Top Fine Dining Restaurants in Rhodes for a Truly Special Meal
Words by
Elena Papadopoulos
I have spent the better part of two decades eating my way through Rhodes, from the backstreet grills of the Old Town to the polished terraces that line the coast. If you are looking for the top fine dining restaurants in Rhodes, you will find that the island punches well above its weight, blending Aegean ingredients with techniques that would feel at home in any European capital. What follows is not a list I pulled from a search engine. These are places I have sat in, ordered from, argued with the sommelier at, and gone back to the next night because the first visit was not enough.
1. Marco Polo Cafe Restaurant, Rhodes Old Town
Tucked inside a restored 15th-century Ottoman mansion on Ippokratous Street, Marco Polo Cafe Restaurant is the kind of place that makes you forget you are on a Greek island and not in a Venetian palazzo. The courtyard alone, shaded by jasmine and bougainvillea, is worth the trip. I have eaten here at least a dozen times over the years, and the grilled octopus with Santorini fava remains one of the most perfectly executed dishes I have encountered anywhere in the Dodecanese. The wine list leans heavily into indigenous Greek varieties, and the staff will happily walk you through Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, and Vidiano without making you feel like a novice.
The Vibe? Romantic and unhurried, with live acoustic music on weekend evenings.
The Bill? Expect to spend between 45 and 70 euros per person for a full meal with wine.
The Standout? The courtyard dining experience under the stars, paired with their slow-cooked lamb kleftiko.
The Catch? The courtyard fills up fast in July and August, and without a reservation you will likely be seated inside, which is pleasant but lacks the magic.
A detail most tourists miss is the small library room just off the main dining area. It is filled with old maps and travel books, a nod to the Venetian merchant the restaurant is named after. Ask your server to let you peek inside. It connects directly to the layered history of the Old Town, where Ottoman, Italian, and medieval Knights of St. John architecture sit side by side.
Local tip: Visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening in late September. The summer crowds have thinned, the heat has softened, and the kitchen is less rushed, which you can taste in every plate.
2. Kalypso Roof Bar Restaurant, Rhodes Old Town
Perched on the rooftop of the Kalypso Hotel on Orfeos Street, this spot delivers what might be the most dramatic sunset view in the entire Old Town. I remember my first visit vividly, watching the light drop behind the minarets while sipping a cocktail made with local mastiha liqueur. The food here is Mediterranean with a modern Greek twist, and the seafood risotto with saffron and prawns is a dish I have never been able to replicate at home, no matter how many times I have tried. The rooftop setting means you are dining above the medieval walls, with the Mandraki Harbour lights flickering to life below.
The Vibe? Elevated and scenic, ideal for a date night or a celebration.
The Bill? Around 50 to 80 euros per person depending on how adventurous you get with the wine list.
The Standout? The sunset view combined with their signature mastiha cocktail.
The Catch? The rooftop is open-air, so if the meltemi wind picks up in August, it can get uncomfortably breezy, and the staff sometimes struggles to keep napkins and light items from flying.
What most visitors do not realize is that the building itself was once a merchant's residence during the Ottoman period. The thick stone walls and arched doorways are original, and the hotel has done a careful job of preserving them. Dining here feels like eating inside a piece of living history rather than a themed restaurant.
Local tip: Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset and claim a table along the western edge of the roof. The hostess will try to seat you wherever is open, but the west-facing spots are the ones you want.
3. Tamam, Rhodes Old Town
Located on Menekleous Street, just a short walk from the Palace of the Grand Master, Tamam has been a fixture of the Old Town dining scene for years. It is not the flashiest place on this list, but it is one of the most consistently excellent. The moussaka here is layered with a béchamel so light it practically floats, and the grilled halloumi with fresh mint and lemon is a starter I order every single time. The interior is modest, tiled and whitewashed, with a small garden out back that most diners never discover because it is tucked behind the kitchen.
