Run by a local farming family, this small taverna in Petra serves traditional Greek cuisine on a leafy garden terrace overlooking the sea. Dolmades come brightened with zesty lemon, pumpkin fritters are paired with a generous helping of tzatziki, and the slow-cooked goat is a much-loved local favourite. While the food is exceptional, it's the idyllic beachfront setting that is the stand out. Stop by after a hike to Psili Ammos beach. 

Built in the style of a traditional Karavoskaro, Agios Nikolaos from Patmos Heritage feels particularly at home among the smaller islands of the Dodecanese. Ask to spend a day around Lipsi and its surrounding islets, where you can swim in turquoise bays before mooring in one of Greece's smallest island ports for dinner. 

With a nod to Patmos's laid-back, rock-and-roll spirit, Thalami Creative Bar is filled with music-inspired touches, including a David Bowie corner featuring a framed white shirt said to have belonged to the legendary artist, a framed tribute to the Jackson 5, and baskets overflowing with vinyl records. Outside, the bar blends seamlessly into the island's iconic whitewashed streetscape, with a healthy scattering of tables and chairs on the terrace. Inside, owners Giorgio and Maria expertly mix cocktails and gin and tonics while pouring from a thoughtfully curated wine list, all set to an outstanding soundtrack of 1970s and 1980s classics.

A welcome surprise on an island better known for monasteries than contemporary art, Kapopoulos Fine Arts brings museum-worthy works to the heart of Patmos. Part of one of Greece's leading gallery networks, the space showcases a curated edit of established names and emerging local talents, with a programme of rotating exhibitions that gives you another reason to wander through Skala.