If you’re looking for a true fine-dining experience in Santorini, Selene is on a completely different level from your typical Greek island dinner.
Located inside a historic monastery in Fira, Selene specializes in multi-course tasting menus that take traditional Santorini ingredients and turn them into some seriously creative dishes.
In this Selene Santorini review, I’m sharing what we ordered, how much dinner cost, what the experience was actually like, and whether I think it’s worth the splurge.
We chose Selene because it was so highly rated, and the reviews were consistently good enough that we felt like we had to see what all the fuss was about.
Spoiler alert. The food was 10/10. The service was 10/10. The atmosphere was 10/10.
It was easily one of the most memorable meals of our entire Greece trip.
Selene has been part of Santorini’s food scene since 1985, when Giorgos Hatzigiannakis and his wife Evelyn opened the restaurant with a focus on showcasing local ingredients and traditional Santorini flavors in a more refined way.
Today, Selene is located inside a former 18th-century Catholic monastery in Fira, which is now part of Katikies Garden Santorini.
In 2021, chef Ettore Botrini took over the culinary direction, continuing Selene’s focus on local ingredients while reinterpreting traditional Greek and Cycladic dishes through modern fine-dining techniques.
The restaurant also has a serious wine program overseen by Master of Wine Yiannis Karakasis, with a major focus on Santorini wines.
And Selene has the recognition to back all of that up.
On October 20, 2026, Selene was officially awarded its first Michelin star as part of the 2027 Michelin Guide, making it one of the first restaurants in Santorini to receive the distinction.
If you’re interested in trying more restaurants during your trip, my Where to Eat in Santorini Greece: Restaurants We Actually Tried covers the places we personally visited around the island.
Dreamy. Romantic. Kind of like a Greek villa meets a high-end restaurant.
Selene sits inside the courtyard of the old monastery, surrounded by stone walls, arches, and greenery. It has a quieter, historic atmosphere that you don’t necessarily expect in the middle of Fira.
The setting feels elegant and the architecture gives the restaurant a completely different character from the typical caldera-view restaurants Santorini is known for.
It is definitely formal, but it never felt stuffy.
You’re enjoying a multi-course tasting menu in a historic setting with extremely attentive service, so this is absolutely a special-occasion kind of meal.
But the staff were warm, funny, and personable enough that it never felt like we had to sit silently and be afraid to touch the wrong fork.
That balance was something I really appreciated. You get the polished fine-dining experience without feeling uncomfortable or out of place.
When we visited, Selene offered three tasting experiences: Half Moon, Harvest Moon, and Full Moon.
Brad chose the Half Moon, while I ordered the Harvest Moon, which is the vegetarian tasting menu.
The Full Moon includes additional courses and upgrades compared with the other menus.
Would I choose it?
Honestly, we were already SO full by the end of our meal. Unless you’re competing for a spot in some kind of food-eating challenge, I personally don’t think you need the longest menu to feel like you got the full Selene experience.
The Half Moon and Harvest Moon were plenty.
Individual dishes and prices can change, so the menus below reflect what was offered during our visit.
Reservations are pretty much a must at Selene, especially since this is such a popular fine-dining restaurant. I wouldn’t count on walking in and getting a table. I’d recommend booking well in advance, particularly if you’re visiting during Santorini’s busy summer season.
Brad ordered the Half Moon tasting menu, which featured seafood, meat, and traditional Santorini ingredients, while I chose the Harvest Moon vegetarian menu.
And I’ll be honest, I was slightly nervous about mine.
At some fine-dining restaurants, the vegetarian menu can feel like the regular menu minus all the exciting ingredients. Almost like, “Well, I guess we’ll give you some vegetables.”
That was NOT the case here.
We started with small bites featuring local Santorini ingredients, followed by freshly baked bread and creative takes on traditional Greek dishes.
Brad’s menu was definitely more seafood-focused, with everything from raw fish paired with cacao butter and raisins to red prawns and lamb. Some of the combinations sounded a little strange on paper, but that’s part of what made dinner so interesting.
