Location: Boumpoulinas Street, near the marina
Best for: Seafood lovers, anyone wanting a classic Greek fish taverna experience
Reserve? Essential in summer. Locals pack this place.
Arapakos
A seafront spot on the marina that manages to be both popular with tourists and genuinely respected by locals β which is the hardest trick in the Greek restaurant business. Nautical-themed decor, expertly prepared seafood, and a few surprises like drunken mussels with finely chopped vegetables and shrimp orzotto that elevates taverna cooking without losing its soul.
The grilled octopus and stuffed calamari are consistently excellent. Sitting by the water watching boats come and go while eating fish that was probably on one of those boats yesterday β that's the Nafplio experience right there.
Cuisine: Seafood, Greek
Price: β¬β¬ββ¬β¬β¬ (β¬25β45/person)
Location: Marina waterfront, Boumpoulinas Street
Best for: Waterfront dining, couples, anyone wanting seafood with a view
Reserve? Recommended, especially for harbor-view tables.
I Folia (Ξ Ξ¦Ολιά)
A hidden gem with only 10 tables β which means you need to book, but it also means the attention to detail is remarkable. The owners, Sakis and Maria, source fish daily from fisher friends, and everything else comes from local producers. The result is dishes like cheese-stuffed squid with honey sauce and oven-baked lamb with lemon that feel elevated but never fussy.
Note the name in Greek characters (ΠΦΩΞΞΞ) if you're searching along the waterfront β the signage can be easy to miss.
Cuisine: Seafood, creative Greek
Price: β¬β¬ββ¬β¬β¬ (β¬30β45/person)
Location: Nafplio waterfront
Best for: Couples wanting intimacy, food-focused travelers
Reserve? Essential. 10 tables.
Upscale & Contemporary Dining
3Sixty Grill Dining & Wine Bar
The most upscale restaurant in Nafplio, attached to the 3Sixty Hotel & Suites. This is where Nafplio does fine dining β premium grilled meats, an excellent Peloponnese wine selection, and creative dishes that reference traditional Greek cooking without being constrained by it.
The saganaki and veal carpaccio starters set the tone, and the moussaka here is the refined version β the same flavors your grandmother would recognize, presented with care you wouldn't expect. The cocktails are strong and well-made.
Cuisine: Contemporary Greek, grill
Price: β¬β¬β¬ (β¬35β55/person)
Location: Old Town
Best for: Special occasions, wine lovers, couples
Reserve? Yes, especially weekends and summer.
Espero
Whether you sit beneath the vertical gardens and contemporary chandeliers inside, or on the terrace, Espero delivers a meal that's as beautiful to look at as it is to eat. The menu bridges old-school Greek β octopus with caramelized onions and fava beans β with contemporary Mediterranean, including handmade pastas with unusual ingredient pairings.
This is the restaurant for people who want something beyond the taverna experience without leaving the warmth of Greek hospitality behind.
Cuisine: Contemporary Mediterranean
Price: β¬β¬β¬ (β¬35β50/person)
Location: Old Town
Best for: Food-focused travelers, date night, special dinners
Reserve? Recommended.
Meze & Creative Cuisine
Noulis (Mezedes Tavern)
Sitting on the edge of the Old Town like a well-kept secret. It's a bit pricier than the average taverna, but the small-plate menu is full of genuine surprises. The chef can't resist setting things on fire β order the cheese flambΓ© and guard your eyebrows. Beyond the pyrotechnics, the fried anchovies with punchy skordalia (garlic-potato dip) and the lamb shank with artichokes in citrus gravy are outstanding.
A welcome escape if you've been doing traditional taverna cooking all week and want something with a bit more creative energy.
Cuisine: Meze, creative Greek
Price: β¬β¬ββ¬β¬β¬ (β¬25β40/person)
Location: Edge of Old Town
Best for: Adventurous eaters, meze lovers, couples
Reserve? Recommended for dinner.
Pidalio Tavern
About 5 minutes outside the Old Town in the Pronia neighborhood, Pidalio is where Nafplio locals go when they want to eat well without the Old Town markup. Traditional recipes with modern twists, locally sourced ingredients, and that particular quality of Greek cooking where simple food is executed so well it feels luxurious.
The stuffed calamari with quinoa, raisins, pine nuts, and lemon vinaigrette is the kind of dish that sounds overthought on paper but works perfectly on the plate. Pair it with a local Peloponnese wine β you can usually get a half-liter carafe for under β¬5.
Cuisine: Traditional Greek with modern twists
Price: β¬β¬ (β¬20β35/person)
Location: Pronia, just outside Old Town
Best for: Foodies wanting local flavor without tourist prices
Reserve? Helpful on weekends.
Quick Bites & Casual Lunch
Mitato
When you want excellent souvlaki and gyros without committing to a full sit-down meal, Mitato delivers. Grilled meats are the specialty, but there are solid vegetarian and vegan options too. The house-made fries are addictive. Service is fast and friendly, making it ideal for a quick lunch between sightseeing.
Cuisine: Souvlaki, grilled meats
Price: β¬ (β¬8β15/person)
Location: Old Town center
Best for: Quick lunch, families with hungry kids, budget eating
Practical Tips for Eating in Nafplio
Timing matters. Greeks eat late. Most restaurants don't really fill up until 9 or 9:30 PM. If you arrive at 7 PM, you'll have your pick of tables β but you'll also be eating alone in an empty room. For the authentic atmosphere, aim for 8:30 PM or later.
Skip the central square for dinner. The cafΓ©s on Syntagma Square (the main square) are perfect for a morning coffee or an afternoon wine β the people-watching is outstanding. But for actual dinner, walk to the side streets, the marina waterfront, or the edges of the Old Town where the food is better and prices are more honest.
The marina waterfront beats the harbor. The restaurants along Boumpoulinas Street (across from the marina) consistently outperform the more visible spots along the harbor promenade. Savouras and Arapakos are both here, and the whole strip is where locals tend to eat seafood.
Tipping in Greece. At casual tavernas, round up to the nearest β¬5 or β¬10 β if your bill is β¬27, leaving β¬30 is perfectly fine. At upscale restaurants, 5β10% is standard. Greeks don't do the 15β20% that Americans expect. Cash tips are preferred even if you're paying by card.
Wine is absurdly cheap. Even at decent restaurants, a half-liter carafe of local wine runs β¬4β7. The Peloponnese produces excellent wines β Nemea reds (Agiorgitiko grape) and local whites pair beautifully with the food. Ask your server for a local recommendation.
Day trip food stop. If you're visiting Tolo beach (15 minutes from Nafplio), Akrogiali is a classic beachfront taverna with tables practically in the sand. Vivari, a tiny fishing village further along the coast, has Borelli β a waterfront taverna serving fish caught that morning.
Nafplio makes an excellent base for exploring the Peloponnese. If you're planning a broader trip, check out our guide to the best places to visit in Greece, or see how Nafplio fits into a Greece itinerary for families, couples, or groups.
Our free AI trip planner can help you build a day-by-day itinerary that includes Nafplio alongside Athens and the islands near Athens.
Written by
Athens-born engineer Β· Coordinates a 5-expert Greek team Β· 50+ years combined field experience
I write every article on this site drawing on real, first-hand expertise β mine and that of four colleagues who live and work across Greece daily: a Peloponnese tour operator, a transfer specialist across Athens, Mykonos & Santorini, a Cretan hotel owner, and a Northern Greece hotel supplier. Nothing here comes from a single visit or desk research.
Informed by 5 Greek experts
Every destination we cover has been visited and vetted by at least one team member β not for a review, but as part of their daily work in Greek tourism.