For an authentic taste of Greece, make your way to one of Kos' budget-friendly family restaurants or traditional taverns and ask for their "Specialty" menu. To start, don't miss out on the renowned Greek salad – everyone prepares it at home, but there's something special about the authentic Greek recipe!
Next, savor katimeria (sweet flatbreads with cheese, cinnamon, and lemon), sample the array of local cheeses (feta, saganaki, graviera, halloumi, and the prized red cheese matured in red wine). You can also indulge in pitaridia (homemade pasta cooked in meat broth), pligouri (porridge with pork), and varvara (a dessert made from wheat porridge with nuts, rose water, and cinnamon).
Kos is known for its traditional alcoholic beverages, and you must try them. Highlights include ouzo (a 40-degree anise-infused spirit with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, priced at around 3-5 EUR per bottle), tsipouro and raki (both grape-based spirits), as well as the local wines like retsina, moschato, asirtiko, moschofilero, and mandilaria.