Meanwhile, my vegetarian menu was anything but boring! There was a Greek spinach-and-cheese pastry, thinly sliced watermelon paired with smoky cheese and truffle, and even pasta with sour cherries and olive oil.
Fruit in pasta? I know. But it worked!
We also both had Selene’s signature tomato tart, which was hands down my favorite dish of the entire evening. More on that below because it deserves its own section.
Even dessert was unusual, combining ingredients like strawberry, eggplant, and Santorini’s famous sweet wine. And we finished with a little Greek doughnut topped with pistachio and citrus.
It sounds like a lot. Because it is. Ha!
But each course was small and carefully paced, so the meal built throughout the evening rather than feeling like someone dropped ten full plates in front of you.
By the end, I was completely stuffed, but I loved how every course brought something different to the table.
What impressed me most was that my vegetarian menu felt just as special and thoughtfully prepared as Brad’s. There was just as much creativity and care put into my dishes, and I never once felt like I was missing out.
If you’re vegetarian and still want a true fine-dining experience in Santorini, I would have no hesitation booking the Harvest Moon menu.
A Little Travel Inspiration
There were so many good things during this meal, but one dish completely stood out.
The tomato tart.
This was SO SO good.
And when our server explained everything that went into making it, I understood why.
The base was made from an extra virgin olive oil dough, topped with a tomato aioli made using San Marzano tomatoes.
The tomato itself went through several preparation techniques, including slow cooking and finishing in the oven while still keeping its shape.
Underneath the tart was a cream made from Kariki, a traditional Greek blue-style cheese that’s aged inside a hollowed-out gourd. Basil oil was drizzled over the cheese cream, and the dish was finished with basil sorbet.
Yes, basil sorbet.
The tomato flavor was incredibly concentrated, but the dish still felt delicate. You had the crisp olive-oil pastry, creamy tomato aioli, salty Kariki cream, basil oil, and cold basil sorbet all working together perfectly.
It’s pretty impressive when a restaurant takes something as basic as a tomato and turns it into the thing you remember most from dinner.
When dinner was over. Ha!
Seriously, there wasn’t a single course I disliked.
Everything felt intentional, and I was genuinely impressed from beginning to end.
Over-the-top good.
Not over-the-top in an annoying way. Over-the-top in a how did you notice I needed that before I did? way. The staff were caring, funny, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about the food.
Every course came with an explanation, which I loved because several dishes featured traditional Santorini ingredients or preparation techniques that you might not immediately recognize just by looking at the plate.
Another thing I really appreciated was how perfectly timed everything was. Even though Brad and I ordered different tasting menus, our courses were always brought out at the exact same time. Neither of us was ever sitting there watching the other person eat.
And they never rushed us! The staff waited until we were both completely finished with each course before clearing our plates and bringing out the next one. Everything felt so well coordinated, but we never felt like we were on a schedule.
And then there were all the little fine-dining touches.
If you got up from the table, someone would refold your napkin on your chair before you returned. It sounds tiny, but those little details add up.
What impressed me most was that the staff could provide that level of service while still having personality. They weren’t robotic or overly serious, and they genuinely made the evening more enjoyable.
Plan for a long dinner.
We were there for roughly three hours, and I wouldn’t recommend making plans for another activity immediately afterward.
Each course is presented individually, with time for the staff to explain the ingredients and preparation. It’s a slower dining experience than a traditional restaurant, and that’s part of what you’re paying for.
Personally, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
If I’m paying for a tasting-menu experience like this, I want to enjoy it rather than feeling like they’re trying to turn the table.
If you’d rather explore Fira with a guide, a walking tour is another option before your reservation. A guided walking tour of Fira can be a good way to learn more about the village’s history and explore its winding streets before dinner.
Yes, Selene is expensive. This is absolutely a splurge meal.
