6 Best Restaurants in The Sporades, Greece

This long-established landmark entices with its playful and innovative takes on classic Greek dishes. While the awe-inspiring panoramic vista of the Aegean Sea would be enough to please customers, owner Nikos Stamatakis and his chef father, Stamatis, wow diners with the island's most exciting cuisine, like chicken in geranium sauce, or moussaka with tuna instead of beef. The setting is laid-back yet elegant enough for a special occasion.

One of Volos's claims to fame is its tsipouradiko taverns, named for the regional spirit made by distilling the residue of the grapes after pressing them to make wine. There are plenty to be found in the city's nooks and crannies, including this one, near the waterfront, which has combined the tradition with a youthful spirit that draws from modern gastro-style restaurants, with Edison lightbulbs, copper tubing, and aged raw wood. In addition to dozens of varieties of artisanal tsipouro, ouzo, raki, and zivania; the kitchen turns out a host of traditional mezes, also updated with an inventive gourmet touch.

"My Grandfather and I," as the name translates in English, serves terrific Greek cuisine in an eclectic dining room decorated with hanging spoons, bottles of wine and ouzo, and whole heads of garlic. The proud grandson suggests that diners order a selection of mezedes (small plates) and share with others at the table.