Food · Corfu · Greece
What to eat in Corfu
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Corfu, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: StefanosKozanis, Public domain
Quick answer
Start with Pastitsada, Sofrito and Bourdeto. Head inland to a village taverna on a Sunday, when pastitsada is often cooked for local families. Greeks eat late: lunch from about 2pm and dinner from 9pm, though tavernas in resorts serve earlier.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Pastitsada
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is appreciated but modest: round up the bill or leave 5–10% for good service in…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Pastitsada
Corfu's signature dish: rooster or beef slow-cooked in a spiced tomato sauce with cinnamon, cloves and paprika, served over thick pasta. Its Venetian roots show in the spices and pasta.
Where: Traditional tavernas across the island, often as a Sunday dish; ask for 'pastitsada kokora' for the rooster version.
Dish
2.Sofrito
Thin slices of veal cooked slowly in a sauce of white wine, garlic, vinegar and parsley, usually served with mashed potato or rice.
Where: Tavernas in Corfu Town and villages throughout the island.
Dish
3.Bourdeto
A spicy fish stew, traditionally made with scorpion fish, in a red sauce rich with sweet and hot paprika and onion, served with bread for mopping up.
Where: Fish tavernas in harbour villages such as Kassiopi, Petriti and Benitses.
Dish
4.Bianco
White fish cooked with potatoes, garlic, lemon, white pepper and olive oil — a lighter, garlicky counterpart to bourdeto.
Where: Fish tavernas around the coast and traditional restaurants in Corfu Town.
Dish · Vegetarian
5.Tsigareli
Wild and garden greens sautéed with olive oil, garlic, tomato and plenty of chilli, eaten as a meze or a light main.
Where: Village tavernas, especially in spring when wild greens are in season.
Snack
6.Nouboulo
Smoked and spiced pork fillet, thinly sliced like salami, a Corfiot charcuterie with Venetian origins.
Where: Delicatessens in Corfu Town and as part of meze platters in tavernas.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Kumquat liqueur and sweets (Koum kouat)
Kumquats, introduced to Corfu during the British period and grown mainly around Nymfes in the north, are made into a bright orange liqueur, glacé fruits and marmalade.
Where: Shops in Corfu Town's old lanes sell bottles and sweets; some distilleries offer tastings.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Ginger beer (Tsitsibira)
A lemony, non-alcoholic ginger beer brewed in Corfu since British rule in the 19th century, served cold.
Where: Cafés around the Spianada and the Liston, and some village kafeneia.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Mandolato
Soft white nougat with almonds, made with honey and egg whites, a Venetian-influenced sweet sold in bars and slabs.
Where: Sweet shops and souvenir stores in Corfu Town's old lanes.
Dish · Vegetarian
10.Corfu olive oil
The island's millions of olive trees, many planted under Venetian rule, produce fruity oil used in almost every dish and served with bread at the start of meals.
Where: Tavernas everywhere, and village producers and shops in Corfu Town that sell bottles to take home.
Food experiences
Sunday pastitsada in a village
Head inland to a village taverna on a Sunday, when pastitsada is often cooked for local families.
Fish lunch on the north-east coast
Arrive by boat or on foot at a taverna in Agni or Kalami for grilled fish and bourdeto by the water.
Coffee on the Liston
Order a coffee or tsitsibira under the arcades, overlooking the Spianada and the Old Fortress.
Kumquat tasting
Taste kumquat liqueur, marmalade and sweets at a shop or distillery and buy bottles to take home.
Quick bites and street food
- Nouboulo — Delicatessens in Corfu Town and as part of meze platters in tavernas.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Tsigareli, Kumquat liqueur and sweets, Ginger beer, Mandolato and Corfu olive oil. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Greeks eat late: lunch from about 2pm and dinner from 9pm, though tavernas in resorts serve earlier.
- Bread is usually brought to the table and charged as a small cover.
- Fresh fish is priced by the kilo; ask to see the fish and agree a price before it is cooked.
- A complimentary dessert or shot of liqueur often arrives with the bill in tavernas.
- Book Easter weekend meals in Corfu Town well in advance.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but modest: round up the bill or leave 5–10% for good service in restaurants, and round up taxi fares.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kalimera | Good morning |
| Efharisto | Thank you |
| Parakalo | Please / you're welcome |
| To logariasmo, parakalo | The bill, please |
| Yamas | Cheers |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Corfu famous for?
Pastitsada, Sofrito, Bourdeto and Bianco. Corfu's signature dish: rooster or beef slow-cooked in a spiced tomato sauce with cinnamon, cloves and paprika, served over thick pasta.
+Is Corfu good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Tsigareli, Kumquat liqueur and sweets and Ginger beer.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Corfu?
Tipping is appreciated but modest: round up the bill or leave 5–10% for good service in restaurants, and round up taxi fares.