Fish tavernas a few metres from the water, grills on the banks of the Acheron, a hidden garden near the port and an Italian kitchen in a mountain village. These are the places we send our own friends to — grouped by area, so you can pick by where you are.
Igoumenitsa & the port
A quick plate before the ferry or a long evening in town: three addresses within minutes of the terminals.
Seafood & grill · opposite the port
Timos Taverna
4.1 Google · 498 reviews
Founded by a fisherman, Timotheos Miaris, and now run by his son Spyros, Timos has been feeding ferry passengers from its tables right across the new port for years. Reviewers keep praising the same things: fresh fish, steamed mussels, grilled prawns and a warm, family welcome.
- What to order
- Steamed mussels, grilled prawns, fish of the day, shrimp spaghetti
- Good to know
- Open all day, handy for a ferry wait. Vegan basics on the menu (fava, beetroot, salad without feta). It sits on a busy port road, and service slows at peak times.
Greek grill · hidden garden
Ambrosia
4.8 Google · 766 reviews
A modest entrance on a side street hides a carefully designed dining room by the Chantzaras family and, behind it, a garden with a fountain, flowers and trees. Guests praise the generous portions, the fair prices and the friendly staff — and the sweet crêpe that arrives on the house at the end.
- What to order
- Saganaki with honey and sesame, fried zucchini, mixed grill, the Ambrosia salad
- Good to know
- Evenings from 18:00, closed on Mondays. A short walk from the port. Ask for a garden table in summer.
Fish & meze · by the bus station
Geuseis
4.9 Google · 238 reviews
A small, family-style meze restaurant on 49 Martyron Avenue, a few steps from the port and the KTEL bus station. It holds one of the highest Google scores in town, and the reviews explain why: very fresh fish, generous plates made for sharing and prices that feel fair.
- What to order
- Marinated octopus and anchovies, grilled sardines or sea bream, steamed mussels, taramosalata
- Good to know
- Dinner only; closed Sunday and Monday. Fresh fish is priced by the kilo. Off-season, call before you go.
Drepano
The long sandy spit ten minutes north of town — a beach day that ends with dinner by the water.
Beach bar & grill · Drepano beach
Barbaroses
4.3 Google · 667 reviews
Sunbeds and a swim in the morning, cocktails through the afternoon, dinner under the pines as the sun drops into the Ionian. The kitchen leans on the grill — the pork kontosouvli is what people mention most — with fresh fish, octopus and big Greek salads alongside.
- What to order
- Pork kontosouvli, grilled octopus, fresh fish, Greek salad
- Good to know
- Summer season, daily from morning to late evening. Shallow water that suits children, free parking by the beach. Also hosts weddings and private parties.
Beach canteen · Makrigiali, Drepano
Makrigiali Beach Canteen
4.8 Google · 140 reviews
At the quiet northern end of the Drepano sand, past the little chapel of Profitis Ilias, a canteen has been serving the same beach since 2002. Nothing fancy: fine sand, shallow water, cold drinks and a smile — which is exactly why regulars come back every summer.
- What to order
- Coffee of every kind, from espresso to Greek coffee; fresh sandwiches, granita, a cold beer or ouzo with meze
- Good to know
- Summer only. Sunbeds and umbrellas, showers and changing rooms, free parking next to the canteen; cards accepted. About 6–7 km north of Igoumenitsa.
Plataria
A quiet fishing village halfway between Igoumenitsa and Sivota, with tavernas right on the seafront.
Fish taverna · on the seafront
Thalatta Thalatta
4.8 Google · 797 reviews
In quiet Plataria, halfway between Igoumenitsa and Sivota, the tables sit a few metres from the water. Family-run since 2023, it buys from local fishermen and makes most of its starters by hand. Reviewers single out the shrimp dishes, the fried courgette and pumpkin balls — and the sunsets.
- What to order
- Shrimp spaghetti, grilled squid, fried courgette, pumpkin balls, catch of the day
- Good to know
- Lunch and dinner in season, from about 13:00. Anything frozen is marked on the menu. Pasta and pizza for children.
Sivota
Green islets, turquoise bays and the best sunset tables on this stretch of coast.
Seafood · sunset terrace
Thalassa Restaurant
4.4 Google · 903 reviews
On the hill above Mega Drafi, a terrace looks straight over the bay and the islets of Sivota — this is where people book for an anniversary. The menu is Mediterranean with plenty of seafood; the seafood linguine, the orzo with prawns and, of course, the sunset collect the most praise.
- What to order
- Seafood linguine, orzo with prawns, sea bass, ceviche
- Good to know
- Summer only, from May. Book in July and August and ask for a sunset table. The access road is steep and narrow, and prices are above village-taverna level.
