Where to Eat on Zakynthos

Wondering where to eat on Zakynthos? Here’s a list of the restaurants with great local specialties, all recommended to me by Zakynthians.

Where to Eat on Zakynthos

There are many restaurants in Zakynthos so its quite easy to get reeled into touristic places that may not offer the authentic cuisine  – at a good price.

The restaurants listed below offered authentic tasty Greek dishes and friendly service.  Beyond the delicious food, each place had its own charm.

Nikos’ Place

This family run restaurant and bar was located at the Plessa Palace, where our Travel Bloggers Greece group had a most hospitable stay.  The restaurant was a convenient stop for the hotel’s guests but not only.  It was located right off the main road in Alykanas. So, it was an ideal meal stop before or after the village’s pretty beach.

Our group was greeted with big smiles and delicious local dishes. It was the first time I tried the Zakythian specialty of rabbit stew in tomato sauce.

 

Varkarola

One of the top restaurants in Zakynthos is this lovely traditional tavern called Varkarola. It is located in Zakynthos Town, right on the main road, with a great view of the harbor.

We dined on another local rabbit stew variation with white sauce. Delicious.

Besides their excellent dishes, Varkarola serenaded its guests with live Zakythian music called kantades.

Ladofanaro by the Beach

If you’re looking for an excellent beach tavern head to Ladofanaro by the Beach.

I loved this restaurant even before trying out the food. The sea view of Amboula Beach was gorgeous. First, I relaxed on the taverna’s grassy area decked out with sun loungers. After a taste of local beach life (no beach parties in sight) we ambled to the large outdoor deck of the tavern.

We settled in for a meal with a blue sea beach view.  The food? Everything was delicious.

 

Tips for Dining in Zakynthos

• Overall, my local favorite was the Zakynthian rabbit stew. Try it with red or white sauce.
• Also don’t forget to sample ladotiri, a delicious yellow cheese made with locally produced olive oil.

How to Get to Zakynthos

Bus 
There is a daily bus with services to the cities of Athens, Patras and Thessaloniki via a short journey on the Zakynthos-Kyllini ferry.
Bus travel via the Athens – Kyllini line is about 4 hours and 30 minutes. From Kyllini there is direct ferry to Zakynthos.
Useful numbers:
Athens KTEL Bus  ( Kifisou 100) Telephone: +30 210 5129432, 5129432
Zakynthos KTEL Bus (Filita Street 42) – Telephone: +30 26950 22255, 42656

Air
There is an airport on Zakynthos. Flights are 45 minutes.

Between April and October there are direct charter connections with many European cities.

The Zakynthos airport is in the town of Ampelokipi, which is three kilometers from Zakynthos Town. Check out the best flight deals on Vayama.

Getting Around Zakynthos

To get around the island, you’ll save time if you rent a car. I can recommend booking through Avis Europe.

Where to Stay on Zakynthos

Zakynthos is filled with all types of hotel options. I enjoyed my stay at the three-star Plessa Palace hotel in the quiet resort town of Alykanas.  A very hospitable Greek family-run hotel.

Have you ever dined at the restaurants in Zakynthos? Or enjoyed kantades local Greek folk music?