Where to Eat in Vlychadia, Kalymnos: Coffee, Lunch and Dinner on the Beach

Where exactly is Vlychadia?

Vlychadia is on the southern side of Kalymnos, below the village of Vothyni. From Pothia, the island's port and capital, it is about 6 km, or 5 to 10 minutes by car. The road ends at a small bay with clear, shallow water, a few houses, and our restaurant right on the beach.

Search for "Vlychadia, Kalymnos" rather than just "Vlychada": there is a well known Vlychada on Santorini and another in Crete, and maps and search engines often mix them up.

Our story: a family taverna since 1995

Nomiki and Ilias opened the place in 1995 as a small taverna by the water. They wanted to call it Paradise, but the name could not be registered, so they chose something close to it that matched how they saw the bay: Paradisio.

Thirty years later it is still a family affair. Ilias is the face of the restaurant. Nomiki still makes the traditional Kalymnian recipes. Michalis, the second generation, runs the kitchen, and I (Giannis) look after the dining room and our guests.

Morning: coffee and breakfast by the sea

We open at 09:30. For many years coffee was our main focus, and we are still a little obsessed with it, so the morning is a lovely time to come: a good coffee, breakfast, and a swim while the bay is at its quietest.

On the beach: snacks and cocktails

Paradisio is also a beach bar. If you are spending the day on a sunbed, there is a light beach snack menu until 17:00 for something quick between swims, and our bar serves cocktails and spirits all day. The full menu is served all day too, so whenever you are ready for a proper meal, it is waiting.

Lunch: fresh fish and Kalymnian dishes

Our fish comes from our own local fishermen, so the menu follows the sea. Depending on the day you may find grouper, red mullet, red porgy (fagri) or gilthead sea bream. Ask us what came in that morning and we will tell you how we would cook it.

Dishes our guests order again and again:

• Tuna fillet, one of the most loved plates on the menu.
• Fylla, the Kalymnian name for stuffed vine leaves, made with Nomiki's recipe.
• Mermizeli, the island's own salad, built on a barley rusk.
• Octopus fritters (chtapodokeftedes): minced octopus with thyme and local herbs, often called octopus meatballs although there is no meat in them.
• Bread that we bake ourselves.

Not in the mood for fish? Locals often come for our meat: pork and prime cuts such as tomahawk, picanha and ribeye. And there are vegetarian and vegan options too.

Evening: dinner while the bay changes colour

We will be honest: you cannot see the sun set into the sea from Vlychadia. What you do get is the moment the light turns gold and pink over the water and the hills around the bay, which many guests tell us they like even more. We serve dinner until midnight, with a wine list made only of Greek grape varieties from some of the best wineries in the country. Finish with halva mousse, chocolate cream or ice cream.

Why Vlychadia is good for families and windy days

• Shallow, calm water: one of the best beaches on Kalymnos for small children.
• Sheltered from the north wind: when the strong meltemi blows, our part of Vlychadia stays very protected, so it is a good plan B when other beaches are rough.
• Sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach, and a covered area if it rains.
• Dogs are welcome in our open-air space, and the restaurant and toilets are wheelchair accessible.

How to get to Vlychadia

Vlychadia beach at a glance

A perfect day in Vlychadia

1. 09:30, coffee: start slow with a proper coffee and breakfast while the bay is still glassy.
2. 10:30, swim: the water is shallow near the shore, so children can play safely, and the clear bay is a favourite for snorkelling.
3. 12:00, adventure: take a canoe out on the bay, or jump into the deep water from the rocks at Vala, as we locals call it.
4. 14:00, long lunch: fish of the day, fylla, mermizeli and a bottle of Greek white wine. Take your time; nobody will rush you.
5. 17:00, second swim: the afternoon water is at its warmest. Order a cocktail from the bar and stay on your sunbed a little longer.
6. 19:30, evening: stay for dinner while the light turns gold over the bay, or have a last coffee and a dessert before you drive back to Pothia or Massouri.

Eating out on Kalymnos: a few local tips

• Fish is usually sold by weight. In most Greek fish tavernas you choose the fish, it is weighed, and you pay by the kilo. Ask to see what came in that day; a good taverna is proud to show you.
• Order meze to share. Greeks rarely eat a starter each. Put fylla, mermizeli and a few small plates in the middle of the table and keep ordering.
• Lunch is late, dinner is later. Locals often have lunch after 14:00 and dinner after 21:00, so you will rarely be the last table.
• Try the local dishes. Kalymnos has its own salad, its own name for dolmades and a famous celebration dish, mououri. Read our Kalymnos food guide to know what to order.

Who comes to Vlychadia?

Over thirty years we have seen the island change, and so have our guests. In high summer many tables are Greek families from Australia, the USA, Belgium and France coming home to Kalymnos, together with lots of visitors from Scandinavia. In spring and autumn the climbers arrive, many from Austria, Northern Italy, France and Switzerland, looking for a rest day by the sea. Sailors from Germany and all over Europe, day trippers from Turkey and, more and more, travellers from Australia and New Zealand complete the picture. It makes for a lovely mix of languages on the terrace.

What else to do in Vlychadia

Swim, paddle a canoe, try water sports, or jump from the rocks at Vala into deep, clear water. The bay is also popular for snorkelling and diving, and there is a dive centre in the area. On the road from Pothia you pass the Kalymnian House folk museum and the monastery of Agios Savvas, with its view over the harbour. See our full guide to things to do in Vlychadia. Before you leave, have a look at our Paradisio Concept Store inside the restaurant, with clothing, jewellery, hats and swimwear by Greek designers, many of them handmade.