Outside the noisy three-kilometre stretch of Laganas, Zante's nightlife is much more relaxed. Cafes and bars radiating from Solomas Square in the city of Zante attract locals who sit in noisy groups to greet friends, eat traditional honey and almond mandoles and play backgammon tavli. A string of chic bars on the Venetian castle-topped hill of Bochali, just outside the city, attracts a hip crowd who come here to sip cocktails and admire panoramic views. This Ionian island also has a traditional music scene and it is well worth visiting the local bars that still host atmospheric and traditional kandathes evenings.
For more Zante inspiration, check out our guides to the best hotels, restaurants and activities on the island. Plan an extended visit with our ultimate guide to planning a Greek island hopping holiday.
Paradise cocktail bar
There's always something going on at this funky little bar in the quiet seaside town of Tsilivi. Away from the noisy hustle and bustle of Laganas, this family-run venue, which has been in business for over 23 years, proudly promotes itself as the place for a 'good old fashioned fun night out' with lots of fun and occasional games ranging from reggae nights and quizzes, to plate smashing and drag nights. With banners on street lamps proclaiming it to be 'the best bar in Greece' and a broken pink motorbike parked outside with a sign reading 'Elvis' mother's car', it's easy to find.
Jungle bar
The seaside town of Alykes, named after the salt flats that were abandoned in the 1980s and are now a magnet for migratory birds, has one of the island's best low-key nightlife - and the family-run Jungle Bar, located on a busy road in the center of the city, is one of the best places to enjoy it. Children are welcome on this bar's lounge-style terrace (ideal for people-watching) where they serve an extensive range of (competitively priced) cocktails and mocktails - alongside Guinness and draft beer - to the tune of hits from the 1980s and 1990s .
The story continues
Varkarola
This family-run local haunt, whose whitewashed walls are lined with traditional instruments and photos of popular Greek musicians, is the best place in town to catch some of Zante's traditional kandathes. Traditional folk songs with a strong Italian influence that are said to have originated on the neighboring island of Kefalonia. They are usually performed by two or three male singers, who play mandolin or acoustic guitar and sing (masculine or mournful) improvised arekia verses. The food here is as hearty as the music: try the kouneli stifado rabbit stew in garlic tomato and wine sauce.
Movida club
Moonlight works magic at this sky bar atop the sweetly scented, pine-clad Bochali Hill, close to the crumbling walls of the Venetian castle, where the city's hip crowd comes to enjoy handcrafted cocktails. Trees with glittering lights surround a wooden terrace with amphitheater-like views of the inky Ionian Sea far below and the glitter of the city of Zante far beyond. In summer, drinkers (sitting on high-backed wooden chairs) are serenaded by the high-pitched hooting of Pygmy Owls, and local and international DJs playing mainly relaxing hits. There is also a limited menu: try the handmade burgers with thick fries.
Cebu Club
Although it is close to Laganas, the nightlife in Argassi, just a few kilometers from the city of Zante, is much cooler. Early in the evening it's time to hang out with the locals - who come here to eat in a range of taverns and fast food restaurants - before heading to one of the laid-back clubs. Cebu's shady garden with palm trees, behind high walls, is the perfect place to gaze at the stars through swaying palm fronds while sipping a cocktail. There is also a dance area the size of a football field where local and guest DJs play their sets.
Zakanthi Bar restaurant
Housed in a tall ocher building with olive green shutters on a quiet street in the laid-back seaside town of Kalamaki, this laid-back bar is surrounded by a pretty garden - shaved lawns, palm trees and potted plants - which makes it feel very private. The interior is rustic and cozy - stone tiled floors, chunky wooden tables and candles - but the best seats are outside, where friendly waiters serve cocktails hand-prepared by a resident mixologist, while the sweet sounds of classical and jazz music emanate from filtering the speakers hidden among the trees. In the summer they also have regular evenings with live music.
Cotton Club Zakynthos
When beret-clad Christian Marstrander and his wife Merete, the Norwegian owners of Ibiza's famous Cotton Club, first stepped ashore in Zakynthos, they were captivated by the Ionian island's pristine seascapes and lush greenery, and vowed to stay here to create a second Cotton Club. An ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of the coast, this sophisticated lifestyle club is situated on a pine-clad hillside with breathtaking views over Laganas Bay. Come here during the day to sip cocktails and relax by the pool, or stay later to enjoy live DJs and plant-based menus at the club's outdoor restaurant. For those who choose to stick around, they also rent out villas, along with a sleek line of luxury yachts.
Porto Azuro
Beach bars cost ten a cent in the seaside town of Vasilikos, but Porto Azurro's location - just a stone's throw from the warm shallow waters and soft sands of the beach of the same name - is matched by an imaginative range of cocktails (try the Greek Collins, made with grappa-like tsipouro, instead of gin) makes it a popular lunch choice. Drinks can be ordered on the bar's bamboo-shaded terrace, or from the comfort of a sunbed that you'll never want to leave. They also serve Mediterranean snacks: olive oil-drizzled choriatiki salads, freshly grilled meat souvlaki and seafood.
Villa Rossa Wine Bar
Although the best grapes were once exported as currants, today Zante produces some excellent wines from a wide range of local grape varieties - and not just the ubiquitous Verdea white wine. Located along the Vassilikos Peninsula in an attractive villa, with creaking wooden floors and ornate antique furniture - and which once belonged to the powerful Roma family (who also owned Archontiko Roma in the city of Zante) - Villa Rossa has plenty of choice. Sit at picnic tables (with plenty of cushions) under citrus-scented cypress trees and choose from an extensive list served with spicy ladotyri cheese and other snacks.
Portokali
Along a side street in the popular seaside town of Argassi, Portokali (Greek for 'orange') really rocks that amber vibe with carrot-coloured deco ranging from lampshades to seating areas. But surprisingly, the orange-with-everything theme isn't oppressive, as this quirky bar-restaurant with live music is set in beautiful, lush gardens: there are huge palm trees stretching palm fronds towards the velvety, star-studded sky and centuries-old olive trees dotted with (orange) hammocks where you can laze and listen to the live music that plays here most evenings and can be anything from chilled out jazz to lively rock 'n' roll. There is also a restaurant serving traditional local delicacies including - you guessed it - portokalopita (orange cake).
