The best restaurants Heraklion

This beach restaurant offers classic seaside tavern and snack dishes. The manager and waiters are very pleasant. As an added bonus, you can rent deckchairs and umbrellas to spend some time on the beach in front of the restaurant, for a few extra euros. Ideal for a relaxing afternoon, or for a drink in the evening, as the food itself is not particularly worth the detour. But we appreciate the location and the opportunity to grab a bite to eat during a beach day.

Alexis Taverna is a small and unpretentious family tavern, like the ones you can find everywhere in Crete. The food is very simple but tasty, and is also family style. You must try the excellent seafood risotto. There are no big restaurants in the village of Malia anyway, you have to be satisfied with a simple, efficient and inexpensive cuisine - and a restaurant where the service is, as at Alexis, well done. You will certainly return there several times during your stay in Malia.

The Ristorante Italiano sign of this restaurant refers to pizzas baked over an olive wood fire. Apart from that, here is a Cretan address as we like them, offering traditional local cuisine. As for the decoration, it's rustic but whatever, here is the most romantic address on the walk, offering a beautiful view as a bonus. Opt for the famous Cretan snails(Κοchlioi), offered à la carte and which have nothing to do with ours: an opportunity to discover a deliciously prepared Cretan speciality.

A traditional tavern in a rustic village setting. The owner studied in Belgium and speaks very good French. He will make you discover a local and tasty cuisine, as we like it. Alekos cooks everything with his olive oil, as it should be in any self-respecting establishment in Crete! He collects his snails himself under the surrounding mountainous rocks and prepares them with a pinch of garlic. The wine in carafe comes from the Lylarakis estate. A greedy stage not to be missed if you are passing through.

Don't necessarily rely on the slightly classic appearance of this establishment from the street, as there is a beautiful terrace at the back, with a view of the sea during the day. Here you can enjoy a hearty breakfast before going to the beach, which is just behind. Also on the menu is a range of snacks and small pleasant dishes for a short lunch break. The desserts are just as good. A good address, practical at any time of the day. Free wireless internet and 4 large TV screens to watch the games.

Ladokolla is one of the best restaurants in Heraklion. Very popular with locals, it is an address still unknown to tourists. However, it is an excellent choice if you want to enjoy, in the heart of the city, a refined cuisine inspired by traditional cuisine, mainly based on fish, shellfish and seafood. Herb and vegetable sea bream fillet, lobster pasta, steamed mussels are recommended. The service is remarkable. The welcome is a pleasant surprise!

Romanticism guaranteed with a unique sunset in this fish restaurant on the beach. Very good address with a large and beautiful terrace by the sea. Lunch and dinner are served in an idyllic setting. Here we are very far from the Nordic breweries along the main street higher up in a bewildering noise. The establishment also has a cocktail bar. You can relax while admiring the exceptional view.

Renovated in 2019, New York style, the Kouzeineri is the best meat restaurant in Crete. Even if it is mainly aimed at inveterate carnivores, lovers of tender steaks or nostalgic for farmhouse pork cooked slowly over a wood fire, a few dishes, no less successful, can satisfy vegetarians as well. The menu of hot appetizers is very rich: enjoy artichoke pie and baked potatoes with garlic... without skipping the New York cheesecake. Professional and very accommodating staff.

George Mamatzakis was a chef in major hotels (including the Hilton in Athens) before opening his own restaurant here near Agapi Beach. He offers interesting à la carte menus: fresh fish, shellfish, Greek specialities, excellent grilled meats... No particular decor, we come here for its atmosphere, the quality of the raw materials and the chef's know-how. The staff is very attentive and welcoming. Very good value for money.

Traditional restaurant renovated in 2013 which enjoys a beautiful view of the sea and the caves. Fish specialities, cheap and of good quality (be careful, as always for fresh fish, check the price per kilo and choose your fish before ordering, so as not to have any bad surprises when you check out!) Large terrace where live bands play live music from time to time. The place is often full in the evenings, in high season, so we recommend that you book for large tables.

