4 Best Restaurants in Zakynthos, Greece

Nestled a couple of kilometers up the coast in the quiet village of Akrotiri, where the breezes offer welcome respite from the humidity back in town, is the best-value dining experience on the island. The raised views here are spectacular, and best enjoyed as the sun melts over the sea. The service can be a little aloof, but the setting is exquisite and the seafood-heavy menu (sea bass, lobster pasta, steamed mussels) is well balanced by more homespun fare, such as the Zakynthian rabbit. Magical.

A leafy family-run taverna in the countryside of Vasilikos that hits every comfort-food sweet spot. You'll need a car to get there, though it's just a 15-minute walk from the peninsula's namesake village. Homemade tsipouro and organic produce from their own farm enlighten a menu thick with Greek classics, from rustic kreatopita pie to juicy slow-cooked lamb.

This friendly family-run spot is named for the 2,000-year-old dopia olive tree that grows in the front yard. It's the perfect retreat for a cool drink or a home-cooked meal in a nicely shaded garden terrace. They also sell their own honey.

The slightly chintzy Cath Kidston-meets-seaside-beach-hut vibe belies a stylish menu filled with organic, gluten-free, and vegan goodies. Its popular brunch perhaps explains away the peppy decor, but in the evening it comes into its own with a delicious feta in an oat crust whetting the appetite for a wealth of excellent Greek pasta dishes and succulent chops.