Villa Maria's Kitchen offers a culinary holiday designed based on one of Greece’s regional culinary traditions.
Holidays (2)
4 Day Traditional Vegan or Vegetarian Holiday with Cooking Classes on Island of Syros, Cyclades
Available all year round
from US$ 802
8 Day Greek Culinary Holiday on Syros Island, Cyclades
Available all year round
from US$ 1,948
Instructors (2)
Elisa Mavropoulou
A passionate cook and food lover, Elisa has been researching Greek cuisine for more than 20 years, continuously discovering new things. She has worked as a language teacher and translator. She is a keen traveler, who loves to meet people and share with them her passion and knowledge about food. She speaks Greek, English, French and Spanish.
Maria Krina
Maria has worked as chef, restaurant owner, and consultant and kitchen manager for many years and acquired a deep knowledge of the Greek cuisine, its philosophy, techniques and history. A specialist in herbs and wild plants, both for their culinary and medicinal uses, she organizes seminars where she rediscovers old forgotten recipes and adapts them in modern demands for wellbeing. One of her main concerns is contributing to changing people’s attitude regarding food.
Reviews (14)
Caitriona O Brien
from Netherlands, July 2024
"Excellent Hosts "
Excellent hosts, could not do enough for you
Penelope Weston
from United Kingdom, July 2024
"Poppy on Syros"
Elisa is an excellent teacher: clear, well organised, cheerful and able to adapt to a wide variety and number of learners. She kept us involved and informed and then of course we had the pleasure of enjoying what we had cooked in a friendly and sociable atmosphere on her terrasse. I very much enjoyed learning the local (island) recipes, and she quickly emailed them to us, so now I can look forward to recreating them at home.
It was a very enjoyable place to stay. My room was light and airy with a delightful balcony overlooking the harbour below and effective air conditioning (th weather was predictably hot). In addition, Elisa took us on several expeditions- to the market, the historic old town and a beach restaurant. So it was really more like staying with friends than a business!
The only challenge for me could not be avoided: the many steps up to the house from the harbour were hard work for the knee which is awaiting a replacement!
I’m afraid I was very lax about completing my payment, and it would have been very helpful to have had a prompt and perhaps an option to pay by BACS. I did apologise about this.
Elizabeth Bisgard
from United States, June 2024
"Delicious Bliss! "
We loved meeting Elisa and Kostas. They gave us great tips for Ermopouli and Syros and made delicious breakfasts as well. Elisa’s cooking classes were fun and we learned a lot and loved eating the food. Swimming in Vaporia and visiting Anosyros were highlights and Ermopouli is beautiful! The villa is exquisite and super comfy.
Fiona Dorrington
from United Kingdom, May 2024
"Cooking delight"
Elisa and Kosta were wonderful they were so warm and welcoming
Villa maria was beautiful so clean and comfortable
I spend a week on the cooking holiday we were told all about Greek food and how to cook it then the best part eating it
It was my first solo holiday I had a wonderful time and met lots of lovely people from all over the world
Elisa took me to Kini we had amazing seafood and was shown the right way to drink ouzo
I would love to go back and do it all again
Jacki Moore
from United Kingdom, September 2023
"Vegetarian cooking on Syros"
This was a truly fantastic experience. Everything was perfect.
The island of Syros is small, friendly but at the same time vibrant. There were plenty of tourists but it never felt too touristy.
Elisa, Kostas and Agnes were so welcoming. Villa Maria instantly felt like home .
The cooking sessions were relaxed and very informative, and the meals were absolutely delicious. The rooms were amazing, each with their own character and charm. The whole atmosphere was wonderful and Elisa does everything possible to make you feel at home. No request is too much for her.
Needless to say, we didn't want to leave.
Zoe O'connor
from Ireland, September 2023
"Holiday of a lifetime!"
The accommodation exceeded expectations - the villa is magnificent. Big, airy, tastefully decorated - it was like stepping back in time.
The cooking classes were beyond anything I had ever done before. We learned so much about Greek food and how to cook it for maximum taste.
There was so much food! We had breakfast every day, we ate everything we cooked, Elisa made us a picnic for the day we went to the beach, she brought us to a local restaurant one day for ouzo and food, and she also brought us to the wonderful hilltop village of Anos Syros one evening for street food and breathtaking views. Everything was included - so there are no additional or hidden costs.
The other residents were all wonderful - those doing the classes as well as those simply staying at the villa. Anyone who comes here seems to be laid back, incredibly friendly and great company.
The best part of the experience though was Elisa, the house "mother" - she led the fantastic, comprehensive classes with knowledge of and passion for the food, the house and the island. She is kindness personified, and focused on making our time in Syros as enjoyable as possible. I'm a coeliac, so she ensured there were gluten free options all of the time. She brought us to a jazz concert in the beautiful old theatre. She is interested in people and having great conversations. The perfect hostess, we all adored her.
I will be back!
Dawn Hendriks
from Curaçao, September 2023
"Wonderful Experience!"
Our trip to Greece would not have been complete if we had missed our visit to Syros and this culinary experience. Elissa was a wonderful hostess providing us with her wealth of knowledge in both history and cuisine. We enjoyed the food preparation with the most lovely group of people, and the food we prepared was amazing!
Our itinerary was relaxed and tailored to our groups preferences. We all enjoyed a wonderful local market tour gaining insight into the selection of fresh vegetables, seafoods, and spices. At the conclusion of the tour we gathered for a small plate lunch and Ouzo tasting. Here Elissa educated us on how to enjoy sipping Ouzo properly. We had free time to explore the town, old town, and local beaches. We must not forget the beautifully restored villa, with the relaxing terrace and breathtaking rooftop views.
