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Ninos provides traditional Greek fare. Don’t bother with a menu, order grilled meat or one of the pre–prepared dishes on display. It’s small, and it can be hard to get a table, but it’s well worth it and fantastic value. You can also get gyros pita to take away, the perfect Greek fast food.

No visit to the Costa Brava is complete without sampling some tapas. These small-plate dishes—bite-size snacks that pair perfectly with drinks among friends—are a mainstay of Spanish bars. Taverna El Galeó has a friendly atmosphere and a selection of tapas that makes good use of local seafood.

Its interior is warmly rustic, but alfresco dining is as good as it gets at the Taverna Kuka in Gjirokastër, with its trellised garden and views of the minaret and the town’s famous “tower houses” up the hill. Come hungry and ready for generous servings of Albanian meatballs and grilled lamb.

A local landmark, Taverna Trilussa has been a Trastevere hangout for nearly a century. The ivy-covered entrance opens to a lively family-run trattoria where prosciutto and dried herbs decorate the walls alongside the usual trappings of vintage photos, books, and paintings. Taverna Trilussa is most famous for its tableside serving of typical Roman dishes like bucatini all’Amatriciana and cacio e pepe, theatrically tossed about in a frying pan or even a Parmesan wheel. Reservations are a must, or else expect to queue up alongside all the tourists waiting for a plate of mozzarella in carrozza.

Amanzoe was one of the first ultra-luxury resorts by a global brand in Greece when it opened back in 2012 in pretty Porto Heli, on the east coast of the Peloponnese. Since then, it has become a much-loved retreat with monumental architecture, all soaring columns and vast expanses of marble that call to mind Greece’s ancient heritage sites.


The resort’s beach club has four pools, cabanas, a Japanese restaurant, and a seaside spa, and it’s from here that water sports and island-hopping cruises set sail. Lavish guest rooms are divided into either pavilion accommodations or larger villas, all with private pools. The most lavish of all is the Ed Tuttle- and Marios Angelopoulos-designed Villa 20, which doubled as Miles Bron’s island home in British murder mystery Glass Onion; it includes 9 bedrooms, 11 pools, a private spa, 2 barbecue areas, and its own Greek taverna.

Maybe the Greeks break plates because they can’t think of a more exuberant way to honor their native cuisine—a vivid amalgam of the freshest foods and the most brilliant wines. Whether dining at a simple taverna or elegant boîte, you won’t soon forget these tastes.

Whether you’re sampling Spanish wine in a rustic taverna or sipping a cocktail in an airy, modern rooftop bar, you’ll find Barcelona’s variety of drinking options hard to beat. ¡Salud! —or as they say in Catalan—¡Txin txin!

In the past decade Athenian restaurant culture has upped its game. Along with the wonderful traditional family-owned tavernas serving local fare, Michelin-starred venues have been reinterpreting Greek favorites with creativity and aplomb to increasingly discerning crowds. Even Greek coffee (with grounds on the bottom of the cup) has branched out. Remember, dinner hour here is often 9-ish; and most of the year the action takes place outdoors under balmy skies.

Tour the Greek Isles on Windstar’s seven-day cruise through the Aegean, which includes ancient sites, beautiful beaches, and one-of-a-kind experiences.

If you’re in downtown Detroit and notice an unexpected Mediterranean vibe, you’re probably in Greektown. The area is filled with Greek places to dine and drink, but Pegasus Taverna is continually recommended as the best. This family-owned open kitchen is casual and makes an incredible flaming Saganaki.

Perched on the rocks above the limpid Libyan Sea, this seasonal seaside taverna isn’t easy to get to, but the journey is half the fun. It’s a four-hour hike along the E4 coastal path from Sfakia, or a 15- or 30-minute boat ride from Loutro or Sfakia to the pebbly bay of Marmara on Crete’s wild southwest coast. Chrysostomos Orfanoudakis has created the ultimate locavore’s dream. The bread is homemade; the vegetables family grown; and the lamb and goat, which roast in a wood-fired oven until the meat melts off the bone, were reared by the owner’s brother in the White Mountains. For dessert, order Sfakiani pitta, crispy phyllo turnovers filled with cream cheese and drizzled in honey. (+30 28257 72299)

During the months I spent living in a hostel on Santorini island, I returned to Tsipouradiko time and time again, usually with a new group of hostel guests. The owner/server got to know my name, although he barely spoke English. But he always knew I’d order a steaming bowl of bouyourdi -- baked feta with peppers and tomatoes. This is traditional Greek food at its finest, hosted in a small taverna set on the main road just outside of Fira (the main town). The prices are cheaper than the restaurants you’ll find along the caldera’s edge. Other highlights include fried octopus, fava spread, mussels in wine broth, lamb chops, and fried feta drizzled in honey. Their speciality, of course, is tsipouro -- a pomace brandy that will knock your socks off.

Put on some comfortable shoes and get a serious leg workout on the 350 steps that connect the cliffside town of Oia to the port at the base of Amoudi Bay. Visitors can grab a drink or calamari at one of the tavernas while watching fishing boats bring in fresh catches. There is a small dirt path that leads around the bend to a beautiful rocky, swimming spot that some fans may recognize from the movie, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”

Colour, music and dancing are an integral part of life in Andalusia, Spain. For a taste of the region’s Flamenco, head to El Patio Sevillano in Seville (Sevilla). A variety of dancers, in colourful traditional costumes, will whirl and stomp across the stage, while a band plays authentic Flamenco music. Catch an early show and then hit the town for tapas and drinks at a nearby Taverna.

Considered to be the “ouzo capital of the world,” Plomari even has an annual Ouzo Festival. Take some time to walk around the tiny town, visiting the tavernas and meeting the locals. Most of them tend to be very interested in your visit, as Lesvos does not get a great deal of tourism from the western countries. There are a handful of pebble beaches nearby, and you’ll notice most of the houses have covered balconies extending into the street from the second-floor.