Selene
Santorini, Greece
Selene is a fine-dining restaurant in Fira Town on Santorini, presented on its official website as a long-established part of the island’s dining scene. The restaurant traces its beginnings to Giorgos Hatzigiannakis in the mid-1980s and now names chef Ettore Botrini and wine director Yiannis Karakasis MW among the figures shaping the experience. Selene also states that it occupies premises that formerly housed an 18th-century Catholic monastery, giving the restaurant a setting tied to the island’s layered history. The cooking is described through a distinctly Santorinian lens, with the restaurant emphasising Greek cuisine, local ingredients and the culinary traditions of the island. Rather than a casual drop-in format, Selene presents a structured dining experience through degustation menus, allowing dishes to be served as a considered sequence. This approach gives the meal a deliberate rhythm and places Santorini’s produce and gastronomic identity at the centre, with the menu designed to express the island’s character in a contemporary restaurant setting. Wine has a substantial role within the restaurant’s identity. Selene’s official material highlights a cellar and selection with a strong Santorini emphasis, including its own signature wine, Selene Santorini Cuvée Privée, alongside bottles intended to complement the food. The wine programme is not limited to pairings at the table: the restaurant also promotes dedicated wine-tasting experiences linked to Selene Antique Caves. In addition, its Vedema concept is presented as a gathering point for producers, island gastronomy and the culture of Santorini wine. Taken together, these elements define Selene as a restaurant where heritage, cuisine and wine are closely interwoven. The historic former-monastery premises provide a distinctive backdrop, while the food is framed around Greek cooking and Santorini traditions rather than generic international fine dining. The presence of a named chef and Master of Wine underlines a dual focus on the plate and in the glass. For diners in Fira, Selene is characterised by a composed, place-led experience rooted in Santorini’s produce, makers and longstanding food culture.