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Traditionally, Corfiots tend to eat their main meal at midday, with simpler food in the evening. Though meat is eaten much more frequently these days, meals at home feature casseroles bulked out with lots of vegetables, such as the winter favorite fassoulada, a thick bean soup. Unless they cater to the local lunchtime trade, tavernas tend not to serve these home-style dishes, but prefer generic Greek dishes like moussaka and stifado (beef or rabbit cooked in a spicy sauce with small onions), plus the great Sunday-lunch and holiday dishes of the island, pastitsada (beef or rooster in a spicy tomato sauce served with pasta) and sofrito (beef casserole with garlic and parsley), or the third great dish of Corfiot cooking, bourdetto (fish cooked in paprika, sometimes curry-hot). In the island's resorts, tavernas will also offer grills (such as pork chops and steaks), plus omelets and (invariably frozen) pizzas. Your main courses should be preceded by a variety of dips and small salads, and perhaps some keftedes (meatballs), which you all share.
Corfiot restaurants usually take the form of psistaria, or grillrooms, where all the meat is cooked on charcoal. Most of these places also run a takeaway service, so you'll eat in the company of neighborhood families waiting in line for souvlaki, whole spit-roasted chicken, or lamb chops. The most economical choice here is pita: a wrap enclosing meat, french fries, salad, tzatziki, and sauce. Desserts are not a strong suit on Corfu, although many love karidopitta—walnut cake drenched in syrup. Locals head to a zacharoplasteio (patisserie) for a creamy cake, some baklava or galaktoboureko (custard pie). In summer, the last port of call is the gelatopoleio (ice-cream parlor). Corfu produces wines mainly from Skopelitiko and Kakotrigis grapes, all drinkable and many excellent. Most tavernas have their own house wine, served in carafes or jugs, and usually this is a good choice. Bottled water can be bought everywhere—Corfu's salty tap water is not one of its pleasures. Kali oreksi! (Bon appetit!)
A local favorite for lunch in town is located near San Rocco Square in the center of Corfu's commercial district. It caters particularly to residents—many of them lawyers and other white-collar professionals from local offices—who savor Chef Stamatis' tasty and filling traditional dishes of the day, like bourdetto or pastitsada.
The Botrini family restaurant is considered one of the best in Greece (the Athens branch has a Michelin star), and it certainly can be classed as among the most inventive, offering lavish set menus of Italian- and Greek-inspired dishes. Chef Ettore Botrini demonstrates his flawless technique and creativity on the molecular gastronomy front in the range of artwork dishes on offer. Completing the picture of class with, a sprinkle of opulence, is the magnificently romantic setting, where the best tables—often booked solid with chic and wealthy Corfiots—are set out in a large, antique-style courtyard.
The scene is as delicious as the food at this wonderfully romantic restaurant arranged around a 17th-century well on the most beautiful little square in the Old Town. Expect a small but select menu of innovative Corfiot dishes, with a menu that changes regularly according to the availability of the always-fresh ingredients. An optional set menu allows you to explore further. Pair your meal with one of the single-estate Greek wines, or choose one of the selected global vintages. Kremasti Square is a little awkward to find, so be sure to get directions from your hotel.
This wine bar–bistro is as famous for its food as for a very extensive wine list and a magnificent outlook across the Old Port to the massive walls of the New Fortress. Using pure ingredients from Corfiot farms as well as from small producers all over Greece, the menu takes traditional Mediterranean dishes and moves them to new gastronomic heights; don't miss the wide-ranging cheeses on offer.
If this is not the top patisserie-gelateria in Corfu, it's certainly among the very best. The store distributes its own brand of ice cream island-wide, and its cakes are made on the premises. They're best enjoyed, along with coffee, on the airy veranda or the roof terrace overlooking the magical view over Paleokastritsa and the west coast.