This was definitely a memorable experience that will not be forgotten! Thanks for the memories.❤️
Anonymous
from Australia, July 2023
"One of the best weeks of my life! "
I loved this week so much. Elisa is an amazing cook, who taught lots of interesting recipes and also gave lots of other general cooking tips. The classes were fun and interactive, and the food we then ate at the end of each class was better than any restaurant food. I am excited to cook all the dishes when I get home. Elisa also included some wine and cheese tasting, all of which was delicious too.
The hotel itself is beautiful and the roof top terrace has amazing views at sunset.
I did 4 classes over 7 days which allowed time to visit others parts of the island and have beach time. Elisa had lots of good local tips of where to visit. Syros is a most picturesque island and has some great beaches and beautiful towns.
As a solo traveller this week was perfect for me. In addition to the wonderful cooking classes, I met some great people, and felt safe visiting places on my own, including coming back to the hotel late at night.
I really cannot recommend this highly enough and am already planning to come back with a group of friends to do another cooking week in 2025!
Heidi Salati
from United States, July 2023
"Small Island - Big Adventure"
I selected Greece as my focus for a culinary vacation because, as a pescatarian, I knew the food in Greece would be geared more towards my diet. I selected the cooking classes (8 day) in Syros initially because I liked what I read about the program. Once I signed up I was able to communicate with Elisa who runs the classes. She took great care in understanding my diet, how I eat and what I hoped to get out of the program. This made me feel really good about selecting this class and it didn't disappoint. It was so much more than I expected from learning about the food itself, its influences, ingredients, etc. but also foraging for ingredients and having Elisa take the group of us to hidden gems on the island and spots where locals go. Living in a city that is dense with tourists all year - that was important to me.
We made about 5-7 dishes in each class. Most were dishes I had never heard of. Even better- they were not only easy to make but easy to find the ingredients back in the States. That was key - the recipes were simple and I cannot think of a recipe where the ingredients could not be found easily in any US grocery store.
We did a walk and tour of the small outdoor market in Syros. Elisa explained the different fish we saw, unique grocery items (wild fennel paste), dried beans, and other items, local honey, other local ingredients. I came home with some nice items I will incorporate into some new dishes!
I highly recommend this culinary tour!
Anonymous
from United States, June 2023
"Greek Cooking Experience on Syros Island"
The hosts, Elisa and Kostas, went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and to show us the loveliest parts of this unique island. Elisa's cooking classes were a really fun experience. She explained the influences of geography on the ingredients and preparations of dishes and wove some of the history of the meals into the preparation. The classes were a mixture of hands on and observation. We were there for a cooking week and participated in four classes, each class producing about 8-9 dishes. We then enjoyed the fruits of our labor in a lovely terrace setting. By the end of the week we felt truly a part of the family. Elisa is a lovely person and is clearly passionate about Syros and Greek cuisine.
Teresa Hedley
from United States, March 2023
"Extraordinary Experience!"
Long before our arrival date, Elisa was very kind and patient in answering all of my gazillion questions. The planning was for a group of eight ladies. Fast forward a little over a year... We finally arrived in Syros! Kostas was so pleasant when he met us to help with our bags. The sleeping quarters were fantastic! The rooms were charming, spacious, and squeaky clean. The seaside rooms had breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea to wake up to each morning!! Elisa and Kostas made everyone in our group feel like family. Elisa even remembered our names within the first few days. Now, to the good part... the food and culinary experience was absolutely amazing!! I love Greek food, and the selected menu items did not disappoint. Not only did we learn valuable cooking techniques and tips, but we learned the history of ingredients and techniques used. Our experience concluded with a trip to the market for Elisa to guide us for authentic Greek (and Syros) ingredients. I cannot wait to try some of the recipes on my own. This culinary experience is highly recommended.
Cherise Bowers
from United States, September 2022
"Experience of a lifetime!"
I went expecting to learn about Greek cuisine and every day (I choose the 8 day option) I learned history of Greece, traditions of the islands, and influences of neighboring countries.
Robyn Stubbs
from Australia, September 2022
"An unforgettable week"
Elisa and Kostas made us feel totally welcome. Elisa is a food and wine expert as well as being a patient and friendly teacher. Villa Maria has been beautifully restored and has sweeping views over Syros port. Elisa hosted us at a few local venues not often seen by tourists. All in all, an unforgettable week and a really authentic way to discover Syros and delicious Greek cuisine. 100 per cent recommend the week long experience at Villa Maria.
Gitte Luckenbach
from United States, June 2022
"Fantastic experience!"
Elisa and Kostas were warm, welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable about all things Greek. The lovingly restored mansion was beautiful, the rooms were colorful with wonderful antique flair. Marble bathrooms spotless and linens so fresh. Easy walk to town and the ocean. There are no vehicles on the streets here (where the villa is) so it was super quiet. And the food... Elisa is an amazing cook and a great teacher. Big modern kitchen where the students gather for some hands-on learning. Elisa has studied Greek cuisine and compiled a selection of traditional dishes for us to cook and enjoy.
The 8 days was a perfect balance of class/cooking time and free time. Fun exploring the swimming areas, the anthropology museum, the industrial museum, and just strolling around the town shops, cafes and square. We had a wonderful time and I would highly recommend!