Plaka, Athens

Greece offers the most remarkable and inimitable collection of flavors that brings tourists in by the millions. As one of the more highly visited destinations, Greece is the mainland for amazing cooking.

I would like to share a word of advice before venturing into particular restaurants: when you are choosing a restaurant in any international destination, never eat at places with pictures of the dishes on their menu. This is a tourist trap. Steer clear! My goal is to steer you away from this and reveal a more remarkable place.

The restaurant I want to recommend to any person visiting Greece is Vyzantino Taverna located in Plaka, Athens. Situated in a small park setting, Vyzantino Taverna is a favorite amongst locals and tourists alike. Famous for both their prices and dishes, this restaurant brings in the most appreciative customers.

The restaurant is staffed with many courteous waiters who will help you with even your worst translations of the menu. And the majority of them speak English, so you won’t run into a language barrier when you are trying to enjoy your meal.

A dish that is highly recommended is the lamb with lemon sauce. Vyzantino Taverna is known for its simple, yet flavorsome dishes.

While the Vyzantino Taverna restaurant is unforgettable, locals say the best time to go is for either breakfast or lunch when the dishes are always available. Enjoy!

Photo Credit to darkensiva

Related: I Dream of Greece; Island Hopping in Greece.

As anyone who has seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding will tell you, Portokali is the Greek word for Orange. It also happens to be the name of a restaurant in Argasi, on the Ionian Island of Zakynthos aka Zante.

Portokali Art Bar, Zante, Greece

If you judge the orange by the cover, it looks to be a fun place with fresh cooked seasonal food and good service. What makes it even more refreshingly authentic are their descriptions.

Take a look under Dring [sic] - “Portokali is open all year long… unless it is closed. The later happens rarely but it does happen… and when it does… it does not last too long, just a few days. So don’t worry about it.”

Portokali looks to be a pretty hip establishment. They call themselves an Art-Bar, with live entertainment in the lounge-bar, and plenty of other nightlife options in the vicinity, not to mention the beach nearby. Exhibitions, parties and shows take place at the Portokali all year round.

It’s the kind of place where, depending on the time of day (or night) and your state of mind, you can have either a coffee or a cocktail. They also serve exotic salads, hot and cold dishes and desserts well into the night.

If Zante sounds like a place where you wouldn’t mind spending a weekend or two, you might want to consider making your stay even more of an experience by staying at one of the Farm houses in Zakynthos.

Related: I Dream of Greece; Island Hopping in Greece.

There are many restaurants that boast an incredible view.  In my experience, these places often offer a trade-off in one department or another.  Great view, exorbitant prices.  Or great view, mediocre food.  Sadly, it would seem that those with the best views often end up with both high prices and tasteless eats.  I suppose they think you’ll be distracted by the scenery.

But once in a while you come across a place that offers fare that matches the view.  And for guests of the exclusive Mystique resort on the island of Santorini, that place is the Charisma restaurant.  You might be blinded by the view – the restaurant overlooks the volcanic caldera in the village of Oia and it is truly breathtaking.

Charisma offers open-air dining at its best – the chef manages to create unique dishes using local ingredients with international flavor.  I was tempted to try the black angus filet with chocolate, foie gras and Vinsanto wine sauce.  What magic could be made of those things together!  But I opted for the incredible swordfish.  Infused with ouzo, thyme and fresh honey, it seemed one of the most “Greek” dishes in the menu.  I was not disappointed.  In fact, while eating, I barely glanced at the view – now dyed in the bright purples and crimsons of Oia’s famous sunset.  I was too busy enjoying my meal.

Read More »

Every wine lover appreciates a wine bar with a little ambiance.  And you can find ambiance in spades at Vedema Resorts‘ Canava Wine Bar.

Santorini is an island in the Cyclades famed for its natural beauty and volcanic caldera views.  But there is more to this island than just the scenery.  It is also prime wine country,with the native Assyrtiko grape thriving in the islands hard, sun-baked ground.  This grape produces some lovely white and dessert wines.  They tend to be dry, with hints of citrus and even a slightly smoky taste courtesy of the island’s volcano.

And trying them at the Canava is a true treat.  Vedema Resort is a Luxury Hotel Collection property built on the foundations of a 400-year-old winery in the hills of Megalohori.  The Canava itself is literally within these foundations – lodged in old catacombs underneath the hotel.  The Resort literature says it has a “distinguishing atmosphere.”  I say it has a cool, earthy beauty of which I’ve never seen the like.

Read More »