The Greek Isles are for Dutchman and me, the perfect summer holiday destination. I can enumerate hundreds of reasons as to why we keep coming back but I will spare you the details and instead show you one example, such as this taverna sitting on top of the mountains of Exanthia and overlooking the village of Kalamitsi and the western coast of Lefkada on the Ionian Sea.
Would you believe that there are hundreds of tavernas like this in the islands? Of course, they all vary in terms of stunningness. And this, my friends, is just one of the myriad of reasons why we have fallen in love with the Greek Islands.
[To read the rest of the post and see more pictures, click the READ MORE link below]
Our Greek Island summer holiday is very different from the holidays I have throughout the year. It’s my yearly “chill-out” vacation where I have a pace as slow as a turtle. I don’t do much for 2 weeks except lay down on the beach or beside the pool, hopping from one sunbed to another, drinking cocktails, reading a book, having long lazy lunches and dinners with a view and sitting down on café terraces drinking Greek frappe.
A highlight, of course, is the relaxing dinners with a view we have. I always research ahead of time for restaurants on the beach shore or with a view and carefully plan this into our agenda. Dutchman and I are suckers for nice places like these in the islands. We live for this.
Rachi Restaurant-Taverna is a very popular restaurant in Lefkada, because it has, hands down, the best view and ambience in the island.
Does not matter where your table it, you will have an outdoorsy ambience and lovely view of the mountains, the coast and the Ionian Sea.
The restaurant’s location is perfect, nestled on top of the mountains overlooking the western coast of Lefkada and the vast Ionian Sea. It is approximately 20 minutes from the main road near Agios Nikitas (where we spent a day as well) and 26 minutes from Kathisma Beach where we spent the whole afternoon on said day.
You can check out my earlier posts here: Kathisma Beach Gobbled up my Sunglasses and Gorgeous and Crowded Agios Nikitas Beach
The location:
Driving direction from the main road near Agios Nikitas to Rachi Taverna. It is a winding and mountainous road to Exanthia.
When we arrived, the queue to get a table was already long and we were told to wait 45 minutes. Hah, this restaurant taverna is this popular! They also do not accept reservations here, so it is a first come, first serve basis. You have to wait. I think I can agree to that.
Dutchman and Dutch mother didn’t mind the long wait because we all right away fell in love with the view and ambience of the place. While waiting, we sat at the bar and ordered drinks. The Dutch mother entertained herself as well by watching the bartender concoct cocktails whilst the Dutchman was busy taking pictures.
You know what’s funny about this place? Everyone could not stop taking pictures! Especially when the sun was setting down the horizon. Every second and every minute, people were snapping away, even when they were eating, haha.
Waiting here at the bar.
Finally, we were called and our table was ready! Here at Rachi, it doesn’t matter which table is given to you, you will always have a great view.
We didn’t lose time ordering. Dutchman went for the grilled pork steak which was massive and this came with a side salad, vegetables and fries. The Dutch mother eyed the traditional Stifado (Greek beef stew) with fries. I, on the other hand, settled for their Today’s Special, a whole steamed fish with vegetable filling and couscous salad with rucola on the side.
We also had a shared starter of salad drenched in cream dressing. This was something new for us, as we always order the quintessential Greek Salad, but it’s nice to try something different every now and then.
The verdict: We very much enjoyed the food here. Perhaps not the best we have eaten but it was quite good, and with the stunning view and the whole magical setting, you cannot really ask for more. This place is highly recommended!
The sun was already setting down the horizon when we started with our salad starter. In June, sunset in the islands is between 21:30 and 21:50
As you can see, the 3 of us ordered a different dish. The portions at Rachi are generous, so we are glad we shared the salad as our starter (which always comes with bread).
Yep, this is really dining with a view here at Rachi!
Even the coffee we ordered were all different, haha. In Lefkada, they have this sweet rose liquor digestive drink.
We closed the dinner with coffee and had a chat with the friendly yet straightforward head waitress who gave us some complimentary liquor shots which smelled like rose flowers. She told us that it is always busy here every night, as well as during the day for lunch. Guests can come here as well for drinks. We also learned from her that they do not accept reservations.... because really, they do not need it. They have guests lining up and are willing to wait for an hour to be seated.
Best to come here early for dinner, between 18:00 and 18:30 to avoid the long wait. Or come late after 21:00.
Picture of the sun setting down on the Ionian Sea:
The Dutchman zoomed in the sea. The waters looked like grainy texture of a log.
We had a quarter moon as well. We left the restaurant probably around 23:00.
Going back to our hotel in Nydri, we decided to take the route via the mountains. It wasn’t an easy route as we passed by very narrow roads that turned into dirt tracks. There were no street lights, it was pitch dark. There were barely any houses as well. We were in the middle of nowhere in the mountains with no living thing in sight, and the Dutch mother at the back of the car is almost having a panic attack. Some people are not used to travelling in suspense, whereas this was just normal for the Dutchman and I. We know the Greek Islands and we traverse these kinds of roads even with our scooter. Many times we get lost in the middle of the island wilderness.
We realised that we should not subject the Dutch mother to an adventure driving like this again. In fact, Dutchman and I were laughing inside the car when we knew it wasn’t funny at all! We are being mean. This is what you get when you travelling with someone from a different generation and style of travelling. The drive in the dark through the mountains was too adventurous for her.
Driving through the mountains of Lefkada in pitch dark.
More Lefkada finds in my next posts!
Travel Period: June-July 2016
Destination: Exanthia, Skafiotes (Lefkada - Ionian Islands), Greece
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
All pictures were taken by a point and shoot pocket camera or a smartphone.