Taverna Apelati — Restaurant in Zakynthos Municipality

Taverna Apelati is a true treasure tucked away in the peaceful countryside of Zakynthos, far from the noise and crowds of the touristy towns. As you drive toward the taverna, you're greeted by rows of vineyards, open fields, and the gentle hum of conversation drifting from beneath a charming pergola. The outdoor seating is dreamy...rattan lampshades sway gently in the breeze, and soft cushions invite you to settle in and relax. The atmosphere is laid-back and welcoming, and it feels like time slows down here. The hostess is an absolute delight, warm, attentive, and fluent in Italian. She moves between the tables, stopping for a quick chat or to share a smile, managing to make you feel like a welcome guest without ever being intrusive. At the heart of it all is the grill: a large, open-fire setup where steaks, chops, and souvlaki are cooked to perfection. We started with the aubergines baked with tomato and cheese: every bite bursting with deep, rich flavor. All the ingredients are locally sourced: vegetables from their garden, wine from their vineyard. You can truly taste the love and care in every dish! For our main courses, we had pork souvlaki and a T-bone steak, both grilled masterfully, with just a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of oregano to let the natural flavors shine. Dining here felt like stepping back in time...like discovering the Zakynthos of 30 years ago, before mass tourism changed its rhythm. The food, the setting, the people, everything feels authentic and untouched. If you're visiting Zakynthos and have a car, make the drive here, you...

We spent 8 days on the island and ate at a different restaurant every day, except for this place. We came here twice because the food was so good! My Greek mother, who cooks very well, could learn a few things from Apelati (shhhh - don't tell her!). The aubergine dish and homemade dolmades were excellent, and the tzatziki was the best we had eaten on the island (light and fresh). I'm usually not a big fan of "gigantes" (or "fava") = the big white beans; I usually find them a bit dry and pasty, but these ones were soft and moist. I was pleasantly surprised! The owner and her mother do all the cooking and use a lot of produce from their fields and garden. There's a lovely family atmosphere. Even though the setting is in a valley with no view, I highly recommend this place. What I also liked were the smaller portions (with correspondingly lower prices); you can try more dishes for the same price, and you don't get filled up with a big bowl of tzatziki made with 10% fat yoghurt and little...

When you have been in Greece, or more specifically Zakynthos, and you have health issues that keep you away from your favourite sea food like Shell Fish, Sardines, Mackerel, Anchovies or lamb or Red meat, due to their high Purine Content, you are left with eating Sea Bream, Sea Baas, Chicken, occasionally shrimp, you beginning to eat a lot of Grilled Sea bream, you can then actually start differentiating between different Tavernas and their versions of Grilled Sea Bream.

We had been to Appelati a couple of years ago, we weren't very impressed then.

But this dinner yesterday night was really special. My partner and me were unanimous in saying their Grilled Sea Bream has no equivalent. Certainly the best we have eaten so far.

We found their Secret, wood fired traditional grilling. The location by the way was also gorgeous. The multi lingual owner, is very attentive.

Certainly...