Target Taverna — Sunset Dining Above Argassi

About 900 metres from Argassi’s main beach strip, there’s a small hill. Follow the signs up a winding track through olive trees and scrub, and you’ll find Target Taverna — a restaurant where half the reason to come is the view, and the other half is that the food actually justifies making the trip.

The View

Let’s get this out of the way first: the view is exceptional. The terrace sits at the foothills of Mount Skopos, elevated enough to take in a sweeping panorama across Argassi’s coastline, the historic Venetian bridge ruins below, Zakynthos Town spread out to the north, and beyond it, the Ionian Sea all the way to the Peloponnese mountains on the horizon.

In midsummer, the sun sets over the western hills somewhere around 20:30. From the terrace edge, the sky turns through peach, orange, and purple over the bay. There are restaurants on this island that trade entirely on their location and coast on it. Target Taverna isn’t one of them.

History and Atmosphere

Target has been here since 1992 — over 30 years of greeting guests at the top of that small hill. The atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried, surrounded by pines, with the ambient sound of cicadas replacing the beach-strip noise below. Tables are spaced generously across a large tiled terrace, lit by lamp posts and candles as the evening deepens.

The free taxi service from Argassi accommodations is a practical touch — it means families and couples can enjoy the evening properly, not worrying about navigating the hillside track after a carafe of Zakynthian white wine.

The Food

The kitchen takes local sourcing seriously. Seafood comes from fishermen who operate off the island — the grilled fish platters change slightly day to day based on what was caught. The octopus is slow-cooked and chargrilled, the mixed meat grill is the kind of generous spread of souvlaki, lamb chops, and sausages that is unapologetically satisfying. Vegetarian choices are solid — the Greek salad uses local feta and proper field tomatoes, not greenhouse approximations.

The cocktails are made to order at the bar, and the wine list leans into Greek and Zakynthian labels. The house white — chilled, dry, and mineral — pairs well with everything coming off the grill.

Getting There

From the Argassi main road, turn inland at the main crossroads (near Magic Club) and follow the signs uphill. It takes about 5 minutes by car. Or call ahead and use the free transfer service. Either way, it’s worth the slight detour from the beach strip below.

For a dinner where the setting enhances the meal and the meal justifies the setting, Target Taverna hits that balance well.