The Vibe? Warm and unpretentious, the kind of place where the owner remembers your name after two visits.
The Bill? Very reasonable for the quality, around 30 to 50 euros per person with a carafe of house wine.
The Standout? The moussaka and the back garden, which feels like eating in someone's private courtyard.
The Catch? The front tables along the street can get noisy in the evenings when the pedestrian traffic peaks, and the sound carries right through the open windows.
The connection to Rhodes history here is subtle but real. The building sits on a street that was once part of the Jewish Quarter, and the restaurant's name, "Tamam," means "perfect" or "complete" in Turkish, a linguistic echo of the Ottoman influence that shaped this part of the island for centuries.
Local tip: Ask for a table in the back garden if the weather allows. It is quieter, more intimate, and the evening light filtering through the lemon trees is something you will remember long after the meal is over.
4. Romeo, Rhodes Old Town
Romeo sits on the corner of Orfeos and Sokratous Streets, right in the heart of the Old Town's busiest pedestrian corridor. It has been around for decades, and while some long-standing restaurants coast on reputation, Romeo continues to deliver. The stuffed vine leaves, or dolmadakia, are hand-rolled daily and served at room temperature with a thick dollop of yogurt that has just enough garlic to wake you up. Their grilled sea bass, simply prepared with capers and olive oil, is the kind of dish that reminds you why Greek cuisine does not need to be complicated to be extraordinary.
The Vibe? Lively and convivial, with a constant flow of locals and visitors passing by your table.
The Bill? Around 35 to 55 euros per person for a full meal.
The Standout? The dolmadakia and the people-watching from the sidewalk tables.
The Catch? Because it is on the main pedestrian drag, the tables closest to the street can feel a bit exposed, and the waitstaff sometimes gets stretched thin during the dinner rush between 8 and 9:30 PM.
Romeo has been a gathering spot for Rhodian families for generations. I have seen three-generation groups celebrating birthdays here, and the staff treats them like royalty. That sense of continuity, of a restaurant woven into the social fabric of the town, is something you can feel the moment you sit down.
Local tip: Go for an early dinner, around 7 PM, before the main rush. You will get better service, a calmer atmosphere, and the kitchen will have more time to attend to the details.
5. Belmo Palace Hotel Restaurant, Rhodes Town
The restaurant at the Belmo Palace Hotel, located on the coastal road near the Aquarium in Rhodes Town, is one of the more refined dining experiences on the island. The tasting menu changes seasonally, but on my last visit in early autumn, the standout was a deconstructed pastitsio with slow-braised beef short rib and a truffle béchamel that was rich without being heavy. The dining room is elegant in an understated way, with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out toward the sea. The sommelier here is genuinely knowledgeable and will pair each course with a Greek wine you have probably never heard of, which is part of the fun.
The Vibe? Polished and serene, the kind of place where you dress up a little and feel glad you did.
The Bill? The tasting menu runs about 65 to 90 euros per person, and wine pairings add another 30 to 45 euros.
The Standout? The seasonal tasting menu and the sommelier's Greek wine pairings.
The Catch? The pace of a full tasting menu service can stretch past two and a half hours, so do not plan anything immediately afterward, and the dress code, while not strictly enforced, leans smart casual at minimum.
The Belmo Palace sits in the newer part of Rhodes Town, an area shaped heavily by the Italian occupation in the early 20th century. The architectural influence is visible in the clean lines and arched colonnades that surround the property. Dining here connects you to a different layer of the island's identity, one that is often overshadowed by the medieval Old Town but is just as much a part of the story.
Local tip: If the tasting menu feels like too much of a commitment, order a la carte and ask the sommelier to recommend a single bottle to share across your courses. You will still get the curated experience without the time commitment.
