Return Visitor
Many of the families who repeatedly come to San Stefanos originally came on a self catering package holiday with one of the big tour operators and have been coming back ever since. In some cases it is more than twenty years and now they come with the grand children. Those who came that long ago remember that roads did not exist and it was easier to travel by boat.

After a few years most of us have converted to booking directly with the owners of the rooms. This has got easier as the tour operators have realised that a market exists for flight only bookings. Easyjet has now made it even easier by introducing real competition to the tour operator cartel.

Go on, take the plunge and book direct, it's easier than you think and if you need any help, let us know.

Corfu Sunshine

The Local Restaurants

The restaurants come in all styles, qualities and prices and most have a menu outside (if not, just go inside to have a look - there is no obligation). If you choose a cheaper, set menu then the food will be simpler than if you selected a la carte and, as always, you get what you pay for.

Paradise

A couple of hundred yards beyond Town Pizza is Paradise. This is very much the Taverna you remember when you first came to Greece way back when. The food is that mixture of the traditional Greek and the English which you either love or hate but if you want a trip down memory lane back to the days when tourism was young in Corfu this is the best place in town.

Before I say anything else my family loved their meals but read on to see what I thought.

For starters I had a real Greek stuffed pepper which was wonderful along with half a plate of Greek chips or should I say Patatas. If you can accept they are not chips and eat them for what they are they are really nice but they are not chips and they are best eaten in the Greek way, warm not hot. I think the difference is that they are cooking in olive oil at a much lower temperature, in effect boiled in oil not fried.

The sad thing was my main course which was traditionally Greek was wonderful but spoilt by all the added bits put there to try and make the English happy.

Finally unless you are a garlic aficionado, like my daughter, don't have Garlic Sauce with your meat balls, have the traditional tomato sauce it's much better!

Avlioties

For as long as we have been coming to San Sefanos we have been passing through Avlioties. This is where the locals live and escape when it is too hot or the weather is bad.

For quite a number of years now my wife has said we must stop for a drink every time we have passed through and for one reason or another it has never happened. Well we still haven't had a drink but we have stopped at last and had lunch.

The verdict was unanimous that the little terraced restaurant that overlooks the valley is great. A light lunch, very reminiscent of those eaten on holiday in France, with omelettes, salads and toasties was enjoyed by all. Sorry but we don't have a clue what it is called! However, it is very easy to find as you drive west back towards San Stefanos simply drive into the town square car park and climb the steps at the back of the Music School. You will have arrived when you are hot and can smell a cool drink, it's right at the top of the steps and you can see the terrace as you drive into the square.

Beachcomber Bistro

The Beachcombers Bistro is possibly the most upmarket restaurant in town with a reputation to match. Nicki the chief has been a friend for a number of years now and we find it hard to pull ourselves away as the restaurant is such a firm favourite. The food and the service is always first class and cannot be faulted, they are friendly but not in your face, I cannot find the words. However, one word of warning - book your table or be ready to accept you may not get in!

Mythica is the only other restaurant in town to challenge the Beachcomber and they are so different. The Beachcomber is slightly more sophisticated and upmarket with the terrace overlooking the sea and the wonderful sunsets. The Mythica is a more traditional road side setting with a canopied outside eating area. Mythica has more Greek food, slightly lower prices and a slightly larger menu but otherwise I think you pay your money and take your choice.

Mythica

Mythica is my favourite restaurant; here you get served a mixture of traditional Greek and modern European food cooked to the highest standards and served in a friendly but polite way. The chef used to work at the Romanza which had a reputation for being the best and most consistent restaurant in San Stefanos. The chef is Greek and his wife, who runs front of house, is English and very helpful - they coped admirably with a block booking for 40 of us last year!

Town Pizza

Town Pizza one of the older restaurants in town, a traditional Pizza shop. The pizzas are cooked in a traditional oven and have a traditional base, thin and crispy just like the Italians do..... However, unlike the Italians, the cheese on the Pizzas is not generally Mozzarella unless specified - whatever they do use does work very well though.

To give you a feel for the place the tables are chunky and wooden, the chairs steel framed and raffia covered and the staff are very friendly. You should be aware that the pizzas are very large; we found it all too easy to over-order and practically had to be rolled home afterwards!

Zorba

As you might expect from the names, Zorbas and Mamma Mia sell traditional Greek food and pizzas. What might come as surprise is that they work together so you can eat in ether restaurant and order from the others menu. This is useful if you want to try some Greek food and the kids want pizzas.

The food in both restaurants is good and everything is done with the typical Greek showmanship. So in Zorbas you get Greek Dancing including the fire dance and in Mama Mia if you are lucky and it is quiet the kids might get the chance to help make their own pizzas in a proper pizza oven where burning embers cook them.

The atmosphere is as different as chalk and cheese. Zorbas has a dark and traditional Greek feel, whereas Mama Mia is more clean crisp and modern.

The Little Prince

The Little Prince has for a long time provided a good quality of food. The menu is large and varied with both Greek and European dishes on the menu. For a large restaurant it is both friendly and efficient.

The Greek Dancing is very good and includes more than the standard clichéd dances, particularly when the owner dances with his wife! This is one of those places where we just go and eat without great discussion.

The Nafsika Hotel

The Nafsika Hotel is one of those places that you go to and for some reason the full extent of the place never quite sinks in. It is one of the oldest places still open and yet it is still fresh and interesting. The ground floor interior of the hotel is like a time capsule and very early or very late in the season it is just like it was thirty years ago all dark wood and small numbers of tourists. In high season the restaurant moves outside onto the terrace and because it is well above the road level the traffic is just not noticed, that is apart from the tour buses which are so noisy they are noticed everywhere.

The owner, Spiros, has a very dry sense of humour which works very well in English despite being his second language. Pay attention when the specials board appears, it's well worthwhile. His mother cooks in the kitchen and it shows, the traditional food is wonderful and we always ask what he has that is traditional that is not on the menu; try the Pasticio!

Again, here you will occasionally see Greek dancing but Spiros and his waiters always look as if they are doing it because they enjoy it not because it is expected. You get the feeling the younger waiters are pushing the boss more than just a little but that adds to the fun.

The hotel offers so much more that we never think to use, there is a swimming pool and a bar with a pool table.

Yiannis Takeaway

Opposite the entrance to the Athena Hotel you will find Yiannis, the best take away in town. Here you can purchase gyros; grilled chicken, with tzatziki and salad all as a wrap or souvlaki the traditional kebab along with all the other street food you might want including chips.

Sit on the front and have a beer or a couple of cans of soft drink with your food. If it is busy don't worry it is worth the wait and when it is supper busy they move extra tables onto the front of the travel shop next door. Really simple and very very good......

Waves

Right on the beach Waves is again a more traditional Greek restaurant with a slight focus towards seafood. The food is always good the service always polite and the menu is varied and interesting. The traditional Greek food is more varied then most restaurants and they have not felt the need to mess around with the recipes.