A regulars' tavern specialising in fresh fish since 1984, but also serves delicious dishes prepared by the owner's wife and sister. Scala offers a more refined cuisine than elsewhere (and, rarely, innovative desserts), in a more intimate setting, and offers the highest panoramic terrace in Matala, perched on its small cape and closing the bay to the west. Access to the sea below is via small stairs. Beautiful view and quality dishes of the day. Booking is almost obligatory in high season, but you won't regret it.

A warm welcome awaits you in this authentic tavern where you will taste the dishes of the day proposed by the owner (no menu). You won't be disappointed and the bill will delight all purses! A good address to change from the local trout and taste the famous Cretan snails! And, outside of meals, the tavern turns into a small café-ouzerie where you can meet during the day or in the evening to share a drink or coffee and discuss the day's events. A pleasant stopover if you're passing through the area.

One of the first tavernas you will find at the entrance to the sandy beach on the left, which guarantees you a splendid view of the famous caves by day and night. There is a bar on the panoramic terrace. Taste the local moussaka, cuttlefish risotto or seafood spaghetti. As for the wines, we recommend the house white wine which is very good. Dimitris is the friendly owner who speaks a little French. Relaxed atmosphere. Live music concerts. Fresh fish every day (watch out for the price per kilo!).

From its terrace on the seafront, you can admire the sea and enjoy excellent fish dishes in a decor where the white and blue tones and the furniture are traditionally respected. Attended by a relaxed clientele who love seafood, this restaurant also offers some meat dishes. It is a great place to have lunch between two dives or to enjoy a candlelit dinner. A good address, with a relaxed and warm atmosphere, just the way we like it.

A dream decor at the Pirates of the Caribbean both inside and outside for this multi-colored, atypical restaurant. Here you feel relaxed immediately when you arrive, the view is splendid, we eat on the edge of the relaxing water. Fresh daily fish chosen in the window, but also original dishes. There is a wide selection of Cretan entries, five varieties of soups, various grills, Greek dishes… on the back of reggae music, of course. The atmosphere is so representative of Matala that we cannot miss it.

This is a good place to eat real Greek mezzedes, homemade(mizzithropitaki with cheese or spinach, dolmadakia vine leaves, keftedakia meatballs, hydropitakia with spinach) and various snacks and salads. Olive oil and raki are homemade, as for any self-respecting address, and wines from famous Cretan and Greek estates are available. And all this at low prices! With its shaded terrace, this establishment is a simple and authentic Greek brasserie, just the way we like it.

Here is a simple ouzerie where tourists and Cretans mingle to taste fish, grilled octopus, but also shellfish and seafood. All the dishes, to the rhythm of the ouzo and raki decanters, are of excellent quality! We eat outside copious dishes, unpretentious but succulent. Among the dishes, seafood pilaf and lobster pasta are to be tasted. The occasion is ideal to savour fresh fish. Friendly welcome and quiet service that makes no regrets about the meal. We'll go back with our eyes closed.

Alla & Alla is the kind of place you'd expect to find on vacation: a friendly atmosphere, where you can eat well without breaking the bank! Take a seat on Kaillambi alley, a stone's throw from the Fontaine aux Lions, and enjoy dishes prepared with quality ingredients: the salads are fresh and the small dishes inevitably attract a glass of chilled raki. Opt for the mixed grill dish for a meat-based meal. Bulk wine is of good quality. Efficient service. On the menu, solutions for vegetable lovers too.

On the beach, this is a place not to be missed in Kato Gouves. Both beach-bar and restaurant, people come here for the lounge atmosphere that reigns all day long and that becomes more festive in the evening. At the edge of an almost private beach with comfortable deckchairs, you come for breakfast, a coffee break, lunch at noon... The sunset invites you to a romantic dinner at around 8 pm. It is an elegant place as we like them, offering a light refined cuisine, at quite reasonable prices.

Distinct from the classic taverns in the surrounding area, this restaurant offers modern Cretan cuisine in a chic lounge atmosphere with a view of the blue sea. The restaurant offers quality dishes and the beach bar offers snacks and breakfasts all day long. Contemporary decoration and trendy music on the beach. Very pleasant setting for a cocktail by the sea. Slightly higher prices for this unique place in Agia Pelagia.

