Thalassa Restaurant

Thalassa Restaurant sits right on the sand of Golden Beach, one of the longest and most visited stretches of coastline on Thassos, with tables close enough to the water that the sound of the waves is part of the meal. The name means "sea" in Greek, and the taverna earns it.

The menu moves comfortably between sea and land. Fresh fish, grilled octopus, calamari in every form (grilled, fried, or stuffed), mussels, and pasta share the card with souvlaki, meatballs, ribs from local lamb and goat, schnitzel, and a solid spread of traditional Greek dishes. It's the kind of menu where every table finds something, and most tables order more than they planned.

The hospitality has a shape to it that is worth mentioning. Every meal opens with a complimentary glass of raki and Thassos olives and closes with a complimentary dessert of fruit or sweets. It is an old-fashioned generosity that is becoming harder to find, offered here without fanfare.

Golden Beach stretches for nearly 2 kilometres and draws visitors from across the island throughout the summer. Thalassa Restaurant is the kind of place you end up at after a long afternoon on the sand, staying well past the point you intended to leave, as the moonrise over the Aegean turns the whole horizon into something worth lingering for.