Breakfast isn't traditionally a big meal in Greece, and it shows in how Santorini's cafés operate — coffee is often the main event, with a light bite alongside rather than a full cooked breakfast, though hotels catering to visitors typically offer a larger buffet-style spread.
Coffee styles worth knowing
- Greek coffee (elliniko) — strong, unfiltered, served in a small cup with the grounds settled at the bottom; ask for it "metrio" (medium sweet) if you don't specify.
- Frappé — cold, frothy instant coffee shaken with ice, a genuinely Greek invention and probably the single most-ordered drink at any beach café in summer.
- Freddo espresso / freddo cappuccino — Greece's own cold espresso-based drinks, distinct from an iced latte and worth trying specifically here.
A simple local breakfast
Bougatsa — a custard or cheese-filled filo pastry, dusted with sugar and cinnamon in its sweet version — is a common quick breakfast across Greece and shows up on Santorini too, alongside simpler options like Greek yoghurt with honey and walnuts.
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