The best restaurants Ionian Islands

This small restaurant outside Sami overlooks the whole valley and offers a wonderful view to the sea. The food is quite classic but good: the moussaka and souvlakia are great. The prices are very reasonable for a succulent cuisine served with herbs picked in the garden, tasty dishes and a very friendly welcome. The lamb chops (with animals belonging to the family) are excellent. The local rosé (made by the family) is also a very good vintage!

Overlooking the beautiful translucent beach of Voutoumi, this restaurant offers a heavenly view, a "Bella vista" as its name suggests. Small grilled fish, Greek salads, meat skewers... The dishes are correct, the prices a little higher than elsewhere but the panorama is well worth the candle, especially at sunset! It takes a bit of courage to get there (a lot of steps) but it's worth it. The view is then magnificent.

The restaurant is ideally located on the beach of Vrika, one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece! It feels like the Caribbean but the ouzo served at Spiros reminds us that we are in Antipaxos. Grilled fish, mezzedes, spaghetti with crustaceans and even lobster, you will be delighted! The staff is friendly and the prices are not exaggerated. The food is good, the service is nice even if during the month of August you have to be a little patient. But hey, it's the holidays, and there's always something to do around here!

You'd think you were in that trattoria that smells like Italy! The two owners, Daniela and Camillo, are Italian and you won't be disappointed. You are often greeted with a little glass of prosecco. The pizzas are as good as in Naples, and the fresh pasta is just as tasty. For dessert, don't miss Daniela's tiramisu! This stop is welcome when you want to change, a little, from the traditional taverns. Or even just to eat Italian food. A piece of advice: it's best to make a reservation as it's a very popular place.

A famous address in Kythera where traditional Greek cuisine is served: moussaka, meatballs and tomato sauce, bamies (okras cooked with tomatoes and onions), stuffed tomatoes... You are installed and then you are often invited to choose your dish directly in the kitchen. It's difficult to choose between a dozen local dishes every day. The menu changes according to the chef's desires. You can visit the kitchen and choose what inspires you. The prices are correct and the welcome is remarkable!

A family restaurant overlooking the port of Kassiopi, with a breathtaking view of the port and the Albanian coast. Despite the touristy location, this place serves authentic Greek cuisine of high quality. Beef with tomato sauce, grilled swordfish, and spaghetti with scampi are the most delicious dishes served by the house. But the choice is wide. The staff is very welcoming and will offer you a dessert at the end of the meal, as is often the Greek tradition (but not always respected in tourist places)!

Situated at the entrance to the town from Lefkada, this establishment is ideally located on the seafront away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre or the port. Literally on the beach, this tavern offers fresh fish and lovingly cooked dishes. The specialities of the house are chicken with mushrooms, stuffed tomatoes and pastissio (pasta with bechamel sauce). The fish is also well cooked. The food and service are really good and the prices, in the end, are frankly more than reasonable.

The Vliho Yacht Club, in front of the marina, offers dishes and snacks at a fair price. If you are a bit fed up with typical Greek dishes, you can enjoy Indian style chicken tikka massala, shrimp risotto, or Mexican fajitas. The establishment has an extensive and succulent local wine list. From here you can also take a trip to one of the best sailing locations in the world. The staff was really very kind and helpful. Find out more about the excursions on offer here.

Nothing to complain about in probably the best restaurant on the island, by far! And from above! You have to go there because you won't regret this astonishing refined fusion cuisine, mixing Greek traditions and recipes from elsewhere. The filet mignon with its carrot purée, the sea bass fillet and its small vegetables, the risotto with prawns and lemon zest are extra special! But there are also more "traditional" dishes. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. To top it all off, the view of Kefalonia is worth all the gold in the world!

On the port of Poros, facing the sea, Apagio is known to regulars and locals alike. The fish and shellfish are excellent. But you can also taste the cooked dishes: stuffed tomatoes, baked lamb, beef simmered with small onions... The house wine is very good and the owners like to offer a homemade liqueur made from geranium leaves. In short, a very good table for seafood (and not only), a very good welcome and the promise of a good time on the port in front of the pleasure boats.

