Volimes Village Taverna — Lunch in the Quiet North

The road to Shipwreck Beach passes through Volimes — a village of stone houses, lace stalls, and a church square with a plane tree that casts deep shade at noon. Most visitors accelerate through on their way to the viewpoint. That’s a mistake.

The Context

Ano Volimes sits at nearly 500 metres elevation in the northern highlands of Zakynthos, where the character of the island shifts away from the beach resorts completely. The air is cooler here, the light different, and the pace of life recognisably that of a working village rather than a tourist destination. The taverna operates for the village as much as for passing visitors — it’s open all year, serves simple food at low prices, and has no ambition to be anything other than a good place to eat lunch.

The Food

The food is as simple as the setting implies: village bread made locally, feta served in a plate of good olive oil with dried oregano and olives. Lamb chops grilled on a charcoal fire that’s been going since the morning — the smoke-to-cook ratio here is everything. Roasted chicken when the kitchen has made it that day — whole bird, herbs, lemon, roasted in a wood-fired oven until the skin is crisp.

The local honey and cheese plate is the right dessert: thyme honey from the island’s wild herbs (this part of Zakynthos is known for it) served with a soft local cheese and a piece of bread. It sounds basic. On a stone terrace at 600 metres with the northern Ionian in the distance, it’s correct.

Why Come Here

You’re likely combining this with a visit to Navagio. The viewpoint will be crowded. Lunch in the village square, at a table under the plane tree, with a glass of local wine that costs €3 — this is the antidote.