Fisherman's Corner Cottage, Panormo
| Panormo is a friendly, typically Greek, seaside village on the north coast of Crete. It has a very warm and friendly atmosphere and is an ideal holiday base for people wanting to stay in Crete. If you want a guided tour round Panormo, go to youtube.com and type in the keywords "Panormo" and "Scootercam". We've no idea who took this video, but it gives you a good feel for the village! |
In the village of Panormo itself, there are narrow streets to explore; it’s the perfect place for those who want to escape a little and enjoy the peace and tranquility of Cretan life. There is a good selection of cafes, traditional tavernas, a butcher, a baker (hot, fresh bread every morning from 9am!) and shops where you can sample the local food and drink at very reasonable prices.
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If you have children, Panormo is ideal. This is not only because they are given a warm welcome in the village, but because there are lovely sand and pebble beaches to play on. The sea is gently shelving, beaches are well protected and there are interesting rock pools to explore. Although Fisherman's Corner does not have its own private swimming pool, there is a small pool, belonging to a complex of flats, very close by.
For older children, there are numerous options including swimming / snorkelling in the sea. Watersports such as pedalos, banana boats, jetskis are available at the main beach. There is a scuba diving centre at the Creta Marine Hotel, on the outskirts of the village. Additionally, there is a snack bar with pool tables on the harbour front and tennis courts on the outskirts of the village, if you’re feeling particularly energetic.
Close to the main beach there is an internet cafe (1 Euro for 20 mins). It has been greatly improved over the Winter and is just the job for people who want to send email.....or for those who can't last without their daily "fix" of MSN, Facebook, Bebo, Myspace, Twitter etc. Also there are loads of PC games preloaded, if that's more your thing. Slightly further afield, there are opportunities for mountain biking, go carts, crazy golf and pony trekking.
Panormo local tavernas at night
If you love good Greek cooking, you can eat in abundance in Panormo. In high season there are at least fifteen tavernas in the village, fewer out of season, however as this is a proper Greek village, not just for tourists, it does not close down over winter. These are our personal recommendations for eating out in Panormo. It's not an exhaustive list - just places where we've had good meals.
* George and Georgia’s – take the left turning up the hill at the post office. George and Georgia’s is part way up on the right (blue sign) and there's a small notice in the window with their name on. They do have a menu, but if I were you, ignore it and just ask Georgia about the specials that she's cooked today. Apart from the specials, she does a very good "feta in the oven" starter, which is feta cheese with a red pepper, tomato and basil sauce. If you dip your bread in, it's almost a meal on its own!
* Taverna Makis (pictured above) is just opposite the bread shop and cashpoint. The whole area is really pretty at night - tables with brightly coloured table cloths, lots of flowers and people just taking their time, chatting. There’s no menu at this one - the guy who owns it will take you into the kitchen, open the oven and show you what he's cooked that day. Great meals we've had here include Lamb with aubergines, yellow peppers stuffed with feta , red pepper stuffed with mince and beef tomatoes stuffed with minted rice. Drool!
* The Anchor - If you want to eat overlooking the sea, the Anchor is good. Our housekeeper rates it very highly. This is the closest “proper” taverna to Fisherman’s Corner and is only a minute or two’s stroll back to the house after a large meal.
* The Italian restaurant in the main street (with faded photos out front), looks as if it’s going to be grotty, but it does the most amazing pizza for lunch. If you try and pizza in any of the other tavernas, it will just be frozen. This is fresh and it’s gorgeous. It wouldn't be my first choice for an evening out..... but pizza for lunch on the beach is a very decadent treat!
* Taverna Kastro - The other place in Panormo which looks a touch "cheesy" but serves good food, is the Kastro. If you walk over to the other side of Panormo, then stop where the new church is being built and look for a fake castle (yes, a castle.... no kidding) , you should be able to spot the Kastro!
Bon Apetite ..... or as they say in Crete (please excuse phoenetic spelling) KALI OREXI
* Taverna Makis (pictured above) is just opposite the bread shop and cashpoint. The whole area is really pretty at night - tables with brightly coloured table cloths, lots of flowers and people just taking their time, chatting. There’s no menu at this one - the guy who owns it will take you into the kitchen, open the oven and show you what he's cooked that day. Great meals we've had here include Lamb with aubergines, yellow peppers stuffed with feta , red pepper stuffed with mince and beef tomatoes stuffed with minted rice. Drool!
* The Anchor - If you want to eat overlooking the sea, the Anchor is good. Our housekeeper rates it very highly. This is the closest “proper” taverna to Fisherman’s Corner and is only a minute or two’s stroll back to the house after a large meal.
* The Italian restaurant in the main street (with faded photos out front), looks as if it’s going to be grotty, but it does the most amazing pizza for lunch. If you try and pizza in any of the other tavernas, it will just be frozen. This is fresh and it’s gorgeous. It wouldn't be my first choice for an evening out..... but pizza for lunch on the beach is a very decadent treat!
* Taverna Kastro - The other place in Panormo which looks a touch "cheesy" but serves good food, is the Kastro. If you walk over to the other side of Panormo, then stop where the new church is being built and look for a fake castle (yes, a castle.... no kidding) , you should be able to spot the Kastro!
Bon Apetite ..... or as they say in Crete (please excuse phoenetic spelling) KALI OREXI
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