Zakynthos Restaurants: Where to Eat
Zakynthos serves its best food in the fish tavernas of Zakynthos Town harbour, on the hill of Bochali with its view over the lights, and in the family tavernas of the south, while the resorts of Laganas and Tsilivi hold the beach bars and international menus. The capital is the place for fresh fish and Zakynthian dishes, Bochali adds the view, and the villages keep the traditional cooking. Local specialities include ladotyri cheese, mandolato nougat and the island's Verdea wine. This guide sets out where to eat by area. Hire a car to explore Zakynthos at your own pace, covered in our Zakynthos car hire guide.
- Best for fish
- Town harbour
- Best view
- Bochali
- Local cheese
- Ladotyri
- Local wine
- Verdea
Zakynthos Town harbour and squares
Zakynthos Town is the best place on the island for a proper meal, and its tavernas line the long harbour and open onto the squares behind it. The waterfront cooks the day's fresh fish and seafood beside the fishing boats, while the tavernas around Agios Markos Square and the arcaded main street serve Zakynthian home cooking, grilled meat and mezes at kinder prices than the resorts. This is where locals eat, so it stays open and busy outside the summer season too.
Bochali and the hill tavernas
Bochali, the village on the pine hill above Zakynthos Town by the ruined Kastro, is the place to eat for the view. Its small square and the tavernas along the ridge look out over the lit-up town, the harbour and the Ionian, which makes it a favourite for dinner at sunset. The cooking is classic Greek taverna fare, grills, fish and mezes, with the setting rather than the menu the main draw, and it is a short drive or a steep walk up from the seafront.
Laganas, Tsilivi and the resorts
The resorts of the south and east coast hold the widest choice of casual eating, aimed at the summer crowd. Laganas has the loudest strip of bars, fast food and international restaurants, Kalamaki and Argassi keep a mix of tavernas and family menus, and Tsilivi and Alykes on the north-east coast have relaxed beach tavernas and mini-market cafes. These places suit an easy meal near the sand and the nightlife, with plenty of pizza, grills and English breakfasts alongside the Greek dishes.
Keri and the south
The quiet south around Keri and Limni Keriou keeps some of the island's most traditional tavernas, in the old hill village and by the small harbour where the boat trips leave. Fresh fish comes straight off the boats at Limni Keriou, the village tavernas of Keri cook slow-simmered Zakynthian dishes, and the terraces near the Keri lighthouse pair a simple menu with a wide sunset view over the Ionian. This corner rewards travellers who drive out from the resorts for dinner.
Zakynthian specialities
Zakynthos has its own dishes and products worth ordering. Ladotyri is a hard local cheese matured in olive oil, mandolato is a soft nougat of honey, sugar and almonds sold in the town, and pasteli is the island's sesame-and-honey bar. Among cooked dishes, sartsa is beef stewed in a tomato and cheese sauce, and frigadeli is a dish of seasoned liver. Wash them down with the local Verdea, a traditional white wine of the island, from the vineyards that also feed the wine factory in the Kalipado district.
