Latest news with #Zakynthos
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Why did tender leave Kate and Wills' superyacht to get George a 'specific dietary item'... from one of the few Greek islands with a McDonald's?
In the rarefied world of super yachting, no request is too outlandish – particularly if it comes from a future King. Sailing around the Greek islands with his family last month, the Prince and Princess of Wales 's eldest son George, 12, apparently fancied something off menu. The royals had just left Kefalonia and were heading south in the Ionian Sea towards another island, Zakynthos. After dropping anchor some distance from the shore, a tender boat was despatched on a special mission. It seems something had tickled young George's fancy. Sources remain tight-lipped about quite what it was – though one said tantalisingly: 'George required a specific dietary item which led to the tender going ashore in Zakynthos to purchase it. Nothing extravagant, just something particular.' It is hard to conceive of what it was that couldn't be rustled up by the superyacht's chef. And presumably the kitchen received plenty of forewarning about the children's likes and dislikes. Hard to imagine the yacht running out of ketchup, say, or chicken nuggets. George is said to have a penchant for spaghetti carbonara, a straightforward dish by any standards. He and sister Charlotte, ten, are also partial to curry. Again, easily prepared. Perhaps as some locals on Zakynthos have half-jokingly speculated, George fancied a fast food treat. They point out that it is one of only a handful of Greek islands that boasts a McDonald's restaurant. What's more it is close to the shore in the town of Laganas on the south of the island. 'It is company policy not to divulge any information regarding our clients,' said the manager. A mystery indeed. In truth, while Princess Diana was known to indulge William and Harry with burgers and KFC, it is something Kate has avoided. Last week the Daily Mail revealed that a retired civil servant spotted some of the royal party – Kate, Charlotte and Louis – on their superyacht off the coast of Ithaca, a tiny island 25 minutes by ferry from Kefalonia. Penelope Likoudi, 64, was swimming in secluded Mavrouna Bay when she came within 30 metres (100ft) of the yacht. 'Kate was standing on the top level with Charlotte and Louis,' she said. 'There was an older lady next to them, possibly Kate's mother, but I wasn't able to see her well. 'I literally shivered with excitement. I was shocked, I couldn't believe it. Now I wish I'd called out hello to them. But I didn't, I got starstruck and couldn't get the words out. 'There was no sign of William or George though.' The Daily Mail has learned that not once during the sailing trip did the royals set foot on any of the islands. It is thought to have been considered but quickly ruled out because of security concerns. Instead the royals made good use of a platform that transforms the stern hatch into a private beach area, where they swam and played on inflatables and paddleboards.
Times
01-08-2025
- Times
Family holidays: what we got wrong — and right — by the experts
It starts with such good intentions, writes Siobhan Grogan. When you first consider a family holiday, you might picture all the quality time spent together, long sunny days chatting and picnicking, perfectly built sandcastles on the beach, perhaps a glass of wine while your angelic child plays quietly nearby. But children have an uncanny knack of upending even the best-laid plans, whether you're in the Maldives or Margate. They get ill at the most inconvenient times, have screaming meltdowns on planes, won't eat anything but chicken nuggets or decide they're terrified of the sea. Yet we continue to live in hope for that rare time that everything goes perfectly to plan. Here are our writers' own tales of their best and worst family holidays to — hopefully — help you to avoid our mistakes this summer. The stylish Peligoni beach club and villa set-up in northern Zakynthos manages to be heaven for children and adults. The kids' club, open four hours a day, runs activities such as sailing, tennis, tie-dyeing classes and so on, which means parents can get coffee, go to the gym, even talk to each other. Samuel, my four-year-old, was at the club every minute he was allowed. When we went last October half-term, the weather was absolutely chef's kiss: low twenties, still-warm sea, blue skies. It made me realise my non-negotiable on all future holidays: childcare. Everything that could go wrong on holiday went wrong on our Barbados trip, when my son was 18 months old. We were all sick from unfiltered water; he didn't sleep and had severe nappy rash; it rained. We were tutted out of lovely linen-tablecloth restaurants when he lost interest in loud iPad videos. I had wanted to see the island so had booked us into five hotels in totally different places, and we spent most of our ten-day break travelling between them. Even nightly rum punches didn't cheer us up. It's the closest we've been to divorce. To top it off, we flew from Manchester. On a recent (child-free) trip to Marbella, I noticed a family on holiday with two nannies and one toddler. This, I