Local Cuisine
For dinner in Zante there is a rich variety of dishes that you can try. some of the most usual dishes are tzatziki (yoghurt, garlic, cucumber), melitzanosalata (aubergines), ntolmadakia (grape leaves klimatarias stuffed with rice), that are always accompanied with bread. Of course salads cannot be absent. The most delicious Greek salad is choriatiki and includes tomato, cucumber, onion, pepper, olives and the traditional Greek cheese, feta. Tasty is also the lettuce-onion salad. All salads have olive oil and xydi.
As regards cheeses, in Zakynthos you can try big variety of greek and foreign cheeses. The most famous traditional Greek cheese that is made by ship milk is feta and follows the kefalotyri, which is a kind of hard cheese. In Zakynthos you can taste also 2 local types of cheese, the tyrokayteri (cheese in form of crema) and the ladotyri (spicy, tasty cheese). Finally, delicious is also the local traditional cheese pie, which is served warm. Apart from the cheese there are pies stuffed with meat, potatoes, spinach and a lot of other ingredients.
Passing in the main dish you have you select between meat, fish and vegetables and the decision will be really difficult because you do not know what to choose. Pork, chicken, calf, lamb are cooked with unique recipes, in a lot of ways. However the tastiest dishes in the island are stuffed rabbit and spetsofai. Do not forget to try this even one time. You can also find the classic soyvalaki and pitta-gyros, moysaka and papoytsakia (dishes with aubergines), stifado (hare with a lot of onions and tomatoes). In Zakynthos vegetables are used to a large amount as main dishes and as starters. Stuffed tomatoes with rice, cooked in the oven and imam aubergines are other 2 delicious dishes.
Finally, if you like fish, you will have the possibility of trying mullets, swordfish, fry and a lot of other, fried or grilled. In order to complete your dinner you should eat dessert, fruit or something sweet. In Zakynthos mpaklavas and kantaifi (sweets with cinnamon, walnut and syrup) are unique. You can try also, bugatsa a cream-filed pastry that is covered with sugar and cinnamon, mantolato and pasteli. During eating the sweet order to try the Greek coffee. You can drink it without sugar, with a little sugar or sweet.
Recommended Restaurants of Zante
PATARI
It is located on the Lake Candle (Limni Keri) and is of the most favorute taverns so much for the inhabitants, as much as for the visitors. The owners are very friendly and the environment very hospitable. You will have the possibility to try traditional dishes of Zakynthos, cooked with exceptional recipes. Meat, fresh fish, a lot of vegetables and wine are the elements that compose the dinner in this restaurant.
AKROTIRI
In the village Akrotiri, you will find also the homonym restaurant, which measures 25 years of life. It is from the oldest restaurants in the island and has very good cuisine. There is a big variety so much in appetizers and starters as much as in main dishes. Speciality of this restaurant is the notorious “Mpekri Mezes”. The restaurant opens at 5 in afternoon and the service is rapid.
ANDREAS
It is situated in the region Kipseli, near the village Tsilivi, next to the sea. It is exclusively a fish tavern and serves all kinds of fish and seafood. All products are fresh and you have the possibility to go in the kitchen and select what you will eat or propose the chef a recipe. You can seat in the interior or in the garden, where are a lot of palm trees, composing a magic environment.
PORTO LIMNIONAS
The region Porto Limnionas, is located on the western coast of island, where is also a beautiful sandy beach and the homonym restaurant. The place is idyllic and offers a panoramic view in Ionian Sea and for this it is ideal if you want to pass one separate evening, with a romantic dinner. The restaurant offers dishes with meat or fish, home cooked, that are accompanied from exceptional quality wine. The service is fast and the prices absolutely reasonable.
PAPORO
It is the oldest tavern in the island of Zakynthos and is situated in the region Alykes. It functions for 30 years and has tradition in the traditional Greek cuisine. You can select something from the wide menu and the owners will serve you quickly. It is from the dearest restaurants in the island.
MAMA'S PLACE
It is located in the central street in the village Laganas and it is the ideal part in order to try the well-known Greek soyvlaki and pitta-gyros. It is open all day and you can go there or order. If you want to eat something fast, tasty and in very good price, do not omit to visit it.
GAIDOURO
You will find it on the hill, behind the city of Zakynthos and for this has splendid view to a big part of the island. It offers a representative sample of traditional Greek cuisine and local cuisine. Menu includes a great variety of delicacies, the environment is unique and the prices reasonable.
MANDARIN
If you enjoy the Chinese cuisine, Mandarin is the best Chinese restaurant in the village Tsilivi. Enjoy unique dishes from Chinese cuisine, in an environment with east decoration and east aroma.
CASA GRECQUE
With experience of 27 years in the international cuisine and the best chef of the island, it waits you for a unique gastronomic experience. It is a family tavern and you will find it in Laganas. You can taste Greek, English, French and Italian dishes. Select it if you want to escape a little from Greek flavours.
LE MASCHERE
It is situated in distance of 50 metres from Amboulas beach and serves authentic Italian food. The owners are Italians and for this all dishes are cooked with traditional Italian recipes. You will be surprised from the breathtaking view and the unique environment. If you want to enjoy a family dinner, this restaurant is suitable so much for the adults as much as for the children, because there is a beautiful playground.
LIST OF RESTAURANTS
In Zakynthos you have the possibility of selecting where you will dine among a great variety of restaurants. You can go to a traditional Greek tavern where you will try the Greek dishes, under the sounds of traditional Greek music or a more relaxing restaurant. At the tourist cities of the island there is also the possibility of selecting to try international cuisine and mainly Italian.
| NAME |
TYPE |
LOCATION |
| PATARI |
TAVERN |
LIMNI KERI |
| LA BRUSCHETTA |
ITALIAN RESTAURANT |
LIMNI KERI |
| LE MASCHERE |
PIZZERIA-ITALIAN RESTAURANT |
AMPOULA |
| PIERO'S |
GREEK - MEXICAN RESTAURANT |
TSILIVI |
| AKROTIRI |
TAVERN |
AKROTIRI |
| GAIDOURO |
TAVERN |
BOCHALI |
| POPOLAROS |
TAVERN-LIVE GREEK MUSIC |
LAGANAS |
| ANDREAS |
FISH TAVERN |
KIPSELI |
| MALANOS |
TAVERN |
ZAKYNTHOS |
| MAMA'S PLACE |
PITTA GYROS |
LAGANAS |
| GARDEN OF EDEN |
RESTAURANT |
LAGANAS |
| LONG HORN |
STEAKHOUSE |
LAGANAS |
| HERMION |
TAVERN |
LAGANAS |
| PELOUZO |
RESTAURANT |
KALAMAKI |
| POSEIDON |
TAVERN |
LIMNI KERI |
| VARDIOLA |
TAVERN |
PORTO KOUKLA |
| XIGIA |
TAVERN |
XIGIA BEACH |
| PORTO LIMNIONAS |
TAVERN |
PORTO LIMNIONAS |
| PAPORO CENTER |
RESTAURANT |
ALYKES |
| CASA GRECQUE |
GREEK, ENGLISH, FRENCH, ITALIAN CUISINE |
KALAMAKI |
| LA BELLA NAPOLI |
ITALIAN RESTAURANT |
LAGANAS |
| MANDARIN |
CHINESE CUISINE |
TSILIVI |
| OLYMPIC |
GREEK - ENGLISH CUISINE |
ALYKES |