Where to eat in Rhodes Town
Rhodes Town eats Greek, with a Dodecanese accent: chickpea fritters, lamb, fresh fish and honey. The best food is rarely on the lane with the waiter at the door. Eat late, order meze to share, and ask what the fish of the day is.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The Jewish Quarter and the lanes off Hippocrates Square in the Old Town, or the new town near Mandraki.
- Order this
- Pitaroudia chickpea fritters, a fish or lamb dish, and a glass of local wine.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 1pm, dinner from 8pm. Kitchens run late in summer.
- Book or walk in
- Book the better Old Town places on weekends. The rest take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Round up the bill or leave 5 to 10 per cent. Service is not always included.
What to eat in Rhodes Town
- PitaroudiaChickpea fritters with herbs, a Rhodes meze found in most traditional tavernas.
- LakaniA slow-cooked pork dish baked in a clay pot, a local speciality.
- Fresh grilled fishOrder by weight, usually from a counter. Ask the price first.
- Souvlaki and gyrosThe street food of the island, cheap and sold across the new town.
- Thyme honey and yoghurtThick Greek yoghurt with local honey, for breakfast or dessert.
- MelekouniA sesame and honey sweet from the island, sold in bakeries.
Where to eat in Rhodes Town, by neighborhood
Old Town
Atmospheric lanes with a mix of tourist traps and good family tavernas. Walk three lanes off the main routes.
Jewish Quarter
Quieter lanes with tavernas and a few bars. A better place for dinner than the main streets.
Mandraki and the new town
Local tavernas, bakeries and souvlaki shops where residents eat. Cheaper than inside the walls.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Mavrikos
€€€Taverna · Lindos
OrderGrilled octopus and lamb kleftiko
A family-run taverna in Lindos, open since 1933, with a courtyard under vines.
- Book
- Book ahead in summer
Confirmed open: greekgastronomyguide.gr
-
Taverna Kostas
€€Taverna · Old Town
OrderHomemade daily dishes
A taverna inside the Old Town walls with home cooking and fair prices.
- Book
- Walk in, book on weekends
Confirmed open: looneytravels.com
-
To Marouli
€€Taverna · Old Town
OrderDaily specials
A backstreet Old Town taverna serving straightforward Rhodian cooking.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: looneytravels.com
-
Pizanias The Sea Star
€€€Fish taverna · Old Town
OrderFresh fish
A long-standing fish taverna inside the walls.
- Book
- Book on weekends in summer
Confirmed open: looneytravels.com
Food markets in Rhodes Town
- Nea Agora (New Market)A 1927 domed market building by Mandraki harbor, now filled with cafes, tavernas and shops.Daily, from morning to eveningSource: tripadvisor.co.uk
How Rhodes Town eats
- Meal timesLunch from 1pm to 3pm, dinner from 8pm. Locals eat late, especially in summer.
- TippingRound up the bill or leave a few euros. A service charge is not always included.
- SharingOrder several meze and share. Mains are often split.
- Bread and coverA cover charge for bread is common. Check the menu.
Signs of a place to walk past
A waiter standing at the door calling people in.
Laminated menus with photographs of every dish.
No prices on a board outside.
Eating in Rhodes: questions people ask
What food is Rhodes Town known for?
Pitaroudia chickpea fritters, lakani pork, fresh fish and thyme honey. Local wine and souma, a grape spirit, are also traditional.
Where should I eat in the Old Town?
Away from the main tourist lanes. The Jewish Quarter and the lanes off Hippocrates Square have better value.
Is it cheap to eat in Rhodes Town?
It can be. Souvlaki shops and bakeries are inexpensive, while fish by weight and Old Town dinners cost more.
Do I need to book a table in Rhodes Town?
On weekends in summer, yes, for the better Old Town places. Otherwise walk in.