The Old Schoolhouse Restaurant, Corfu

The Old Schoolhouse Restaurant occupies a beautifully preserved 19th-century village schoolhouse in Kinopiastes, a quiet hillside village roughly eight kilometres from Corfu Town in the island's agricultural interior. The building has been sensitively converted: stone walls, terracotta roof tiles, wooden beams, and a candlelit garden courtyard create an atmosphere that feels genuinely romantic and removed from the bustle of the coast. The menu is an accomplished reinterpretation of Corfiot and mainland Greek traditions. Sofrito — the Venetian-influenced veal dish synonymous with Corfiot cooking — is prepared here with care and consistency. Lamb kleftiko, slow-roasted in a sealed pot with herbs and lemon until the meat falls from the bone, draws comparison with the best versions found anywhere in the Ionian Islands. A meze sharing menu, offered as an alternative to individual courses, allows a broad sampling of the kitchen's range including local cheese boards, pastries, and seasonal vegetable preparations. The Greek wine list is thoughtfully compiled, with staff who can guide selections across the regions represented. The restaurant is dinner-only from Tuesday through Saturday, and reservations are essential throughout the summer. The village location means guests should plan transport — a taxi from Corfu Town takes around fifteen minutes — but the setting makes the journey entirely worthwhile.