In the heart of Santorini’s caldera, just across from Fira’s Metropolitan Cathedral, a new restaurant is making its mark: Rizes Gastro Taverna. Born from a deep respect for the land and its traditions, Rizes—meaning “roots” in Greek—pays homage to the elemental beauty of the Cyclades. Here, tradition is not simply remembered; it is reborn. The taverna invites guests on a sensory journey through time, guided by the sun, the salt, and the stories of Santorini’s soul, offering a poetic return to the island’s gastronomic heritage, where history, landscape, and flavour intertwine in perfect harmony.
At the helm is Chef Alexandros Makropoulos, co-owner and culinary visionary, joined by Head Chef Maria Syla and Pastry Chef Eleni Mania. Together, they craft a menu that bridges the ancestral and the contemporary, reinterpreting the island’s flavours with integrity and imagination. Every dish is composed with intention—seasonal, rooted, and perfectly balanced.
Makropoulos’ philosophy celebrates rustic flavours with a touch of sophistication: chickpeas slow-cooked in clay pots with orange zest and fennel, split-pea fava with caper chutney and pickled onions, and summer risotto gemista with pine nuts and feta mousse. From the land, goat shoulder “Mastelo” is slow-braised with lemon oil and grapevine wood, evoking the warmth of a family table. Meanwhile, Pastitsada, a reimagined beef ragout cannelloni with béchamel and tomato jus, captures the heart of Greek comfort food, elevated through refined technique. The sea, too, finds its voice—cured bonito with green chilli and cauliflower, and ceviche kissed with lemon ginger—each dish combining colour, freshness, and purity of flavour.
Desserts at Rizes follow the same ethos, recalling the island’s sweet traditions through a contemporary lens. Think pistachio baklava with Florentine shards or bitter chocolate spheres infused with Vinsanto. It’s food that speaks of memory and landscape, crafted for the modern diner yet grounded in the eternal rhythms of Greek life.
The ambience complements the cuisine: a sanctuary of Cycladic minimalism and island abundance, set against a panoramic backdrop of the volcano and the Aegean’s endless blue. Open until late, the taverna invites conviviality—where curated wines, signature cocktails, and artistic events create a vibrant meeting point for food lovers and socialites alike.
Among Rizes’ most evocative features is its hidden wine cellar, a stone-built chamber discovered during the careful renovation of the former Sphinx Restaurant. Tucked beneath the property and untouched for decades, the cellar revealed a collection of perfectly preserved bottles—a time capsule of Santorini’s vinicultural heritage.
Now restored and curated, this space holds aged Vinsanto and Nykteri from boutique local producers, rare Bordeaux vintages, and Italian treasures with decades of character—the ideal atmospheric setting for private tastings, pairing dinners, and intimate celebrations that bring together the island’s past and present in every glass.
Whether sipping a rare vintage in the cellar or sharing mezze under the golden light of sunset, this beautiful venue captures the spirit of Santorini as both timeless and ever-evolving, where authenticity finds its modern expression through craftsmanship, hospitality, and place. In a destination known for its beauty, Rizes Gastro Taverna stands apart as a heartfelt tribute to the island’s essence: its roots, its people, and its enduring connection between land and sea.
To find out more about Rizes Gastro Taverna and book, visit the links below:
Rizes Gastro Taverna
Fira 847 00
Santorini
Greece
Web: rizessantorini.com
Tel: +30 22860 21885
Email: reserve@rizessantorini.com
Instagram: @rizes_santorini