Meltemi
If you’re looking for where to eat in Kavala with a sea view, Meltemi Taverna is one of the places locals mention when the harbor comes up. This family-run restaurant has been open since 2009 and serves Greek cuisine built around fish, seafood, and the grill.
Where to find it
The taverna sits right on Kavala’s harbor, at 3 Thassou Street, 652 01 Kavala. From here it’s a short walk to the cobblestone lanes of the old town, Panagia, so many visitors pair a stroll through the historic quarter with lunch or dinner by the water.
The name comes from the meltemi, the dry seasonal wind that blows across the Aegean mainly in summer — a fitting name for a restaurant right on the water.
Atmosphere and menu
The space is built to feel warm and homely, with a fireplace in winter and tables by the water in summer — so it works equally well for a cozy dinner in the cold months and an open-air lunch in the hot ones.
The kitchen is Greek, focused on fish and seafood, though there are meat dishes too: grilled-to-order plates, ouzo mezze, local wine, tsipouro. The most ordered dishes tend to be grilled fish, octopus, Greek salad, and baked eggplant — but at a seaside taverna the choice often comes down to the day’s catch, so it’s worth asking the waiter what’s fresh rather than deciding in advance. Vegetarian and vegan options are available too.
Visitors most often praise the view and the fresh fish, with service getting a little stretched at peak hours — and if you’re by the water on a summer evening, bring repellent; the mosquitoes don’t spare anyone.
Practical information
- Address: 3 Thassou Street, 652 01 Kavala, Greece
- Hours: typically daily 11:00–24:00, though this shifts by season — call ahead before visiting.
- Price range: mid-range ($–$$).
- Amenities: outdoor seating, reservations, table service, takeout, wheelchair access, parking, free Wi-Fi.
- Payment: cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express.
For an evening with music or during peak season, it’s worth booking ahead by phone.
Fitting dinner into a day out in Kavala
Kavala is an easy destination for a day trip or a weekend visit. In the old town of Panagia, built on a rocky headland, you’ll find cobblestone streets and houses with wooden balconies — among them the early-19th-century Imaret, built by Mehmed Ali, his 18th-century house, the fortress with its round tower, and the lighthouse looking out toward Thasos and Mount Athos. The walk often ends at Kamares, the medieval aqueduct roughly 270 meters long and up to 25 meters high, marking the boundary between the old and new parts of the city.
If you’re heading on to Thasos, ferries from Kavala’s harbor reach Skala Prinos in about 1 hour 15 minutes, while the crossing from Keramoti (about 40 km away) to Limenas takes around 40 minutes. Dinner on the harbor is a good way to close out a day like that.