Gythio is a fish town — almost everything worth eating comes out of the bay. The waterfront tavernas all serve a similar menu: grilled whole fish (sea bream, red mullet), fried calamari and maridakia, grilled octopus, taramosalata. Quality is generally high and prices are reasonable by Greek mainland standards (about 20-30 euros a head with wine).
Two reliable picks are Saga (in the Saga Pension hotel halfway along the front, with a roof terrace) and General Store (a small fish taverna run by a returning ex-pat at the northern end). Inland from the waterfront, To Nautilos serves a more ambitious Greek menu drawing on the Mani's traditional dishes — wild greens, lamb in tomato, the local hard cheese sfela.