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Food tours in Rhodes: what to eat and which tour to book
Rhodes cooking sits between the Aegean and the coast of Asia Minor, a short sail away. The island has its own names and dishes: pitaroudia (chickpea fritters), giaprakia (the local word for stuffed vine leaves), matsi (hand-made pasta), lakani (meat and wheat slow-cooked in a clay pot for village weddings), melekouni (a sesame and honey bar given at weddings and baptisms) and soumada, an almond syrup drink. Small sweet shrimp from nearby Symi are fried whole, and the vineyards around Embona on Mount Attavyros make whites from Athiri and reds from Mandilaria (called Amorgiano locally).
Use this page to know what to order and where to eat beyond the tourist strips of the Old Town and Faliraki. The dishes and areas below cover the town, Lindos and the villages with rough 2026 prices. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Rhodes
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chickpea fritters πιταρούδια (pitaroudia) | Fritters of mashed chickpeas with onion, herbs (mint, parsley) and sometimes tomato, fried until crisp. A traditional meze, often made during fasting periods. | Tavernas and mezedopoleia in Rhodes town and the villages; more common in places that cook local food than in the Old Town's tourist restaurants. | roughly €6–9 a portion |
| Stuffed vine leaves γιαπράκια (giaprakia) | The Rhodian name for dolmades: vine leaves (or sometimes cabbage) rolled around rice with herbs, with or without minced meat, often served with egg-lemon sauce when made with meat. | Tavernas and village restaurants, especially those serving home-style oven dishes. | roughly €7–10 a portion |
| Matsi ματσί (matsi) | Rhodes' traditional hand-made pasta, rolled thin and cut by hand. It is served in a few ways depending on the village, for example cooked with meat or chicken, or simply with browned onions and grated cheese. | Village tavernas and places that advertise local Rhodian cooking; ask, as it is not on every menu. | roughly €9–14 a plate |
| Lakani λακάνι (lakani) | Goat or lamb cooked very slowly with whole wheat in a large clay pot (the lakani), traditionally prepared for village weddings and festivals. | Some village tavernas, often only on certain days or to order; at village festivals (panigyria) in summer. | roughly €12–16 a portion where available |
| Fried Symi shrimp συμιακό γαριδάκι (symiako garidaki) | Tiny red shrimp from the waters around Symi, fried whole in a little flour and eaten shell and all. | Fish tavernas in Rhodes town, at Kamiros Skala and on the east coast. | roughly €12–18 a portion |
| Melekouni μελεκούνι (melekouni) | A bar of toasted sesame and honey, often with almonds, orange peel and spices, traditionally made for weddings and baptisms. | Bakeries, sweet shops and food shops in Rhodes town and the villages; sold wrapped as gifts. | roughly €1–2 a piece |
| Soumada σουμάδα (soumada) | A sweet almond syrup diluted with cold water to make a milky, refreshing drink, traditionally served at weddings. | Cafés and food shops; bottles of syrup are sold in delis and supermarkets. | roughly €3–5 a glass; bottles of syrup roughly €6–12 |
| Rhodes wine and souma κρασί Ρόδου, σούμα (souma) | PDO Rhodes wine: whites from the Athiri grape and reds from Mandilaria (Amorgiano). Souma is the local grape spirit, similar to tsipouro, drunk with meze. | Wineries in and around Embona on Mount Attavyros; tavernas across the island. | roughly €4–7 a glass or €8–14 for half a kilo of house wine |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Old Town (Medieval Town)
Inside the walls, Sokratous Street and Ippokratous Square are tourist-focused with touts and higher prices. The quieter streets of the old Jewish quarter and the lanes towards the southern walls have smaller tavernas and mezedopoleia used by residents.
New Market (Nea Agora) and Mandraki
The heptagonal market building by Mandraki harbour, with cafés, bakeries and souvlaki shops around its inner courtyard. Good for a cheap, quick meal and coffee near the harbour.
Rhodes New Town
The streets west and south of Mandraki, where people live and work, have bakeries, ouzeries and tavernas at everyday prices.
Lindos
Whitewashed village under the acropolis, with rooftop restaurants looking up to the acropolis and down to the bays. Popular and pricey, but quieter and better in the evening once day-trippers leave.
Embona and the Attavyros villages
Mountain wine village in the west of the island, known for its wineries and grill tavernas serving meat, local cheeses and wine.
Kamiros Skala
Small harbour on the west coast, where boats leave for Chalki, with a few fish tavernas by the water.
