Exploring Santorini

Our vegan adventure in Santorini, Greece!

by Courtney McCullagh

From ancient ruins to breathtaking natural landscapes like dormant volcanoes, panoramic mountain-top views of the ocean, and even black sand beaches, traveling to beautiful Greece is a must. I don’t know if it’s possible to say how magical of an experience seeing the enchanting land of Santorini truly was, but just about everything I’ve ever heard about Greece is true – it really is the “land of the Gods”! As if that all isn’t enough to come for, you will want to stay for the vegan food!

Vegan and Eco-Friendly Accommodations

On our trip, we stayed at Ethos Vegan Suites, an all-vegan hotel, with owners Artemis and Coskun, who certainly showed us true Greece hospitality. If there’s one thing we learned during our stay, the Greeks know how to eat in abundance! The food was fresh and colorful, with fruits and veggies straight from the land! There was not one meal that even had any faux meats - just pure veggie and grain goodness! Each morning we woke up at Ethos Vegan Suites, we were treated to an incredible, handmade meal by Artemis & Coskun. It was truly a special treat that we will never forget. They even made my husband a special carrot cake for his birthday, as well as an authentic Greek mezze platter, complete with handmade hummus, vegan tzatziki, dolmas, and pita! We looked forward daily to seeing what exciting items they were whipping up next! Aside from their culinary talents, Artemis and Coskun ensured we were set for success on our entire trip. They assisted with our activities outside of the hotel, including scuba diving excursions, even calling the scuba company ahead for us to let them know that we were celebrating a vegan birthday. Thanks to the heads-up, the team at the scuba company prepared a vegan brownie and sang Happy Birthday to my husband! Artemis and Coskun also helped us set up our car accommodations and mapped out the best beaches to visit. They also educated us on the history of certain areas, telling us what times were best to go to avoid the big crowds. They even ensured we got the best night’s sleep every night by providing ear plugs for our sensitive ears to drown out the late-night Greek partiers. The Ethos team went above and beyond, making us feel like their long-time friends. As if we needed any reason outside of Ethos being a fully vegan and eco-friendly hotel, Artemis and Coskun ensured every moment of our stay was comfortable, memorable, and absolutely magical.

Santorini’s Vegan Eats

Each of the all-vegan restaurants we visited in Santorini just happened to be within walking distance from Ethos Vegan Suites! We went to OHH BOY SANTORINI twice to try their vegan options for dinner and brunch. Both menus were truly unique and delicious, and the view from their dining area alone left us speechless, as it overlooked the volcano and oceanside. From vegan burgers to fluffy pancakes, OHH BOY SANTORINI satisfied all of our cravings and left us stuffed! Veganissimo is the newest vegan restaurant in Santorini, and they sure did know how to show off a colorful spread! We had super one-of-akind meals, like their purple potato purée with tomato sauce and fresh green salad. They even served one of the best brownies and strawberry vegan ice creams I’ve ever had! We are so glad they’re open in Santorini now!

5Senses recently celebrated being open for a year in Santorini, and they were the definition of “fine dining” vegan style! We felt so fancy with their eggplant rolls, elevated “chicken” strips, and even vegan Greek frozen yogurt! Now, not only can you go to Greece to see the mystical magic of the horizon and bask in the ancient history, but also to feast on authentic Greek dishes that are entirely vegan, thanks to Ethos Vegan Suites and the many great vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in Santorini.