Pylos is one of those Greek cities that wins you over the second time around. The first time, you might get lost in the castle, the bay, the square. The second time, you know where to sit, what to order, and how long to stay.
It’s 15 minutes from Gialova by scooter — one of the short rides that justify scooter rental in Gialova.
Three Admirals Square
The central square of Pylos is one of the most impressive in the Peloponnese — framed by Ottoman arches and giant plane trees, with the monument to the three admirals of the Battle of Navarino in the middle. The restaurants surrounding it have the advantage of location: you sit in the shade, order in peace, watch the whole city pass before you.
At noon: the kitchen opens and the menus are filled with grilled meats, salads and Messinian seafood.
The Port — Fish and Sea View
Pylos curves around the bay in a way that gives the beach restaurants some of the best tables in Messinia. The walk from the square to the port takes five minutes. The restaurants along the beach specialize in fish.
This is the place for: grilled whole fish, fresh octopus and the wider southern Greek seafood tradition: shrimp saganaki, mussels, squid etc.
The best approach: walk along the beach, see what looks fresh, ask what came in that morning.
A chilled carafe of Assyrtiko or local Messinian white is the right drink.
The Gyradiko Near the Market
Every Greek town has one: the gyradiko that the locals go to, that is not in any guidebook, that does one thing exceptionally well. In Pylos, the area near the covered market and the alleys behind the square has a few such haunts.
Gyros, souvlaki, fresh pita.
What to Order in Pylos
In all Pylos restaurants, there are a few things worth asking for specifically:
- Grilled octopus — the local specialty, dried and then grilled. The texture is completely different from anything you buy in a supermarket.
- Fresh local fish — red mullet, sea bream, sea bass. Ask for the fish of the day.
- Messinian olive oil — used in everything here, from the salad to the bread. You’ll feel it.
- Local wine from Pylia vineyards — worth asking for specifically. The local varieties go perfectly with seafood.
Timing of Visit
Lunch in Pylos starts from 12:30 to 15:30. Dinner starts after 20:00 — Greeks eat late, and beach restaurants fill up quickly from 21:00 in the summer.
If you’re doing a day trip from Gialova: leave around 11:00, arrive at the square, walk the harbor before lunch, eat around 13:30, explore the castle in the early afternoon, and return to Gialova by 17:00.
Complete guide to excursions from Gialova
How to Get There from Gialova
A scooter is the way to go — the road from Gialova to Pylos runs along the bay, with views all the way. Fifteen minutes each way. Parking in Pylos is easy.
Rent a scooter or e-bike at Martin’s and start your ride to Pylos for lunch — 15 minutes along the bay, worth every minute.