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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, heâll 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.Â
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If you havenât heard of, or been to Sifnos before, itâs becoming quite the foodie island, so we knew we had to head over to check it out.Â
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*A quick note on the sound on todayâs episode. We had a slight problem with cicadas â âfilming âon locationâ has its challenges, even with the best equipment â so please bear with us in a few parts in the first half.Â
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Hereâs what we cover today â Giorgos background and Sifnos 2025 (until 13:15) and then Giorgoâs Guide with Tips and Recommendations
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0-0:36- Intro
0:37- Interview
1:00- Giorgoâs Background
1:52- About Giorgoâs restaurantsÂ
2:38- More on his completely booked restaurant, Cantina
3:16- Giorgoâs 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 familyâs 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- Cantinaâs 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- Giorgoâs 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 â more 5 stars coming to the island
17:55- Giorgoâs accommodation pick
18:48- Villages in Sifnos
19:12- âNightlifeâ
19:27- Favourite bar
19:48- Oldest bar on the island
20:10- Anywhere to danceâŠ
20:20- Favourite excursion location
21:03- Other island recommendations for day trips
21:37- Fill in the blanksâŠ
22:50- High season, how it worksÂ
22:35- How to get last minute tables
23:55- Spotify channel â 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
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THANK YOU GIORGOS!
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Giorgos Samoilis
For more information on Giorgos visit his Instagram (personal), as well as the accounts for Cantina, Pelicanos, and his Spotify channel.Â
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*For one night only, Giorgo will be joined by another UJ fave, David Carter from Londonâs Michelin star OMA for a special collaboration, on 27 September.Â
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Thanks to our Supporters:
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BA
Fly direct from London to Mykonos with BA, and then take a ferry to Sifnos.
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Visit britishairways.com to book.Â
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Dialled-In Travel MusicÂ
Written by Luca Ciampi.Â
Tarynâs 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.
