Why Tourists Should Be Careful When Eating At Popular Beaches In Greece
Visiting the rocky beaches of Greece might be your dream vacation, but to avoid paying more than you need to, you might want to eat before arriving at the seashore. If you want to experience Greek cuisine at the beach without being surprised by a high bill at the end of your meal, you're better off ordering your keftedes at a restaurant away from these often touristy areas — or at least doing your research before you start ordering.
There have been many stories of unfortunate travelers being misled about the prices of their meals and drinks and ending up paying outrageous amounts, like one family who was charged more than $80 for one serving of calamari at Eclipse on Platis Gialos beach in Mykonos, as reported by the Mirror. Even in less extreme cases, there is a risk of getting ripped off when you decide to eat at popular beaches. Make sure to check the reviews first, especially if they're offering you deals that seem too good to be true.
Other negative reviews of touristy beachfront restaurants in Greece reveal accounts of guests being lured in with offers of two-for-one drinks that turned out to be full-price drinks followed by some vouchers, and promises of "free" sunbeds that required them to buy extremely overpriced drinks. Others have even reported being repeatedly brought things they didn't order and then charged high prices for them at the end of the meal.
You might end up paying a lot more
There certainly are Greek islands for relaxing, crowd-free vacations, but many of the most famous beaches are understandably crowded with visitors from around the world. Where there are tourists, there are tourist traps. If you're spending all day on the beach, it might seem convenient and relaxing to walk over to the nearest restaurant and watch the sun set over the waves while enjoying dinner and a nice bottle of wine — but you might end up paying much more than expected.
For example, one beachfront restaurant in Mykonos called DK Oyster Bar has become notorious for having its staff stand on the beach to try and draw tourists into the restaurant and then charging astronomical prices. In 2019, the restaurant appeared in international headlines after charging one tourist the equivalent of more than $1,350 for their group's meals of six plates of calamari, three salads, six beers, two bottles of water, and tomato juice. These particular tourists claimed they were "never offered a menu," according to the report made by Yahoo! News.
In 2023, a vacationing couple visiting DK Oyster Bar was charged far more for their drinks than the prices listed on the menu. According to an interview with the unfortunate tourists, they were charged more than $100 for a single mojito, which was listed at around $26 on the menu (via New York Post). Negative media reports involving this restaurant and similar stories prompted Tripadvisor to post a safety alert on DK Oyster Bar's page encouraging visitors to "perform additional search" when making plans.
How to avoid tourist traps in Greece
Whether you're looking to learn about the history of Greece in one of its major cities or enjoy a quiet couple's getaway in a Greek town, you will definitely need to eat while you're there. It can take a little experience to know the authentic local spots from the overpriced options. If you're planning to visit any of the major tourist attractions, you should beware of conveniently located restaurants. A lot of tourist traps are located right near the biggest destinations, like popular beaches to lure in uninformed travelers.
The goal should be to eat at a place that people who live in the area enjoy, both because you won't accidentally end up in a tourist trap and because it gives you a more authentic experience of the local food. If you walk into a restaurant and everyone else there is a tourist, too, that's not a good sign.
As advised by one Greek user on Reddit's r/travel, it's a good idea to only eat at restaurants with clearly advertised prices on the menu. Always read reviews of the places you're interested in eating before you go, as tourist traps often have negative reviews from people who were misled about the prices. Remember, you can't go wrong with a cozy local taverna or a delicious-smelling street food stall!