A family tavern a bit out of the way but with a magnificent view of the sea. The welcome is very warm and the food delicious. This restaurant on the beach of Kaminia serves fresh food made from local products. The grilled sardines and shrimps are very good. Graviera cheese balls on tomato compote, grilled sea bream... The fish comes from the local fishermen. For dessert, you can try a delicious orange cake. Not to mention the quality beach nearby and the children's games.

An excellent family restaurant in the heart of Lefkada. The products are fresh and the waiters will show you around the kitchen to choose the dishes. The grilled tuna is a must in this restaurant. Juicy, tender, it melts in your mouth. But you will also find good meat dishes and other specialties here. The shrimp moussaka is an original dish to try! The local wine is also tasty. In short, a good cuisine, to be enjoyed on the pleasant terrace. With a good welcome and a very reasonable bill at the end.

Nothing to complain about. Fresh products in a friendly setting. Fish caught in the bay, pigs and lambs raised by the owner's brother, locally produced vegetables. You won't be disappointed! The prices are also very reasonable. You will appreciate the warm welcome. Follow the owner's recommendations if you come across him. If it's on the menu, you might try his meat pie or his lamb with rice and Greek yoghurt sauce. Most of the food is homemade. Without doubt one of the best addresses on the island.

A family restaurant away from the crowd that has kept all its authenticity. A real nugget! The menu is limited and the daily dishes change according to the cooks' desires. The moussaka, the courgette fritters, the lamb chops and the cheese puffs are unforgettable for many visitors, as is the kindness of Despina and Spiros! At the end of the meal, they will sometimes offer you a digestive or watermelon. Copious, delicious, typical dishes and very reasonable prices. It is better to reserve because it is often full.

A traditional tavern that has been in existence for over thirty years and is popular with the locals. Generous portions, low prices, varied and very tasty dishes. Despite its location on a fairly busy road, the place remains very charming. The food is excellent. What more can we say? The dishes are really perfect: lamb and baked potatoes, moussaka, beef pie, fried feta... Every day the dishes change, according to the seasons and the cooks' desires. An authentic and friendly address!

Dimitris, Spyros and their father Stelios will attract you and keep you here! This is indeed a must in Zakynthos for good fish, squid stuffed with feta cheese and grilled shrimps. The homemade bread served with tomato sauce is also perfect! In addition to the excellent food, you can enjoy the deckchairs of the establishment on the beach to prolong with a coffee or a juice in the fabulous bay of Dafni...

A magical place by the sea. The seafood is very fresh. Octopus carpaccio served with couscous, spaghetti with seafood, pink tuna in sushi mode, there is no lack of delicious dishes! The house wine is also of excellent quality. Very well located, with impeccable service and flavors that pleasantly surprise you. Akis has a passion and loves what he does. He takes great care in choosing the ingredients, the music and the decoration. Of course, all this comes at a rather high price, but it is justified!

We come to Michalis mostly for the view and the setting. But it's also a good surprise in the plate (especially if you taste the lamb confit, really delicious...), with dishes tasted in an idyllic setting. The village square with its church is picturesque and offers a breathtaking view over the valley to the sea. What more could you ask for? The cuisine is simple but based on fresh products: pork with lemon sauce as well as baked chicken and potatoes are the specialities of this pleasant house.

A pretty cosy setting with large wooden tables surrounded by olive trees. Here, chef Stefanos uses only local products and uses a traditional wood oven. You can taste corfiote specialties such as sofrito (beef simmered with parsley and garlic), bianco (fish cooked in a white wine sauce), or bourdeto (cod spiced with spices). Grilled meats, salads and fried fish are also good options. As a bonus, in the summer, concerts are regularly organised. A good address.

