Arapis

Arapis holds a particular place in Kythnos dining history: the Gonidakis family restaurant introduced pizza to the island in 1981 and has been making it with fresh ingredients ever since. That mix of traditional Greek taverna cooking and wood-fired pizza has kept both visitors and locals coming back, and the restaurant's 4.5-star rating across more than 860 Google reviews reflects decades of consistency rather than novelty.

The restaurant sits in Merihas, the main port village on the island's western coast, which means you'll find it within easy reach of the ferry dock and the waterfront. The location puts you at the centre of Kythnos life without any effort — the harbour, the first beaches, and the ferry schedules are all close at hand. Evenings here, with the sunset over the water, are why the terrace fills early.

Arapis also operates rooms alongside the restaurant, making it one of those Cycladic spots where you can eat well and sleep upstairs. But the restaurant stands on its own merits as one of the more reliably good places to eat in Merihas.

What to Expect

Arapis operates firmly in the tradition of the Greek family taverna: the menu draws on local produce and regional recipes, and the emphasis is on dishes that have been cooked here many times before rather than anything experimental. You'll find the kind of straightforward, confident cooking that rewards those who order the daily specials or ask what came in fresh.

The pizza, introduced to Kythnos by this restaurant over forty years ago, remains a signature item. It's made with the same attention to fresh ingredients that the website describes — unusual in a context where pizza is often an afterthought on a Greek menu, but here it is clearly a point of pride.

The setting in the heart of Merihas means the atmosphere shifts through the day. Lunch tends to be relaxed, with the port activity providing background texture. As evening approaches and the light drops over the harbour, the terrace becomes considerably more atmospheric. The restaurant is open late — until 12:45 AM most nights — which fits the Greek dining rhythm where dinner rarely starts before 9 PM even in a small island port.

Service comes from the Gonidakis family and their staff, and the tone is welcoming rather than formal. The Greek word for this kind of hospitality — filoxenia — appears on the restaurant's own website, and it seems genuinely meant.

What to Order

Given the restaurant's history, the pizza is worth ordering at least once, even if you wouldn't normally choose it at a Greek taverna. The commitment to fresh ingredients is a real differentiator on an island where most restaurants focus exclusively on grilled fish and meze.

For the more traditionally Greek side of the menu, look to whatever the kitchen is preparing that day using local ingredients. Kythnos is known for its loukoumades (honey doughnuts) as a local sweet, and the island's proximity to the sea means fresh fish and seafood appear on taverna menus regularly. Grilled octopus, fresh-caught fish by the kilo, and Greek salads built around good local tomatoes are standard and reliable here.

The evening drinks side is also worth noting: the website specifically mentions cold beer at sunset as part of the experience, and given the harbour view, that's a reasonable way to start the evening before committing to dinner.

How to Get There

Merihas is the first port of call when arriving by ferry from Lavrio on the mainland — the boat docks directly in the village. Arapis is located in the centre of Merihas, within a short walk of the ferry terminal. The address is Merihas 840 06, and the GPS coordinates (37.3892366, 24.3982114) will take you directly there from any navigation app.

If you're staying elsewhere on Kythnos — in Chora (the hilltop capital), Loutra (the spa village to the north), or Dryopida (the inland village) — Merihas is accessible by the island's taxi service or by car. The road network on Kythnos is limited but functional; Merihas is the transport hub, so reaching it by road is straightforward. Parking in Merihas is available near the harbour, though in peak summer it fills quickly in the evenings.

There is no bus network on Kythnos, so arriving without a rental car means relying on taxis or walking if you're already staying in Merihas.

Best Time to Visit

Arapis is open year-round based on its operating hours, but Kythnos itself sees the bulk of its visitors between late June and early September. During this period the restaurant will be at its busiest, particularly on weekend evenings when ferry arrivals bring a wave of new visitors to Merihas.

For the best combination of atmosphere and manageable crowds, early evening arrivals — around 7:30 to 8:00 PM — give you a table before the post-sunset rush. The terrace view at dusk is a genuine draw rather than a marketing line: Merihas faces west, and the light on the water in the final hour before dark is worth timing your dinner around.

Shoulder season visits in May, June, or September offer a quieter port with shorter waits and the same quality of cooking. July and August are livelier but more crowded, and booking ahead or arriving early is sensible. The restaurant stays open until nearly 1 AM most nights, so there's no need to rush — but prime terrace tables are taken quickly on summer evenings.

Kythnos sits in the western Cyclades and gets the full force of the meltemi, the northern summer wind. It rarely affects dining directly since Merihas is partially sheltered, but it can make the ferry crossing from Lavrio rough, so check conditions if you're planning a day trip.

Tips for Visiting

• Call ahead in high season. The phone number is +30 2281 032190. The restaurant is popular with both ferry arrivals and island regulars, and a quick call to reserve a table — especially a terrace spot — will save frustration on busy summer evenings.
• Order the pizza with intention. It's not a concession to tourists; it's genuinely the dish that made this restaurant notable on the island. If you're curious about the history, it's worth trying.
• Time your arrival for the sunset. The terrace faces the harbour and the western sea. Arriving around 8–8:30 PM in summer puts you at the table during the best light.
• Check the ferry schedule before a late dinner. If you're a day visitor arriving by ferry from Lavrio, confirm your return departure time. The restaurant is open late, but Kythnos ferry schedules are limited and vary by season.
• Ask about the specials. Family-run tavernas on small Greek islands often prepare daily dishes based on what's available rather than printing a comprehensive menu. The kitchen at Arapis has decades of practice with local ingredients, and off-menu items are often the best value.
• The restaurant also has rooms. If you're looking for accommodation in Merihas, Arapis offers rooms alongside the restaurant — contact them directly at the number above for current availability and pricing.
• Bring cash as a backup. Card payment is widely accepted in Greek tavernas now, but on smaller islands it's always worth having euros on hand in case of connectivity issues with payment terminals.
• Parking near the harbour fills fast on summer evenings. If you're driving from elsewhere on the island, arrive by 7 PM or be prepared for a short walk from secondary parking areas uphill from the waterfront.

History and Context

Arapis has been part of the Merihas waterfront for over four decades. The Gonidakis family's decision to bring pizza to Kythnos in 1981 was a meaningful one for a small Cycladic island that at the time would have had almost no exposure to Italian-influenced food — the nearest significant urban centre is Athens, and Kythnos in the early 1980s was a much quieter destination than today.

That founding decision speaks to a certain entrepreneurial confidence that has carried through to the present: the restaurant has grown its reputation steadily across decades without fundamentally changing what it does. More than 860 reviews and a 4.5-star rating suggest a business that has managed the transition from local favourite to island institution without losing the qualities that made it work in the first place.

Merihas itself has grown as a port village since the 1980s, becoming the main arrival point for visitors to Kythnos and the commercial centre of the island. Arapis sits at the middle of that development — literally and figuratively — as one of the dining landmarks that visitors encounter first when they step off the ferry.