Glass bottom boat trip - (Kefalonia Excursions)

Rob P           

We're going to Kef on Sunday and this is on our list of things to do.

 
From what I recall reading it leaves from Argostolli at about 9am and gets back about 5.30 with drinks and barbecue included.
 
Anyone know how long you're actually on the boat for?  We'd have our 7 year old (who'd be fine) and 20 month old (who might get bored).

The Pines - (Restaurants in Skala)

Rob P           

We went to the Pines on a number of mornings for breakfast and they had a huge selection different foods - and they didn't have the embarrassing bottles of HP sauce on every table that ensured we wouldn't be going anywhere near the likes of Scandinavia

  If you like Greek yoghurt and fruits try a 'Fresh & Fruity' - bananas, strawberries, melon, yoghurt, honey and walnuts.  They'd also prepare anything you wanted so I had fresh tomatoes on toast  couple of days and a Greek salad another.
 
Never ate here on an evening as it looked pretty regimented and the 'Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding' on Sunday dinner times was a bit off putting.

Galera - (Restaurants in Skala)

Rob P           

Went to Galera one evening.  We'd gone there really early - about 6.30 and there were only 2 other tables occupied yet there were several sharp intakes of breath and glances at each other from the waiting staff as if they were going to struggle to fit all four of us in - despite it being way less than half full when we left later.

The restaurant is in a nice quiet location but theres not much room as the tables all seem quite close together - certainly not great if you have a toddler.  The food itself was very nice - espescially the lamb souvalaki and the giant beans and we had a nice carafe of local wine with it.

Socrates - (Restaurants in Skala)

Rob P           

I can't praise this place enough - we ate here on 9 of the 13 nights in Skala.

The setting is lovely, down a quiet backstreet near to the Roman remains with vines and lots of bunches of grapes overhead. Theres lots of space as the tables aren't on top of each other and if you have kids there is room for them to look around without getting in the way of others eating there and you are never rushed.
 
The food was absolutely outstanding.  Check the specials every day - Denise the lovely Greek/Aussie waitress will guide you through them.  They're all freshly cooked by Grandmother and are wonderful - good ingredients (most of the veg grown by the family) cooked and served simply.  Personal favourites were the beetroot with garlic (which I could eat plate upon plate of every day and never get bored of it), the aubergine salad (which has a slightly smokey flavour I've never had elsewhere), the meatballs, small fish cooked in the oven, green beans (that rank alongside the beetroot), lamb kleftiko and stuffed pork but we never had anything that didn't leave us mopping the plate clean with bread!
 
Whilst the food and setting were excellent perhaps what really differentiated Socrates was the family that owned, cooked and served there.  They made everyone feel so welcome and after your second visit you knew everyone from 13 month old Nikos through to Grandmother and Grandad and that made eating out far more of an occasion. We met a lovely couple there who had even had their wedding in Skala and a truly memorable reception at Socrates and the family brought out the photos they'd taken and kept because they regarded them as real friends (Hi Jane & David!) and on the final night Demetrious  the owner gave us a bottle of wine as a thank you but specifically asked us to save it until Christmas to think of them then.
 
Go there.

Fiskardo - (Resorts in Kefalonia)

Rob P           

Went to Fiskardo twice and quite liked it.  I get the feeling we'd have liked it all the more if we could have seen it but there are that many tourists its difficult to see the wood for the trees (yes, I know we were part of the problem too).

It seemed quite pricey - espescially for food - which was nice but fairly anglicised.

Assos - (Resorts in Kefalonia)

Rob P           

Loved Assos.

Its a beautiful little place - far better than the much bigger and busier Fiskardo.
 
The beach is pebbly but sheltered so swimming is safe and easy.  The village is small - 2 shops and maybe half a dozen tavernas - but was full of Italians when we were there last week - so whilst not quiet it was still really nice.
 
We had really good home cooked food at a little taverna up a little cul-de-sac in the centre - not as busy as the more brash waterfront places but quiet with excellent food.

Nirithes Hotel - (Accommodation in Skala)

Rob P           

Just got back from 2 excellent weeks at the Nirithes.

The apartments are clean and large and Napoleon, Dina and Vicki happy to help.
 
The pool bar does a reasonable selection of food, including a really good Greek salad, its pricey but convenient.  The pool itself is lovely and always busy enough but not so much that you're crowded out or can't get a couple of seats together.  Only downside is the incessant 80s music - its not a bad selection but it'd be nice for a bit of quiet every now and then.
 
The Nirithes is clsoe enough to town for an easy walk to the shops/bars/tavernas/beach but away from the crowds.  Not sure what the problem with the hill is - its a doddle day or night - and I was pushing a pushchair or giving a piggy back up it!  If you live anywhere even vaguely hilly it won't bother you.
 
Maybe the stars of the show were the three kittens who kept all the kids amused all of the time.

Captains Bar - (Bars in Skala)

Rob P           

Had some cracking cocktails off Monica and Tina.  Having watched Monica make them there was about a pint of spirits in each!

 
If its good enough for Simon Pegg its good enough for you.