Introduction
Beautiful beaches, lush forests, and soaring cliffs and mountains make Kefalonia one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations. There’s no shortage of things to do and sights to see to help you work up an appetite! Kefalonia is home to a plethora of excellent eateries, both traditional and international. The island’s cuisine is heavily influenced by Austrian and Italian cuisine, as well as Greek cuisine from the mainland. If you’re staying in Kefalonia, you won’t have any trouble finding great places to eat. For centuries, Kefalonia has boasted of its hidden treasures, including eerie underground lakes and caves and the mountainous interior of the island that is home to rare wildflowers and a wild herd of white horses that can be seen climbing over rocky cliffs like goats on Mount Aenos, the island’s highest peak. Its lesser-known attractions now include an impressive selection of high-quality restaurants and tavernas.
Few visitors to the Greek islands are looking for major foodie thrills while they’re there. For those who expect nothing more than moussaka and Greek salad, they’ll be in for an enjoyable surprise. With each passing year, the culinary standard continues to rise. These days, many islands boast unique cuisines that showcase traditional recipes made with locally sourced ingredients.
In Greece, food is a central part of daily life, and fresh and local ingredients are given the utmost importance. In fact, each Greek island has its own unique culinary traditions that reflect the region’s history, geography, and way of life. As a result, a trip around Greece’s islands, made simple with Ferryscanner, allows foodies to sample a wide range of regional specialties. To find what you’re looking for, you must first know where to look.
So, let’s take a look on the best restaurants in Kefalonia.
Lorrain’s Magical Hill
In the islands of Lourdas region, you’ll find the endearingly named Lorraine’s Magic Hill. Family restaurants in Kefalonia are a great place to sample accurate Greek cuisine prepared in the tradition of a greek grandmother’s kitchen. In addition to serving home-cooked meals, the restaurant also produces its own wine. Each day’s batch of bread is freshly baked. The restaurant grows its own organic vegetables and raises its own free-range livestock. Just a few of the delectable options on the menu include meatloaf, kirimikato, kebab, and mousaka.
Tassia’s Restaurant
Tassia Restaurant is run by celebrity chef Tassia Dendrinou, so you know you’re in for a treat. It is located in Fiscardo, this upscale restaurant is well-liked by tourists and residents alike. You won’t be able to find these delectable dishes anywhere else on the island, which combine traditional Greek ingredients with contemporary cooking techniques. A variety of other dishes, such as BBQ or seafood, pasta, and risotto, can be ordered. You can choose from a wide selection of local wines to accompany your meal.
The Flamingo
The Flamingo manages to maintain a calm and peaceful atmosphere despite being one of the most popular and crowded attractions in the area. It’s a great spot to freshen up after a long day and enjoy some traditional Greek dishes, as well as more modern food like chicken, steak, and seafood. The Flamingo, in contrast to many other eateries, includes potatoes, vegetables, or rice as a side dish with every meal. After it, the dessert selection is particularly impressive if you’re in the mood for something sweet. The Flamingo can be found near Skala.
Argostoli’s Aristophanes Taverna
There’s no better place to enjoy fresh fish and delectable delicacies than the Aristophanic Taverna in Argostoli’s beautiful restored stone-built Ponte bridge, Europe’s largest stone bridge, which was built in 1930. Mixed green salad with seafood, including shrimp and octopus, as well as peeled shrimp with tarama and herring ointments, the roasted octopus tentacles, and the cod cooked sofigado with red pepper and peat were some of their favourites in menu
Avithos Preview
Avithos Beach, just a short drive from Argostoli, has a fine sand beach and crystal-clear water, making it one of the best. The Avithos Preview is open from June to August and has a covered wooden platform with a view of the sandy beach beneath a pergola. Your will see the section there which is showcasing the mother of Panos Sarris, the proprietor of the tavern and winery of the same name, which is located just 400 metres away. Mrs. Angeliki paints with her food, aided by a reliable crew of partners. Red meatballs with mashed potatoes, homemade Kefalonian meat, baked lamb with wine, cod aliada, and minjivia thick spaghetti with home-made tomato sauce.
Iris in Fiskardo
The Irida Restaurant Café Bar is accommodated in a historic mansion in the heart of Fiskardo’s port. In this establishment, customers can choose from an extensive menu that caters to their preferences. In the company of Eleni Germeni and her two daughters Kiki and Maria, you will be greeted with a warm and welcoming spirit. Additionally, the small port of Iris offers a wide range of cuisines, including light cold meals, salads and Greek, Italian and international cuisine, as well as pasta and dishes of the hour. Seafood, fresh fish and varieties are also available.
Blue Sea
One of Kefalonia’s most popular restaurants, Blue Sea, is located in Katelio. To create it, a pair of modest young men from Katelios, Dionysis Patelios and Stavros Manentis, teamed up with their beloved first cousins to study cooking at the renowned Le Monde school in Paris. After graduation, they decided to stay in Paris and build a farm in their hometown, fusing traditional flavours with more modern ones. They were awe-inspiring and their dishes were well-balanced, including filleted sardines, squid and octopus, as well as salads, while their fish smelled of the sea, was perfectly cooked, and had all of its juices.
Siroco
Siroco, the restaurant in Skala (a city of Kefalonia) which serves authentic Greek cuisine, prepares traditional Greek dishes in stone ovens or over open coal fires. A specialty of Siroco’s is stuffed tomatoes and peppers, which are extremely popular in this part of the world. There is also the pastitsio, which is a dish made with beef mince, onion, and macaroni and cheese that is available for those who prefer a heartier meal. Views of the historic churches and homes of Old Skal, as well as the surrounding forests, can be enjoyed from the restaurant.
