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Food tours in Kos: what to eat and which tour to book
Kos is a long, fertile island in the Dodecanese, a few kilometres off the Turkish coast near Bodrum. It has farmed grapes, almonds, figs, olives and tomatoes for centuries, and gave its name to Cos (romaine) lettuce. The island makes wine and krasotyri, a cheese matured in wine sediment, and the cooking is southern Aegean taverna food: grilled fish and octopus, meze, oven dishes and pita gyros, with some dishes showing the shared history with Anatolia. Large parts of the coast are given over to all-inclusive resorts and 'English breakfast' bars, so the better eating is in Kos town's back lanes, in the fishing harbours of Mastichari and Kefalos, and in the hill villages of Zia and Pyli.
Use this page to know what to order and where. The tours shown here are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; prices and schedules change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Kos
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine cheese κρασοτύρι (krasotyri) | Local cheese, usually from goat's or mixed milk, matured in the sediment of red wine, which gives it a purple rind and a sharp, slightly winey taste. | Tavernas in the villages, delis and local-produce shops in Kos town. | roughly €6–10 a portion in a taverna; about €15–22 per kilo in shops |
| Grilled fish and octopus ψάρι σχάρας / χταπόδι | Fresh fish grilled whole with olive oil and lemon, and octopus grilled over charcoal or stewed in wine. Wild fish is priced by the kilo. | Fish tavernas in the harbours of Mastichari, Kefalos (Kamari) and Kos town. | roughly €55–85 per kilo for wild fish; octopus about €14–19 a plate |
| Pita gyros πίτα γύρος | Pork or chicken shaved from a vertical spit, wrapped in pita with tomato, onion, tzatziki and chips. The cheapest proper meal on the island. | Souvlaki shops in Kos town and every resort village. | about €3.50–5 to take away |
| Meze μεζέδες (mezedes) | Shared small plates such as fava, tzatziki, courgette fritters, fried calamari, stuffed vine leaves and grilled halloumi-style cheese, with ouzo or local wine. | Ouzeries and tavernas in Kos town's old quarter and in the villages. | roughly €5–11 a plate |
| Oven-cooked dishes μαγειρευτά (magirefta) — κλέφτικο, στιφάδο, γεμιστά | Kleftiko (lamb or goat slow-baked with potatoes), stifado (beef or rabbit stew with small onions) and gemista (stuffed vegetables), cooked earlier in the day. | Village tavernas in Zia, Pyli and Antimachia. | roughly €11–17 a plate |
| Honey and thyme honey θυμαρίσιο μέλι | Local honey, often from thyme on the island's hills, sold by beekeepers and drizzled over yoghurt or loukoumades (honey doughnuts). | Shops and stalls in Zia and Kos town; loukoumades at cafés. | about €10–18 for a 450–500 g jar; loukoumades roughly €4–6 |
| Kos wine κρασί Κω | Wine from the island's small wineries, mostly local whites and reds; some producers offer tastings near Antimachia and the island's west. | Village tavernas and wineries. | house wine roughly €8–14 a litre carafe in a taverna |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Kos town old quarter
The lanes around the ancient Agora and the Platanos (Hippocrates' plane tree) have tavernas, ouzeries and bakeries. Avoid the so-called Bar Street for food; the side streets towards the residential areas are better.
Zia
Mountain village on the slopes of Mount Dikeos with tavernas facing the sunset over the sea, plus shops selling honey, herbs and spices. Busy with tour coaches at sunset.
Mastichari
Small harbour on the north coast, where ferries leave for Kalymnos; fish tavernas line the waterfront.
Kefalos and Kamari harbour
The far west of the island, with a fishing harbour at Kamari, fish tavernas and views of the islet of Kastri.
Pyli
Inland village with a square of tavernas around the old spring, popular with locals for meat and oven dishes; the ruins of Old Pyli are nearby.
