Selene Restaurant — Restaurant in Municipality of Thira

Last night, I dined at Selene restaurant. Before going, I had reservations due to the mixed Google reviews I had read. However, I prefer forming my own judgments, and I'm delighted I did. Having spent the past two weeks in Santorini, with a background in the culinary and hospitality industry, I relish experiencing local cuisine and fine dining options wherever I travel.

Prior to my visit, I knew Selene was known for fine dining, so my expectations were high. Although finding this hidden gem along a cobblestone alley from a main road was a bit challenging, the beautiful building's entrance welcomed me. The hostess escorted us to the main restaurant, sharing its history as a former monastery still partially in use. This unique blend of old-world charm and modern artistry immediately captivated me.

Stepping into the main dining area, a stunning courtyard with a Moroccan ambiance transported me to a different Santorini. Seated by a serene pond, surrounded by palm trees, birdsong, and a well-curated soundtrack, the ambiance was exceptional.

When it came to the gastronomic journey, I was pleased to have three options: a tasting menu, a vegetarian version, and an à la carte selection. Despite concerns about portion size in previous reviews, each dish from start to finish was exciting, meticulously crafted, and bursting with flavor. The staff's knowledge was impressive; every team member could eloquently describe the dishes.

Opting for the wine pairing, I was equally impressed by the exceptional wines that flawlessly complemented each course, generously poured throughout the evening. The service and food preparation were impeccable, earning another perfect score.

In summary, Selene is not your typical Greek taverna or budget-friendly eatery. It's a hidden fine dining oasis, and such quality comes at a price. If you seek a breathtaking view of the caldera, you won't find it here. However, if you appreciate world-class cuisine and impeccable service, this restaurant exceeds expectations.

I left Selene still savoring the exquisite meal, and it's a rare experience to be this satiated the next day. I wish the restaurant continued success and believe people should exercise caution when posting online reviews, as they can unfairly impact businesses. Selene is a testament to a restaurant that truly cares.

A perfect...

Me and my husband went there in August 2024 hearing all about the experience. We live in London and have travelled as foodies quite a bit around the world.

The setting and atmosphere was great, although not as great as the pictures capture on social media. We were given an OK table. We had been exchanging emails about the fact that we were in Santorini as a minimoon after our wedding in July. Although no restaurant is obliged to do anything special about it, typically, some sort of acknwledgement is given.

We are very familiar with the chef in many other establishments. We have found that his recipes are hit or miss for our own taste, but appreciate and respect his work.

The food was mediocre all the way and, at times, it was bad. I am not really sure about the raving reviews although the place seemed to be full of just I-have-money-to-spend guests which, many times, does not go hand in hand with having a sophisticated food taste. This was a very big dissapointment as our expectations were not met. Our expectations were not high though anyway as we have been warned by few other people who visited the restaurant before.

The worst experience was the service- not the service of the people who we had a direct interaction, but the general one. The guys who were our waiters were great and kudos to them for trying to keep us satisfied. The worst was the GM who completely ignored our complaints, a request to chat about the music choices which was great, and the girls dressed in balck dresses that had an unexplainable snobbish behaviour.

We left very dissapointed and not returning at any time. We have also advised our friends and acquaintances about the circumstances to avoid any dissapointment.

Proof to the level of understanding is that thus far the restaurant responds only concerns expressed by mid to high reviewers but not to low constructive feedback reviews.

In any case, it is a shame that this ruined our minimoon and that such a great establishment is in decline in...

We visited Selene during our honeymoon and chose the course menu (€175 per person, the least expensive option available). The atmosphere was wonderful — elegant, calm, and very romantic — and overall the staff were kind and attentive.

The experience started strong with excellent bread and olive oil, which stood out even for us as people living in France. The first amuse-bouche was delicious, while the second was simply spinach — not unpleasant, but not memorable either. The first starter, , was truly outstanding — full of flavor, beautifully balanced, and a dish I would gladly order again if offered as a main.

In contrast, was far too salty. When I gave this feedback politely, instead of the usual acknowledgment you’d expect in fine dining (“I’ll let the chef know”), our server simply said, “Oh, okay.” and walked away. The response felt surprisingly unprofessional and that left us both surprised.

For my main, I had . Unfortunately, the sauce didn’t work for me — it clashed with the fish and made the dish difficult to enjoy, though it may just not have suited my personal taste.

Desserts were creative, refreshing, and delicious. However, the mignardises that followed were deep-fried, heavy, and greasy, leaving the meal on a flat note instead of the light finish we had hoped for.

With two-course menus, one pre-dinner drink each, and a glass of wine each, the total came to €450. While there were definite high points and we enjoyed the evening overall, the food often leaned toward experimentation without achieving true harmony.

For the price, the experience felt unbalanced. It was good to experience once, but not something I would repeat...