With us this week is Giorgos Samoilis, chef and owner of two incredible seafront restaurants on the beautiful island of Sifnos: the farm-to-table restaurant Cantina, and the more casual brasserie Pelicanos. In our chat, he’ll be telling us about his background as a molecular biologist, how he ended up on Sifnos, as well as his recommendations for where to go on an island that we instantly fell for.
If you haven’t heard of, or been to Sifnos before, it’s becoming quite the foodie island, so we knew we had to head over to check it out.
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*A quick note on the sound on today’s episode. We had a slight problem with cicadas – ‘filming ‘on location’ has its challenges, even with the best equipment – so please bear with us in a few parts in the first half.
Here’s what we cover today – Giorgos background and Sifnos 2025 (until 13:15) and then Giorgo’s Guide with Tips and Recommendations
0-0:36- Intro
0:37- Interview
1:00- Giorgo’s Background
1:52- About Giorgo’s restaurants
2:38- More on his completely booked restaurant, Cantina
3:16- Giorgo’s molecular biologist background
3:56- Info on how both restaurants are no waste and hyper local
5:24- Background on the land, where we recorded/filmed this; his family’s farm land
6:52- Info on Pelicanos, his second restaurant, the Cycladic brasserie
8:30- Prices in Sifnos today
9:00- Sifnos in 2025
9:20- Info on how it has been intentional, to attract people interested in gastronomy
10:25- Season in Sifnos, 6 months
10:55- Construction on the island
11:42- People coming from everywhere to Sifnos/word of mouth
12:17- Cantina’s global partnerships with Notting HIll Fish Shop (Dorian, Urchin) and Arkestra from Istanbul
12:50- Names who are being attracted to Sifnos; Dua Lipa, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Barack Obama
13:15- Giorgo’s guide
12:30- Favourite place for a long lunch
13:57- Favourite place for a casual dinner
14:05- Favourite place for a fun dinner with friends
14:30- Beaches
14:41- Favourite beach to get away from it all
14:56- Favourtie beach that has serviced beds
15:05- Wellbeing, hiking, more info on trails in Sifnos
16:23- Donkeys and Mules, how they still help in Sifnos
17:03- Favourite sunset spot
17:35- Hotels – more 5 stars coming to the island
17:55- Giorgo’s accommodation pick
18:48- Villages in Sifnos
19:12- ‘Nightlife’
19:27- Favourite bar
19:48- Oldest bar on the island
20:10- Anywhere to dance…
20:20- Favourite excursion location
21:03- Other island recommendations for day trips
21:37- Fill in the blanks…
22:50- High season, how it works
22:35- How to get last minute tables
23:55- Spotify channel – Giorgos has great playlists! (GSAMOILIS on Spotify)
24:52- Thank you!
25:04- Closing- visit www.urbanjunkies.com for digital maps etc
25:22- Next episode, we go to Antiparos, to speak to Athanasia Comninos, founder of the chic curated resort, The Rooster
THANK YOU GIORGOS!
**************
Giorgos Samoilis
For more information on Giorgos visit his Instagram (personal), as well as the accounts for Cantina, Pelicanos, and his Spotify channel.
*For one night only, Giorgo will be joined by another UJ fave, David Carter from London’s Michelin star OMA for a special collaboration, on 27 September.
Thanks to our Supporters:
BA
Fly direct from London to Mykonos with BA, and then take a ferry to Sifnos.
Visit britishairways.com to book.
Dialled-In Travel Music
Written by Luca Ciampi.
Taryn’s dress in the video is from Aries. Not a Greek label/designer, but as close as we could get; Aries in Greek is the term associated with new beginnings and spring.
