May 2013 - Zakantha Beach is one of the most pleasant places you could hope for on holiday and I have to say that, having read some of the earlier reviews before my wife and I went on holiday, I was unsure whether or not I had done the right thing in booking this hotel. The hotel is supposedly 4 star - it may be by Greek standards but it is certainly not by UK standards, 2+ stars or 3 stars at best. The hotel has obviously been refurbished - it's just a pity that the bathroom lights are both over the wash-basin and as low energy they take ages to achieve full brightness. Also, you will shower in the gloom as the shower curtain obviously obstructs the light. Picking up on some of the earlier comments, I don't agree that the people there are "just staff". Yes, they're there to do a job but in my many years staying in many different grades of hotels in many parts of the world I have never met more friendly and helpful staff - nothing was too much trouble for them and the fact that many of them have worked in that hotel for many years says a lot for the owners too, who are also a nice couple. Nicki and Dionysos in Reception, Monica in the bar in the evening, young Alex in the Dining Room and Luciano in the Snack Bar (also helps out at breakfast time in the dining room)- every one of them was exceptionally friendly and helpful; perhaps experiences of others is a reflection on the way they treated the staff. Yes Monica runs the bar (and sometimes thinks she runs the hotel) and she introduces everybody in the bar to everyone else to try to get people involved with each other - at times it can get a bit much if you just want a quiet drink and relaxation, but it is well intentioned! With regard to extra payments made by others, yes you have to pay for the 'fridge and the safe if you want to use them, but so you do in most other holiday hotels; the only time I haven't has been in city centre hotels. Our tour company said we had to be out of our rooms by 10 a.m. but having spoken to Nicki on reception, we stayed on in our room for a couple of hours later, with no extra charge. Pool towels are also available by asking at reception at no charge; we didn't even have to pay a deposit which is fairly commonplace elsewhere! The snack bar has a more extensive menu than most hotel pool bars and covers a range of snacks or full meals, all at reasonable prices. We stayed on a Bed and Breakfast basis as we knew there are many alternative places in Argassi where you can get snacks or evening meals but, if you decide to eat in the hotel, dinner costs 12 Euros per person - consider that before you pay your tour company more for the half board supplement!

May 2013 - I don't know how old previous comments are because this restaurant is now run by an Australian family (a mother and her sons). The food in this restaurant is certainly amongst the best in Argassi but, despite trying it on the second night of our holiday, we only ate here the once during our 10 night stay as we did not like the way we were virtually pushed out of the place as soon as we had finished our main course. Whilst we can understand the wish to turn tables round, as the place is quite small, the mother needs to take lessons from her sons on how to do this. Heaven forbid you might wnat time to finish your drink once you've finished eating. There are plenty of alternatives in the town where you can have a relaxing and enjoyable evening without feeling you're in their way.

May 2013 - Used this restaurant once because of it's close proximity to our hotel and would have to say that the food and service were very good. Everywhere in the town seems to serve their dishes with chips and rice. Feeling the need for more vegetables we asked if it was possible to have Briam (a plate of mixed seasonal vegetables) in addition to our main courses, as it did not feature on their menu. This was not a problem and was reasonably priced. Definitely worth a visit; we just wanted to try other places in Argassi and that's the only reason we didn't go back.

May 2013 - Tried this place on our first night. Friendly people - very average food. Plenty of better options available.

May 2013 - Can be wonderful - can be poor. We ate here three times; on the first and third occasion we had Greek style dishes and they were very good. On the second occasion I had a T-bone steak which was a disaster - it was tough and dry and I left more than half of it. Although an apology was given the only recompense suggested was a free beer (as I had sent one to the chef on the previous visit). By all means go here, but stay away from the steaks and stick with Stifado or Kleftiko!

May 2013 - This is the first report on this place as I specifically asked the website to add it to the list as I felt it deserved a mention. This place is open throughout the year to serve the local community and as such doesn't have to fleece the tourist during the short summer season. You won't find anywhere cheaper and even if all you wanted a Gyros Pitta @ 2 Euros and a 500ml bottle of Mythos beer @ 2 Euros, you would be made welcome, even in the evening. This is a locals eating place rather than a touristy place, but you will be made very welcome by the couple who run it and the locals who either pop-in for their take away at the end of a hard day's work or sit in for food, drink and a chat. It has to be the least attractive looking place on the street and it's menu is not as extensive as many others but the food is exceptional. We believe that when locals use a place it must be good and, despite it's appearance, we decided to try it late on in our holiday and for the last 3 nights we didn't go anywhere else. You must try it! It doesn't feature on the street map on this web-site (or at least it didn't when I wrote the comment) but you will find it next to Kiss bar.