If you’re looking for a waterfront restaurant in Hydra with fresh Greek ingredients, excellent seafood, and a great location for watching the sunset, Sunset Restaurant is a strong choice. In this Sunset Restaurant Hydra review, I’m sharing what we thought of the food, service, and waterfront setting.
Here’s what we ordered, which dishes stood out, and a few things to know before making a reservation.
Sunset Restaurant has been part of Hydra’s dining scene for more than 30 years. It originally started with a simple concept: sharing fresh fish with friends beside the water as the sun went down.
Fresh seafood remains a major focus of the restaurant. Local fishermen supply fish, molluscs, and shellfish, so the selection changes depending on the season and what’s available.
Some of the restaurant’s signature dishes include Sea Bass Ceviche, Octopus Carpaccio, and Seafood Arancini. There’s also a Plat du Jour, which is French for “dish of the day” and features a special preparation using seasonal ingredients or the day’s fresh catch.
If you’re interested in seafood, I’d recommend asking your server what’s available that day rather than deciding entirely from the regular menu.
Sunset Restaurant is located along Hydra’s waterfront, less than a quarter mile from the main port. The walk takes approximately five minutes and goes slightly uphill, but we didn’t find it difficult.
Hydra is a car-free island, so walking is the easiest way to reach the restaurant from the port.
If you’re visiting for the day, my One Day in Hydra Greece: The Perfect Day Trip from Athens includes more things to see and do while you’re on the island.
The waterfront location is easily one of the restaurant’s biggest selling points.
We were seated at a table along the outer edge of the restaurant, with an open view across the water toward Spilia Beach. Having that unobstructed view but also shade was a perfect lunch setting.
Sunset is an excellent choice if you’re looking for restaurants with views in Hydra. You’re right along the island’s edge, overlooking the water, and I can see why people specifically plan their dinner reservations around sunset.
However, I wouldn’t limit a visit to sunset hours. We ate earlier in the day and still thoroughly enjoyed the setting.
We tried several dishes during our visit, including appetizers, a salad, and the fresh catch of the day.
The menu has a strong seafood focus, but there are plenty of options for people who don’t eat fish, which worked well for us since Brad loves seafood and I don’t prefer it.
If you’re in the same boat as me, my What to Eat in Greece If You Do Not Like Seafood has more ideas for enjoying Greek food without ordering fish.
We started with white and brown bread served with extra virgin olive oil and capers.
Simple? Yes. But the olive oil was SO good.
Our server explained that it came from a nearby island, and you could really taste the quality. It was rich and flavorful, and honestly, the bread didn’t need anything else.
Some of my favorite food memories from Greece involve the simplest ingredients, and really good bread dipped in really good olive oil is a perfect example.
If you love feta, order this.
The feta came coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs and was served with prickly pear chutney and Aegina pistachios.
The combination was excellent. The feta was salty and creamy inside, the panko added a nice crunch, and the chutney brought just enough sweetness to balance everything out.
I especially loved it with the sauce. The pistachios added another layer of texture, but that sweet and salty combination was what really made the dish.
I ordered the Sunset Salad, made with mixed green leaves, orange segments, radish, spring onion, and a homemade orange-ginger dressing.
First of all, this salad was HUGE.
I ate most of it myself, as it was my “main dish”, but you could easily split it between two or even three people, especially if you’re ordering appetizers or other dishes.
The orange segments added a fresh, slightly sweet flavor, while the radishes and spring onions gave it some crunch. I also really liked the homemade dressing. The orange and ginger worked well together and gave the salad plenty of flavor without overpowering the ingredients.
It was fresh, filling, and definitely something I would order again. If you’re looking for a lighter meal or something to share, this is a good option.
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Brad ordered the fresh catch of the day, which happened to be sea bass during our visit.
Our server took time to explain the fresh fish options and helped Brad decide what to order. I appreciated that because the selection changes depending on what the local fishermen bring in.
And Brad absolutely loved his fish.
The sea bass was extremely fresh, with a delicate, moist texture and a light, clean flavor.
If you’re hesitant about ordering fish because you don’t enjoy stronger-tasting varieties, sea bass is generally much milder than salmon or trout. It doesn’t have that overpowering fishy flavor some people dislike. I don’t like fish and I liked it!
Instead, the meat is tender and delicate, allowing the natural flavor of the fish to come through.
Brad thought it was excellent, and considering the restaurant’s focus on locally caught seafood, ordering the fresh catch made perfect sense.
