Aetherius Retreats

About Kardamyli

Kardamyli is a beautiful little seaside village located in West Mani, Greece. Home of the world famous Kalamata Olives, Kardamyli offer pristine, beautiful blue beaches, surrounded by spectacular mountains and hundreds of lush olive groves. Described as a treasure in the Winter and a jewel in the Summer, it’s a 3.5 hour drive from Athens or less than an hour from Kalamata. Understated, and oozing with rustic charm, it remains one of Greece’s best kept secrets.

The Beaches
of Kardamyli

Beautiful, crystal blue waters feature in the village. The most popular strip of beach is known as “The Ritsa” and depending on your preference, you can enjoy a quieter experience at the 1st and 2nd section of “The Ritsa”, or get amongst the people at the 3rd “Ritsa”. Each area is naturally sectioned by small rock formations. The area boasts some of Greece’s most spectacular coastlines, ranging from pebbles beaches, to fine gravel. A good idea is to bring with you some reef shoes to fully enjoy the Kardamyli beach experience.

Practical Information

The standard electric current in Greece is 220V AC (50Hz). Australian appliances work perfectly well - no transformers required, however, you will need to bring power plug adaptors – Greece uses the standard European plugs.

There are 3 main Telecommunication providers in Greece. Cosmote is the largest with the best coverage – if you are with Telstra in Australia, you will have access to Cosmote in Greece. Vodafone users will have access to the Vodafone Greece network and Optus users will have access to WIND Hellas. International Roaming charges may apply, so please ensure you check with your Australian provider BEFORE you leave. In Kardamyli, Cosmote has the best overall coverage.

There is a Post Office located in the centre of the village – operating 8am to 2pm weekdays. There is also a branch of the Piraeus Bank which operates every Wednesday from 9am to 2pm. Piraeus Bank and Alpha Bank atm’s are also located in the village – should you require to withdraw cash from your account, however, all restaurants, café’s, gift shops and supermarkets accept VISA & Mastercard, with fewer outlets accepting American Express cards.

Cafés, Bars and Restaurants

For such a small, seaside village, there’s an abundance of amazing bars, café’s and restaurants in Kardamyli. There is a beautiful fusion of modern and traditional café’s and bars – all of them featuring the warm and genuine hospitality that the Greeks are famous for. The village offers a rich palette of atmospheres, colour and flavours – and this is evident by the mix of “social vibe” of Kardamyli.

Noteworthy places include (but by no means limited to) the following...

Aquarella

A bar with breath taking sea views. Homemade, traditional pies, coffee’s and ofcourse a vast array of beers, wines and spirits are a feature.

TIKLA

Recently transformed into a WINE BAR / Restaurant. TIKLA features 4 specialty chefs- where you will taste both local and international cuisine with a twist.

1866

A Beer Bar featuring over 100 different types of local and imported beers, uber cool jazz music and lovely services all wrapped up together to give you a unique experience.

Galazio

A café with absolute beach frontage, located by the popular RITSA beach. Sip on your Freddo Cappucino or perhaps you prefer a more traditional Greek Style Coffee as you enjoy a selection of light snacks. Feel the cool Mediterranean breeze and the view of the crystal blue waters whilst you just sit, relax and savour every moment.

Elies

Also located opposite the RITSA beach area. A nice mix of traditional and modern greek food – deliciously prepared by Fanni from recipes passed down from generation to generation. The restaurant also features a chilled café / bar area with comfortable lounge style seating.

To Kastro

Set amongst Kalamata Olive Groves and owned and operated by Petros, the cuisine features a nice mix of local delicacies, plus more traditional, general Greek food. A lot of the ingredients used in the cooking are grown onsite or locally produced - the end result is delicious! Generous servicing sizes at a very competitive price.

Yioryitsa's Backyard

A very unique cafe experience as you are literally sitting in the courtyard of village local Stavroula Spirea. Yioryitsa’s Backyard offers select, traditional local delicacies. Each day, Stavroula cooks up one of her favourite pies. Cheese Pie one day, Spanakopita the next, what will be on offer tomorrow is anyone’s guess! Sit under the lemon tree as you sip your Greek Style coffee and savour a local sweet, lovingly made by Stavroula and her team. Yioryitsa’s Backyard also plays host to our group breakfasts every morning, plus hosts many other unique activities.

KARDAMYLI