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.

Visitbritishairways.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.