have learnt, is a reasonable adult-to-small-child ratio. One of our best holidays so far has been to a Landmark Trust house in Lyme Regis, Dorset, with my sister and her young family plus our parents. No airports, no (quickly crushed) expectations of sunbathing with a book. The cousins played (largely) happily together, chasing chickens around the garden and hiding behind curtains. The grandparents covered bedtime stories and the domestic drudgery was divvied up. One night, to celebrate a special birthday, a caterer came to cook dinner for us. Champagne! Canapés! No washing up! The ultimate treat. City breaks, for me, mean walking for miles, dipping into shops, visiting galleries, sipping the odd overpriced drink in a hotel bar and dining out. None of which is suitable for young children. We took ours to Florence and, while they were doted on by the Italians, it was all a bit of a challenge. Narrow pavements, no playgrounds (at least that we could find), lots and lots of tourists, very late dinner times. Our eldest had a meltdown because I wouldn't let her hold the handmade marbled paper I'd bought. Even the chocolate gelato had to work hard to bring her round. One of the benefits of having kids is that they don't know anything. So when you say things like 'We're going to Belgium!' they might be excited. This was the case when my lad was 12 and we took the train to Bruges. I was aiming for some kind of culturally uplifting experience, full of art, canal rides and architecture. But what was I thinking? The plan went straight out the window and we basically just larked about, eating fancy chocolate for breakfast, racing up the steps at the bell tower and laughing like drains in a museum dedicated to French fries. Who needs plans? You know that feeling when you go camping and everything works out really well? No, me neither. But as a broke single dad, summers invariably used to involve at least one week sitting in a cheap tent somewhere in Yorkshire waiting for the rain to stop. The summer of 2014 was particularly memorable as my seven-year-old and I were joined in Robin Hood's Bay by, drum roll, Ex-Hurricane Bertha! Yes, I did eventually manage to catch up with the tent as it blew down the hill. No, I didn't notice the huge tear until I'd put the wretched thing up and unloaded the car. Yes, I had left the coolbox full of food at home on the kitchen table. No, I didn't cry that much. The cottage looked adorable online. Exactly the kind of place you would choose if this was your first trip to Sardinia and you really wanted to see the island at its best. Unfortunately, when we pulled up outside — in the middle of a rainstorm — it became apparent that the guy who'd photographed the place had carefully framed out the depressing agricultural complex that dominated the landscape and the inescapable air of dark gloom within. Three rooms didn't have windows, the 'garden' had a broken twin tub in it and, worst of all, there was no television. I'm not ashamed to say I wept. As did my two children. But, magically, this then turned into … … the best holiday, because my husband — not normally one for bold decisions or reckless expenditure — simply took out his credit card, held it aloft in front of his weeping women-folk and said: 'Behold: the solution.' Twenty minutes later we were in a frankly magnificent hotel on a white-sand beach with swimming pools that the kids spent all day in. Everywhere reeked of jasmine, the hotel restaurant did a cocktail that became my main source of hydration, and the thrill of pulling off a good holiday, having glimpsed the prospect of a nightmare one, kept us buzzing all week. Best of all, there was a TV in our bathroom. One rainy morning me and both kids watched all of Mamma Mia! while up to our necks in hot bubbles. Money: is there nothing it can't do? • Read our full guide to Sardinia A week on the beach at Watergate Bay in Cornwall has been a fixture on our family calendar from the get-go, with Granny and Grandpa stalwart supporters for many of those years. Accommodation has ranged from hotels to cottages to campsites. Our beach buddies have included like-minded London families and, now, teenage friends from school. Every year is the same, but also different. We surf. It rains (heavily) twice. The kids grow ever more capable. At the end of it we always wish we could stay another week. We got our timing wrong with ski holidays. I'd heard loads of stories from the locals about how their children were skiing straight out of the cradle (well, almost) and so tried our son, Sam, in ski school in La Plagne, France, when he was three. When we picked him up later his face was white with dried tears and snot. He did one more day and then we gave up — and no one skied much after that. He loves it now, of course, but we should have waited until he was in reception year back home and not so freaked out by the company of strangers. • 16 of the best family adventure holidays Renting an out-of-season villa in the middle of nowhere in Umbria was risky. There was little close by for the kids to do, it was too early in the year to use the pool, and the nearest shop was half an hour's drive away if we ran out of milk (aka wine). In fact, we