So, we all know we love Zante, and especially Kalamaki. It’s a bit of a tradition of recent years that we sneak in a short break to our favourite destination. It’s such an easy break for us, we know where things are in relation to our favourite apartments. We know how much it is in a taxi from the airport and how long it will take. Most importantly, we know where the best bars in Kalamaki are for a drink any time of the day or night!
Kalamaki’s lively neighbour, Laganas, often gives the impression that the entire island is one big foam party but it couldn’t be further from the truth! Kalamaki is not sleepy but the bars and restaurants are very family-friendly with an emphasis on the friendly part!
Most evenings we stay on the main strip and eat at our favourite restaurants. After dinner, we go for a short walk along the strip to walk off all the yummy food. We always stop at a couple of the best bars in Kalamaki to wash it down and help unwind a bit!
We love to go to places where the kids are welcome (pretty much everywhere in Kalamaki to be fair) and where there’s a little bit of something for the kids to do. There is nothing relaxing about kids complaining that they are bored!
Iguana Bar – The best roof bar in Kalamaki
First up is the wonderful Iguana bar. It was the very first bar we ever had a drink in whilst in Kalamaki and one that we can never miss when we return. Not right on the main strip but well signposted from the strip towards the beautiful Caretta Caretta beach.
Sit downstairs, inside to be in the cool or upstairs on the roof terrace. It has recently had a bit of revamp on the terrace from what I have noticed on their Instagram page, I cannot wait to go check it out in person! More often than not we pop in here for a cold beer on the way down to the beach!
Zante Island – cocktail bar
Situated on the old Kalamaki road, heading down to the beach – on the opposite side of the road to Antonis pool bar. It has big comfy chairs, lots of lush greenery, a couple of pool tables and the most adorable dog. The cocktail and drinks menu is extensive and at good prices. The frozen cocktails are really good – Did someone say Frozen Pina Colada?! yum! The house wine is good too and the kids were more than happy with a huge selection of slush puppies, mocktails, milkshakes and soft drinks.
Antonis pool bar
Finally, on our 5th visit to Kalamaki, we made it to the legendary Antonis pool bar. We definitely were not disappointed, I just wondered why it took us so long! There is a lovely big pool and a couple of kid’s pools which are open to the public. There are loads of sunbeds available at any time of the day too, so you never struggle to find somewhere to sit. The bar inside has lots of sports events on the TV’s, a good selection of drinks and snacks and a pool table. I highly recommend a visit.
Friends bar – Ideal family bar in Kalamaki
At the top of the strip – close to Tazie’s is Friends bar. A family-run bar, with a great cocktail menu. The kids still talk about a trip we took in 2017 and they put the longest straws they have ever seen in their drinks! Fast forward to our last visit in 2020 and we had a few chilled nights here on a much quieter summer season than usual. When I say it’s a family-run bar I mean the whole family get involved!
Our youngest son plays with their youngest son colouring and chatting despite language barriers. Our older 2 kids play pool with their eldest child too, leaving Mum and Dad to chat too! Great service, lovely welcoming family and brilliant cocktails! I highly recommend you pop in and try a White Russian!
**Edit – We have just returned from another visit to Kalamaki and Friends is now under new ownership**
Rose & Crown – A British Pub on the Kalamaki Strip
Every good holiday resort has a British-themed pub, Brits abroad love them! Love them or hate them, we all end up in them at one time or another! I don’t go away to eat or drink British but the Rose and Crown pub doesn’t feel really “Brits abroad” but just welcoming! With its pool tables, music, and mini Bingo game, this place can get crowded in the summer.
We won the bingo and turned €5 into €90 in 10 minutes once, I especially enjoyed that night! A really friendly and welcoming team behind the bar and on the entertainment too. A fun night is always had at the Rose and Crown. Easy to spot right in the middle of the main strip, opposite the Vanessa Hotel.
Vanessa Hotel Pool Bar – Chilled Pool vibes
Yes, the Vanessa is our favourite self-catering property with 3 stays there so far. It sits perfectly in the middle of the strip. As well as being great apartments it’s also home to a very chilled pool bar.
The staff are friendly, occasionally there’s live music or Karaoke, and there’s also a pool table. In addition to good drinks, there is a selection of snacks and ice creams available with the bar staff being a good laugh. I highly recommend you pop in for one on an evening or a cool beer during the day with a light lunch, the food prices are so good!
Oasis Bar – The Best Cocktail Bar in Kalamaki
This is another bar that we visit every single time we stay in Kalamaki. So easy to spot, it’s an oasis in the desert, situated right on the main strip. Unlike the others mentioned this is a bit more of a grown-up feel to it. Very chilled and has a long list of cocktails, not the place that the kids can run around in but still they enjoy going in and getting a mocktail with all the sparklers in etc!
There are loads of bars to choose from in Kalamaki, and a few shisha bars too! All will welcome families with children but plenty are nice just for couples too.
Even if you are staying all-inclusive I recommend having a few drinks on the strip. Join any Kalamaki group on Facebook or Reddit and you will find lots of recommendations for bars, Melon bar always gets rave reviews but I’m yet to try still, so definitely will next time!
These are the favourites that we will always visit when we go back. We know that the wonderful people who work hard to make our holidays enjoyable will welcome us, and we cannot wait to see them again!
Let me know which are your favourites.
Becky x
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