Volkan on the Rocks — Restaurant in Municipality of Thira

What a breathtaking view! Arrived at 8:00 to catch the sunset, and the walk was well rewarded. The ambiance is a solid 5/5 - make sure to reserve a table with a view in advance. Let's delve into the culinary experience. Unfortunately, the food left something to be desired. The prices were quite steep for dishes that were only average. The cotton candy vodka drink, priced at €17, didn't live up to its cost.

The appetizers were a highlight! The must-try items are the goat cheese cake and zucchini fritters. However, the main courses fell short of expectations. The pistachio overpowered the mushroom and pistachio pesto pasta, resulting in a rather bland taste. The ribs were overly salted and lacked flavor, making the €39 price tag hard to justify. We also ordered a pilaf risotto, but before I delve into its taste, let me share a little incident. My dad needed some extra time to decide on his order, but despite asking three different waitstaff, it took thirty minutes for them to return and take his order. By the time his dish arrived, we had finished everything else! We even attempted to cancel the order shortly after placing it, but the waiter's response was a delayed journey to the kitchen. After fifteen minutes, the chef appeared with the risotto and practically sprinted away. I wish I was exaggerating! The service felt rushed and chaotic, detracting from our overall dining experience. The risotto was enjoyable, but we had to pack it up since we had only half an hour to get back to our hotel shuttle's meeting point.

In summary, I recommend arriving before sunset and focusing on appetizers. The view was stunning, but the high bill and slow service might make you think twice. Oh, and a small note: the restaurant's cat unexpectedly scratched my brother. It playfully leapt at his arm while he was eating, leaving a minor cut. We found it amusing, so we didn't make a fuss, but it's a quirky anecdote...

Photos attached for reference-

Dinner: The evening began with confusion. Even though we had a reservation for 6:30pm, we were first made to wait in a holding area. We had “premium tickets” and assumed dinner was included, but discovered this wasn’t the case. Instead of being seated in the main restaurant, we were brought to the à la carte area, where the prices were much higher and the set-up wasn’t explained clearly.

The staff seemed stressed and overworked, and when we tried to clarify how things worked, the responses felt rushed and almost sharp — though I understand they were under pressure.

The menu was limited, and the only appetising option for us was the ribeye steak (€42 each). When the food arrived, it was hugely disappointing: the portion was tiny, more like a starter than a main, on a small plate, and completely underwhelming. It was not worth €42 by any standard.

We explained our concerns to the waiter, who was polite and understanding. He took the plates back to the kitchen and did not charge us. In the end, we left without eating there and went to find food elsewhere before returning later for the cinema.

Cinema: The cinema was enjoyable in parts due to the view and sunset, but again overpriced. Tickets were €22 each, which included only entry to the movie and a small “snack” literally a few pieces of cucumber and tomato with seasoning, pita bread and something else. For the price, this felt poor value. I saw a popcorn machine at the back but it wasn’t in use. Drinks extremely overpriced.

If you decide to go, I’d recommend booking the sing-along version of the film. I love the movie and wanted to get up and dance, but since ours was the standard showing, it was just a silent viewing. I would recommend you book a beautiful restaurant before your cinema and...

We had booked 25 seats at Volkan for the 10PM showing of Mamma Mia at their theater on September 21. When the Ifestia fireworks festival was pushed from 9/20 to 9/21, we decided to come to Volkan earlier in the evening, and bought tickets for their fireworks viewing.

Fireworks tickets were €25 per person and included 1 cocktail. This was the perfect location to watch Ifestia and had a great vantage point overlooking the volcano. After the show, they allowed us to stay and enjoy the atmosphere. The bar is multi-level, winding down the cliffside. There are a lot of stairs. Our group hung out on a middle level, and the staff turned our space into a huge party after the fireworks. They led us in Greek dances, played popular dance music, and gave free shots to that whole area.

The first movie showing of the night started late due to the fireworks, so our 10PM movie did not start until closer to 10:30PM. This was no issue for us though as the staff kept us so entertained and well-lubricated. Movie tickets were €22 per person and included a small mezze plate. A full bar and food menu are available during the show. They use silent-disco style headphones for the movie.

Our group were singing, dancing, and having a fabulous time throughout the whole show. If you are looking for a quiet cinema experience, this would not be the spot for you. But if you are looking to have a great time and dance and sing your heart out to ABBA with a great backdrop, fantastic cocktails, and fun staff, then this spot is...