whiled away a surprisingly sunny week playing football and Frisbee in the garden, ate vats of no-frills pasta on the terrace, day-tripped to hilltop Assisi for great views and gelato, and discovered a vineyard within walking distance, where the owner lavished hunks of parmesan on the kids as we sampled the vino. It's the most relaxed I've ever felt on holiday. Everyone loves Cornwall, apparently. Well, everyone can't have spent the best part of a day stuck in a traffic jam en route listening to the chirpy Peppa Pig theme tune at the start of each new episode on the iPad. My two-year-old was sick several times on the journey — we later discovered she has chronic travel sickness — and our rented cottage had a death-trap staircase our daughter wanted to spend the entire day going up and down. Plus, the 'short drive' to the nearest beach was not so short once you'd factored in hours spent battling for a parking space. I still shudder when I see Peppa Pig. • 20 of the best family-friendly hotels in the UK Every summer between the ages of 5 and 15 with my parents and siblings, and now as an adult with my own children, I have spent a week on a narrowboat. It's always the highlight of our year — normal life fades away. Last year our route took us through Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales. On golden afternoons my niece lay on the roof reading Agatha Christie aloud to her cousins as emerald-green hills slipped by. True, there was a sticky spot when we ran out of water and no one could shower for two days. But that was all part of the fun. Once I had aspirations that we would become a 'van family'. We bought a second-hand VW when our sons were two and four and headed to a sprawling campsite behind Rhossili beach on the Gower peninsula. We spent an hour trying to get the van level and erect our awning, then it began to drizzle. When it stopped raining we collected driftwood from the beach and made a campfire, but got nothing but black smoke. We thought we'd go for a meal then realised we couldn't get anywhere without packing up again. The boys went back to their iPads in the van, while my husband and I sat silently outside in the cold and dark, watching other families happily barbecuing and drinking beers. Mum died. Not on the holiday, but before. Also before was the London Olympics, so the biggest month of my professional career. Bradley Wiggins had won Great Britain's first gold medal and I was waiting to speak with him when I got the call to say come home, quick. She went that night. I took one day off then carried on working. So there was no time to grieve, no time to process and when we finally got to our villa that was beginning to show, physically and mentally. Then I fell down the stairs. Speaking to the owners about an air-con issue, I must have dripped water on my way up, slipped on it coming down. Marble. Top to bottom. Not good. At least I wasn't hospitalised. Shame, because it was lovely, I'm told. Roberto ran the house and cooked for us — 'very fresh, very typical' — and one of my lads still says it's the best villa we've had. Pity I wasn't really around to enjoy it. Just came back from it, thanks for asking. Only ten days, but as the family gets older it's harder to be in one place together. But this was us — my three sons, all the girls, even our Australian exiles. The villa in Zakynthos was superb, again — 'I reckon better than that one in Sardinia where you fell down the stairs,' said Art — we swam in the Ionian Sea, Rob fanned the barbecue and Will cooked some nights, so we dined like gods. And Art has a new Australian hip now, so is getting his life back. No crutches any more. I could have whiled away hours just watching him walk. Had it rained every day — and, no, not a drop — it would still have felt perfect. • 18 of the best family hotels in Greece I was a weird teenager because I really enjoyed hanging out with my family. Which was just as well because in the summer of 1997 we crammed into our car, drove to Hull, caught the ferry to Zeebrugge and then spent the next fortnight on the road. The Black Forest! The Swiss Alps! Austria! The shores of Lake Garda! I was 15, had made an incredible mix tape — which I made everyone listen to constantly — I read The Secret History by Donna Tartt and my parents even let me have the occasional beer. From watching Aida staged in Verona's Roman arena to guzzling sausages at a Bavarian village fête run by drunken firemen, I loved every single minute of it and still think about it weekly. Our first holiday as a family should have been great: a pretty little villa not far from the south coast of Mallorca where we could decompress after successfully completing our first 12 months of parenthood — ie alternate between nailing cold cans of Mahou Cinco Estrellas, paddling in the sea and taking nap after nap after nap. Unfortunately our son decided to run an explode-the-thermometer temperature and have a violent febrile seizure. Cue an ambulance ride to the hospital, where we all spent the next four days sharing a stuffy, windowless hospital room. On the plus side the hospital canteen had a wine list — quite good, actually — but I've never wanted to be home while on holiday quite so