Roka Oia — Restaurant in Municipality of Thira

As testament we went there twice - each time for dinner and just before sunset. The sunset certainly got us in the mood; ROKA completed a near ethereal experience. 😇

The first time we were there it was a surprise - it was far more enjoyable than we had expected - couldn’t find a single flaw the entire evening. But it was the second time that we felt convinced that Roka is simply exceptional; it holds its own admirably among the best restaurants in Óia, including those owned and run by M* Chefs. Remarkably unpretentious with a relaxed and convivial atmosphere, down to earth furniture, and of course its stucco walls … as comfortable as a Taverna; as satisfying as a home cooked meal (if one had a private Chef creating it! 😄)

Service: 5* (I’d have liked to give 7*!) to LITZA and her team for their smiles, courtesy, helpfulness, attentiveness, focus on detail, and commitment to making it an enjoyable evening for the guests. LITZA is a sommelier - she knows her wines - an encyclopaedia with suggestions that were on point for our chosen dishes!

Ambience: 4* (For us it was 5*! Although fully booked both times, they found us a table in between reservations to seat us on the terrace at our request - each time a perfect view!)

Food: Presentation 5* to the Chef and the kitchen for their artistry, imagination, flair in combining ingredients, perfect portion sizes, and a grand master’s palette of colourful accompaniments.

Taste: 5* (I’d again have liked to give 7*!) to the Chef for making each and every dish (in fact, ingredient!) stand out. The menu from complementary appetisers to starters, to the salads and main courses, the breads, dessert, and coffee, Roka has a very sensible, attractive, and eclectic range of choices! Food was delectable with intriguing blends of flavours and exceptional subtlety in preserving the taste and uniqueness of every ingredient.

Wine: 5* for each of two very different Greek wines. We placed our trust in the lady running the place - as we wanted but knew nothing about local wines. We were not disappointed!! Light, crisp, full of fruity aromas, one of them with a distinct but pleasant terroir flavour, and chilled to perfection. The bottles went down a charm (all too quickly!) 😁

Price: 5* (I’d again have liked to give 7*!) because it was perhaps the most reasonably priced restaurant that we ate at over the 10 days we stayed in Santorini; that includes Fira too! To put that in context, our experience as described above makes it even seem underpriced.

This is what makes one want to complement the establishment and its team with a commensurate gratuity (no it is not a tip; it’s a token of gratefulness for making it an exceptional experience, when one least expects it!)

Missing the opportunity to dine at Roka would be a...

Headline: “Do Not Visit Here If You Are of Ethnic Origin or Especially Turkish – A Racist Establishment with Mediocre Food and Astronomical Prices”

If you’re considering dining at Roka in Santorini, Oia, be warned: this is not the place to go, especially if you’re of ethnic origin or Turkish. Our experience was riddled with disrespect, poor service, and an overall atmosphere that made us feel unwelcome and undervalued.

From the moment we arrived, the service was subpar. We requested a table with a better view, only to be told it was reserved. Yet, two hours later, the table was still unoccupied—a clear sign that they had no intention of accommodating us. The view from our table was one of the worst on the island, distant and unimpressive, which was disappointing given Santorini’s renowned scenery.

Our experience went further downhill when we asked if we could smoke. The staff provided us with an ashtray, leading us to believe it was permitted. However, shortly after, they abruptly approached us and told us we couldn’t smoke because other customers had complained. The manner in which this was handled was intrusive and aggressive—two staff members approached us in a way that felt demeaning, scolding us loudly in front of other diners. It was embarrassing and unnecessarily confrontational, making us feel like we were being singled out.

The food itself was nothing to write home about—mediocre at best and certainly not worth the high prices. For a place that charges such astronomical amounts, you would expect a top-notch dining experience, but the quality of the dishes was far below what you’d find at other, far more welcoming establishments on the island.

Overall, Roka in Oia is a shoddy and disrespectful environment that fails to live up to even the most basic expectations of hospitality. If you value respectful service, good food, and a decent view, do yourself a favor and avoid this place. There are plenty of other wonderful restaurants in Santorini that will treat you with the kindness and professionalism that Roka...

Our experience at Roka was horrendous. We arrived at 6pm with a reservation in the courtyard (because they were fully booked). They sat us at the most uncomfortable table and we were expecting loads of people arriving, but nobody did. Why not seat us at a nice table or outside and ask if we are able to finish before 7:30 before their other guests come?? The restaurant was empty the entire time we were there. A minute after we ordered the drinks and appetizers the waiter (maybe owner) kept asking us to order but we were trying to just relax with our drinks, appetizers, and catch up for a minute. I finally asked (after his 4th approach within less than 5 minutes) if we needed to get out of here by a certain time and he said he had to check his books. Then he came back and said we could take our time “but have you decided on your entrees?” CRAZY!! The food was nice, but not WOW. I think most of the great reviews are because of the prices. The prices for the food are great. But not if the service is horrible. Besides rushing us, the staff was also very unfriendly. We’ve been to so many different Greek restaurant in Oia and Athens and every single waiter has been so friendly, accommodating, and kind. Greece has been the epitome of hospitality for us, so this experience was extremely disappointing. Some of the dishes do not come with sides and they do not have any sides on the menu. We asked for fries (which they don’t have) or any side and they said they would have to check with the kitchen. They then brought a tiny portion of potatoes with a frown. Overall, it was probably not a 1-star experience but I think that the Roka staff needs to get off their high horse and deliver much better service. I would rather pay more for service...