Archaia Epidauros

• •The grill is the reason to come, and it delivers
• •Orange pie worth ordering before you have decided on dessert
• •Open from breakfast through to late at night

Harbourfront grill and all-day restaurant · Akti Poseidonos 8, Palaia Epidavros

An all-day restaurant on the harbourfront, open from breakfast until late. The grill is what to order here: pork souvlaki that stays juicy, good lamb chops and pork ribs. Leave room for the orange pie, which is the best you are likely to eat on this stretch of coast. Tables face the water.

Suggested: pork souvlaki, lamb chops, pork ribs, orange pie

• •Quiet spot a short walk from the Small Theatre
• •Home-style cooking in generous portions
• •Draws a mostly Greek crowd, even in summer

Family taverna near the Small Theatre · Archeiou Theatrou 1, Palaia Epidavros

A quiet family taverna a short walk from the Small Theatre, serving home-style cooking in generous portions. It draws a mostly Greek crowd and stays low-key even through the summer. This is the better choice when you want an unhurried dinner near the theatre rather than a table on the harbour.

Suggested: grilled meat, traditional taverna dishes

• •Everyday grill on the harbour
• •Gyros, kebab and grilled plates at low prices
• •Phone ahead, as opening times can vary

Harbour grill and gyros · Port of Palaia Epidavros

A practical everyday grill on the harbour, serving gyros, kebab and simple grilled plates at some of the lowest prices in town. It is a working local spot rather than a polished waterfront restaurant. Opening times can vary, so it is worth phoning ahead before making the walk.

Suggested: gyros, kebab, grill dishes

• •Dozens of trays of cooked dishes prepared each morning
• •A dependable choice just off the harbour strip
• •Ask what is in the trays that day

Taverna and cooked-dish kitchen · Main Street, Palaia Epidavros

A taverna built around mageirefta, the trays of slow-cooked dishes prepared fresh each morning. It is well known to visitors as well as locals, so treat it as a reliable meal rather than a hidden find. Ask what is in the trays that day instead of ordering fish by default.

Suggested: the day’s cooked dishes, home-style Greek plates

• •Tables set among the orange trees at Gialasi
• •Chicken with noodles, beef with aubergines, soutzoukakia
• •Check opening days outside high summer

Cooked-food restaurant in an orange grove · Nik. Pitidi, Gialasi, Palaia Epidavros

A cooked-food restaurant set in an orange grove at Gialasi, a short way out from the harbour. The setting is the draw, with tables among the trees and a menu of traditional Greek plates rather than seafood. Opening days vary outside high summer, so check before travelling out.

Suggested: chicken with noodles, beef with aubergines, Smyrna-style soutzoukakia

• •Pairs with the Ancient Theatre and Asklepieion, near Lygourio
• •Traditional taverna cooking in a village setting
• •Ten kilometres inland, not a Palaia Epidavros walk

Lygourio taverna, short trip · Asklipiou 139, Lygourio, 10 km inland

A village taverna in Lygourio, inland from the coast, worth the drive if you are already visiting the Ancient Theatre and the Asklepieion. It serves traditional taverna cooking to a largely local crowd. Treat it as part of that trip rather than as a harbour dinner.

Suggested: the day’s taverna dishes, traditional Greek plates

• •The town's best-known restaurant, right on the water
• •Fresh fish and grilled dishes cooked by the owner
• •A large terrace directly above the waves

Harbourfront family restaurant · 2 Maniadaki, Port of Ancient Epidavros

The town's best-known restaurant, sitting right on the water with a large terrace above the waves. Fresh fish and grilled dishes are cooked by the owner, and the kitchen handles big tables as easily as a quiet dinner for two. Grilled octopus, calamari and whole fish are the things to come for.

Suggested: grilled octopus, calamari, grilled fish, sardine

• •Long-standing seafood taverna on the port
• •Fried fish, calamari and tarator, with house wine
• •Tables looking straight out over the water

Harbourfront seafood taverna · Epidavros Port

A long-standing seafood taverna on the port, the kind of place people come back to year after year. Fried fish, calamari and tarator are the staples, with house wine by the carafe. Tables look straight out over the water.

Suggested: fried fish, calamari, tarator, house wine

• •Sea-view terrace right on the harbour
• •Soutzoukakia, calamari and homemade desserts
• •A small family taverna, friendly and unhurried

Sea-view family taverna · EO Argous Archeas Epidavrou 8, Palaia Epidavros

A small family taverna on the harbour, with a terrace looking straight out to sea. Soutzoukakia, calamari and chicken souvlaki are the regular orders, and the homemade desserts are worth leaving room for. Service is friendly and unhurried.

Suggested: soutzoukakia, calamari, chicken souvlaki, homemade desserts