28 Best Restaurants in Corfu, Greece

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 from midnight to 2 am.

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 twists on traditional concepts, such as a cheese pie topped with honey, in a dish straight out of ancient times. Dishes from all over Greece include Santorini-style fava dip and a salad featuring local nouboulo ham (made from pork loin in a style similar to prosciutto) and the Greek version of ricotta.

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 a menu of Italian- and Greek-inspired dishes. Chef Ettore Botrini demonstrates his flawless technique with a big blast of creativity on the molecular gastronomy front. You know dinner will be a marvel when the amuse bouche arrives, followed by appetizers such as carpaccio of octopus or swordfish, feta cheese "snow" and risotto with turmeric and sea urchin. A main course choice might be a variation of Corfu Tsigarelli (a dish with greens, onions, and tomatoes), or maybe slow-cooked belly pork with Granny Smith apple puree. Rounding out the experience is the cozy and modern decor, with the best tables—often booked solid with chic and wealthy Corfiots—set out in a large and charmingly antique courtyard. Just save your pennies and make your reservations now.

This famous taverna (touristy but very quaint) 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 (usually spit-roasted lamb), 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 scene is as delicious as the food in this wonderfully romantic restaurant arranged around a 17th-century well on the most beautiful little square in the Old Town. Expect creative Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, with a menu that changes regularly according to the availability of the always fresh ingredients. You will encounter unusual pastas, imaginative salads, and standout dishes such as a tart with caramelized onions, mushrooms, and goat cheese; and slow-cooked veal cheeks with ginger, lemongrass, and honey. Accompany your meal with one of the single-estate Greek wines, or choose one of the selected global vintages. Kremasti Square is difficult to find, so be sure to get very specific directions from your hotel, or once in the Old Town ask directions from a local. Reservations are essential.

Avli specializes in mezedes, so you order a selection of these small dishes for sharing rather than your own main course. The young proprietors, Vasilis (front of house) and Christos (chef) 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 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.

Directly on the busy national road that connects Corfu Town with Paleokastritsa, Emeral is a very popular place to stop for coffee, a sweet or savory pastry, or an ice cream. You'll have a hard time choosing from the variety of cream cakes, chocolate delicacies, and cookies in the display cases, to eat in or take away. All breads, sweets, cakes, and pastries are made on the premises. If you've been looking for a good cappuccino, this is the place to go.

Blessed with a startlingly 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.

Choose from whatever fish is fresh that day—it could be sea bream, mullet, sole, squid, or snapper—or choose a steak or chicken filet. Sit on the waterfront terrace and watch the boats heading in and out of the marina. It's a bit difficult to find; pass the Kontokali Bay Hotel, then go left at every junction, keeping your eyes open for the signs for "Roula."

One of the island's longest-established and most famous fish restaurants, Gerekos pulls its catch daily from the family's own 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 marinated anchovies and delicious clams, accompanied by a salad and a crisp white wine. Other local fish dishes to try are Christo's famous fish soup, bianco (fish stewed with oil, lemon and garlic), and lobster pastitsada. The location in the centre of a village where local residents live alongside tourists, makes for a fun, if sometimes noisy, experience.

To describe a restaurant's cuisine as "international" can imply that it is bland, but no one would ever say that about La Cucina. Renowned for its Italian cooking—and particularly handmade pasta—the menu also incorporates Thai curries, a raw fish bar, quirky takes on Corfiot staples, and even nods to British cuisine. Naturally, the establishment maintains its Italian roots in the classics of the country, like carpaccio and Florentine T-bone steak, while some dishes are more contemporary, such as linguine with goat cheese, cream, mushrooms, ham, zucchini, and saffron. Tuna fillet—an Italian favorite—comes with avocado, soy sauce, and lime, a hint of Asia that segues into full-fledged Thai with the curries. 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. While waiting for a table, the Oenus Bar opposite, under the same ownership, is the place to sit and enjoy a drink accompanied by mood music.

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 discerning civil servants and lawyers from local offices—who savor the chef's tasty and filling traditional dishes of the day, like fried fish with garlic sauce. They might also include pastitsio (baked ground meat and pasta layered with béchamel) or the rabbit stifado (stewed with onions, tomato, and spices). You might encounter seasonal favourites such as briam, a delicious meld of summer vegetables cooked in oil.

This restaurant, hidden from the road on farmland belonging to the Polymeris family, is something of a surprise because the menu is not Greek but classically French. The owner/chef, born in Corfu, worked for many years in Paris restaurants and is particularly adept with steaks. Served with an exemplary sauce of your choice, your locally sourced, organic entrecôte can be preceded by frog's legs or escargot. Some typical Greek dishes are also on offer. An extensive wine list and efficient, discreet service add to the pleasure of dining on one of the elegant garden terraces.

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. It's a good place to order several small plates and share a variety of tastes, like gigantes (giant beans stewed with tomato) or pork croquettes in cranberry sauce. Other dishes worth a try are the meatballs, grilled pork souvlaki, or one of the steaks with a classic sauce. The taverna offers two house wines: a blend of Cabernet and Merlot; or one of Agioritiko and Chardonnay. On summer weekends it is best to make a reservation, as the premises are not large.

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 contemporary Greek gastropub where the proprietor brings you a variety of whatever they've got cooking, generally a choice between meat or fish mezes with salads and dips. The food is Greek in concept but features some original tastes. The location at the head of two valleys means there's always a cool breeze for pleasant summer eating.

The stunning view from this restaurant overlooking the cliff-enclosed bay at Paleokastrisa will make you want to linger. The menu offers a bit of everything, though lobster with linguine id the signature house dish. If this is too pricey, try a nice Greek salad or moussaka instead.