A flawless for the quality of the meal: stifado (beef with onions), grilled and tender octopus, moussaka, grilled squid, seafood pasta... On the port of Vassiliki, this family tavern is often full. It serves classic Greek dishes, but it is mainly fish, such as this absolutely fresh sea bream, which is king here! What more could you ask for? As a bonus, the service is quick and friendly and sometimes a Greek coffee is offered at the end of the meal. Without a doubt a place to be highly recommended.

A traditional ouzerie facing the sea. Limited menu, but only made of fresh products. Fried fish, salads, home fries, tzatziki... Lots of mezzedes to enjoy with an iced ouzo or a glass of white wine. Pleasant and comfortable, run by extremely nice young people, this restaurant will not disappoint you in any way: fresh, traditional and delicious Greek food in a perfect location near the port. Excellent value for money. With good service in a surprisingly cheap place!

The view from the restaurant is perhaps one of the most beautiful in Zakynthos and we could recommend this establishment for that alone! In fact, the first thing you want to do when you arrive is to admire the sublime view and take some photos or selfies. After that, the food is very good. At 150 m above the sea, you can enjoy the view while tasting the vegetable puffs and the rabbit in red sauce of the Light House Taverna. The prices, perhaps a little more expensive than elsewhere, are still decent.

Chances are you'll stop by every day if you linger here for a while. Margarita offers excellent homemade cakes and hearty, tasty breakfasts of omelette and incredible creamy Greek yoghurt with fresh fruit. All day long you can also have snacks, sandwiches, salads... The atmosphere is friendly and you will want to come back for sure! This is also where locals sit and watch the world go by. Let yourself be tempted and forget the time for a few moments...

An ideal place, with a possible entrance through Liston, for a quality meal in an elegant atmosphere. On the white tablecloths, Corfiote specialties(sofrito, pastitsada, bourdeto...) cooked to perfection. Excellent lamb kleftiko and a light home-made spanakopita. Flavors from elsewhere will take you to the Cyclades with a fava from Santorini and of course to Italy with beautiful homemade pizzas - even if you don't come for that. In spite of a nice wine list, the house wine remains attractive. As for the service, it is impeccable.

Taking the road to Agia Effymia, along a fantastic coast with small pebble beaches and incredible turquoise waters, you will not be disappointed. In addition to a small picturesque port and the beach of Piso Lithovatis for swimming, you will find a fabulous tavern overlooking the beach. It serves delicious homemade grilled meats, pies, casseroles and fish. For dessert, let yourself be tempted by a chocolate soufflé with a flavoured orange cream on one of its small tables placed under a pergola

To get off the culinary beaten track, head to Poulata, a village off the tourist trail, 5 km from Sami, which alone is home to two of the best meat taverns on the island. At Stou Thoma, your host will serve you meat from his own farm, grilled to perfection, on his terrace. You can eat in the middle of the olive trees or indoors in winter or when the weather is bad. In the same spirit, you can also go to Robolis, another tavern famous for its mutton and bifteki (meat cakes).

Over the years, this popular tavern, known for its fish, has become a reference in the Corfiote culinary scene. Recently renovated, the establishment is precisely located on Gerekos beach, by the sea, with a view of the Gouvia marina. Be sure to book a table. Very good fresh fish, lobster and seafood, pickled anchovies and octopus in vinegar. And you will also find here all the other classics of Greek cuisine: horiatiki (Greek salad), gavros (fried fish), gemista (stuffed vegetables)..

Here's a century-old house transformed into an elegant restaurant, with beautifully laid tables overlooking the sea. In the kitchen, Toula Katsarou-Vergeti lovingly prepares dishes influenced by Greek and Corfiote tradition, with a few international touches thrown in for good measure. The salads are full of imagination, like the Corfiote salad (with cured ham and kumquat) which stands out. The herbs come from the kitchen garden. The best dessert for last: a pear stuffed with mascarpone and caramel when we stopped by.

Next to the Mouragia tavern, this seafront terrace boasts a breathtaking view. Despite its spotlight, it nevertheless retains an authentic feel, with a menu that focuses on local specialties(sofrito, pastitsada, stifado...) with an excellent little house wine "by the kilo". You'll soon forget about the road behind and immerse yourself in the dishes and the blue horizon. Ideal for lunch or before sunset. Then grab your coffee or dessert at Flo Café, a little further down the road and even closer to the water.