Food tours in Kos compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kos Cooking Classes by Mama Contessa | 1 day | from €89 per person | private | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Kos: 3-Island Cruise with Lunch, Swimming and Audio Guide | 7.5 hours | from €25 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Kos: Wineries Tour w/ Wine Tastings & Transportation | 3 hours | from €55 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Kos: 3-Island Cruise with Lunch and Hotel Transfer | 8.5 hours | from €47 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Kos: Full-Day Jeep Safari with Lunch | 5.5 hours | from €115 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Kos: Greek Dinner with Music, Dancing, and Unlimited Wine | 3 hours | from €40 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
Kos Cooking Classes by Mama Contessa
On GetYourGuide · run by Stelios M. Drosos
- Length
- 1 day
- Price
- from €89 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 41 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Kos: 3-Island Cruise with Lunch, Swimming and Audio Guide
On GetYourGuide · run by Kos Cruise Experts
- Length
- 7.5 hours
- Price
- from €25 per person
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ from 525 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- 7-hour cruise to 3 different islands 3 stops for swimming Dolphin watching Enjoy a personalized audio guide using your phone in your language for free Greek BBQ lunch on board Transfer to Kos harbor Drinks Gratuities…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Please meet us outside Santa Maria boat. Kindly be there 30 minutes prior to departure time to go through boarding. You will need to have your passport or a copy of your passport with you to go through boarding
Kos: Wineries Tour w/ Wine Tastings & Transportation
On GetYourGuide · run by Kos Activities
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €55 per person
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ from 406 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Tour and wine tasting in 2 different local wineries Wine pairing
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Kos: 3-Island Cruise with Lunch and Hotel Transfer
On GetYourGuide · run by Smilies Holidays Kos
- Length
- 8.5 hours
- Price
- from €47 per person
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ from 370 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Kos: Full-Day Jeep Safari with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Cretanholidays
- Length
- 5.5 hours
- Price
- from €115 per person
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ from 284 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop off Multi-language group escort/driver Specially equipped vehicles Lunch with traditional food (moussaka and salad) Liability insurance and local taxes Drinks
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Kos: Greek Dinner with Music, Dancing, and Unlimited Wine
On GetYourGuide · run by Kos Activities
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €40 per person
- Rating
- 4.2 ★ from 230 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food on Kos is pita gyros, souvlaki and pies from bakeries, plus loukoumades and ice cream in Kos town. There are no food markets of note for visitors; the souvlaki shop is the standard cheap meal.
Sit-down meals
Most eating is at tavernas and ouzeries. Lunch is from about 13:00 and dinner from about 20:00. Village tavernas are usually cheaper and more traditional than those on the resort strips of Kardamena and Lambi. Many places close from roughly November to April.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes on Kos are typically held in village homes, farms or wineries and cover Greek dishes such as tzatziki, dolmades and pies, sometimes with a wine tasting. Most run in the main season only. Check whether transport from your hotel is included, as many resorts are far from the villages.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €25–35 (bakery breakfast, pita gyros lunch, simple taverna dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €50–70 (two taverna meals with house wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €110+ (fresh fish dinner by the sea with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy: Greek salads, fava, courgette fritters, gemista, gigantes, horta, cheese pies and many oven-cooked vegetables in olive oil. Vegan options are fewer but most tavernas have several.
Halal: Halal-certified food is rare. Pork is the default meat in gyros and souvlaki; ask for chicken. Fish and seafood tavernas are the easiest choice. Note that Bodrum, a short ferry ride away in Turkey, has plenty of halal food.
Gluten-free: Grilled fish, meat and salads are naturally gluten-free; pita, pies, fried calamari (flour-dusted) and sweets are not. Resorts tend to understand gluten-free requests better than village tavernas; say 'choris glouteni'.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Fish and lobster priced per kilo, then a large fish served with an unexpectedly high bill. Ask to see the fish weighed and confirm the total before it is cooked.
- Touts on the Kos town harbour and in resort strips offering free drinks or discounts to pull you into restaurants with frozen food and picture menus. Skip places with touts; head into the old-quarter side streets or the villages.
- Bread charged per person and items added to the bill that you didn't order. Bread is often charged and is legal if on the menu; ask for it to be removed if you don't want it, and ask for a proper receipt.
Top tours & activities in Kos
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Where can I eat away from the resorts?
Head to the hill villages of Zia and Pyli for oven dishes and meat, to Mastichari or Kamari (Kefalos) for fish tavernas by the harbour, and into the residential side streets of Kos town. These places cook for local families as well as visitors, prices are lower, and menus change with the season.
What is krasotyri?
It is the island's traditional cheese, aged in the leftover sediment from red wine-making, which gives it a purple rind and a sharp, winey flavour. Tavernas serve it as a meze with bread and wine, and delis sell it by weight. Ask for it in village tavernas, where it is more likely to be locally made.
Do I need to tip on Kos?
Service is not normally added. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good service is usual, ideally in cash so it reaches staff. In cafés, small change is fine. If you are on all-inclusive, tipping bar and restaurant staff a few euros now and then is appreciated but not required.
Is Zia worth it for dinner?
The sunset view over the sea from Zia is the main reason to go, and the village is pretty. Tavernas there get very busy at sunset in high season, partly with coach tours, so book a table or arrive early. Quality varies; tavernas a little off the main lane are often quieter.
When are restaurants open?
The main season runs from about May to October, when almost everything is open daily. In winter many resort restaurants close, but Kos town and the larger villages keep tavernas and bakeries open year-round. Lunch is from about 13:00 and dinner from about 20:00, though tourist areas serve all day.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about €25–35 covers a pie and coffee, a pita gyros lunch and a simple taverna dinner. Two taverna meals with house wine are about €50–70. A fresh fish dinner by the sea can easily reach €50–60 per person or more.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.