Alykes - chill at the Buca Bar

Whenever we stay in Alykanas, we pop up to Alykes for an occasional meal or to visit one of my favourite bars.

Here’s the unassuming Paporo restaurant on the beach. The food is excellent. Ask for a special or something recommended. No need to go for the boring pizza. Out the front near the main road there’s someone touting for business, but the rear beach entrance saves you from being unnecessarily harangued.

There’s an extensive menu and the views are very pleasant since you are smack on the seafront. I see that Bowie the Chimp has made an effort this evening. Wonder if they had Lady Grinning Sole on the menu?

It’s a tough choice by the look of it.

At least I didn’t leave my sunglasses here. I’d already lost them in another restaurant.

You can see how close it is to the sunbeds and umbrellas.

If you don’t want to walk another 20 yards, then the Asteria is fine and right on the waterfront, too. That’s Kefalonia in the distance.

To the right of the Paporo is the adjoining bar. This is one of my favourite spots. Overlooking the sea and with views across to Kefalonia, the Buca Bar is a fabulous quiet place to enjoy a post-meal cocktail or metaxa with lemonade. Few people venture here for some reason, but it’s a cracking location when the sun sets and the stars come out.

Perhaps it’s the purple lighting. Whatever, I love the armchairs, the ice-creams and the coffee-creams, with metaxa, naturally. Glorious. When I retire, I’m coming here.

If you don’t fancy strolling the next 30 yards, you can stop off at the Asteria, a traditional sea-front taverna right on the quay, near the canal. The stroll back to Alykanas is flat, alongside the canal. Twenty minutes later you’re back in the madness that is the Dilemma Bar and its zany crew.