Beyond the Sunset: Rizes Gastro Taverna Reveals the Living Taste of Santorini

SANTORINI, Greece – August 24, 2026 – Santorini may be known around the world for its  whitewashed villages and legendary sunsets, but the island’s deepest story begins in its volcanic  earth, its vineyards, its family tables and the flavors preserved across generations. At Rizes Gastro  Taverna, that story is brought vividly to life. 

Set on the caldera cliffs in the heart of Fira, opposite Santorini’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Rizes  invites travelers to experience the island beyond the postcard. Across its stone-paved terraces, the  volcano, the Aegean Sea and the changing colors of sunset form a dramatic backdrop to a dining  experience that is unmistakably Greek: generous, soulful and meant to be shared. 

The restaurant’s name, Rizes—the Greek word for “roots”—expresses its entire philosophy. Here,  tradition is not treated as something fixed in the past. It is a living source of inspiration, translated  into contemporary dishes with clarity, imagination and respect for the ingredient. The result is  refined without becoming formal, cosmopolitan without losing its sense of place, and deeply  connected to the timeless spirit of Greek hospitality. 

Under the direction of Co-Owner and Executive Chef Alexandros Makropoulos, together with Head  Chef Maria Sylla and Pastry Chef Eleni Mania, the kitchen explores recipes and memories from  Santorini, the Cyclades and the wider Greek landscape. The menu moves from fava with caper  chutney and pickled onions to charcoal-grilled calamari “kontosouvli,” oven-baked “giouvetsi” with  prime steak and “Manoura” cheese, and slow-cooked goat shoulder finished with lemon oil.  Desserts continue the journey through familiar Greek flavors in unexpected forms, including a  Vinsanto chocolate sphere with sour cherries and “kaimaki” ice cream. 

“Santorini is admired for what visitors see, but at Rizes we want them to taste and feel the island as  well. Our purpose is to share a Greece that is authentic and generous—rooted in memory, shaped  by the land and expressed with a contemporary voice.” 

— Panagiotis Iglesis, Co-Owner, Rizes Gastro Taverna 

Wine is central to the experience. The restaurant’s traditional stone cellar brings together  distinguished labels from Santorini and across Greece alongside selected international wines, with  particular attention to the volcanic character of Assyrtiko and the island’s historic Vinsanto. Guests  can go deeper through an intimate private cellar dinner or a guided wine and olive oil heritage  tasting—experiences designed to turn dinner into a meaningful encounter with Greek terroir and  culture. 

Architecture and atmosphere complete the sense of place. Designed by acclaimed interior architect  Dimitrios Oikonomou, Rizes balances Cycladic textures, natural stone and clean contemporary 

lines. As daylight fades, the terraces evolve from a front-row seat to the caldera into a vibrant  evening setting of music, cocktails, wine and relaxed sophistication. 

In 2026, Rizes received one star from the FNL Best Restaurant Awards as a Newcomer in the  “gastrotaverna" category and was ranked No. 7 on The Skinos List, FNL’s selection of ten  unmissable dining experiences in Greece for the year 2026. The restaurant is also nominated for  Greece’s Best Restaurant 2026 at the World Culinary Awards—distinctions that reflect its rapid  emergence as one of Santorini’s most compelling culinary destinations. 

For American travelers seeking a more meaningful taste of Santorini, Rizes offers something  increasingly rare: a restaurant where the view may be unforgettable, but it is the food, the people  and the feeling of philoxenia that remain long after the sun has disappeared into the Aegean. 

About Rizes Gastro Taverna 

Rizes Gastro Taverna is an upscale Greek gastro taverna on the caldera cliffs of Fira, Santorini.  Inspired by the culinary traditions of Greece and the Cyclades, it brings together locally sourced  ingredients, modern technique, a curated wine cellar, signature cocktails and heartfelt Greek  hospitality. Rizes welcomes guests for sunset dining, late-evening drinks, private cellar experiences,  heritage tastings and special gatherings.

Rizes Gastro Taverna is part of the AESTIAN Philoxenia & Hospitality group of hotels and restaurants.