6. Mare Mare, Rhodes Old Town
Mare Mare, found on the quieter end of the Old Town near the Mosque of Suleiman, is a seafood-focused restaurant that takes its ingredients seriously. The owner sources fish directly from local fishermen at Mandraki Harbour each morning, and the catch of the day is always the best order. On a recent visit, I had a whole grilled lithrinia, a local red bream, served with nothing more than lemon, olive oil, and wild greens from the island's interior. It was flawless. The wine list is curated with care, and the staff can explain the difference between a Rhodes-produced Athiri and one from the mainland without sounding rehearsed.
The Vibe? Intimate and seafood-forward, with a quiet confidence that comes from knowing your product is the best in the area.
The Bill? Around 40 to 65 euros per person, depending on the market price of the fish you choose.
The Standout? The catch of the day, grilled whole, and the owner's personal attention to sourcing.
The Catch? The space is small, with only about ten tables, and they do not take reservations for groups smaller than four, so you may wait 20 to 30 minutes during peak season.
The restaurant's location near the Mosque of Suleiman places it in one of the most historically layered corners of the Old Town. The mosque itself dates to 1522, and the surrounding streets still carry the imprint of Ottoman urban planning. Eating here, you are surrounded by centuries of history, and the simplicity of the food feels like a respectful nod to the island's long tradition of letting quality ingredients speak for themselves.
Local tip: Ask the owner what came in that morning before you even look at the menu. He will tell you honestly what is best, and he is never wrong.
7. Restaurant at the Rodos Palace Hotel, Ixia
The Rodos Palace Hotel, situated along the coastal road in Ixia, houses one of the more ambitious hotel restaurants on the island. The buffet-style service has given way in recent years to a more refined a la carte and semi-fixed menu approach, and the results have been impressive. The lobster pasta with fresh tomato sauce and ouzo cream is indulgent in the best way, and the dessert trolley, which still makes the rounds on weekend evenings, features a galaktoboureko that rivals what you will find in any Athens pastry shop. The terrace overlooks the Aegean, and on a clear night you can see the Turkish coastline in the distance.
The Vibe? Grand and resort-like, with the kind of service that anticipates your needs before you voice them.
The Bill? Around 55 to 85 euros per person for a full meal with wine.
The Standout? The lobster pasta and the weekend dessert trolley.
The Catch? The restaurant caters heavily to hotel guests, so during high season the atmosphere can feel more like a resort dining room than an independent restaurant, and the noise level from large tour groups can be distracting.
The Rodos Palace sits in Ixia, a stretch of coast that became popular with European travelers in the 1970s and 80s. The area represents a different era of Rhodian tourism, one defined by large hotels and organized holidays. Dining here connects you to that chapter of the island's story, and the hotel's long-standing reputation means the kitchen has had decades to refine its approach.
Local tip: Request a terrace table when you book, specifically one facing west. The sunset over the sea from this vantage point is spectacular, and it transforms the meal from a nice dinner into something you will talk about for months.
8. Restaurant at the Elysium Resort Hotel, Kallithea
The Elysium Resort Hotel, located on the road to Kallithea just south of Rhodes Town, offers a dining experience that blends Greek and international influences with a level of polish that surprises people who assume resort restaurants are generic. The chef's table option, available for parties of six or more, takes you through a seven-course menu that might include anything from a feta mousse with honey and sesame cracker to a slow-roasted pork belly with quince and thyme jus. The dining room is modern and airy, with a color palette of whites and soft blues that echoes the sea just beyond the windows.
The Vibe? Contemporary and sophisticated, with a kitchen that clearly takes creative risks.
The Bill? The chef's table runs about 80 to 110 euros per person, while the regular a la carte menu comes in around 45 to 70 euros.
The Standout? The chef's table experience and the feta mousse starter.
The Catch? The chef's table requires advance booking, often a week or more ahead during summer, and the regular a la carte menu, while good, does not quite reach the same heights as the tasting experience.
Kallithea itself has a fascinating history. The famous Kallithea Springs, just down the road, were a wellness destination in the 1920s and 30s, built by the Italian administration in an ornate Art Deco style. The Elysium Resort carries forward that tradition of combining leisure with a sense of occasion, and dining here feels like part of a longer story about Rhodes as a place people come to be restored.
