Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
for th
e exte
nded English family who own and run the
place.
€200
Spot
Perikléous 21
T
22410 34737,
W
spothotel
rhodes.gr; see map, p.518.
The cheerfully painted a/c
en-suite rooms in this custard-yellow modern building
are festooned with artworks and textiles, and offer
excellent value; triples available. An unlimited buffet
breakfast, charged extra, is served on the rear patio, and
there's also a r
oof t
errace and free luggage storage.
Closed Dec-Feb.
€90
Via-Via
Lysipoú 2
T
22410 77027,
W
hotel-via-via
.com; see map, p.518.
Efficiently but congenially run
hotel on an alleyway off Pythagóra; most of the one-to-
four-person rooms, all a/c, are en suite, but two share
baths across the hall. All are simply and tastefully
furnished with bedding and throw rugs in pastel hues.
Roof terrace with pergola and divans for three grades of
breakfast
and
an eyeful of the Ibrahim Pasha mosque
opposite.
€70
NEW TOWN
Anastasia
28-Oktovríou 46
T
22410 28007,
W
anastasia-hotel.com; see map, p.516.
Italian-era
mansion, with high ceilings and tiled floors, that's been
converted to a congenial, family-run guesthouse. The
rooms, which sleep up to four, are simple but have a/c and
en-suite facilities; there's a bar in th
e ga
rden, with its
resident tortoises. Breakfast costs extra.
€45
Cactus
Kó 14
T
22410 26100,
W
cactus-hotel.gr; see
map, p.516.
The best-value beachfront hotel in the new
town, an updated 1960s high-rise with graceful curving
glass-fronted balconies, facing the best stretch of Élli beach
near the ti
p of th
e headland and offering a street-side pool
of its own.
€110
Plaza Best Western
Ieroú Lóhou 7
T
22410 22501,
W
rhodesplazahotel.com; see map, p.516.
Crisp, modern
four-star hotel, convenient for Mandhráki harbour, with a
pool, garden and sauna. There'
s also
a restaurant, and they
offer buffet English breakfasts.
€115
EATING AND DRINKING
While the Old Town holds a quite staggering number of restaurants, prices tend to be high, and both value and quality tend
to improve away from the main commercial lanes. Most places are open long hours every night, serving couples with
children from about 6.30pm, then tourists until perhaps 10pm, and Greeks until midnight or later.
8
about the lack of a street sign, they just want to keep the
crowds down. Traditional adapted recipes, adeptly
blending subtle flavours, include pilaf with lamb and
raisins, turnovers with
pastourmá
, and
psaronéfri
with
manoúri
cheese, fig and red peppercorn sauce. Excellent
wine list and desserts of the day. Closed Nov-March.
Dinner only, daily until midnight.
Ì
Nireas
Sofokléous 22
T
22410 21703; see map,
p.518.
This long-standing, family-run fish specialist, on a
quiet square just away from the bustle, has earned its sky-
high reputation thanks to the hard work and friendly
professionalism of its owners, its still-reasonable prices,
and its atmospheric indoor/outdoor seating, making this a
good choice for a treat. Individual seafood dishes, like
mussels saganaki, cost around €10, and unusually they
have a range of Italian desserts too. Around €70 for two
including dessert and wine.
Daily lunch & dinner.
O Meraklis
Aristotélous 30; see map, p.518.
One of the
last Rhodian rough edges not yet filed smooth, this
pátsatzídhiko
(tripe-and-trotter-soup kitchen) caters for a
pre-dawn clientele of clubbers, Turkish shopkeepers,
gangsters and nightclub singers. Great free entertainment,
including famously rude staff, and the soup's good, too: the
traditional working man's breakfast and hangover cure.
Open 1-8am only, at its peak 3-4am.
Sea Star
Sofokléous 24
T
22410 31884; see map,
p.518.
Quality seafood restaurant that's somewhat
overshadowed by Nireas (see p.518) next door, but
deserves mention in its own right for its perfectly grilled
OLD TOWN
Fotis Melathron
Sokrátous 41
T
22410 24272,
W
fotisgroup.com; see map, p.518.
Despite the address,
this large restaurant opens onto a small square just south
of the main pedestrian drag. Come at lunchtime, when the
tables in the flowery gardens that surround the compound
are all but irresistible, and you might never realize that the
interior's charming too, rambling through an old town
house that holds assorted dining rooms. Reckon on €70 for
dinner for two. A good mixed mezédhes plate costs €10.50,
while the sliced-up whole stuffed squid is excellent.
Daily
noon-10pm.
La Varka
Sofokléous 5; see map, p.518.
Indoor-outdoor
ouzerí, with a table-filled terrace right on a busy bar-filled
alleyway, and live Greek music of its own. The interior
makes a cosy retreat in the cooler months. Good salads,
pikilíes
for 2 at €30, grilled
thrápsalo
, fried or salt-cured
seafood titbits, cheapish ouzo and
soúma
by the carafe.
Daily 11.30am-1am.
Mama Sofia
Orfeos 28
T
22410 24469; see map,
p.518.
Good, reasonably priced home cooking in a very
friendly atmosphere, across from the clocktower and
minaret in the northwest corner of the Old Town. Choose
between the roof terrace or the plentiful street-level tables,
which make for perfect people-watching.
Open until
10pm nightly.
Ì
Marco Polo Café
Ayíou Fanouríou 42
T
22410
25562; see map, p.518.
Very lovely, deservedly popular
hotel restaurant, filling a garden courtyard; don't worry