The arrival of Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou - formerly of the prestigious Varoulko in Piraeus - has not gone unnoticed. Here, tables sprawl across the picturesque harbor, laden with fish specialties. Among her creations are marvellous garlic shrimps with wine sauce, cherry tomatoes and olive oil. We also love his wild artichoke fillets or soups, depending on the season. Alternatively, you can rediscover his talent a few meters away at Tra Due, on Kavvadia Square, where the chef serves specialties with a more Italian accent.

This small establishment has been part of the décor since 1945. This is a wooden bridge, on the dock, in the harbour. On the menu, stews, meat pies, delicious moussakas, but especially the lamb kleftiko, a beautiful piece of charcoal baked meat.

Tired of Greek taverns? Treat yourself to an oriental break in this Chinese restaurant. Traditional and very honest Cantonese cuisine. In addition, you are here on the shore, with a large balcony overlooking Ipsos Bay. A magical setting!

For a good espresso, morning, noon or evening. Good wifi too.

On the waterfront, 5 minutes from the centre, this tavern is the Greek favourite. Enjoy a kreatopita (meat pie) or castro (pork in wine). Beautiful atmosphere with traditional wooden tables and chairs and checkered tablecloths. An authentic address!

It was the only beach bar when we passed through, not unpleasant. This beachside café-bar-snack bar serves snacks, drinks and ice creams. You can eat on the covered terraces around the bar or on the beach itself. Nikos, the owner, is charming and attentive to both locals and tourists who want to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the magnificent beach. In season, beach volleyball competitions also enliven the beach, as do concerts at the end of the day.

An institution. Here, Chef Dimitris welcomes you and your family! You'll be able to sample all the most traditional Corfu recipes, as well as creative Greek dishes such as lamb cooked in a lemon sauce, Samiotiko (a pork tenderloin with sesame seeds in a Samos wine sauce) and much more. With your feet in the water, you can also sample the catch of the day with a fine quality of fish, ready for grilling. Other options include grilled calamari stuffed with local cheese or small marinated fresh fish.

A great address with good food, a nice atmosphere and a slightly slow service that invites you to relax. Because in season, this little address is very popular! Ideal for families (but not only), it features friendly hammocks and a giant chessboard. On the menu: salads and Greek classics, with rather generous portions. There's a lovely view of the sea and the property is very pleasant. The little extra when we dropped in: sticks of citronella essential oil, perfect for keeping the mosquitoes at bay!

The first customer came in over twenty years ago. The family likes to say they started with a few tables and the business has flourished ever since. On the menu: Mediterranean cuisine with vegetarian and resolutely locavore options (and house wine). A five-minute walk from the sea, you can also order snacks for a picnic on the beach. The tavern also has a grocery store stocked with fresh fruit, vegetables and traditional Greek souvenirs (kumquat, olive soap, tea, local herbs...).

Excellent family restaurant by the sea. Simple, quality cuisine and impeccable service. This place had been recommended to us by locals because the food, we were told, was delicious, with breathtaking sunsets. Very true. We booked a table on the terrace. The homemade tzatziki was fabulous, as was the seafood, which was very tasty. The staff were lovely, attentive and friendly. Highly recommended, with excellent value for money and a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.

Here, the local specialties (cephalonian) are really excellent, as are the souvlaki. The setting and the service, which is fast and available, make the place attractive. At Spiros, opposite the charming port of Agia Efimia, you can enjoy delicious fried squid, a creamy risotto, grilled or fried vegetables, and Kefalonia's speciality, kreatopita (a pastry filled with meat). You can wash it all down with a typical local wine, robolla! Otherwise, grab an ouzo and watch the rich people go by in their yachts.