Dionysus
The Dionysus restaurant which is based in the city of Kefalonia named Lourdas, it bears the name of the Greek wine god, can be confident that it will live up to its high standards of excellence. You can dine inside with air conditioning or outside in the courtyard with cooler nights, and the meal should live up to the hype regardless of where you sit. Because the restaurant has an olive grove and a vegetable garden on the premises, the food is sourced locally, and the wood-fired pizzas are particularly well-regarded.
The Casa Grec (Greco-Roman House)
Casa Grec, a restaurant in Argostolion (city of Kefalonia) that specialises in Greek, Italian, and French cuisine, is located on the main street. A romantic ambiance is created by candlelight in the garden, which is ideal for both families and couples. Delicious dishes to choose from include the halloumi salad and mushroom tart, as well as the pork in red wine sauce with walnuts and roasted potatoes. Dinner for two at Casa Grec costs approximately 35-40 euros, which includes appetisers, entrees, dessert, and wine. This is slightly more expensive than other Greek tavernas in the area.
Olive Lounge
One of the best restaurants on the island of Kefalonia! Enjoy a meal on the terrace while taking in the views of the Ionian Sea, the island of Zakynthos, and Mount Enos in the background. In the event of a rainy evening, the restaurant provides both outdoor and indoor seating options for customers. Menu items include Greek and international cuisine, as well as daily specials made with locally sourced ingredients and daily deliveries of fresh fish from a local fisherman. The restaurant is located in the heart of the historic district. On the whole, the service is excellent, and the prices are slightly higher than average, but still within reasonable limits.
Ampelaki
An exciting new restaurant in Argostoli, Kefalonia’s capital and largest city, has opened to provide visitors with a taste of the island’s traditional cuisine. “Ampelaki” is the result of the owner’s dedication and years of experience in the restaurant industry, and it offers a menu of authentic Greek dishes. Furthermore, “Ampelaki” makes completely sure people with disabilities have easy access to and use of the facilities. In order to create an unforgettable dining experience, you can rely on delectable food, friendly and efficient service, innovative concepts, extensive knowledge, and years of experience.
Katavothres-Club Restaurant
Located in the area of Katavothres, just outside of Argostoli, where one of the island’s most important geological phenomena occurs, the sea water disappears into carsic holes and is transported to the east of the island, where it resurfaces fourteen days later in the Melissani lake, the hotel has a remarkable setting. With a view of the sea canal that separates Argostoli from the Lixouri peninsula, the restaurant’s bar offers a breath-taking view of the sea, especially at dusk and dawn.
It’s a must-visit during the summer months to take in the breath-taking views and refreshing sea breezes while sipping on a well-mixed drink in the bar area.
Despite the fact that there are no road signs to guide visitors through the Katavothres, it is a popular weekend getaway. The catering here is excellent, thanks to an international team of chefs who are capable of creating anything you desire. Not to mention their signature dishes, which are Greek in origin, but have been given a modern twist, which are delicious.
Homemade cakes from pastry chefs are also available as an alternative. The Katavothres is also has a sophisticated and stylish nightclub with a high standard of quality and elegance. Thanks to the club’s expansive dance floor, it’ll be possible to keep the party going all night long.
It is possible to reserve the entire area for any type of event such as banquets, wedding ceremonies, private parties, birthday ceremonies etc.
The Aquarius
Opening in June 2003 to great praise, the Aquarius Restaurant in Skala has quickly established itself as one of the city’s most popular dining destinations for both locals and visitors. The restaurant is located 100 metres from the main square. This elegant and relaxing restaurant combines the best of Mediterranean cuisine with outstanding service in an elegant and relaxing setting.
For a memorable occasion with family or friends, or simply to enjoy a romantic dinner for two, Aquarius is the perfect setting for an unforgettable experience. Deliveries of delectable dishes from their extensive menu can be made directly to your holiday home.
At the end of the walk, there is a small romantic restaurant in a fantastic location on the marina of Fiskardo. It is directly across the street from a small pebbly beach from which you can enjoy a breath-taking view of the bay, which is filled with sailboats, but most importantly, a view of the nearby island of Ithaca. The setting is tranquil and idyllic, and you’ll dine while listening to the sound of waves breaking on the shore and the sea breeze that will accompany you throughout the evening.
Cooked in-house Greek cuisine includes: grilled steak, vegetable meatballs, tzatziki, roasted squid, ratatouille with vegetables, traditional moussaka flavoured with cinnamon, feta which is baked in foil, caramel with cream and digestive cinnamons.
Il Borgo Restaurant
Ill Borgo is ideally situated on a hilltop, providing panoramic views out over the lush green countryside that leads to the Mediterranean Sea. Ill Borgo, a restaurant located directly beneath the Castle of St. George, serves a variety of traditional dishes as well as regional wines. There were some outstanding meat dishes at Ill Borgo, including the chicken saganaki and the oven-roasted lamb. The cocktails were excellently prepared, and the bartenders were willing to create customised drinks upon request from customers.
When it comes to the atmosphere, Ill Borgo exudes a more traditional, wholesome vibe, making it the ideal spot for a hearty meal.
Final Verdict
Every tourist destination and beach on the island of Kefalonia has a local restaurant. The majority of restaurants in Kefalonia are family-friendly establishments that serve traditional Greek cuisine. Many traditional restaurants can be found in Kefalonia’s towns of Lassi, Lourdas, Xi, Argostoli, Skala, and Agia Efimia. There are a lot of high-end restaurants in Fiscardo, on the island’s northern coast, where you’ll find many fish taverns. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to sample local cuisine while dining in Kefalonia. Popular dishes include the traditional meat pie, kleftiko, and beef in red sauce. Enjoy the delicious house wine and the local Robola wine variety on Kefalonia, which is well-known for its winemaking prowess.