Local tip: If you are not a hotel guest, call ahead and ask about the chef's table availability even if your party is smaller than six. During the quieter months of May and October, they sometimes accommodate smaller groups, and it is absolutely worth the effort.
When to Go and What to Know About Special Occasion Dining Rhodes
Rhodes has a dining season that runs roughly from April through October, but the sweet spot for special occasion dining Rhodes is late May to mid-June and again from mid-September to mid-October. During these windows, the weather is warm but not oppressive, the kitchens are fully staffed but not overwhelmed, and you will not be competing with the full summer crush for reservations. July and August are peak season, and while the island is undeniably beautiful, the best restaurants book up fast and the experience can feel rushed.
Most of the best upscale restaurants Rhodes has to offer are concentrated in the Old Town and along the coastal strip between Rhodes Town and Ixia. Getting around is easy on foot in the Old Town, though the cobblestones can be unforgiving in heels. For the Ixia and Kallithea restaurants, a rental car or taxi is your best bet. Taxis on Rhodes are metered but can be scarce in the evenings, so plan ahead.
One thing that surprises many visitors is how late the dining culture runs. Greeks eat dinner late, often starting at 9 or even 10 PM, and the restaurants here follow that rhythm. If you show up at 7 PM, you may have the place to yourself, which can feel strange but also wonderful. For the full experience, though, embrace the local timing and let the evening unfold at its own pace.
Regarding the question of Michelin Rhodes, the island does not currently have any Michelin-starred restaurants. The Michelin Guide has not yet covered the Dodecanese in depth, which means the fine dining scene here operates without that particular spotlight. In some ways, this is a good thing. The restaurants are cooking for their communities and their guests, not for inspectors, and the result is a dining culture that feels genuine rather than performative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rhodes expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier traveler should budget around 120 to 180 euros per day, covering a double room in a three-star hotel (60 to 90 euros), two meals at mid-range restaurants (30 to 50 euros), local transport and incidentals (15 to 25 euros), and a modest sightseeing or activity budget (15 to 20 euros). Fine dining meals at the restaurants listed above will push the daily higher, so plan accordingly if that is a priority.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, or plant-based dining options in Rhodes?
Vegetarian options are widely available across Rhodes, even at traditional tavernas, thanks to the Greek tradition of ladera, or oil-based vegetable dishes. Restaurants like Tamam and Marco Polo offer multiple vegetarian mains. Fully plant-based or vegan menus are harder to find, but most upscale kitchens will prepare a custom vegan plate if asked in advance, and the growing number of health-conscious cafes in Rhodes Town caters specifically to this demand.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Rhodes is famous for?
Rhodes is known for its pitaroudia, chickpea fritters flavored with mint and onion, which are found across the island but are best in the Old Town. For drinks, the local souma, a grape-based spirit similar to tsipouro, is a point of pride and is often offered as a complimentary digestif at traditional restaurants. Pairing pitaroudia with a glass of local white from the Rhodes appellation is as Rhodian as it gets.
Is the tap water in Rhodes safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
The tap water in Rhodes Town and the main tourist areas is technically safe to drink, as it comes from desalination plants and meets EU standards. However, the taste is often brackish or heavily chlorinated, and most locals and long-term residents prefer bottled or filtered water. For fine dining meals, restaurants will always provide bottled water, and there is no stigma attached to requesting it.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Rhodes?
There are no strict dress codes at most restaurants in Rhodes, but the upscale venues listed above expect smart casual attire at minimum, meaning no beachwear, flip-flops, or sleeveless shirts for men. When dining in the Old Town, be mindful that some restaurants are near churches or mosques, and covering shoulders is a respectful gesture. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory; rounding up the bill or leaving 5 to 10 percent is standard practice.
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