badly. • 15 of the best family holiday destinations for 2025 In 2008 we decided to take no risks on our first holiday as a family of four — just a cosy Dartmoor cottage in late September. Where better to be sleep-deprived and out of our parenting depth? Alas, the cottage was not as described: one tiny broken bed, several broken windows and a swamp for a driveway. Which would have been fine except it was raining, from the minute we arrived to the minute we left (three days early). Which would have been fine except the farmer who rented it lived right next door. He was a lonely old man who tried to whittle wooden animals but always ended up with wooden mushrooms. He liked to come into our kitchen to make himself a brew. We left with two mushrooms and three colds — and a renewed gratitude for our own cosy home. In 2010 we decided to take some risks on our third and final family holiday before Child A started school. We set off on a four-week camper van trip across France feeling like expert parents. For the first three weeks and two days it rained, and we were worn down by the damp, the drudgery, the fermé signs in every restaurant window. Then, for the first and probably last time, I decided to hang the expense. I booked us into the most expensive luxury château I could find in Bordeaux. We arrived and a team of valets unpacked all our waterlogged equipment. They hung our bell tent in the wine cave to dry while we sat on the terrace ordering lunch. The sun came out and I don't think I've ever been happier. Even though I grew up a few hours away, I'd shamefully never taken the family to Montreal. Last October we stepped out of the Gare Centrale just as the autumn leaves were peaking and summer was heaving a final sigh. Obviously we headed straight out for poutine at La Banquise. Then we hit Saint Laurent Boulevard, which is rammed with vintage boutiques, and relaxed on Larrys café patio just as the Halloween revelry was getting into gear — children in zoo animal onesies on the early shift, sexy nurses and Village People on the late one. My eldest was so charmed she decided to go to university there. • Canada's most fun city break — with a French twist Living in Shanghai with two toddlers was intense, so we booked a week in Yunnan, the mountainous province in China's west, for some fresh air and exercise. Right off the bat we realised how badly we'd planned, showing up in historic Lijiang during a high-traffic public holiday with a double buggy and a hotel reservation at the top of a steep, cobbled hill. The girls, with their white-blonde hair, endured constant curiosity from crowds reaching out to touch them. After dinner in the old town, two of us got food poisoning from a misguided bowl of yak curry and spent the night on the floor of the lavatory. We gave it another day but ended up quitting after two nights. Share your own family holiday highs and lows in the comments
Telegraph
28-07-2025
- Telegraph
The 10 best things to do in Zakynthos
Zakynthos, also known as Zante, holds a varied selection of attractions – impressive for such a small island – from its scenic coast to charming villages. The southern coastline is home to loggerhead sea turtles on the pristine beaches of Zakynthos Marine Park, while the northern coast boasts the famed Navagio Beach. Look for cultural activies in Zante Town, and be sure to sample the island's grapes at one of the local wineries, known for signature white wines. Whether you're staying for a weekend or a week, here's our expert selection of must-dos on the island. For further Zante inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Plan an extended visit with our ultimate guide to planning a Greek island-hopping holiday. Trainaki Take the train The white trainaki (little train) which trundles out of Zante town to Kalamaki's café-lined beach – stopping off en route to discover perfume workshops (scents are inspired by Mediterranean landscapes), and ceramic workshops selling Byzantine-style crocks – is an ideal and eco-friendly way to see the island's sights. Another train leaving from Alykes beach chugs through ancient olive groves to visit the high flung mountain villages of Katastari and Pigadakia, and culminates in a boozy tasting session: local Graigos wine served with spicy lado tyri cheese and other specialties in the tree-shaded tavern Kaki Rahi. Zakynthos' Marine Park Discover the wildlife Zante is a haven for the endangered loggerhead turtle that clamber ashore to lay their eggs on the protected beaches of Zakynthos' Marine Park. Other critically endangered species that can be found frolicking in this protected zone, which stretches from wild and lonely Cape Marathia to Gerakas' talc-soft beach, include doe-eyed Mediterranean monk seals. To get up close without disturbing them, take a day trip to Marathonissi – better known as Turtle Island – with eco-friendly experts Nefis Travel. Insider's tip: Never disturb the turtles, or stay on the beaches after sunset when they could be nesting or hatching out. Boat tours Hitch a boat ride Some of the island's best attractions can only be reached by boat: Skinari is the starting point for half-day excursions to get a glimpse of Navagio, or Shipwreck beach, the