Rizes Gastro Taverna – A Culinary Ode to the Roots of Santorini

In the heart of Santorini’s caldera, nestled directly opposite the Metropolitan Cathedral of Fira, a new gastronomic landmark emerges – Rizes Gastro Taverna. More than a restaurant, Rizes is a heartfelt tribute to the culinary soul of the Cyclades – a return to our roots, our flavors, our earth.

Here, tradition is not simply remembered – it is reborn. Rizes invites you on a sensory journey through time and place, where centuries-old recipes meet a new, conscious way of dining. With panoramic views over the volcano, the shimmering Aegean Sea, and Santorini’s ethereal sunsets, the setting mirrors the essence of the cuisine: elemental, elevated, and profoundly Greek.

Helmed by celebrated chef and co-owner Alexandros Makropoulos, and joined by Maria Syla, Thomas Teneketzis, and pastry chef Eleni Mania, the Rizes culinary team crafts a menu where
ancestral flavors meet modern expression. Each plate is a hymn to simplicity and seasonality – to legumes, herbs, citrus, dairy, seafood, and the noble meats of Greek land – treated with reverence
and imagination.

Our menu is rooted in the raw, in the unrefined elegance of nature:

• Chickpeas slow-cooked in clay, with orange zest and fennel.

• Fava beans with caper chutney and pickled onion.

• Summer risotto – spinach rice.

• “Gemista” with pine nuts and feta foam.

• Slow-cooked “Mastelo” goat, roasted on vines.

• “Pastitsada” – a reimagined veal ragout in cannelloni, with béchamel and tomato broth.

• Mayonnaise “Lakerda” with hot green pepper sauce and burnt cauliflower.

• Ceviche with lemon, ginger and tomato water aroma.

and for desserts: “Baklava” with Aegina pistachio and crispy florentines, as well as a chocolate sphere with Vinsanto, sour cherry and hornbeam

Each ingredient is hand-selected, each dish composed with balance – flavors that reflect the sun, the salt, and the stories of our land.

Rizes is a sanctuary of Cycladic minimalism and island abundance. Open until late, it becomes a vibrant gathering place for food lovers, storytellers, and seekers of true Greek hospitality. With curated wines, signature cocktails, and events celebrating the arts, we aim to become not only a destination – but a ritual.

We welcome you to dine among the roots. We welcome you to Rizes.
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Rizes Gastro Taverna
Fira, Santorini (opposite the Metropolitan Cathedral) | www.rizessantorini.com | 
email: reserve@rizessantorini.com | phone: +30 2286021885 | Instagram: @rizes_santorini