Santorini Sunsets — Restaurant in Municipality of Thira

A Sunset Squandered: A Disappointing Fiasco at Santorini Sunsets

Oh, Santorini Sunsets, you promised us the moon—or at least a golden hour to remember. Your website dazzled with glowing reviews, mouthwatering menus, and Instagram-worthy views that had us dreaming of the perfect night out in Oia. We’d saved for months for this European adventure, our hearts set on your rooftop haven. But what we got? A masterclass in how to turn a dream evening into a comedy of errors, minus the laughs.

Let’s start with the booking process—or lack thereof. Your website’s “reservation system” is a cryptic WhatsApp black hole. We sent three messages, each vanishing into the void with no reply. Undeterred, we called, only to be curtly informed you were “fully booked.” Fully booked? Spoiler alert: that was a lie bolder than the Santorini sun.

Determined to salvage our evening, we strolled through Oia, where restaurants welcomed walk-ins with open arms. Then, at golden hour, we stumbled upon your establishment, its iconic views glowing like a siren’s call. Surely, we thought, this was fate. But fate had other plans—and so did your staff.

We were greeted (if you can call it that) by a rope chain and a host whose disgruntled demeanor suggested we’d interrupted her personal vendetta against joy. I politely inquired about a table for three, only to be snapped at: “70 euros for you two, 30 for the child.” Now, it wasn’t about the money—we were here for the experience. From my vantage point, I could see a near-empty rooftop, maybe three of the 10-12 tables occupied. At golden hour. The math wasn’t mathing.

While my wife and son stepped to the corner to snap a photo of the breathtaking view, another host-waiter swooped in like a hawk, barking, “You don’t sit here! If you want a table, you sit over there!” Simultaneously, the original host doubled down, snapping again about the 70-and-30-euro minimum spend, as if I’d dared question her authority. Was this a restaurant or a shakedown? When I asked for clarification, she acted like I’d insulted her entire lineage. Apparently, the minimum spend was less a policy and more a test of our commitment to her bad mood.

The vibe? Ruined. The rooftop? A ghost town. The sunset? Wasted on the rudest staff we’ve ever encountered. It’s no mystery why your tables sat empty while the sun dipped below the horizon. We walked next door to a restaurant just as stunning, where the staff welcomed us with warmth and didn’t treat us like we were auditioning for a seat.

Santorini Sunsets, your views may be world-class, but your hospitality is a masterclass in disappointment. The money-driven atmosphere and blatant disregard for paying customers left a sour taste no sunset could redeem. Next time, we’ll save our euros—and our evening—for a place that knows how to treat guests like they matter.

Rating: 1/5 stars. Would not recommend, unless you enjoy being scolded while the sunset mocks...

If I could give this place 100 stars, I would. This place is hands down the most amazing place we have dined in Greece!! The service was fantastic, the views were remarkable, the food was excellent, and the hospitality was magnificent. We were greeted by Katerina who was the sweetest. She made sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. The other waitress, whose name I did not get, was wonderful too. She recommended the dishes I ordered, which made all the difference to my dining experience. The menu is short but I will guarantee that anything you order will be of the highest quality. We started with the Variety of Bread and the Watermelon & Feta Cheese Salad, so refreshing. Then, we ordered the Moussakas and the Chicken Fillet dishes, which were both very well executed. Lastly, we ended with the Chocolate Souffle, which was warm, rich and delightful. I cannot express enough how amazing the staff was. They treated us like family and undoubtedly left us with a great memory of Santorini. Of course, one of the main reasons people flock to this place is for the views of the most beautiful sunset. This too, was a beautiful sight to see. Sunsets cafe will forever be one of my favorite experiences in Santorini. The ambience and music choice was a perfect combination, which set the tone for a wonderful evening. Also, a huge shout out and thank you to Flora and Nikolas for also making our night unforgettable. The Margaritas were spot on, strong and delicious. My man was so happy they also had his favorite drink of choice, something we hadn't had the entire time out there. Sunsets cafe is truly a 10 out of 10 all around. I would go back in...

My friends and I chose this venue for our final night in Santorini after it was recommended by our hotel. To say we were disappointed is an understatement. For an establishment that expected us to spend a minimum of 200€ between three people, you would think the service would be good or, at the very least, that the waitstaff would be friendly. Well, that was far from our experience.

Upon arrival, we took some photos at our table, as you do when watching a beautiful sunset in one of the world’s most iconic destinations. From there, it took almost half an hour for a waitress to take our order. We decided to start with some cocktails and bread while we continued looking at the menu. However, 20 minutes went by, and there were still no cocktails. We tried to flag down the waitress several times to place our order for the main courses, but we were repeatedly dismissed and ignored.

After 45 minutes, we still hadn't received our cocktails or had our main order taken. An hour passed, and we had only received some below-average, dry bread, accompanied by three tiny blocks of cheese and bland olives. By this point, the sun had almost set, and we decided to leave and go to a nearby venue, which had a much better menu and exceptional service.

If you're in Santorini, I recommend visiting one of the many other establishments that offer a sunset view, as this one was not worth our...