Everyone—not just sailors—will appreciate the spectacular location of this classy restaurant, tucked under the northern wall of the Venetian-era Old Fortress beside the yacht club harbor. The food is Greek but offers elevated twists on traditional favorites, using pickled, smoked, and cured ingredients to beautiful-tasting effect. Dishes from all over Greece include Santorini-style fava dip and a salad featuring local nouboulo ham (aka, Corfiot "prosciutto").
Perched just below Corfu's brooding New Fortress, whose name it borrows, this restaurant serves up knockout traditional Greek dishes with a side of rustic romance from its lovely surroundings—all soft lighting and swaying trees. Tables are tucked beneath stone arches, with sunset skies over the harbor, and plates that really pop—like citrusy ceviche, rich seafood pasta, and fall-apart lamb. It's stylish but unpretentious.
Located in the depths of the countryside, Ladokolla is a magnet for locals and visitors in search of an authentic dining experience. Expect first-class charcoal grills, with mushrooms and vegetables on the menu if you don't eat meat. The setting suits the vibe; it has the style of a ranch grill-house, with wide-open spaces, lots of wooden furniture, and a family-friendly feel.
A friendly Corfiot restaurant housed in a classic early-19th-century building just behind the famous Liston arcade, Rex has been a favorite of the locals since the early 20th century. Hearty stews are on the menu alongside examples of modern regional fare such as slow-cooked lamb shank kleftiko with couscous and Corfu-style rooster. Look on the menu for specials that might also include some other unusual dishes.
These old-school twin eateries, sharing the premises and kitchen, are located just off one of the Old Town's car-free shopping thoroughfares and are patronized as much by locals as by travelers—always a good sign. Oven-cooked dishes simmer in the open kitchen, while the savory aromas of lamb, pork, and chicken waft from the grill.
This famous taverna in the charming hill village of Kinopiastes has been in business since 1936 and is still run by the same family. The fixed-price menu includes all the food and wine. It begins with an endless series of small meze plates, followed by a main course, and concludes with a selection of local and exotic fruits and desserts. Toward the end of the meal, the live music and Greek dancing begin; patrons are encouraged to join in. The floor show does not take place every night, so ask about the schedule when you call to book. The famous clientele have included Jimmy Carter, Anthony Quinn, and Jane Fonda.
The stunning view from this restaurant overlooking the cliff-enclosed bay at Paleokastritsa is the big draw for the restaurant, but the menu offers a happy range of well-prepared classics. The lobster with linguine is the signature house dish—but if it doesn't whet your appetite, there's a marvelous seafood platter, too.
Both local and international dishes are on the menu at this long-established and casually elegant restaurant on the Liston arcade. Start with a plate of steamed mussels or a salad, then move on to hearty Greek and Corfiot classics. Spicy bourdetto (fish stewed with hot red pepper) and braised lamb shanks in red wine are usually on the menu. Drinks and sweets are served until midnight.
Avli has a wide array of mezedes, salads, soups, and mains, which cater to all diners. The chefs source ingredients locally whenever possible and combine them in inventive and innovative ways, such as with the pork fillet, which comes accompanied by a sauce made from the island's famous Corfu-grown kumquats. Standard local classics include tsigarelli (refried greens in a spicy-hot sauce), marinated anchovies, and zucchini fritters, while delicious pies change daily according to what's available.
This bright, breezy, colorful ice-cream parlor and café overlooks the old harbor and the New Fortress. It's a cool place to relax after exploring the old Campiello neighborhood.
Located in a sweet little village a short distance from the main run of Paleokastritsa, this spot has an extensive menu of snacks and light meals, along with cakes and ice cream from local producer Corfu Dolce. It doubles as village store and post office, and has its tabled settled in a pretty cobbled backstreet.
Open to nonresidents, this sophisticated eatery is located on the roof of the prestigious Cavalieri Hotel, overlooking the historic center and the sea. The menu is bijou but eclectic, incorporating international classics as well as select Greek dishes; it ranges from imaginative pastas, through seafood like swordfish with grilled vegetables, to U.S. Black Angus steaks, among other dishes.