dramatically picturesque cliff-framed sandy cove which earns its name from the rusted hulk of the MV Panagiotis, washed up here after an epic storm in the 1980s. Most trips also stop off at the Blue Caves, so-called because their pale limestone walls give the sea a ghostly turquoise hue. Insider's tip: The Navagio viewpoint near Volimes village is accessible by road, but it's impossible to access the beach from this high-flung spot. Solomos Museum Meet the literatis Dig deep into the soul of this culture-loving island at the Solomos Museum, which is dedicated to Greece's national poet, who was born here in 1798. The poet's primrose-yellow neoclassical home, which was bombed during the Second World War, contains an eclectic and fascinating selection of the writer's personal artefacts: look out for the desk where Dionysios penned the country's rousing national anthem in 1823 and the mausoleum on the ground floor which contains the poet's bones. Insider's tip: Don't miss the other rooms dedicated to the life and times of other famous island scholars, including celebrated Greek Revolution poet Andreas Kalvos. Zante town Stroll the streets Destroyed by a major earthquake in 1953, then rebuilt in Venetian style, Zante town's (semi-pedestrian) paved streets are lined with an elegant collection of buildings – low and well proportioned, with porticoes and pastel-painted facades – many of them are home to cafés and craft boutiques. Insider's tip: Look out for the Provençal-style façade of Archontiko Roma. One of the few buildings that wasn't reduced to rubble, this 17th-century mansion which once belonged to President of the Greek Parliament Alexander Roma is now a small museum – family portraits, works of art and period furniture give an intriguing insight into the once lavish lifestyle of the island's aristocracy, but it is not often open so call before visiting. Bochali Admire the views A winding road just outside of Zante town leads to Bochali, a pretty pine-scented suburb where the ruined battlements of the island's battered 15th-century castle offer eagle-eye views over Zante's red-tiled roofs, glittering harbour and the dense pine forests and sand beaches of distant Vassilikos peninsula. Enter the incense-scented Zoodoxo Pigi church to see richly gilded Byzantine icons, and then hike back down to Bochali village nearby and order a beer and meze snacks in one of the cafés clustered around the square. Insider's tip: Phone in advance to check that the church is open. Askos Stone Park Roam with local deer Families will love Askos Stone Park, named for its pond-sized 13th-century stone cisterns, whose tranquil green waters now squawk with ducks. Friendly guides lead walks out along the wooded hiking trails of this small nature park surrounded by dense pine forest: to pluck and sniff the wild thyme and oregano used to flavour countless local dishes, or to (hopefully) encounter Roe deer that run wild here. Children can also pick peaches and apples in the orchard or pet the farm animals which include portly pot-bellied pigs and fluffy chinchilla rabbits. Visit a winery Sample local grapes Historically, most of the island's grape production was exported as currants – even so, Zante's dry, highly alcoholic wine is well worth sampling in one of the island's half a dozen wineries. The typical local wine is the oak-barrel-aged, intensely flavoured, highly acidic white Verdea, which has been produced here since the 19th century – another must-try is the silky-sweet Lianoroidi white. Sample both at Art and Wine, the Giatras-Gkoumas family's century-old wine estate in the island's north east region. Owner Giannis is also a skilled icon painter. Insider's tip: Hire a car – most wineries are well off the beaten track. Aristeon Olive Press Learn about the local olive oil The 2,000-year-old olive tree in the village of Exo Hora is living proof that world class extra virgin olive oil has been produced on Zante for millennia. Aristeon Olive Press is a (rather characterless) modern factory producing some of the island's best organic oil, but the small well-organised museum inside is packed with olive oil-making paraphernalia – age-pitted stone mills, ancient wooden presses and tall clay pots. An informative guided visit is followed by a tasting session, when crusty local bread is dipped into fruity green oil. Panagia Skopiotissa Hike to a high place From the resort of Kalamaki on Zante's south east coast, it's a long, steep hike along thyme-scented, boulder-strewn paths to reach Panagia Skopiotissa (the island's oldest monastery), but it's well worth it for the views from this lofty leafy mountaintop whose name – Skopos – means watchtower. The monastery has been abandoned for decades, but the walls of the stocky 15th-century church blaze with 17th-century frescoes – the real gem is the gilded Panagia Skopiotissa icon said to have been brought here from Constantinople in 1341. Insider's tip: Ask for the keys to the church at Skopos' small café. How we choose Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Heidi Fuller-Love I'm a fan of traditional music, and have spent many summers listening to kanthades in Zante's kafeneions and hiking the island's remotest goat trails.
