Imerovigli. Fun to say.
Before arriving in Santorini, I’d done just enough research to make wise-ish decisions about where to stay but had no clue about where to eat or what to do. Of course I had some wine tastings on the books, but the rest was left to wherever I’d end up.
Imerovigli is between Oia—arguably the most famous of Santorini’s towns—and Fira, or Thera, or however the Greeks decide they want to spell it/say it—the center-ish of the island. It’s the best of both towns, in my opinion—more low-key than Oia, more picturesque than Fira. Plus, there’s that giant Skaros rock you can climb.
Getting to the tippy top is quite sketchy, but I figured I was already so close and couldn’t turn back, so I took several deep breaths and told my calves to stop shaking before finding some firm rocks I could power up. Oh man, the view is so worth it!
Now to the point of the post.
While sunsetting and hungry, we stumbled upon La Maison Restaurant and the prospect of a tasting menu. I’m not going to food review you; just leave it at executive chef Dimos Samourakis is creating a lot of fun flavor and texture combinations with pretty platings and excellent service. I’d recommend a visit if you’re an adventurous eater with some extra spending money. It’s not cheap, but a fair price for an eight-course meal with vibrant wines and full-on Santorini vibes.
The somm rocked it that night with native varieties and spot-on pairings. I should have paid more attention, but every once in a rare while, I give wine the back seat. Of this, I am sure: there was an Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Xinomavro, Vin Santo and other glasses drunk in their entirety. I have found that overall, Greek wine is very good, my friends. Much, much more to come on all that.
These weren’t all the dishes, but the ones that let the phone eat first 🙂
The wind is a force to be reckoned with in Santorini, but the vibes, food and wine at La Maison made up for it.
Reserve a table ideally, although I didn’t and it really worked out quite well…
Imerovigli is gorgeous and much less crowded than Oia. I highly recommend staying there if you’re Santorini-bound. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the southern part of the island because when your balcony has a private jacuzzi and a view of the sea, you only want to explore so much. I stayed at Cresanto Luxury Suites, and it was dreamy. I will say they have a fantastic photographer, as you’re led to believe you’ll be on the cliffs like the famous pictures, but you’re actually facing the other sunrise side with a substantial chunk of land between you and the sea. I know, boo hoo…the staff was great, the place is gorgeous.
So the rest of the island remains for another time… I’ll forever cherish the basket-trained vines, infinity pools and Assyrtiko, but I have many more dots in the sea to explore before going back to Santorini.
This blog will live once more 💃
