Corfu Sunshine

The Local Bars

Generally the bars are open for the greatest part of the day and into the night, however don't be surprised if you find a closed bar during the day, most of the trade is done in the evening and some bars specialise in being open late. Somewhere between eleven thirty in the evening and one in the morning the number of bars open decreases to just a few but you will still find somewhere to have a drink. However beware the restaurants will have closed by eleven so you are best to have a seat by ten. We have been forced to have a takeaway because we had failed to notice the time when we were in a bar.

Tsaros Pool Bar

The Tsaros Pool and Bar is on the hill and commands one of the best views in San Sefanos. It is run by Thannasis with help from the rest of the family including his dad Nikos.

During the daytime this is a great place to come for fun but beware it is not necessarily a place to chill. This is because the pool is often filled with fun loving youngsters, splashing and swimming. However, you will never be bored as something is always going on.

In the very late afternoon and the very early morning the atmosphere is different. A quiet chilled calm settles over the pool with the water quiet or even occasionally still. These are the times for a quiet read or swim.

At lunchtime a range of snacks are available including the wonderful club sandwich, the cheese toasty and local specialities like tzatziki. Have a large beer and the glass will come out of the freezer so you can be sure your beer is very, very cold.

In the late evening the pool is empty and the bar full of people having a quiet drink but Thannasis' choice of music ensures that the fun returns as the drinks flow. Every now and then it really erupts and a raucous time may follow. As many people are sleeping locally the music becomes much quieter as the night settles in but the bar will not close until you are done.

The exception to the nightly bar activity is the weekly barbeque where for a fixed price everybody gets fed from the grill. Lamb chops, burgers and sausages (English) are accompanied by salad and bread. All without having to walk down and then up the hill, a wonderful evening.

Aquarius Bar

Half way along the main road we have the entrance to the Athena Hotel. The hotel is a Thompson Holidays exclusive very much in the tradition of such places. As a result we have never been in but the pool is the largest in town and great, fresh water no chlorine and no green stains on your white swimwear or blonde hair. Last season they started charging for the sun beds but you get your money back when you buy something from the bar so it's not too bad.

On the left just before the hotel is the Aquarius Bar. Here the young English proprietor will do everything he can to help you have a good evening. Off the main strip the road is even quieter and the atmosphere is very relaxed, just sit outside and watch the world go by, brilliant. So if you want a drink where the bar man is English I can highly recommend this bar.

Spiros Bikes is in the foreground on the right here you can hire your wheels.

Bar 38

The chaos that is a Greek street, seen for a distance is clearly illustrated here but with a point. The signs for Bar 38 and the Condor point the way to two of the most popular bars in town. Bar 38, which is the choice of our teenagers, will reopen over the road next year and has a very friendly atmosphere, noisy, bright and full of fun. I look forward to seeing the new decor as the current bar is one of the more tasteful.

This year my eighteen year old had her camera taken behind the bar and her photographs became the background to our evening. How you might ask; well they were projected on the screen at twice life size. I'll tell you a picture of your half awake teenager can be very, very funny. The spectacle is even funnier when she stands there spluttering a protest and not really getting anywhere.