Telegraph
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The best bars and nightclubs in Zakynthos
Away from Laganas' rowdy three-kilometre-long strip, Zakynthos' (also known as Zante) nightlife scene is far more laid back. Cafés and bars radiating out from Solomas square in Zante town attract locals who sit out in boisterous clusters greeting friends, eating traditional honey and almond mandoles and playing backgammon tavli. A string of chic bars on Bochali's Venetian castle-crowned hill just outside of town attracts a hip crowd who come here to sip cocktails and admire panoramic views. This Ionian island has a traditional music scene, too and it's well worth seeking out the local bars where they still host atmospheric and traditional kandathes nights. For further Zante inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants and things to do. Plan an extended visit with our ultimate guide to planning a Greek island-hopping holiday. Paradise Cocktail Bar There's always something going on at this funky little bar in the low key resort of Tsilivi. Far from Laganas' rowdy crowds this family-run venue, which has been around for more than 23 years, proudly promotes itself as the place to have 'an old fashioned good night out' with plenty of fun and occasional games, ranging from reggae nights and quizzes, to plate smashing and drag nights. With banners on street lamps proclaiming it to be 'the best bar in Greece' and a wrecked pink motor parked outside with a sign that reads 'Elvis' mothers car', this one is easy to find. Jungle Bar Named for its salt flats, which were abandoned in the 1980s and are now a magnet for migrating birds, the seaside resort of Alykes has one of the island's best low-key nightlife scenes – and the family-run Jungle Bar, set on a busy road in the centre of town, is one of the best places to enjoy it. Children are welcome at this bar's saloon-like terrace (great for people watching) where they serve an extensive range of (competitively priced) cocktails and mocktails, along with Guinness and beer on tap, to the tune of Eighties and Nineties hits. Movida Club Moonlight works magic on this sky bar sat atop the sweet-scented, pine-studded Bochali hill, close to the Venetian castle's crumbled walls, where the city's hip crowd come to sip handcrafted cocktails. Trees strung with glittering lights surround a wood-decked terrace with amphitheatre-like views of the inky black Ionian Sea way below and Zante town's sparkle way beyond. In summer, drinkers (perched on high-backed wooden chairs) are serenaded by the high-pitched toot of Scops owls, and local and international DJs who play mainly chill-out hits. There's also a limited menu: try the handmade burgers with chunky fries. Website: Price: ££ Getting in: Dress code is hip/casual. Cebu Club Although it's just down the road from Laganas, the nightlife in Argassi, just a few kilometres from Zante town, is far more chilled. Early evening is the time to hangout with locals – who flock here to eat in a string of taverns and fast food joints – before heading to one of the laidback clubs. Cebu's palm tree-shaded garden behind high walls is the perfect place to gaze at the stars through waving palm fronds, whilst sipping cocktails. There's also a football-pitch-sized dance space inside where local and guest DJs do their sets. Zakanthi Bar Restaurant Housed in a tall ochre building with olive green shutters along a quiet street in chilled seaside resort Kalamaki, this laidback bar is surrounded by a pretty garden – clipped lawns, palm trees and plants in pots – which makes it feel very private. Interiors are rustic-cosy (think flagged stone floors, chunky wooden tables and candles) but the best seats are outdoors, where friendly waiters serve cocktails handcrafted by a resident mixologist, as the sweet sounds of classic and jazz music filter out from speakers concealed amongst the trees. In summer they also have regular live music nights. Contact: 0030 26950 43586; Price: ££ Getting in: Dress code is elegant casual; it's best to book on weekends. Cotton Club Zakynthos When beret-clad Christian Marstrander and wife Merete, the Norwegian owners of Ibiza's celebrity-loved Cotton Club, first stepped ashore in Zakynthos they were captivated by the Ionian island's pristine seascapes and lush greenery, and vowed to create a second Cotton Club here. An ideal place to escape the coastal crowds, this sophisticated lifestyle club sits on a pine-clad hill with breathtaking views over Laganas bay. Come here during the daytime to sip cocktails and chill by the pool, or stay later to enjoy live DJ's and plant-based menus in the club's al fresco restaurant - for those who choose to