Greek holiday recommendations for a relaxing food-focused break next May or June

[Advocodo]

Hubby and I (mature couple) are looking for Greek holiday ideas for next May/June. Done Spain the past few years and fancy a change, We would want lots of tavernas nearby. Food is our number priority, Not that interested in exploring, just lazing around reading a book and drinking and eating. We can fly out from any of the London airports and would prefer as short a flight as possible. Any recommendations please?

Fiskardo in Kefalonia.

If you are open to an alternative suggestion, try Kusadesi in Turkey. It's a foodie paradise. For Greece, Lefkada has some pretty decent restaurants (including fine dining options) and is generally very beautiful, with lovely weather end of May. Stay close to the main town and get a car so you can go to different restaurants all over the island (it's not very big, probably max 1hr 15min drive from north to south).

Koutoulofari in Crete. Argassi in Zante, usually better flight times. We also really like Kos Town, bigger but loads of lovely restaurants.

Skiathos, tiny little Greek island, easy to get around and hundreds of lovely restaurants in a beautiful setting. We went in July and stayed at Elizabeth Studios and would recommend.
If that’s not for you as someone who else suggested, Fiskardo in kefalonia is also lovely.

Chania in Crete has good choice of very decent restaurants round the harbour area. Looks fab too.

Agree with this re Koutoulofari. Check out Casa Blu as a place to stay.

We’ve just left Gaios on Paxos which is a gorgeous place. Everything meal we had was really great. All super fresh and delicious.

Thanks for your recommendation. Just checked and it’s approx 1 hour 15min drive from the airport.. I would like a shorter transfer time if possible.

Pelopponese on the mainland, lovely food and towns and ridiculously cheap, less tourists than islands

Also, Thessaloniki has great food

Lefkada sounds promising. Short transfer from airport is very tempting. We would prefer not to hire a car.

Think Turkey is out as it’s a longer flight.

Like the idea of a 30 minute ferry ride to Bodrum, Turkey from Kos. Did you do this trip?

I'm seconding Thessaloniki. It's - erm, thirty years since I was last in Greece and the island destinations are a lot more sophisticated than when I 'discovered' them by local ferry and fishing boats! Back then, island food was all moussaka but Thessaloniki had gorgeously varied, fresh flavours.

The city's bigger now. The old central and port areas will still be compact, interesting and walkable. It's been designated a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy - what more could you want?

Same here, got back last night - our third visit this year. Absolutely paradise

Thank you for your post. Very grateful. Will look into Paxos.

We didn’t because my DD had sprained her ankle and couldn’t stand for long. I’ve got a friend that did a day in Kos Town from Bodrum. Enjoyed it so much, she went to Kos the following year.

Thank you. Very interesting. I guess as one of the larger islands there will be a good choice of flight times.

OMG! Might have to go there!

I've only ever done Lefkada with a car. It's probably doable without but it's a smaller island and I've not noticed regular bus services there. The roads are generally ok though. A bigger island might be better if going without a car. What about Crete and staying near Chania (lots of nice restaurants there although I wouldn't say it is particularly gourmet). Decent bus network there but check the weather if going end of May; not reliable when I last looked.

Thank you for your post. Not looking for gourmet food just traditional,taverns. Willlook at Chania.

Rhodes Old Town is very good. Lots of boutique hotels there now and transfer from airport easy. Can easily stay put there and see plenty of history and have lots of gorgeous meals and take a boat trip to Symi from the nearby harbour too.

If youre not looking specifically for fancy fine dining but just really good simple local food then I recommend Crete too. Somehow the potatoes are the most potatoey, the tomatoes the sweetest, the cucumbers the crispest, the meat the juiciest, its all reasonably priced outside of cities, the mountain fresh herbs and the fruity olive oil on bread... omg...

Agree also! Lovely place, amazing food options everywhere, beautiful views and a short transfer from the airport x

Exactly what we would like, just really good simple local food! Thank you so much.