Travel to the flavors of Argolis

What makes a place unique?

To this question most people would answer that it is its History, its landscapes, the atmosphere and its sights… and will definitely forget to add that it is also “its taste”.

Indeed, taste is one of those things that make every trip into an experience, forever connected to our memory with each place and our passage through it.

What would a trip be without its tastes and smells?

What would Argolis be without its fresh fish that have the fragrance of the sea, without the juicy lamb chops that are slowly grilled, without the renowned souvlaki of Myloi, without the homemade casserole dishes whose smell wafts through the air of Nafplio’s alleys? Every trip here is a dip in the taste and tradition of the land of Argolis.

It is evident by its four top restaurants that are all destinations by themselves.

 

O Pseiras Taverna: A beautiful tavern under the shadow of Palamidi castle

At the bottom of Palamidi hill, one of the most beautiful castles in Greece, the Koutelia family shows, for 35 years now, the old neighborhood of Pronoia in the ultimate culinary destination of Nafplio.

The tables of O Pseiras tavern are set every day with checkered tablecloths and are placed outside on the picturesque alley in the summer, while in winter they are placed by the lit fireplace.

The details, such as the 20^th century engravings of Nafplio that decorate the wall, create a nostalgic atmosphere that you can only feel at the authentic traditional taverns.

This is even more evident in the menu: Perfectly grilled or skewered meat, carefully selected by local suppliers, home-made casserole dishes made with meraki and fresh salads.

The specialties include the famous kokoretsi (intestine-wrapped offal roasted on a spit), juicy lamb chops and delicious sausages, while the good-eaters should not miss pichti (spiced pork jelly) and the strong-tasted tzatziki.

The lamb in lemon sauce and the soutzoukakia (meat balls in red sauce) prove that talent does not end on the grill and spit, but extends to the casserole cooking too.

They are all served with sweet barrel wine and the tavern offers free fruit or dessert with every meal. 

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Grammes Restaurant: A multiplex space that takes you on a journey

Once upon a time, Myloi  was the last stop for the drivers, who would take the road of the Arcadian mountains, called “Kolosourtis”.

It was also the central point of meeting for the train passengers, who came in Argolis by the dozens.

It was then that the famous souvlaki of Myloi was introduced as a quick refuel for the hungry travelers, and that’s how it became synonymous to its place.

On the old train rails that named it (grammes=train rails), the beautiful, green multiplex space of Myloi takes tradition to another level.

Nestled amidst century-old poplars, where the historic “moutzouris” train filled with water before heading up to Tripoli, it serves early refreshing coffee, later it serves drinks and perfectly executed cocktails, and if you're hungry you won't be satisfied with just a quick souvlaki: Juicy lamb chops, well-cooked steaks, lamb on the spit and many other types of meat are grilled here always fresh and ideally combined with handmade appetizers like cheese dip, ntolmadakia (Vine leaves stuffed with meat) and peppers stuffed with olives in a unique local recipe.  

You combine them with great local wine, enjoying a panoramic view of Bourtzi, the city of Nafplio and the sea, while the little ones play undisturbed and safely in the carefully designed playground.

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Stavlos Thrakotaverna: Lamb chops served on parchment paper… just as in the village

Why should you leave Nafplio and drive all the way to the villages every time you want to eat lamb chops, ewe chops or other meat delicacies? That was the thought of Fotini and Nick, who decided to bring in Nafplio…the village.

And they did the miracle: Since 2014, our thrakotaverna, Stavlos, at the former downstairs yard of the family’s house, serves delicious, exquisite, local meat on the grill to residents of Nafplio and to visitors, who know where to seek the perfect meat, the meat cooked with meraki.

Their tables are laid with traditional, checkered tablecloths beside the lit fireplace indoors, where stone and wood are dominant elements, and during the summer they are placed on the beautiful, green yard.

The building that houses Stavlos, which is stone-built and impressively lit, prepares you from the first moment you’re here that you are coming to an authentic village tavern- even though you are at the heart of Nafplio.

A quick look on the menu is enough to increase your appetite: Delicious juicy lamb chops properly served, on parchment paper, and enjoyed with hands, handmade beef burgers with 100% minced beef, lamb (matured), kontosouvli and the local specialty, called chodro, which is ewe meat (matured) on the parchment paper.

Of course, all these perfectly match with the handmade tzatziki with sheep yoghurt, the freshly hand-cut fried potatoes and the handmade spicy cheese dip with goat cheese.

The wine is strictly local, Rosé Agiorgitiko and Nemean Brousko wine, White Roditis and Tripoli’s White Moschofilero, while tsipouro is exquisite too-note down that they are all organic. What else to ask for?

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Ostria Restaurant: A taste of land and sea at the beach of Myloi

On the coastal walkway of Myloi, right where the waves break, is the place where Ostria spreads its tables. 

In winter the fine tastes and fragrances are carried indoors, beside the lit fireplace that makes the perfect contrast with the infinite blue of the sea across it.

Everything had been taken into consideration by Roula and Vasilis, the two siblings who opened Ostria in 1993 and continue the family tradition for almost thirty years now.

The renowned souvlaki of Myloi is honored as a first choice here, next to perfectly grilled, local meat and daily dishes made with pure products, like veal with mushrooms or moussaka.

Here fantasy takes the lead, by highlighting the freshest local products in dishes like peppers stuffed with prosciutto or pork filet with fresh apricots, into a perfect and original result.  

Of course, since the view requires sea and the taste of the sea, we kept the best part for the end: Perfectly prepared dishes of seafood that include shrimp spaghetti, barley with shrimp or seafood, grilled octopus with fava, squid cooked in their ink and Greek style cooked sea bream, with fresh tomatoes and white wine.

And of course, fish of the day have their special place- red porgy,red mullets, sea bream and so on and so forth, depending on the weather and… the catch. They are perfectly combined with local, sweet wine and ouzo, and the magical image of the sun coloring the sea that glistens to the horizon with golden colors.

 

The beaches of Argolis

From the cosmopolitan sandy beach of Karathonas which stretches over 3 kilometers just outside Nafplio to Vivari, with its successive coves forming Lilliputian beaches with crystal clear blue waters, and from the picturesque Kondyli with its silky endless sand and reddish pebbles, to the tamarind-filled Candia, the beaches of Argolis, will enchant you.

Read more →  Unique beaches with crystal clear waters