Here were the tasting-menu prices during our visit:
| Tasting Menu | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| Half Moon | €170 |
| Harvest Moon (vegetarian) | €180 |
| Full Moon | €210 |
Wine pairings were available for an additional charge, with multiple pairing levels depending on the menu and wines selected.
For Brad and me, our two tasting menus came to €350 before any additional drinks or charges.
So no, this isn’t your casual €20 Santorini dinner.
But you also aren’t just paying for dinner. You’re paying for several hours of food, service, presentation, history, and atmosphere inside an 18th-century monastery.
For a special dinner in Santorini, I thought the experience justified the splurge.
Just be sure to check the latest menu and pricing before booking, since both can change.
Selene is located in Fira, Santorini’s capital, inside Katikies Garden Santorini in the town’s historic Venetian quarter.
This makes it convenient to include in an evening exploring Fira, particularly if you’re already staying nearby.
However, you don’t have to stay in Fira to enjoy dinner here. If you’re still deciding which part of Santorini to use as your base, my Where to Stay in Santorini: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors compares the different areas and helps you choose.
If you’re planning a special occasion trip, Katikies Garden Santorini is worth considering since Selene is located right inside the property. You can also compare other hotels in Fira if you’d prefer to stay within walking distance of restaurants and shops.
For me, it was the fact that everything worked together.
Sometimes you have an incredible restaurant view, but the food is just okay. Sometimes the food is outstanding, but the service feels stiff. And sometimes the service is great, but the restaurant itself doesn’t feel particularly memorable.
Selene didn’t have that problem.
The restaurant isn’t relying on a famous Santorini sunset or caldera view to make dinner feel special. Instead, the focus is on the food, the people serving it, and the historic surroundings.
I also appreciated how much of the menu was connected to Santorini itself.
Ingredients like local fava, katsouni cucumber, Santorini tomatoes, Assyrtiko, and Vinsanto appeared throughout the tasting menus, but they were prepared in ways that made familiar Greek dishes feel completely different.
It felt specific to Santorini rather than like a luxury restaurant that could have been anywhere.
If you’re putting together your sightseeing plans around restaurant reservations, my The Perfect 5 Days in Santorini Greece: A Complete Itinerary can help you organize everything without spending your entire trip driving back and forth across the island.
Absolutely, and without hesitation!
I think what surprised me most about Selene was how much I enjoyed the entire experience, not just the food. I went in with pretty high expectations because of the reviews, and somehow, it still managed to exceed them.
And considering the price, that’s saying something!
Somehow I was completely stuffed and yet still sad when the final course arrived because I knew dinner was almost over.
Would I spend the money again? Absolutely. In fact, I’d love to go back and see what they’ve come up with for their next seasonal menu.
And that tomato tart? I would go back just to eat that again.
If you’re deciding whether to splurge on Selene during your Santorini trip, I really don’t think you’ll regret it.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
Compare Santorini accommodations on Booking.com, including hotels in Fira, Oia, and other areas of the island.
If you’re deciding between the island’s two most famous towns, my Oia vs Fira: Which Santorini Town Is Better for Your Trip? explains the differences.
Browse Santorini tours on Viator for guided sightseeing, food experiences, and other activities to add to your trip.
For more ideas beyond dinner, see my The Best Things to Do in Santorini Greece.
If you’re planning to explore beyond Fira, compare rental car prices through Discover Cars.
My Driving in Santorini Greece: Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Car covers what it’s actually like navigating the island.
If this is your first trip to Greece, my How to Plan a Trip to Greece: A First-Time Guide covers the bigger planning decisions before you arrive.
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I’m Wendy, and yes, I travel for a living (still pinching myself). After 15 years teaching middle school math, I traded the whiteboard for a passport and never looked back. Knoxville is home base, but Arizona sunsets are on another level, and if it’s been sitting on your list, this is your sign to finally say yes and book it. City guides, hotel reviews, and foodie spots are all on the blog. So glad you’re here 🌵☀️
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