Natacha Zdh
Google
We had high expectations for Selene, especially after staying at a Katikies hotel in Oia and dining the night before at Botrini’s — both part of the same group. Everyone recommended Selene as one of the best restaurants in Fira, and the glowing Google reviews convinced us to try it.
Unfortunately, our dinner was a deeply disappointing experience.
The setting is undeniably beautiful: a charming courtyard in a former monastery, with warm lighting and pleasant music. The staff were genuinely kind, professional, and attentive throughout the evening — and they are truly the highlight of this place.
However, the food was frankly not good at all. The chef seems overly focused on experimental combinations that simply don’t work. We couldn’t finish any of the courses.
For instance, I usually love vegetarian dishes, but the vegetarian “carpaccio” I ordered was nearly inedible. It turned out to be dehydrated watermelon designed to imitate meat — tough, uncuttable, and unpleasant in taste. The server explained that it was intentional, but honestly, it was one of the strangest and least enjoyable dishes I’ve ever had in a fine dining restaurant.
And the dessert? A chocolate and eggplant cake — again, an unbalanced and confusing mix that we couldn’t bring ourselves to finish.
It’s a shame, because the space is beautiful and the service is lovely. But the cuisine felt more like a failed experiment than a refined gastronomic experience — and for the price, it was frankly unacceptable. I sincerely hope the chef rethinks the current menu and focuses more on harmony and taste rather than forced innovation.