4 Best Restaurants in Kos, Rhodes and the Dodecanese

Popular among locals, this venerable Turkish-Greek joint has a catch-all menu that hits every comfort-food high note. Zucchini flowers filled with lip-smacking Greek cheese, aubergines bursting with meat, and filling pastitsio (Greek lasagna) complement a vast choice of souvlakis and Turkish-style kebabs.

A cozy, family-run restaurant with an ambitious menu that does some very creative things with classic Greek cooking, with dishes like prawn saganaki and seafood couscous. A "krassotiri" crème brûlée makes the most of the island's famous soft cheese, while mains offer an even tenderer touch, with pork cheeks nestled atop a chickpea ragout stealing the show. Excellent value for such skilled, imaginative food.

Set on the shady square where Hippocrates reputedly once taught in the shade of a vast plane tree, Platanos is a breezy space with an airy inner lounge and outdoor tables. Try the spiced, grilled lamb chops or famous pork and crackling (ellasonitiko). Live music accompanies meals on some evenings, but Platanos is really at its best for brunch or lunch in summer. The ice creams and shakes are child-pleasers.

The setting is the star here. Three brothers have created a calm oasis a few streets in from the hustle and bustle of Kos Harbor. A 150-year-old stone house provides cozy dining in cool months, and in summer, tables pepper a garden full of private nooks, fountains, and gentle music. The enormous menu lists Greek staples, such as zucchini pancakes and seafood pasta side-by-side with more cultured cuts of chateaubriand and stuffed pork tenderloin.