linger, they also rent out villas, along with a sleek line of luxury yachts. Porto Azzuro Beach bars are ten a penny in the beach resort of Vasilikos, but Porto Azurro's location – just steps from the warm shallow waters and soft sand of its eponymous beach – combine with an imaginative range of cocktails (try the Greek Collins made with grappa-like tsipouro, instead of gin) makes it a popular lunchtime choice. Drinks can be ordered on the bamboo-shaded terrace of the bar, or from the never-want-to-leave comfort of a sunbed. They also serve Mediterranean snacks: olive oil-drizzled choriatiki salads, fresh grilled meat souvlaki and seafood. Villa Rossa Wine bar Although the best grapes were once exported as currants, these days Zante produces some excellent wines from a wide range of local varietals – and not just the ubiquitous white wine Verdea, either. Housed along the Vassilikos peninsula in an atmospheric villa, with creaking wooden floors and ornate antique furnishings – and which once belonged to the powerful Roma family (who also owned Archontiko Roma in Zante town) – Villa Rossa has plenty of choice. Sit at picnic tables (with plenty of cushions) beneath citrus-scented cypress trees and choose from an extensive list served with spicy ladotyri cheese and other snacks. Portokali Along a side street in the popular seaside resort of Argassi, Portokali (Greek for 'orange') really rocks that amber vibe with carrot-coloured deco ranging from lampshades to seating. Surprisingly, however, the orange-with-everything theme is not oppressive because this quirky live music bar restaurant nestles in lovely lush gardens. There are immense palm trees thrusting palm fronds to the velvet, star-spangled sky and ancient olive trees strung with (orange) hammocks where you can laze and listen to live music which plays most nights here and can be anything from laidback jazz to lively rock 'n' roll. There's also a restaurant serving traditional local treats, including – you guessed it – portokalopita (orange cake). Contact: 0030 26950 45730; Price: ££ Getting in: Casual, but get there early – this place is popular. How we choose Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Heidi Fuller-Love I'm a fan of traditional music, and have spent many summers listening to kanthades in Zante's kafeneions and hiking the island's remotest goat trails.
Telegraph
26-07-2025
- Telegraph
The 20 best restaurants in Zakynthos
Exohora's millennial olive tree is living proof that the world's healthiest oil has been produced on Zakynthos, also known as Zante, for centuries and most of the local specialties – including meltingly rich beef stew sofigadoura and garlic-laden aubergine dish skordostoubi – are doused in it. Other unique homegrown ingredients include sweet white Belousiotiko onions and the tiny wild strawberries which colour the hillsides in spring. Round off any meal with the island's spicy sheep cheese ladotiri and sherry-like Verdea wine and you'll agree that the gastronomy of this island, where Apollo once strolled, is fit for the gods. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best restaurants in Santorini. Find out more below, or for more inspiration see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants, nightlife and things to do. Plan an extended visit with our ultimate guide to planning a Greek island-hopping holiday. Find a restaurant by type: Best all-rounders Spartakos Taverna If you want to know where locals go to fill up on the freshest seafood in town follow crowds to Spartakos. This cheery family-run taverna has a dozen tables covered with blue-check cloths on the deck overlooking Zante's sparkling port. This is an old-style Greek taverna so Spartakos will show you into the cramped kitchen to pick out one of the luscious dishes – garides saganaki (shrimps baked in a tomato and feta sauce), or kalamari gemisto (oven-baked squid stuffed with a succulent blend of seafood and rice) prepared by his wife, who is inspired by her family's age-old recipes. Contact: 0030 2695 044526; Reservations: Only on weekends Prices: ££ Best table: Ask for one with a harbour view Eucalyptos Set in the peaceful poolside garden of one of the island's oldest hotels, this delightfully bucolic restaurant – named for the island's oldest eucalyptus tree – was one of the first on the island to source ingredients locally. The menu only features traditional local dishes and regional – mainly organic – wines. Enthusiastic owner Maria Lougari – whose parents opened the hotel back in the 1990s – is on hand to chat (and chivvy the waiters) as you dine on succulent lamb and pasta giouvetsi, veal, onion and tomato stew moscharistifado and other traditional dishes.