Food tours in Rhodes 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tasting Rhodes: Cooking Class, Wine & Village Experience | 4 - 6 hours | from €95 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Rhodes: Island Round Tour With Wine Olive Oil, Honey Tasting | 9 hours | from €65 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Rhodes: Cooking Class and Wine Tasting Experience | 4 hours | from €70 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Rhodes: Winery Tour, Tasting and cooking with the Winemaker | 4 hours | from €79 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Rhodes: Guided Walk and Wine Tasting Tour in Medieval Town | 4 hours | from €470 per group | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
Tasting Rhodes: Cooking Class, Wine & Village Experience
On GetYourGuide · run by Trekking Hellas Rhodes
- Length
- 4 - 6 hours
- Price
- from €95 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 108 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Rhodes: Island Round Tour With Wine Olive Oil, Honey Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by Rhodes-Tours
- Length
- 9 hours
- Price
- from €65 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 209 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Rhodes: Cooking Class and Wine Tasting Experience
On GetYourGuide · run by RHODESISLANDER
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €70 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 91 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Rhodes: Winery Tour, Tasting and cooking with the Winemaker
On GetYourGuide · run by Timonfaya Travel Lanzarote
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €79 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 33 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Rhodes: Guided Walk and Wine Tasting Tour in Medieval Town
On GetYourGuide · run by MBC Travel Rhodes Experts
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €470 per group
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 6 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- English-speaking licensed guide Walking tour of the medieval town Wine tasting and light lunch at a medieval inn garden Entry ticket for the Grand Master's Palace
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- Marina Gate
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Rhodes is pita gyros and souvlaki, bakery pies (tyropita, spanakopita) and koulouri. The New Market at Mandraki is the easiest place for a quick, cheap bite in town. There are no food night markets.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down meals are where you find the island dishes: pitaroudia, giaprakia, matsi, Symi shrimp and grilled fish with local wine or souma. Restaurants in the Old Town's main squares and in Faliraki are mostly tourist-focused; the New Town, the Old Town side streets and the villages are better value. Dinner starts from about 20:30–21:00.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes on Rhodes are usually held in village homes or farms, sometimes combined with an olive oil or wine tasting, and cover pies, dolmades/giaprakia and salads, followed by lunch. Transport is often included or arranged from Rhodes town; check the menu and whether it includes Rhodian dishes or general Greek ones.
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) | €50–75 (two sit-down meals with house wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €120+ (fish dinner or a restaurant in Lindos) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Fairly easy. Pitaroudia, giaprakia without meat, salads, fava, gigantes beans and vegetable oven dishes are meat-free. During Orthodox fasting periods many tavernas offer vegan (nistisima) dishes.
Halal: Halal-certified food is limited. Rhodes has a small, long-established Muslim community, but halal restaurants are few; pork is the default in gyros and souvlaki, so ask for chicken (kotopoulo) and choose seafood or vegetable dishes.
Gluten-free: Grilled meat and fish and most salads are naturally gluten-free. Pitaroudia and Symi shrimp are usually coated in flour, and pies, pita and matsi are wheat-based. Larger resort restaurants handle requests more reliably than village tavernas; say 'choris glouteni' (without gluten).
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Touts in the Old Town on Sokratous Street and Ippokratous Square steering you into restaurants with picture menus and inflated prices. Walk into the side streets or eat in the New Town. Skip anywhere that sends someone out to pull you in.
- Fresh fish sold per kilo, weighed and cooked without telling you the total. Ask to see the fish weighed and confirm the final price before it is cooked. Frozen fish must be marked on the menu.
- Faliraki and other resort strips: 'happy hour' offers and cheap cocktails that turn out to be watered down, or extra drinks added to the bill. Order from a priced menu, pay as you go and check your bill.
- Sunbed fees with minimum spend at organised beaches (Lindos, Tsambika, Elli and others). Ask the price per set and whether there is a minimum food or drink order before sitting.
Top tours & activities in Rhodes
Rent a car in Rhodes
Compare rental cars from local and international companies, with free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare car rentals in RhodesPlan the rest of your Rhodes trip
Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
What dishes are specific to Rhodes?
Pitaroudia (chickpea fritters), giaprakia (the local stuffed vine leaves), matsi (hand-made pasta), lakani (goat or lamb with wheat in a clay pot, for weddings), fried Symi shrimp, melekouni (sesame-honey bar) and soumada (almond syrup drink). Village tavernas are more likely to have them than restaurants in the Old Town's main squares; lakani in particular is often made only on certain days.
Where should I eat in Rhodes town?
Avoid the main tourist streets of the Old Town and look in its quieter side streets, especially towards the southern walls, or in the New Town, where people live. The New Market at Mandraki is good for a quick, cheap meal. For seafood, the tavernas on the coast outside town are usually better value than those inside the walls.
Is Lindos worth it for food?
For the setting, yes, particularly a rooftop dinner looking at the acropolis. Prices are higher than in Rhodes town and the village is crowded by day in summer. Go in the evening after the coach tours leave, book a table in high season, and check menus before sitting down.
Can I visit wineries on Rhodes?
Yes. The main wine area is around Embona on Mount Attavyros in the west, about an hour's drive from Rhodes town. Several wineries offer tastings of Athiri whites and Mandilaria reds. Opening hours vary by season, so check current hours or book ahead.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Rhodes is cheaper than Santorini or Mykonos. A tight day of bakery breakfast, pita and a simple taverna dinner is roughly €25–35. Two sit-down meals with house wine run roughly €50–75. A seafood dinner or a restaurant in Lindos can be €60–100 per person.
Do I need to tip?
Service is not usually included. Leave about 5–10% or round up for good service, in cash if possible, since card tips often don't reach staff. In cafés, small change is enough.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.