From the stone villages of Mastorochoria and Zagori to the open seas of the Ionian Sea and from the nomadic herders to the stone artisans, the continental taste and tradition of the pie travels through the centuries, Epirus is perfection, and with food to match.
Where to eat:
Preveza
Sesa
Modern Greek cuisine with inventive interventions by consultant chef Kostas Terzoudis in a restaurant destination for the wider region.
The raw materials come from Amvrakikos and the surrounding crops and are used with imagination while maintaining more and sometimes less contact with tradition. Idyllic natural environment on the sea with tables set on a raised wooden deck next to the sea or on the veranda and the hall with a modern aesthetic.
Great wine list.
Kanali Beach, "Sesa Boutique Hotel", tel. 26820 52705
Alati Seafood
A different, fresh proposal among the fish restaurants of Preveza, Alati, which, in addition to the classic grilled, pan or steamed fish and seafood in various variations, also serves dishes that go beyond the usual, with a creative but, above all, delicious approach.
Barley and trachanas in a reasonable risotto, nice taramosalata and pasta with seafood are hosted on his menu. It is located on the city's beach, next to the fishing boats that come loaded every morning to supply residents and shops.
There is a great view of Amvrakikos and tables outside when the weather permits, and straight from the boat, fish, squid, octopus, cuttlefish, and even lobsters and clams—wine list with some selections from Greek and foreign vineyards.
Eleftheriou Venizelou 31, Palaia Poli, tel. 26820 27145
Shaitan Pazar
Tucked away in the picturesque alley of the same name in the historic centre of Preveza, it is probably the most beautiful and colourful restaurant in the old town. With a nostalgic mood and aesthetic, nice music and tasteful vintage crockery, it has good service and two kind owners, Stathis and Marina.
The food, mainly sea-oriented, is tasty and well-prepared. In addition to the classics that include shrimp and seafood, his risottos and pastas are well made. Following the new trends, there are also options for vegetarian and vegan dishes.
A small list of bottled wines, ouzos, tsipouros and cocktails complete the scene.
Shaitan Bazaar, Old Town, tel. 26820 60863
Ioannina
Thamõn
An elegant, contemporary restaurant with an open kitchen and a welcoming atmosphere in the heart of the city.
Chef and owner Thanasis Tassos, who, after the family guesthouse in Konitsa, the Bourazani Wild Life Resort, worked in restaurants abroad, such as the historic Spielweg game dishes, in Baden, Germany.
Traditional cuisine is the star in his kitchen, sometimes with a classic and sometimes with a more modern, but always in a technically perfect way.
Essentially, the restaurant offers a small menu that, in total, is at most ten dishes, with frequent changes that keep the interest undiminished: excellent service and a good wine list.
Averof 63, tel. 26510 83500
Ev Zin
The Frontzou Politia complex, including the Ev Zin restaurant, is located on the hill of Agia Triada, offering a spectacular view of the city and the lake.
Its core is the theatre, a copy of the ancient theatre of Dodoni, and the tourist pavilion built in the early 1960s by the visionary Konstantinos Frontzos, wanting to create a place of culture and recreation for the residents.
The restaurant is housed in this pavilion with its wood-carved ceilings and signboards, giving the feeling of an old mansion. It serves many local dishes in a modern interpretation but also some more cosmopolitan meat preparations.
Lofos Agia Triados, tel. 26510 21011
To Mayazaki
Next to the walls of the Castle of Ioannina, on their south side, this restaurant with the unusual name is one of the most valuable addresses in the city.
The creation of small and cute Dodecanese-born and former English chef Maria Klimi, with a few tables inside and even fewer on the sidewalk, has welcomed guests since 2018.
Maria Klimi loves the products of small producers and seeks them out, literally. In every corner of Greece, it creates delicious dishes that take you on a journey with them.
Ethnikis Antistaseos 44, tel. 26510 33106
Editors: A.N. Androulidakis, Nana Darioti, Vassilis Dimaras, Artemis Tzitzi
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