Unleashing my inner Hemingway one passport stamp at a time; writing, exploring, photographing while celebrating the glory of middle age. Now where's my camera! :)
Escape Factor
I'm just going to spell it out from the get go, Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna is a magical place to spend the afternoon watching the sun set across the Aegean Sea. From Oia, you'll descend 300 steps to Amoudi Bay and as far as an escape from the everyday, Amoudi Bay is a far cry from the tourist filled restaurants and cafes of Oia. While it is possible to hire a taxi down to the bay, I strongly advise the walk. The volcanic landscape and lack of vegetation strongly contribute to the feeling you're somewhere a little different. The taverna is situated on the bay and you couldn't get any closer without getting your bread soggy. The tables are placed within inches of a vertical drop straight into the bay, you could fish from your table. No barriers, no roles, no railings, its seems Darwinism is alive and kicking, after all we're all adults right. The magical view is therefore uninterrupted and breathtaking, anything else would diminish from the unique dining experience. As far as an escape from the everyday and a unique dining experience, Dimitris Taverna ranks highly.
“Recommendations, well the lobster and whole sea bream is impossible to pass on, they are cooked to total perfection over hot coals.”
Seafood so fresh you won't believe your eyes, a huge pelagic being prepared by staff.
Annual Leave Worthy?
So is this place worth the trip and your valuable leave? Absolutely. Perhaps the only thing that can equal the majesty of the location is the freshness of the seafood closely followed by the personalised service. You just know that Santorini fishermen spent the day catching local seafood delicacies straight from the Aegean. A short conversation with staff will inform you that Dimitris has had an arrangement with local fisherman for more that two decades. Recommendations, well the lobster and whole sea bream is impossible to pass on, they are cooked to total perfection over hot coals. Service is first rate and incredibly friendly. Not once did I feel like a tourist as I enjoyed perfectly prepared seafood while watching the sun disappear into the Aegean Sea. Of course you can wash down your seafood with a ouzo, beer or Santorini wine, my recommendation is a few Crazy Donkey IPA - amazing. Tip: Staff are very friendly and you can ask to be taken behind the scenes to pick the exact fish, mussels or lobster you'd like to enjoy.
The breathtaking sunset view across Amoudi Bay from Dimitris Taverna.
Fresh fish being cooked simply to perfection over hot coals.
Fun for the freeloaders?
Well the freeloaders are going to be, dare I say it, as happy as clams if their in their mid to late teens. The location is magical, the seafood as fresh as it gets and service is personnel. All this guarantees you of a memorable experience with your tag alongers. What I will tell you is that if you do have a mid to late teen freeloader, Santorini (and the whole of Greece) is their lucky place. There is no legal age for drinking in Greece, only a legal age for buying alcohol which is 17. Staff are more than happy to allow you to purchase a sensible amount of drink for you teens guaranteeing you parent of the year status. Older freeloaders will love the experience for the exact same reasons you will.
The magical view looking down to Amoudi Bay at night.
The Taverna looks out over small fishing boats in Amoudi Bay.
Involuntary kidney donor?
So how safe is Amoudi Bay in Santorini? As safe as it gets. At no point during the evening or as we staggered up the 300 steps, did I feels in anyway unsafe with my family. Santorini is full of generously friendly people that are more than happy to help you where they can. Probably the only thing I would mention would be the donkey ride out of Amoudi Bay. The steps are step, irregular and the donkey can be erratic so if you've had a bit to drink, well get a cab. I had read some negative comments about the treatment of Santorini donkeys before arriving. The donkeys I saw were treated well, appeared well looked after and seemed happy, well as happy as a donky can look.
“At no time did I feel like I was treated like a tourist, a wallet to be efficiently processed and replaced as soon as possible by another well-funded foreign fat cat.”
Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna can be seen on the right, note the safety barrier. ;)
Traveller or Tourist?
So you've probably figured out by now that I really enjoyed my dining experience at Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna. The obliging staff at Dimitris made my family feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble. At no time did I feel like I was treated like a tourist, a wallet to be efficiently processed and replaced as soon as possible by another well-funded foreign fat cat. I recommend Dimitris to other travellers looking for a unique and memorable experience. I've always been attracted to water, relaxing while watching the magical colours of a Greek sunset across Amoudi Bay will be a life-long memory for me. Oh and by the way, the lobster was to die for!
Please note that this review has not been sponsored in anyway, these are the opinions of a traveller seeking to partake in the best the world has to offer. I hope you've enjoyed this article, below are my category ratings.