Glyki & the Acheron
About 50 minutes inland, at the springs of the Acheron: tables by the river, trout from the tank and an Italian kitchen nobody expects.
Riverside taverna · fresh trout
Panorama
4.6 Google · 1,966 reviews
Tables at the water’s edge at the springs of the Acheron, under plane trees and a reed roof, with the river running past. A family taverna for decades: the trout comes from its own tank and goes on the grill when you order. Reviewers praise the freshness, the setting and the warm, quick service.
- What to order
- Grilled trout, pork souvlaki, lamb chops, Greek salad
- Good to know
- Open all day, from the morning. Free parking. Pair it with a walk or rafting at the springs.
Epirus grill · tables over the river
Acherontas
4.5 Google · 1,243 reviews
Run by the Bournas brothers, with tables set right above the clear water under giant plane trees — in summer you can dip your feet in the river while you wait. Expect a proper Epirus grill: kontosouvli, lamb, bifteki, river trout and pies made in the house.
- What to order
- Kontosouvli, slow-cooked lamb, homemade pies, trout
- Good to know
- Honest prices, around €10–15 per person. Twelve rooms above the river, highly rated on Booking. The springs are a six-minute walk.
Italian · pizza & pasta
Isabella Trattoria
4.8 Google · 143 reviews
An Italian kitchen in a mountain village, a few steps from the Acheron. Thin, hand-stretched pizza, pasta built on premium Gentile durum, home-grown ingredients and a limoncello from the host’s own lemon trees. Medalled in the Greek Aetoi tis Gastronomias awards several years running.
- What to order
- Cacio e pepe, carbonara, truffle pasta, pesto gnocchi, tiramisu
- Good to know
- Evenings only, from 20:00. A small room, so book on summer weekends. Plenty of choice for vegetarians.
Foiniki & the villages
Stone villages in the hills above Igoumenitsa, where Sunday lunch can easily last until evening.
Village kafeneio · live music
Lontza
4.7 Google · 20 reviews
On the square of Foiniki, a stone village in the hills above Igoumenitsa, Lontza is the kind of place where lunch turns into the whole afternoon. Meat from the open fire, a village salad, local wine — and on music days, traditional songs of Epirus.
- What to order
- Grilled meat platter, souvlaki, village salad, local wine
- Good to know
- Open on Sundays, 12:00–19:00, plus special music nights — call before you go. About 25–30 minutes by car; the last stretch is narrow.
IgoumenitsaSTAY · Explore
Explore Igoumenitsa, Sivota & Thesprotia
Places to stay, eat, swim and explore — on one map.
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Locations are indicative. Always check opening times and local access before you go.
Eating in Igoumenitsa, Sivota & Thesprotia: questions we get
Where can I eat near the Igoumenitsa ferry port?
Timos Taverna sits right opposite the port and is open all day — the easy choice before a crossing. A short walk into town, Geuseis on 49 Martyron Avenue serves some of the freshest fish in Igoumenitsa, and Ambrosia hides a garden courtyard nearby. Both open in the evening.
Where can I eat right on the Acheron River in Glyki?
At Acherontas the tables sit above the river under plane trees, and at Panorama they stand at the water’s edge, with trout grilled to order. Glyki is about 50 minutes’ drive inland from Igoumenitsa.
Which restaurant has the best sunset view?
Thalassa above Mega Drafi in Sivota, if you book ahead. For a sunset with your feet near the sand, Barbaroses on Drepano beach or Thalatta Thalatta on the Plataria seafront.
Do I need to book a table?
In July and August, yes — especially for sunset tables and the riverside tavernas on weekends. A phone call the same day is usually enough. Outside summer you can almost always walk in.
How much does a meal cost?
Most places are mid-range: roughly €12–25 per person with drinks. The Glyki grills are among the cheapest, a seafood dinner with fresh fish priced by the kilo can reach €30 or more, and Thalassa is the most expensive on this list.
Are there vegetarian and vegan options?
Yes. Greek meze is naturally veg-friendly — fava, giant beans, salads, courgette fritters and grilled vegetables appear almost everywhere. Isabella Trattoria has plenty of vegetarian pasta and pizza, and Timos marks its vegan basics.
What time do restaurants open, and is it normal to eat late?
Greeks dine late: 21:00 onwards is normal in summer. Several places on this list open only in the evening (Geuseis, Ambrosia, Isabella), Lontza opens on Sundays, and the beach and seafront spots run from midday. Hours change with the season — call ahead.
Ratings: Google, checked October 2026. Prices and hours are indicative and change with the season. Photos: the venues and IgoumenitsaSTAY.