Cantina, Sifnos

You tend to remember the best dinners of your life. In my case, I knew this magical evening deserved to be committed to both memory and visual record.

Cantina, located on the Cycladic Greek island of Sifnos, takes your breath away with its rugged beauty and innovative cuisine.

The story:

Chef Giorgios Samoilis opened Cantina in 2020 with an ethos of "no loss - no waste". Most of the fish, meat and vegetables are sourced from across Sifnos, and the menu has adopted a seasonal, nose-to-tail approach.

Cantina is built on the rock of Seralia, a pebble beach, 200 steps down from nearby Kastro. For decades, the building itself was a village cantina serving the occasional cheese pie to daring locals who braved the journey down the hilltop. Samoilis has embraced the space, making limited changes and encouraging an air of Aegean authenticity.

The food:

We had several dishes, including the small tuna (which even my fish-despising dinner date loved), eggplant mousse, chickpea panisse, swordfish gyros, and smoked pork.

The standouts for us were the small tuna and eggplant mousse, but we enjoyed them all.

The experience:

We were fortunate to be seated at the only water-front table - close enough to absorb the buzz from other lucky guests, and far enough away to enjoy a private dining experience by the sea. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Our host provided perfect Greek wine recommendations and anticipated our every need. The team all clearly loved the restaurant, believing in both its food and philosophy. In fact, every person at Cantina, guest and staff alike, seemed happy to be there. Words cannot describe how joyful it was to indulge in seasonal dishes, strip back ubiquitous fine-dining pretences, and bask in the Cycladic evening glow.

I loved my time in Sifnos, but would return again solely to eat at Cantina. Make sure to book well ahead of your visit.