A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou beside me ...

Please Sir, can I have some more?

Porto Heli has a large variety of eating places and most have a menu displayed outside so that you can see what they offer. Families on a budget to gastronomic connoisseurs can find what they're looking for in Porto Heli. I've roughly grouped the various drinking/eating places but some fit into more than one category and there are bound to be a few I've missed.

Cafeteria /Snack food - both from the beach bars and various locations within the village, everything from fresh sandwiches to pizza to ice creams. Some places to try are: Costa Self Service, Zig Zag, Fresh, Panorama Pizza House, Artigiano.

French, Cypriot and Italian Cuisine - all located within Porto Heli, they aim for as much authenticity as possible both in decor and menu and are worth trying. Orca 180º, Rota are a couple that spring to mind.

Kafeneon - within Porto Heli and at least one in each surrounding village, the Kafeneon serve a variety of Greek dishes (mostly cold snacks) and are a bit like the neighborhood 'pub'. These are mostly identifiable by the octopus hanging out to dry outside.

Ouzeri - mostly located along the sea front in the village and along the coastline, the Ouzeri serve ouzo and a series of 'Meze' snack dishes from salted herring or fried whitebait to boiled octopus with oregano and include dishes from Modern Greek Cuisine which are quite delicious additions/twists to old favorites from all over Greece. A few to try are: Alati kai Piperi, En-Plo, Maro

Alati kai Piperi or Salt and Pepper have their own webpage here with a more details and photos. Take a look.

Psistaria or Grill Restaurants - in Porto Heli serve grilled meat of all kinds and very few vegetable dishes except for seasonal salads. The ubiquitous gyro and very good roast pork are standard items on their menu. Worth checking out are: Sougleris, Morias, Costa Rica, Alexandra's.

Seafood Restaurants or Psarotavernas - in the village, along the coast and in some of the neighboring villages. These are a more pricey option but serve fresh caught fish according to weight and type. Fried red mullet are on the more expensive end but a thick grilled swordfish steak is nearly always available and more moderately priced. In the village is Papadias and a bit farther out we have: Hinitsa, Maistraki, Lepitsa.

Traditional Greek Tavernas or Estiatrio - in Porto Heli and in the neighboring villages offer a wide range of traditional Greek dishes such as moussaka or stuffed peppers and fresh, seasonal salads and vegetable dishes. Some of them are: Taverna-Cafe Rozos, Zorbas, Paradise, Arhontiko, Dirladas, Ostria, Dolphins.

Usually, when in doubt, either see which place looks the busiest or ask the locals. For my 'Kid friendly' recomendations please see my Kids Stuff page.

Shaken not stirred ...

We've got all sorts of drinking establishments here in Porto Heli and as I am now the happy mother of a 5 year old and a 2 year old, I've not been on a binge for years so have absolutely no idea what goes on in the village after dark! You'll just have to follow your ears.

Bars and Nightclubs - if there is an entertainer planned, there is usually a door fee which includes your first drink. If not they don't charge an entrance fee. Some are inside the village and as you get farther out we have open-air Nightclubs. The music is generally a mixture of Greek and Foreign music with more of one or the other depending on where you go.

Bouzoukia - there are a few of these in the area. They open very late and always have a floorshow, Greek folk singers in the main. They are always loud and generally expensive but have a fantastic atmosphere and the revelry goes on until the early hours. Go with some of your Greek friends if you want to have a really good time, it's a form of entertainment almost completely wasted on foreigners!

Cafe Bars - these have seating inside and outside and serve snack food and ice creams along with soft drinks and spirits.

Kafeneon and Ouzeri - the former are where the local men (mostly) gather to play cards, have a snack and a drink. The later are more family oriented with a range of 'Meze' dishes to be consumed in the mid-afternoon / early evening with a variety of ouzo and local wines.