Choes Wine Bar

Choes Wine Bar is a small wine bar in the Old Town of Corfu Town, on the Ionian island of Corfu in Greece, focused on Greek wine tastings. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its narrow lanes hold many small bars where the pace is slower than in the resort strips elsewhere on the island. Choes appeals to couples, food-and-wine enthusiasts, and older or more mature travellers who want to sit and talk instead of dance. The crowd is typically in the thirties and above, and the atmosphere is calm, intimate, and conversational. Dress is smart casual, and there is no formal dress code. Music is incidental and kept low, which suits the tasting format. The drinks programme concentrates on Greek wines, with glasses priced around EUR 5-9 (USD 6-10), so visitors can sample several regions and grape varieties in one evening. Greek whites such as Assyrtiko, reds from Agiorgitiko or Xinomavro, and local Corfiot wines are the kind of labels a Greek-focused list is likely to feature, and staff can usually explain the differences to newcomers. Corfu produces its own small-scale wines, including the white Kakotrygis variety, which makes a distinctive first order for visitors curious about the island. Opening hours follow an evening pattern, with the busiest times on Friday and Saturday and a quiet, unhurried atmosphere on weeknights. No cover charge applies. Reservations are generally not required for small parties, but groups of four or more may want to ask ahead in July and August, when the Old Town fills. Bottle service in the club sense does not apply, though bottles of wine may be ordered for the table. Because the bar is small, seating is limited and the best seats go early. The cobbled streets of the Old Town are uneven, and the bar suits a leisurely evening before or after dinner at a nearby taverna.