Catari

Catari is an Italian restaurant in the Agia Anna area of Mykonos Town, positioned close to the island's Old Port. With more than thirteen seasons of trading on one of the Aegean's most competitive dining strips, it has built a steady following among visitors who want a proper Italian meal rather than another taverna menu — a rating of 4.2 out of 5 from 290 Google reviews reflects that consistency.

The restaurant draws on traditional Italian recipes rather than a fusion or tourist-adapted approach. Expect the kind of straightforward pasta, risotto, and classic Italian mains that the cuisine is built on, prepared with attention to the source ingredients. For travelers arriving by ferry or spending a day around the port district, Catari sits within easy walking distance of the waterfront bustle.

Mykonos Town is dense with restaurants, and longevity here means something. An operation that survives and retains its customer base across more than a dozen seasons on this island is doing something right in the kitchen.

What to Expect

Catari's menu leans into traditional Italian cooking — the Facebook presence describes it as "a blend of recipes from a traditional Italian restaurant, cooked in the most tasteful" way. In practical terms, that means classic preparations rather than elaborate modern plating. You should expect recognizable categories: pasta dishes built from standard Italian tradition, along with mains that reflect the broader Italian repertoire.

The setting is Mykonos Town's Agia Anna neighborhood, which sits just back from the Old Port. This part of town is less hectic than the central Chora lanes but still within walking distance of the main waterfront. The atmosphere skews toward a comfortable mid-range dining experience rather than the high-design beach-club aesthetic that dominates many Mykonos venues.

With 290 reviews averaging 4.2, the guest experience is consistently positive without being exceptional — which in Mykonos context, where overpriced and underwhelming is a common complaint, represents genuine value. The restaurant has also signaled a new menu for the current season, so returning visitors may find the offering has been refreshed.

Service at Italian restaurants in this category on Mykonos typically follows a full sit-down format: a menu, table service, and a proper meal rather than counter ordering. Given the location near the port, the pace can pick up during ferry arrival windows in high summer.

How to Get There

Catari is located at Mykonos Town, Agia Anna — the coordinates place it at 37.4478661, 25.3297445, which is in the Old Port area of the main town. On foot from the central Mykonos Town square (Manto Mavrogenous Square), head toward the Old Port waterfront and continue toward the Agia Anna end; the walk takes around five to ten minutes depending on your starting point.

If you are arriving by ferry at the New Port (Tourlos), take a taxi or bus to Mykonos Town and walk from there. The Old Port area has limited parking in summer, so driving in and leaving a vehicle directly outside is rarely straightforward. The local KTEL bus network connects the town with most major beach areas and the New Port.

For taxis, the main Mykonos Town rank is near the harbor. During peak season (July–August), taxis can be scarce; pre-booking or using the taxi app is advisable if you have a specific reservation time.

Best Time to Visit

Catari operates through the Mykonos tourist season. The island's main season runs from late April through October, with the peak compression of visitors arriving in July and August. During those two months, Mykonos Town restaurants fill quickly in the evenings, and walk-in tables at a restaurant with a 4.2 rating near the port may be hard to secure without a reservation.

For a more relaxed meal, shoulder season — May, June, and September — offers better availability and more comfortable temperatures. Evening dining is the norm on Mykonos; the town does not eat early, and arriving before 8 p.m. gives you a better chance of a quiet table. Lunchtime near the port can attract day-trippers off cruise ships or ferries, which can make the area around midday busier than the hour warrants.

Mykonos afternoons in July and August are frequently hot and occasionally windy due to the meltemi, so a sit-down indoor or shaded lunch is genuinely useful rather than just convenient.

Tips for Visiting

• Call ahead to reserve in high season. Catari's phone number is +30 2289 078571. Mykonos restaurants at this rating level fill on summer evenings, and the Old Port area draws foot traffic from ferry arrivals.
• Check the current menu before you go. The Instagram account (@catarimykonos) has flagged a new menu for this season. Browsing recent posts will give you a clearer picture of what is currently on offer than any static source.
• Arrive with time to spare. The Agia Anna end of Mykonos Town is pleasant to walk around before or after a meal — the old port itself is a quieter alternative to the main harbor strip.
• The website (catari.gr) appears to be offline. Use the Facebook page or Instagram for up-to-date information, or call the restaurant directly.
• Consider the lunchtime window. If peak evening prices or crowds are a concern, an afternoon meal may offer a calmer experience at the same location.
• Italian wine lists in Mykonos carry a significant markup. This applies across the island rather than being specific to Catari — budget accordingly or ask for the house option.
• The Old Port area can get crowded when large ferries dock. If your reservation timing overlaps with a major ferry arrival from Athens (Piraeus), allow extra travel time from anywhere in town.
• Returning visitors: the Instagram notes thirteen seasons of operation and a refreshed menu, so the experience in the current season may differ from older reviews.

What to Order

Catari's core identity is traditional Italian cooking rather than a hybrid Mediterranean menu. Based on the restaurant's own description, the kitchen focuses on recipes drawn from the Italian culinary tradition. That points toward pasta as the backbone of the menu — expect forms like spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni with sauces that reflect regional Italian practice, alongside risotto where available.

For a restaurant that has been trading for over a decade on Mykonos, the pasta and risotto dishes are likely the safest bet for quality. Italian restaurants in the Greek islands often supplement their menus with seafood given the local supply, so a seafood pasta or a fish-forward Italian preparation may appear as a house specialty.

The restaurant's Instagram flagged a new menu for the current season, which suggests the offering has been updated. Checking recent posts before visiting will show you which specific dishes the kitchen is currently promoting. When in doubt, asking the staff which pasta or main they consider the kitchen's strongest is a straightforward way to get a reliable recommendation.