Sifnos is famous for its restaurants and taverns. It has a long culinary tradition as it is the island where the most famous Greek chef of all times,Nikolaos Tselementes, comes from. Tselementes was a chef that lived between 1878 and 1958 and he formed the culinary and nutritional habits of many Greek households and many modern chefs.
As a result, Sifnos has become one of the best destinations in Cyclades for foodies. Below some great options (and always non touristic ones).
Fassolou for great Greek traditional food : This is a traditional Greek tavern located on the Fassolou beach. It is the only tavern over there, so it will be easy to find it.You will meet George, a very talkative and friendly guy, which is the owner and the son of the main chef. His mother, father and sister cook over there,while George serves people always with a smile in his face. The rumor is that his father used to cook for Aristotle Onassis. Don't forget to try all sorts of keftedes (balls) there. My favorites are the tomatoe and the herbs balls, but the cheese balls and the aubergine balls are equally good. In addition to that try gemista, mavromattika, fava and any kind of grilled meat or calamari.
Drakakis for fantastic Greek mezedes: Maybe the best choice. Located in the Steno of Sifnos, in Apollonia, Drakakis used to serve the best Greek coffee in the island. However, the last five years, his grandchildren decided to turn this picturesque coffee place to a "mezedopolio" (traditional Greek restaurant) with great food. Reservations cannot be made, so you will have to wait till a table is free (if you go around 20.30 to 21.00 you will be able to find a table easily).This place is only open for dinner ,which is served till very late. Many options over there, my favorite is the beef shank. All the choices are great, but definitely order some Rakomelo (Raki - greek traditional drink similar to Grappa- with honey) at the end.
Tsikali for food with tables on the sand: This tavern offers a view to a unique landscape in the gulf of Vathi. Next to a very small and picturesque port and a small church, this tavern is located on the beach (the tables and the seats are 2 meters from the sea and in the sand). The food is quite good, so I would definitely recommend you to visit it. The rabbit, the spinach pie, the Greek Salad and the Gemista (Stuffed Tomatoes) are my favorite there.
Troulaki for Greek food with great sunset: This is a Greek tavern, close to Artemonas, on the West of the island. There you will be able to enjoy the best sunset of the island, combining it with some nice Greek food. Definitely try to taste the Kritikos Ntakos with Mizithra and the Lamb Ribs (Paidakia in Greek). Also, Fava, Ampelofasoula and the chickpea balls are equally nice. Last, but not least try the eggplant salad. This place is well known for the grilled meat, so any choice will be good. For a more romantic view of this tavern, check here.
Omega 3 for nice and more modern seafood: This is the best place to taste some great seafood (though more expensive than all the other choices). You will find some more sophisticated flavors and recipes (sushi, ceviche,etc.), but you can also enjoy fish cooked in the Greek traditional way (grilled with lemon and olive oil). Definitely try it!
Mama Mia for Italian food: Nice typical Italian restaurant with great pasta and pizza. There are two restaurants (one in Platis Gialos and one in Ano Petali). I prefer the one in Platis Gialos as it is on the beach, but definitely both restaurants have to offer a nice experience and great food. They also make a great Aperol Spritz for before dining. I recommend to taste both the pizza and the pasta and always pay attention to the plates of the day as they are always very good. Other than that, I really enjoy the simple choices such as Aliolio and Carbonara.
Vroulidia Tavern (Depastas) for Greek Salad made from the garden of the owner : This tavern is located on the beach of Vroulidia, the beach with the clearest and bluest waters in the island. It is quite difficult to reach it, as the road is not as good as in other cases. It is an ideal choice if you want to eat something just after your beach time. The owners there produce their own cheese (feta, mizithra and manoura-a traditional Sifnos cheese), so you should definitely try most of them. The Greek salad is made of tomatoes they cultivate in their own garden, so there is a big difference in the taste. The Calamari is fried in the best possible way (not too much oil) and the Octopus is delicious. Gemista and Moussaka are also some great choices, while I always order the sun dried small fishes and the water melon (also locally produced) at the end. There are two taverns in Vroulidia, the one I suggest is the the one in the right of the beach.
Adiexodo for picturesque and romantic food in the centre: This is a small restaurant next to the Steno in Apollonia, with a very nice terrace and more modern Greek food. It is a very nice choice for dinner after 20.30 and if you have decided to go to the main village and eat at a more romantic environment. Most of the plates are of high quality, but I never miss the tabouleh and the sausage.
Lempesis: If you visit Chryssopigi beach, Lempesis is a very good choice. It is the tavern on the right (as you look at the site) and has the best Revythada in the island. The tiropsomo and the onion pie are delicious.
Argiris or Claudio for food before you leave the island: In case you are in a rush or you want to have dinner at Kamares, there are two very nice choices. Argiris, a Greek traditional tavern with great Moussaka, Onion Pie and cheese and chickpeas balls.
The other choice is Claudio, a traditional Italian restaurant, with the best Pizza on the island.
