Traditional Greek cooking has a long history of meat-free dishes, particularly around religious fasting periods in the Orthodox calendar — which makes Santorini more workable for vegetarian and vegan travellers than it might first appear, even though menus aren't always labelled clearly.
What to look for
- Fava — the island's signature pureed split-pea dish is naturally vegan as typically prepared, though confirm no stock or butter has been added.
- Tomato and courgette fritters (domatokeftedes, kolokythokeftedes) — traditionally plant-based, though check whether egg is used as a binder.
- Horta — wild greens, usually boiled and dressed with olive oil and lemon, a Greek taverna staple.
- Fresh Greek salad — ask for it without feta for a vegan version; with feta, it's naturally vegetarian.
- Gigantes — giant baked beans in tomato sauce, another naturally vegan classic when made traditionally.
What to double-check
Stock bases aren't always meat-free by default, and fried dishes are sometimes cooked in the same oil as meat or seafood items — worth asking directly if that matters to you. Menus in more tourist-oriented restaurants along the caldera path are increasingly likely to mark vegetarian and vegan options clearly; smaller inland tavernas may need a direct question instead.
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