Taverna Limeni Village

Taverna Limeni Village is set in the tiny fishing village of Limeni on the western shore of the Mani peninsula, in the Laconia region of the deep Peloponnese. The taverna occupies a position directly on the water's edge of a sheltered turquoise cove, and the experience of eating here — with the sea lapping below the terrace, the Mani tower houses rising above the village, and the Taygetos mountains as a backdrop — is considered one of the most beautiful dining settings in the Peloponnese. The kitchen works in classic Greek seafood territory but with produce of exceptional quality given the wild and relatively untrafficked nature of this coastline. Lobster spaghetti is the showpiece dish: a half lobster split and grilled, served on pasta cooked in the lobster bisque with fresh tomato, olive oil, and garlic. Grilled octopus with fava bean purée is a combination of exceptional texture and flavour — the octopus is dried in the sun on the day it is caught before being grilled. Boiled langoustines, served with lemon and olive oil, allow the quality of the shellfish to speak without distraction. Local grey mullet, cooked whole on the grill, is available when caught and is one of the most flavourful options on the menu. The wine list is modest but includes a selection of Mani and wider Laconian producers. The restaurant closes from November through February and is seasonal; summer reservations are essential.