ESCAPE TO CORFU - PART TWO

The Venetian allure and old fortifications mean that Corfu Town is well worth a visit if you have a car. Tiny little cobbled streets link crumbling piazzas. 

Shopping:

Most of the shops sell the usual tourist tat. However there are a couple of little gems.

This little shop, run by a French lady, sells amazing sarongs imported from India and beautiful jewellery from all over the world using unusual stones and beads. 

Anti-Kaipoi Dimarchio Sqaure 

Tel: +30 26619 43090

Indian sarongs from Anti-Kaipoi

There is also Kombos which sells lovely cotton kaftans with silk lining and an assortment of jewellery, beach bags and hats. 

Kombos 27 Palaiologou St

Tel: +30 26610 41256

There is an amazing little jewellery store called Kai To Ploio Ferei selling very unusual pieces, mainly in silver with turquoise and coral stones. He displays everything so beautifully.

Kai To Ploio Ferei 109 Nik. Theotoki

Where to drink:

Corfu town has lots of bustling bars Petite Fleur & Cafe Bristol (neither are particularly Greek sounding)are great places to watch the world go by.

Away from Corfu town there are several great local bars - the most outstanding is Damianos Bar in Agios Stefanos.

Damianos Bar Agios Stefanos

There is an extensive cocktail list with something for everyone - though the mojiots can not be recommended enough. 

 Damianos mojitos

Where to eat:

There are a plethora of Tavernas along the North East coast that are best reached by little motor boats that are available to hire. However not all are built equal. Having sampled a few, here are our favourites:

Taverna Kouloura is a great lunch time spot right on the water overlooking a quaint little harbour - highly recommended - the deep fried courgettes and small cheese pies.

The view from Kouloura

Toula's - a slightly more sophisticated Taverna serving delicious lobster pasta and Toula's prawns.

Toula's Agni

Taverna Glyfa is also outstanding and is right on the water just along the coast from Barbati beach. 

Arguably the best taramasalata on the north east coast and certainly the best drunken mussels on the island.

Taverna Glyfa Barbati

Galini's in Agios Stefanos is where to go if you're looking for traditional Greek food. The lamb Kleftiko and the veal Stifado are outstanding.

To Dimarchio is the best restaurant we found in Corfu Town serving Greek traditional dishes with a more modern Mediterranean twist.

To Dimarchio

There is also an excellent ice cream shop and patisserie in Corfu town which has the best pistachio ice cream we've ever tasted. 

Papagiorgis N. Theotoki 32

Tel: +30 26610 39424

Useful numbers:

Dinos Boat - water taxis +30 69444 72007
Phillipos Taxis - Kassiopi +30 2663 032 400

ESCAPE TO CORFU PART 1

Summer is finally here and we thought we would look at a last minute summer holiday suggestion: CORFU

Corfu is the largest of the Greek Ionian islands located to the west of mainland Greece.  It is a truely beautiful place with a rugged coast line, crystal clear turquoise waters and rolling olive groves. The North Eastern corner of Corfu is perhaps the most breathtaking and tranquil. If you are booking a last minute break we could not recommend Corfu enough. The weather is still warm right up until the beginning of October so here is our guide on what to do when you get there:

Where to stay:

There are no hotels in this corner of Corfu due to planning restrictions - most people rent villas or apartments. There are lots of options for all budgets. The Courtyard near Avlaki beach is very peaceful- you can book through CV Travel.

The Courtyard, Avlaki

If you want to be up in the hills above the coast then the beautifully designed Rou Estate is for you with varying sized villas that can be booked through Simpson Travel.

 The Rou Estate

  

Villa Trifylli in the Rou Estate

Agni Travel also have a great selection. The Olive Press is located in a traditional olive grove above Agni bay with the original olive press being one of design features and a beautiful multi-tiered pool.

The pool at the Olive Press

What to do:

There is so much to do during the day if you are not a sun worshipper.

The best way to explore the area is by boat. The roads are precarious due to the local driving and winding roads. Companies such as Agni boats or San Stefano boats rent boats by the day of varying sized engines and with differing degrees of quality. Be warned!