This traditional tavern with an honest cuisine offers a beautiful sea view a little away from the tourist centre of Sidari. The menu offers plenty of fish and spit-roasted lamb every Tuesday in summer, pork usually on Saturdays, and kleftiko (lamb) served with homemade bread every day. Here the dishes are generous and the cuisine is of high quality. The setting is really beautiful by the sea with a sublime view. Only downside: you have to love Greek music and sirtaki because the sound system is looping.

On the port of Zakynthos, behind the port authorities, there is a small house with a veranda and a platform overlooking the sea. The atmosphere is chic, with tables with white tablecloths and very good service. Excellent tuna carpaccios, fried squid, grilled octopus, crabs, fish, sardines and squid are served here. Beautiful salads with curly endive and escarole sprinkled with Zakynthos cheese. And for dessert, pears, raisins and syrup sauce. A small but well-made wine list. A little more expensive than elsewhere but more upmarket.

In a small street near the port, the terrace occupies the street. A singer and Tassos, the owner, liven up the meal with traditional songs accompanied by the guitar. The food is fantastic, right in the center of the city, where the establishment is very well located. The food is very good, the service fast and impeccable. All this (slightly) away from the crowded tourist areas. The prices are correct and the owner of the place, often visible, is adorable, close to his customers (and his dishes).

A magnificent site, good food, generous portions and a superb view. Beyond that, the beach isn't bad either, with free sunbeds if you have a drink at the bar. And we recommend it at any time of day, starting with the famous breakfasts. Afterwards, we were treated to excellent zucchini dumplings, tarama, salads, burgers and a very decent house wine. In the long run, it's not cheap, but it's worth it.

You can choose one of the two gardens to enjoy a full dinner or just wine and dine. In a paved courtyard, full of flowers and herbs, you will be served modern dishes strongly influenced by Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. For example, you can enjoy lentils marinated in Mani syglino (a kind of sausage from the Magne) with caramelized onions or very good meats, such as beef fillet with thyme sauce and mashed potatoes. There are also desserts and a long list of wines.

Also known as the "Sunset Bar", its terrace is a pleasant stopover after a stroll on the "Kaiser's Throne". Descending from the belvedere, the Levant Hotel's bar-restaurant allows you to extend the view a little. The menu includes the specialties expected in Corfu. However, you can also be satisfied with a salad, a portion of tzatziki and a "toast" - the local croque-monsieur that Greeks love. But for a coffee or an aperitif at sunset, it is also very good. Afterwards, you just have to go back down...

Locals will tell you that this is one of the few restaurants that remain a constant value on the island. The walls here bear the traces of a long complicity with the island. The menu also plays the card of the tradition with the classic corfiotes(sofrito, pastitsada, bourdeto...). Otherwise, the spaghetti with shrimps is perfect. Good choice of fish according to the arrivals. The service is very professional and the environment is calm. Despite the white tablecloths and the impeccable service, the prices, for the quality proposed, are very reasonable.

A real Italian cheap in Gouvia. The establishment is one of the restaurants not to be missed in the area. The pizzas are based on local products and are very hearty. The pastas are also fantastic, especially the shrimp ones! The seafood pasta is just perfect and the scampi is cooked just right. The salads are extraordinarily fresh, the bruschettas are great, and of course the tiramisu is the crowning touch... In the summer, the place is quickly taken by storm. It is better to reserve!

Ideally located at the end of the Kanoni peninsula, this Greek-Mediterranean restaurant is one of the culinary addresses to try in Corfu. First for the setting and the breathtaking view of one of the island's must-see spots, the church of Pontikonisi, and the spectacular aircraft landings nearby. Then for the dishes, worked with passion and elegance, on a basis of fresh products oriented towards the sea. Our favorite for a romantic dinner.

A very good restaurant near the beach with a very pleasant atmosphere and good food. For breakfast, you'll find options with coffee and orange juice included in the price. A good choice for breakfast or a coffee during the day. But we also recommend you try the traditional dishes and house wine. On the menu: kebabs, salads and mezzes. The staff are very friendly and polite. And they also offer their guests free sunbeds and parasols on the beach.