Blessed with a wonderful location by a wave-lapped jetty in the little waterfront Faliraki area north of the Old Fortress, En Plo offers everything from snacks and pizzas to a full meal. Enjoy mezedes, a big variety of salads, and interesting pastas. Book ahead as this unique spot gets very booked up.
Sit on the waterfront terrace and watch the boats heading in and out of the marina at this lovely waterside restaurant. Choose from whatever fish is fresh that day—it could be sea bream, mullet, sole, squid, or snapper—accompanied by a great range of zesty, garlicky side dishes.
One of the island's longest-established and most famous fish restaurants, whose catch is pulled daily from the family boats. The choice varies each day according to the season, but the friendly staff will show you what's available and guide your choice. For a light meze, opt for their special marinated anchovies and delicious clams. Christo's famous bianco (fish stewed with oil, lemon and garlic), and pastitsada, are real favorites here.
Just steps from the quayside of Benitses harbor, where fishermen land their daily catch, Klimataria is naturally the village favorite for seafood. Diners may kick off with marinated anchovy fillets and white taramasalata, continue with fried squid, sardines, or prawns, or choose a fish cooked in a casserole, like spicy local speciality bourdeto. With the classic Corfiot pastitsada on the menu, meat eaters will not be disappointed, and vegetables include dishes made with courgettes, aubergines, and seasonal greens, as well as various imaginative salads.
This Italian restaurant celebrates the classics of the country, with international twists that keep things fresh and exciting, like yuzu-laced fish and Mexican chilli-infused pasta. Pasta and pizza are made in-house in a glass-walled kitchen. On warm evenings, outdoor tables beckon, and the wide alleyways of the location are a delicious spot for people-watching.
Sitting in the "V" formed by the two streets in the village of Kato Korakiana, this taverna is where locals come to dine on wonderfully prepared local dishes. The only way to eat here is by sharing a variety of meze, like gigantes (giant beans stewed with tomato), pork croquettes in cranberry sauce, or meatballs in spicy tomato sauce. The taverna offers great house wines, too, sourced from the local area as well as from wider Greece.
Next to a yacht club's marina, this spot is just one of a couple of places in Corfu Town where you can swim, chill on a lounger, and admire the view after a morning's sightseeing.
A great spot for cheap, casual snacking, without the hefty price tags found elsewhere in Corfu Town. For just a few euros you can buy a gyros or souvlaki packed with falafels, grilled meat, pickles, and salad—it caters well to vegetarians and vegans, too. It seems to be open at all hours.
This sunny beach bar and deck is a great place to swim and soak up some rays after visiting the aquarium. Use of the sun loungers is free when you spend €10 each on the café's range of coffees, cold drinks, ice creams, and snacks. Use of showers and changing rooms is also free.
Established in 1960 as one of the island’s first out-of-town tavernas, this traditional village eatery offers food that is still cooked according to Grandmother Elizabeth's original recipes, by her granddaughter, Elizabeth! The quirky interior and narrow street-side outside space beside the picturesque village square have hardly changed since the old days. The alfresco dining area includes an elevated and spacious courtyard.
Set at a tree-shaded crossroads in the depths of the countryside, Tristrato was formerly an old wayhouse and still retains many of the building's original features. It now functions as a restaurant where you're presented with whatever they've got cooking—generally a choice between meat or fish mezes with salads and dips, all traditionally Greek. The location at the head of two valleys means there's always a cool breeze for pleasant summer eating.
This breezy café-patisserie on the ground floor of the Hotel Zefiros is a cool place to hang out after a day on the beach or a boat trip around Paleokastritsa's spectacular shores. Light bites include various gyros, salads, and souvlaki, plus a range of sweets. For the truly greedy, the giant burger features a stack of four patties topped with cheddar, lettuce, onions, egg, pickles, barbecue sauce, and mayo.
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