Kefalonia
The beauty of this island lies in the fact that it is big and there is little sense of being
crowded as on other resort islands. This is reflected in the choice of places to eat out
and have fun in - the resort of Lassi for example, just outside Argostoli, has many places
to have a drink or a meal or go clubbing without feeling crowded. Skala resort too has many good restaurants and tavernas right on the sea front and is spaciously laid out. Fiskardo in the north offers fine restaurants and bars with the added attraction of the many yachts in the harbour and the sheer beauty of the village. The central square of Argostoli itself is the centre of Kefalonian social life with cafes and bars as well as restaurants - try the shoreline road too near the port for good tavernas and restaurants. The same is true of Lixouri on the Pallic peninsula.
Ithaka
Most social activity of this island is focussed in the capital Vathi which has several restaurants and tavernas and a number of cafes and bars, mainly around the main harbour. Frikes and Kioni in the north east offer small fishing village delights and fresh fish in beautiful surroundings.
Zakynthos
The capital is very much a traditional port town and provides good examples of traditional cafes, bars and tavernas all centred around the central square near the port. For more varied eating out, clubbing or entertainment the tourist resorts around Laganas, Kalamaki, Argasi, Vassilikos and around Tsilivi offer a huge variety of restaurants, night clubs, bars and cafes featuring Greek and International cuisine and entertainment.
Epirus
Most of the major towns and resorts in the region have a wide choice of places to eat, drink or dance in while the smaller villages may have one or two cafes or bars and a taverna. In Igoumenitsa look out for the long stretch of bars, cafes and restaurants on the shore road a little to the north of the port. Plataria is a charming little fishing village with tavernas, cafes, bars and a night life and Syvota too has many fine places to eat or drink on the harbour side while Parga has become a major tourist resort with a wide range of places to eat, drink or be merry. The beach fronts in Ammoudia, Loutsa and Preveza also offer a good choice of eateries and bars. Ioannina has a charming old quarter and castle with many fine tavernas, restaurants, bars and clubs mainly in the streets around and along the waterfront across from the small island in the lake. The island itself is famous for its fish tavernas. In the mountainous regions of Zagoria and Tzoumerka most large villages have places to eat and drink and you can find riverside tavernas serving fresh fish in many places.
The Ionian region has of course many good places to eat or drink out, bars, clubs and discos and other forms of entertainment. Every tourist resort has tavernas and cafes and bars as you would expect from a Mediterranean holiday paradise. So it helps to get some idea of where to go for that extra experience - that special restaurant or area that provides something more than the ordinary. It helps too to know something about where the local people go for good meals and entertainment. Here are some ideas worth exploring:
Corfu
One of the best ways to enjoy the island is to take a boat trip that offers a beach BBQ or a stop at one of the many seaside tavernas; these usually allow you to see the coast, eat well and swim too. The centre of social life though is undoubtable in Corfu Town where many of the good restaurants and tavernas can be found - mostly in the Old Town. You can find traditional Greek tavernas and Italian, Mexican and more. The hub of activity any time of day can be found at the Liston Esplanade and at the Plateia Dimarchiou where there are many cafes, bars and restaurants catering for all tastes - Corfu's cafe society. For a more relaxed time, the area under the trees in Garitsa and Annemomylos offers many good tavernas and cafe bars. For dancing and clubbing and dining the area known as Disco Strip or the Emboriko Centre is the place to be. This is on the shore road out of town just past the New Port where you can find the major clubs as well as bars, fish tavernas and other good places to eat.
Paxos
The resorts of Lakka and Logos are well served with places to eat and drink including fine tavernas but Paxiot social and culinary life centres around the port at Gaios. You can enjoy eating out or having a harbour side drink while the world passes before you.
Lefkada
The resorts of Nidri and Vassiliki offer entertainment and a wide range of tavernas and restaurants. Smaller seaside villages like Syvota and Ag. Nikitas offer less choice of eating establishments but what they lack in size they make up for in charm and beauty. Lefkada Town is the centre of social life on the island and the shore road down to Nidri from the capital contains many tavernas including fish tavernas to enjoy.
Corfu & Ionian
Information
Recipes
