To Kanoni

To Kanoni takes its name from the cannon battery position on the Palamidi promontory above, and the taverna sits directly beneath those fortifications on a quiet street in Nafplio's oldest residential quarter. The setting is both dramatic and intimate: the Venetian walls rise sharply overhead, jasmine and bougainvillea spill over iron railings, and the street narrows to barely two metres. The kitchen focuses on traditional Greek meze and grilled meats, operating in the honest neighbourhood-taverna register rather than trying to compete with the more touristic restaurants on the waterfront. The mixed grill platter is the centrepiece of the menu — a combination of pork chops, chicken skewers, sausage, and meatballs that arrives sizzling from the charcoal grill. Tzatziki is made in-house with thick strained yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and dill. Stuffed vine leaves (dolmades) come in two versions — rice-stuffed and served cold with lemon, or meat-stuffed and braised in egg-lemon sauce. Fried zucchini with skordalia (garlic dip) rounds out a reliable meze spread. The wine selection is minimal but practical — house wine by the jug and a few bottled Peloponnesian wines. Prices are among the fairest in Nafplio, which has made the restaurant a favourite with returning visitors and Greek families who bypass the more expensive harbour restaurants. Walk-ins are the norm and tables turn over steadily throughout lunch and dinner.