Recently returned from Kalamaki after spending a week with my girlfriend. Got to say that we were disappointed with Mermaids, having read all the positive comments on this site. I'm not saying the place was bad, just not as good as expected. Food was average and it certainly isn't the place to go to enjoy a quiet, relaxing meal, as they did quizzes and showed movies whilst dining. Also there is one particular waiter (looks like an extra from The Addams Family) who is particularly unhelpful.

What can I say? Easily the best restaurant in Kalamaki and believe me, we tried everywhere. Welcome was superb, the service was superb and the food was even better. Not much more I can say. Between Zepos and Mermaids, Zepos would win every time. Just a classier place all round!

Down Under is easily the best place for a night out in Kalamaki.

Just got back from a week at the Venus with my girlfriend. The place was superb! Occasionally we heard a little noise from the kids' club at the Exotica opposite, but it really didn't bother us. Laganas is only a short taxi ride away and would cost about 8 euros. Fridges and air-condititoning are both available at the Venus. Air-con was 40 euros per week, but we didn't bother. Better off with a fan!(20 euros per week).Fridges were 30 euros per week and well worth forking out for! Kevin the Thomson rep was an absolute legend, just wait 'til you hear him laugh...For a good night, go to Zepos for food and go to Down Under for drinks. I certainly would recommend the Venus, i am already contemplating going back next year!

Kevin, the Thomson rep based at the Venus Hotel, was absolutely superb! He looked after everybody, made a fuss of the kids and was constantly having a laugh...and what a laugh! Kevin really helped to make our holiday a success. The only slight moan i would have is that the turtle spotting excursion we booked was not good. It was expensive, food was bad and it all seemed a bit rushed. Apart from that, our holiday was absolutely superb and i would never book with another travel company. Thanks for everything Kev!!

Myself and my girlfriend ate here 3 times on our holiday and left with mixed opinions after our third visit. Visits one and two were good. Food was good and service was friendly, although the waitresses are dressed a little too casually. On the third visit however, we left disappointed. Our food order was wrong and when we told the waitress, changing it was not a problem. However, there was then a row between cook and waitress about our wrong order that took place in full view of the whole restaurant - how unprofessional and embarassing! To top the evening off, myself and girlfriend were BOTH sick on our way home and left with upset stomaches the next day. Hopefully, we just caught the restaurant on a very bad night. However I don't think I will be retuning again.

Ate here twice during our two weeks and left with a high opinion of this restaurant. Service was quick and friendly on both occassions and most importantly, the food was good on both occasions. Does get busy at times and doesn't offer the ambience and quaintness of some other restaurants. But the service and food are both good!!

After visiting this restaurant early in our holiday, we made sure we didn't return. There was not much at all that impressed us. I had the oven roasted Greek style lamb and it was not tasty and was dry as a bone. The best thing about our visit was the bottle of Amstel I had with my meal! Enough said.

Visited Mermaids last year and we weren't overly impressed. Returned to Kalamaki this year and tried it one more time. It was full and very busy and if you like a noisy, busy, bustling atmosphere, then great. Myself and my girlfriend prefer a more relaxed and quaint atmosphere. One waiter was literally running from the kitchen, to the tables, from the bar, to the tables! The food was good however. I ordered chicken which was beautifully cooked and very tasty. If you only want good food, come to Mermaids. If you want good food, relaxed atmosphere and that personal touch from your waiter/waitress, do not.

Came once. First impression was good. We were welcomed by a polite waiter and shiown to our table. No problems at all with service and the atmosphere and surroundings were lovely. Food however was poor. I had steak which was dry and not cooked particularly well and the pepper sauce was also not tasty. Did not return.

I found that this restaurant was like an imitation of Mermaids. It was very busy, noisy and bustly. Unfortunately, the food is nowhere near as good.

Visited Petrino three times and it was definetely our favourite restaurant. It was recommended to me by Nik who is the service manager at the Venus hotel and he particularly recommended the fresh seafood. When we arrived, we were welcomed by a very friendly waiter who was most helpful in advising me on the various fish dishes on offer and i opted for the sea bass. It was delicious! The freshest and most tasty fish ever! My partner had stifado which was the best of all the restaurants we'd tried it in and the whole dining experience was perfect. Would definetely return!!

unfortunately i can't comment on the food at this restaurant, because we walked in, had a good look at the very spa**e menu and the ridiculous prices of the food and drinks and walked out.

Visited Zepos last year as well as this and it's a good restaurant. The setting is peaceful and tranquil and the service is good. There was an English lad serving us and he was very helpful and friendly. My partner had stifado which was good and I had the mixed grill which was good. An all round good restaurant!

Thomson are still the best holiday company to go with, but why have they started charging £3 for the use of headsets on their flights? I think it's terrible - surely you already pay them enough for your holiday!!
Just like to add that Matt who is the Thomson rep at the Venus was not helpful. In fact the first time he spoke to us was at the airport.....on our return flight home!

Stayed at the Venus last year and this and love it!!
To answer your queries Geraint the rooms at the Venus do not come with fridges or air-con unless you book directly with the Venus. They are however available at an extra cost.
We hired a fridge for 2 weeks and it cost 45 euros.
We didn't hire air-con, but I think it was 75 euros for 2 weeks.
The Venus no longer allow fans to be used in their rooms, due to a fire last season.
For a nice romantic evening for your friends, tell them to go to Petrino (especially if they like seafood!) or Mikaelos for food and then up to the Cave Bar for drinks.

Not too sure how this bar got its 10/10 rating, as i've recently returned from Kalamaki and it was practically empty every night!! We stopped for a drink and the peace and quiet was lovely as we were the only ones there!!

Love the cave bar - it's an unusual place, but very cool. Have never experienced a bar like it before. It can be very romantic if there's 2 of you. Sit up in the turret and enjoy a cocktail , whilst admiring the view of Zante below. The free transport is a nice touch too and the guy who drives is always very charming.

Ended up here every night. Fantastic atmosphere for the footie, particularly the semi final and final when Tassos went absolutely nutty and ripped his shirt off!! Staff are very friendly, particularly Tassos and Evi (hello both!) Food during the day is good too. Spent some time here chilling out with a cold Mythos when it got a little too hot.