Although we didn’t try everything, the menu had a surprisingly large selection of seafood, appetizers, and other Mediterranean dishes.
Some of the options included:
There were also fresh fish selections priced by weight, so keep that in mind if you’re ordering one of the larger catches.
While seafood is clearly the specialty, I had no trouble finding things I wanted to eat. Between the feta, salads, and other non-seafood dishes, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sunset to a group with different food preferences.
For more dishes to look for while exploring the country, check out my What to Eat in Greece: 25 Greek Foods You Have to Try.
The dessert menu included several interesting options, although we didn’t try any during our visit.
Choices included milk pie with cinnamon ice cream and honey sauce, coconut panna cotta with Aegina pistachio crumble, lemon cream with berries, bitter chocolate namelaka, and seasonal fruit.
There was also a Greek cheese selection with cheeses and cold cuts designed for two people.
We had excellent service throughout our meal. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful without making the experience feel overly formal.
He explained the dishes well and was particularly helpful when Brad was choosing his fish.
We visited Sunset Restaurant on a Saturday in September and arrived right when they opened.
We didn’t have a reservation and had absolutely no problem getting a table. In fact, we were able to sit along the outer edge of the restaurant with a fantastic view of the water.
However, I wouldn’t necessarily count on getting that same table without booking ahead.
If you’re planning to visit during the busy summer season, want to dine during sunset, or have your heart set on a waterfront table, I’d recommend making a reservation.
Our early arrival likely helped us get such a good seat without one.
It depends on what matters most to you.
For sunset views: Make a reservation around sunset and allow enough time to get seated before the sun starts going down. If possible, request a table along the outer edge of the restaurant.
For a quieter meal: Arriving when the restaurant first opens worked really well for us. We were seated immediately, had a great waterfront table, and didn’t have to compete with the sunset dinner crowd.
Personally, I would be happy with either option. The view was lovely during our earlier visit, but I’d also love to return for an actual sunset dinner.
For us, absolutely. I would return.
With such a prime waterfront location, it would be easy for Sunset to rely entirely on the scenery. Fortunately, that wasn’t our experience.
The bread and olive oil were excellent, the panko-crusted feta was a favorite from our Greece trip, my salad was enormous and fresh, and Brad loved his locally caught sea bass.
Add in knowledgeable service and an easy walk from Hydra’s port, and I can understand why Sunset has remained a popular restaurant on the island for so many years.
My advice? Come for the sunset, but make sure you’re hungry. The food deserves just as much attention as the view.
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A café, bakery, market, and wine shop all in one Phoenix stop 🍊
At La Grande Orange, order the crepes first, they’re the thing I’d go back for. The chicken salad sandwich is perfect if someone wants lunch while you’re still on breakfast, and the red velvet mini cupcake and a chai latte round it out. The sea salt chocolate chip cookie is heartier than gooey, so it’s best for dunkers. It’s counter service with easy parking, and the market has quirky gifts you won’t find elsewhere. Leave time to browse, because you’ll stay longer than planned.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ☀️
“Outside Terminal 3” is not a pickup location at PHX.
Before your driver pulls in, text them four things: your terminal, north or south side, door number, and inner or outer curb. Grab your bags first, then call them in. Drivers can wait free in the cell phone lot instead of circling. Getting through security is easy; getting picked up is the hard part.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ✈️
Come for the architecture, stay for the view.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has been built into Sedona’s red rocks since 1956. The outside overlooks get busy, but inside is quiet, with huge windows framing the rocks. It’s free, takes 30-45 minutes, and has a paved, wheelchair-accessible ramp. Make sure to bring water in summer.
Save this for your trip planning!
Order it well done. Trust me.🍑🍕
Peach & Pancetta Pizza at Hideaway House in Sedona: roasted peaches, salty pancetta, ricotta, basil, extra-crispy crust. Split the house salad, grab a prickly pear lemonade, and get a patio table facing the red rocks. Skip the bread if you want room for another slice.
Save this for your Sedona trip✈️
Pack your bags, Denver is not just a mountain layover. RiNo alone can eat a full day between the murals, food, and bars. Skip the concert and hit Red Rocks midday instead, you’ll basically have it to yourself. Golden’s a 30-minute trip if you want a change of pace, and if food drives your travel like it does mine, Denver Central Market and BRUTØ deserve real time on the calendar. Give it three days minimum, four if you’re eating your way through it. Save this.
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