Poco Loco

Poco Loco sits in Kamari, the busy east-coast beach resort of Santorini, and it has quietly built one of the strongest reputations of any casual restaurant in the village. With a 4.9-star rating drawn from nearly 1,000 Google reviews, it consistently punches above its weight for a relaxed, neighbourhood-style spot.

The restaurant is open every day from 1:00 PM through to 1:00 AM, making it one of the more reliably available options in Kamari whether you want a long late lunch after the beach, a proper dinner, or a plate of something solid before the night gets going. Pizza features prominently on the menu according to the place's own categorisation, though the description points to a broader, varied offering that stretches beyond a single cuisine.

Kamari itself is a straightforward resort strip running along a black-sand beach, and Poco Loco slots into that setting as the kind of place where you can arrive in flip-flops from the seafront and eat well without ceremony.

What to Expect

Poco Loco operates firmly in the casual-dining register — the sort of place built around generous portions, consistent cooking, and a rhythm that suits people who have spent the day on the beach or plan to keep the evening going after dinner. The pizza restaurant classification is the dominant tag from Google's own data, which suggests stone-baked or oven-fired pizza is a centrepiece of the menu, though the broader "varied menu" description implies you will find pasta, salads, and possibly grilled dishes alongside.

The atmosphere is relaxed rather than formal. Kamari's main strip is lively during summer evenings, and restaurants along it — Poco Loco included — tend to have open-fronted seating that blurs the line between indoors and the pedestrian promenade outside. The long operating hours (noon through midnight and beyond) mean the kitchen is running in a way that suits either a 2 PM post-swim lunch or a 10 PM dinner after a sunset tour to Oia.

The near-perfect rating across a high volume of reviews is the most telling data point here. A 4.9 across 987 reviews is rare for any restaurant in a busy tourist zone, and it suggests that the kitchen and front-of-house are consistent rather than occasionally brilliant. For a resort like Kamari, where visitor turnover is high and review scores can be volatile, that level of sustained feedback is meaningful.

How to Get There

Kamari is on the eastern coast of Santorini, roughly 10 kilometres from Fira by road. The address places Poco Loco centrally within the Kamari strip (36.3719, 25.4810), which puts it within easy walking distance of the main Kamari beach.

If you are coming from Fira, the local KTEL bus service runs scheduled routes to Kamari throughout the day during the summer season — the bus stop in Kamari is at the northern end of the strip, from which Poco Loco is a short walk. Taxis from Fira take around 15 minutes depending on traffic. From the Kamari beach itself, the restaurant is accessible on foot along the main pedestrian road that runs parallel to the seafront.

Parking is available in Kamari, with the main car park situated at the northern end near the bus terminus. If you are driving from Perissa or Perivolos to the south, follow the coastal road north through Kamari; if coming from Pyrgos or Mesaria, the descent into Kamari is well signposted.

Best Time to Visit

Poco Loco is open year-round on the same hours (1 PM to 1 AM daily), though Kamari's main season runs from late April through October. July and August bring peak crowds to the beach strip, and popular restaurants fill quickly from around 8 PM onward — arriving before 7:30 PM or after 9:30 PM gives you the best chance of a relaxed table during high season.

Late May, June, and September are generally the most comfortable months to eat along the Kamari strip: daytime temperatures are warm without the intensity of August, the meltemi wind from the north keeps evenings pleasant, and the resort is busy enough to feel lively without being overwhelmed. Lunchtime visits in shoulder season — say, 1:30 to 3:00 PM — are often quieter and allow you to eat unhurried before the afternoon heat peaks.

In the evenings during summer, the Kamari strip is atmospheric after dark, with the black volcanic sand beach a short walk away if you want to continue the evening outside.

Tips for Visiting

• Call ahead in peak season. The phone number is +30 2286 037787. With a rating this high, walk-in tables can be difficult to secure on busy July and August evenings — a quick call earlier in the day is worthwhile.
• Aim for the lunch window if you prefer quiet. The 1:00 PM opening means you can arrive early for a genuinely relaxed meal before the beach-to-dinner rush builds around 7 PM.
• The late hours are genuinely useful. Kitchens in Greek resort restaurants sometimes wind down service well before posted closing, but the 1 AM listed close is a practical option if you are arriving late from a day trip or sunset excursion.
• Kamari is flat and walkable. Unlike Fira or Oia, Kamari has no clifftop stairs or caldera climbs — the restaurant is accessible on foot from anywhere along the beach strip, including for guests with limited mobility.
• Check the Facebook page before visiting. The restaurant's Facebook page (facebook.com/pocolocotasteandfood) is the most likely source for any seasonal menu updates, daily specials, or temporary closures.
• Budget for a full meal. Given the varied-menu description and pizza-restaurant classification, Poco Loco appears set up for complete dining rather than snacks — treat it as a proper sit-down meal rather than a quick stop.
• Combine with the beach. Kamari's black-sand beach is one of Santorini's most organised, with sunbed hire available and the water sheltered from the main swell. An afternoon on the beach followed by dinner at Poco Loco is a natural pairing.
• Wear something comfortable. The casual atmosphere means there is no dress code pressure — beachwear that has been covered up is entirely appropriate.

What to Order

The Google place classification lists Poco Loco specifically as a pizza restaurant, which suggests that pizza is likely the strongest item on the menu and the most consistent reason visitors return. In Santorini's restaurant landscape — dominated by seafood tavernas and caldera-view fine dining — a dedicated pizza and casual-food spot in Kamari fills a practical gap, particularly for families and visitors who want satisfying food without the premium pricing associated with clifftop restaurants.

Beyond pizza, the broader "varied menu" description points to a multi-page menu that may include pasta, salads, grilled dishes, and possibly some Greek staples. Without a published menu available, the safest approach is to ask the staff what the kitchen is doing well that day — a restaurant with this review profile tends to have clear house specialities that regular customers return for.

Drinks-wise, Kamari restaurants typically carry local Santorinian wine (Assyrtiko is the island's benchmark white) alongside imported options and standard soft drinks and beers.