Follow the locals in Greece for the best eats—huge portions of seafood pasta!

Text and photos byPingzi

Taverna Vangelis is located right next to the town square in Ano Mera, Mykonos, Greece. It’s about 8 kilometers from Mykonos town. Ano Mera is the most densely populated village on the island, located in the center of Mykonos, the second-largest village, and also one of the oldest villages in Mykonos. Taverna Vangelis is very eye-catching and easy to find, serving delicious and hearty meals. Nearby, there is also the famous Panagia Tourliani Monastery, making dining here a truly European and exotic experience.

About 8 kilometers from Mykonos town, Ano Mera is the most densely populated village on the island. It is the second-largest village after Mykonos town and one of the oldest villages in Mykonos. The area offers some luxury hotel rooms and studio apartments for rent. It’s a quiet village where locals continue their daily lives, less disturbed by tourists. The square in Ano Mera has a strong European and exotic vibe. Pingzi, who came here for a vacation, really loves this style of dining abroad—it’s so relaxing. On the Greek island of Mykonos in the Aegean Sea, the sea breeze feels refreshing, not sticky, and basking in the sun is warm and comfortable.

Taverna Vangelis is located in the town square of Ano Mera, a bit away from the port. Driving here is recommended, although many foreigners choose to stay in this area. Although it’s a bit far from Little Venice and the famous five windmills, it has an isolated, foreign atmosphere.

Restaurants usually place small signs like this at their entrances, so you can easily see what food they serve and what they recommend.

That day, we chose Taverna Vangelis, a Mykonos restaurant. The crowd represents business—and a guarantee of good food—so we went with this place. Plus, the sign clearly indicates the year it opened, giving it a sense of history.

Just looking at the sign of Taverna Vangelis in Mykonos, the white background with black text and slightly rounded font gives it a local touch and feels more approachable.

Many foreigners dine here, enjoying the sunshine—it’s such a cozy and beautiful scene.

By around 3 p.m., the place clears out and the restaurant prepares to close.

The slightly irregular flooring is a common decorative feature in many European and Greek establishments, adding to the cozy tavern atmosphere.

As soon as you step into Taverna Vangelis, you’re greeted by the rich aroma of grilled food and pasta—it’s very intense, making us hungry and excited for the meal.

The interior of Taverna Vangelis is full of Greek style—blue and white colors paired with historic wooden textures, giving it a very classy vibe.

The restroom is at the very end inside the restaurant. In Greece, the restrooms always seem clean, not damp or dirty like in some places.

Most of the recommended dishes are described in text, with few pictures. If you want to know what a dish is, you can keep asking the staff.

The menu is very high quality, all bound in plastic sleeves over paper, filled with text menus. Most of it is handwritten Greek, which is hard to understand—you just have to ask.

It was really hot that day, and we wanted something cool to drink. Here, water and drinks all cost money—water and cola are mostly around 5 to 10 euros, depending on the size of the bottle. Every time I travel abroad, it opens my eyes, and I realize how lucky we are in Taiwan—tap water is free. We should be grateful.

The smell of food in the restaurant kept wafting over, and seeing the neighboring table order pasta made us want to try it too. That day, we ordered seafood spaghetti (Spaghetti with seafood) for 25 euros.

Looking at the plate of pasta above might not seem like much, right? But hold your phone next to it, and you’ll see how huge the portion is—extremely generous, with plenty of food, topped with generous amounts of shrimp, clams, and squid. The ingredients are fresh and substantial. Two people can share one plate and be very satisfied.

The noodles are firm and springy, quite different from the Italian pasta in Taiwan. The texture is great—if you like chewy noodles, don’t miss out when visiting Aegean island countries.

Most of the cutlery is knives and forks, giving the whole experience a premium feel.

For dessert, we had watermelon that didn’t look very red or sweet but tasted incredibly sweet.

The town square in Ano Mera has many traditional taverns and restaurants. Although the prices aren’t cheap, Pingzi highly recommends dining here, especially if you’re planning to return from Kalafatis Beach in Mykonos. You can swing by here for lunch on the way back.

The town square of Ano Mera has a central monastery and the Panagia Tourliani Church. The Panagia Tourliani Monastery is entirely built in Cycladic architecture, possibly constructed in the 16th century (a contemporary icon from 1542 bears an inscription by two monks referencing a miraculous icon). It was renovated in 1767. The marble and water taps are impressive, as is the interior with Byzantine icons.

Also worth visiting is the Paleokastro Monastery, located on the mountain opposite, where you can see the ruins of a Byzantine castle, as well as remains of ancient tombs and artillery sites from the Geometric period. Due to the peaceful environment and location, visitors can easily access the beautiful beaches of Kalo Livadi, Elia, Kalafatis, and Agia Anna. Ano Mera has developed and now offers options for overnight stays. In the small central square, you’ll find taverns and pastry shops selling traditional sweets.

Panagia Tourliani Monastery (pictured above) is a very striking church with its all-white façade. This main building is perfect for those visiting Mykonos for DIY weddings and looking for photo spots.

Here’s a wedding photo Pingzi took for a friend—doesn’t it look beautiful? So picturesque.

Panagia Tourliani Monastery (pictured above), this beautiful monastery is located at the southeastern end of Ano Mera, just 8 kilometers away from Chora. It is one of the few villages not overtaken by tourism. The domed church and the Blessed Icon of the Virgin Mary (Tourlos) lend their name to the bell tower. The courtyard features intricate marble fountains and a beautiful Florentine wood-carved altar screen, among other special features of the monastery. There are also exhibitions of religious art and gems. Opening hours are daily from 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 19:30.

Just looking at the Panagia Tourliani Monastery, doesn’t it feel quite impressive?

Just like that, Pingzi kept taking photos non-stop, capturing the beautiful scenes at the Panagia Tourliani Monastery. Such scenery is perfect for printing as postcards to share with friends.

Taverna Vangelis Mykonos Restaurant (Mykonos). Most foreign business cards use images instead of logos or brand identity designs, simply featuring English and Greek text—a straightforward yet stylish European-American design.

Region: Vangelis Taverna / Taverna Vangelis
Restaurant Name:Mykonos Restaurant (Mykonos) in Ano Mera.
Phone: +30 2289 071577.
Address: The Square, Ano Mera 84600, Greece. 84600 Mýkonos, Kikladhes, Greece.
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Taverna-Vangelis/117432961680612.

upssmile Pingzi (up’s smile – Upward Smile)!
She is a designer and also the photographer behind “Upward Smile” Travel, Food, Design & Photography.
Passionate about “travel,” “food,” “design,” “photography,” and movies.
Blogger:http://upssmile.com/