San Stephano boats

If you have rented a boat you can go snorkeling off the the island of Kaparelli. However be wary of the booze cruise boats which come up from the south of Corfu and moor off the island at various times during the day.

Kaparelli Island (Saranda, Albania in the background)

For the more culturally inclined a day trip to Albania is a must. You can catch the ferry from the Corfu town ferry terminal that takes you to Saranda. From here you can explore the world heritage site of  Butrint or travel on to 

Gjirokaster, the birth place of Enver Hoxha. 

If water sports are more you thing there you can go waterskiing, wakeboarding, parasailing or take a turn on the  ringos or banana ride at Nissaki Beach watersports - again best to go there via boat. There is also windsurfing and sailing at Avlaki beach through Corfu Sailing Events where you can book lessons and rent all the necessary equipment. 

Avlaki beach

If you want to escape the pool for a day and head to the beach, Piedra Del Mar on Barbati beach is the place to go. The food here is excellent and they have a large list of iced coffees and juices. You can spend the day on a sun lounger, take refreshing dips in the sea or relax on the shaded sofas. There is also a resident DJ in the evening.

Piedra del Mar

NEXT BLOG: ESCAPE TO CORFU PART 2

Shopping

Where to eat

Get the look

GETTING READY FOR THE WEEKEND...

As we prepare for a weekend of beautiful weather we thought a new summer cocktail recipe was in order!

The 'English Eccentric Garden' uses flavours that are reminiscent of an English garden... cucumber, mint, elderflower and apples... See below for the recipe of this summer's must have cocktail.

INGREDIENTS

1oz of St Germain elderflower liqueur

1oz of Hendrick's gin

3oz of English cloudy apple juice

Splash of soda water

Fresh mint

Sliced cucumber

Lots of ice

PREPARATION

Muddle the mint, gin and elderflower liqueur in a cocktail shaker...

Add lots of ice and the apple juice (shake well), then strain into a tall glass filled with ice...

Slice the cucumber as thinly as possible with a sharp knife.

Top up with soda water and garnish with a couple of paper thin cucumber slices and a sprig of fresh mint.

Enjoy and have a good weekend! 

AN ENGLISH SUMMER GARDEN

After a recent visit to Petersham Nurseries in Richmond we were reminded of how inspirational the natural English Garden can be.  Their stunning range of garden and home accessories, not to mention the exquisite plants for sale, help create that quintessential worn and eclectic space (they also offer a range of dates to dine amongst the plants by candle light over the summer if you're lucky enough to book one of very sought after reservations!).

Here are some of our favourite images and how you can try to replicate a similar feel in your own garden...

INSPIRATION

Clockwise from the Top Left: Rose Archway 'Rose Garden of Ca' delle Rose' from Stefano Scata Photography II Potting Shed from Visualphotos.com II Box hedging with worn stone Box hedging with worn stone II  Overgrown window box with bistro table and chairs II Stone archway with climbers II Outdoor dining with overhead wisteria from House Beautiful II Dining under a green canopy with an overhead outdoor lantern from Just the Design II Planting selection from Petersham Nurseries II A display of a gardener's tools from Vita Ranunkler

GET THE LOOK

1. Collection of cushions from Toast II 2. Recycled glass bird feeder from Anthropologie II 3. Gardener's twine from Garden Trading  4. Small forged iron scissors from Not On The Highstreet II 5.  Ivory Epoch pot from Anthropologie II 6. Copper watering can from Haws II 7. Pair of stone troughs from Holloways Garden II 8. Gilt and brass lantern from Patrick Jefferson II 9. Four terracotta pots in a box from Liberty II 10. Linen napkins from The Linen Works II 11. Willow cutlery basket from Not On The Highstreet II 12. Planters from Garden Trading II 13. Pashley Bicycle from Pashley II 14. Iron chair from Heveningham II 15. Fois de Bois outdoor candle from Diptyque Paris II 16. Antique marble urn from Holloways Garden Antiques