One of the best addresses in town. A good family restaurant that is dedicated to welcoming its customers at lunch and dinner, facing the sea. Excellent Cretan cuisine cooked over an olive wood fire, in an elegantly renovated setting. Different dishes of the day, usually organically grown. It is prepared with olive oil... but it is also a restaurant of meat, salads and fish. The traditional Cretan dishes are highlighted, with succulent snails, octopus and pieces of lamb. Very affordable prices. We'll be back, with pleasure.

This wine-restaurant bar has just moved into the premises of the Héracleion tennis club. From the top of the modern and renovated room, you can enjoy the dishes proposed by the chef Mr. Maniadakis with a full view of the tennis court or enjoy a good glass of wine. The tuna fillet is excellent, the sushi is a pleasant surprise as well as the Benedictine eggs served at brunch. A good address that is already making people talk about it thanks to the talent of the chef and the impeccable service.

Very good pizzeria if you want to change a little bit from the Cretan diet, even if there is nothing better for health and taste! Quiet and romantic setting, it doesn't look good but it's always nice to enjoy a good pizza once in a while. The kitchen offers a menu of good quality Italian dishes, copious and inexpensive food. It will be an interesting alternative for large families who want to satisfy the little ones while paying attention to the budget.

Good Greek cuisine worked for over years in a very pleasant setting of the old Malia: a large wooden house that is open in many flowery terraces. Once a week, the island's traditional dancers and musicians are there. Very beautiful traditional decoration.

Translate the name of the restaurant as "cooking with love". In this tiny place of only a few tables, we choose our dishes in a showcase before they are brought to the table. Sofia, the owner, welcomes us in her restaurant as if we were at home. Traditional family cooking, copious and really delicious. If the place is a bit difficult to find, it is well worth the detour. Don't give up and make the small effort to find it.

Treat yourself to a sweet break on the sacrosanct Place Square which overlooks the Morosini fountain to taste local pastries: the bougatsa filled with custard cream or fresh cheese topped with sugar and cinnamon. If there are no more open tables, just sit next to the Kipkop terrace.

You are bound to recognize this restaurant marked by fuchsia pink bougainvillea. It is a very pleasant establishment, in the heart of the village Pitsidia, offering traditional Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine. Under the wall trees, on the terrace, or inside, you can spend convivial moments and taste tasty dishes based on local and seasonal products. Among the dishes: baked lamb, cannelloni, baked sardines. Cretan evening with dance and music is to be expected. A good address.

Apiri is proof that Cretan gastronomy can evolve without losing its authentic character. This restaurant-bar, which opened its doors in 2019, already has a well-deserved reputation that extends beyond the town of Heracleion. Located on the corner of two pedestrian streets near Agia Ekaterini square, Michelin-starred chef St. Lavrenidis offers dishes bursting with flavor and fragrance. These include: spaghetti with shrimp tartar and mustard seeds, cuttlefish with pasta and fried fennel, strawberry pavlova... Extensive wine list. Quality service.

Nikos Zervas and his family will welcome you in this tavern in the name of the famous painter who reigns supreme here. Nikos's cuisine differs from the others by its quality and the unquestionable know-how of the owner. Cretan specialties on the menu but also Greek dishes. The grills are excellent and very juicy. You can also opt for traditional Cretan dishes prepared with care. You can relax on the terrace and in the shade of the old plane trees while tasting one of the dishes. Squeezed oranges are almost obligatory.

A good address, authentic and simple, as we like them, to taste real specialities of the country, grills, dishes and salads. The raw materials are of impeccable quality and all come from small local producers. A wood-fired oven ensures the excellent cooking of the "ofto", pieces of lamb and potatoes simmered in the oven. Succulent grilled meats: grilled lamb chops, pork chops, minced steak... At the end of the meal, yoghurt with candied fruits in a light syrup is offered to the customers.

A walk through the picturesque streets of Pitsidia will lead you to this unexpected oasis that is the Raftis restaurant. In a green garden, perfumed by herbs and flowers, this establishment invites you to enjoy a meal, or a good glass of wine, in a quality setting, with good and remarkable cuisine. Excellent home-made pastries as well. Elaborate wine list. A very good address !

Head towards rue 1821 and 5-10 minutes' walk from the town center, down a quiet side street, you'll discover Heraklion's cult tavern. A meeting place for students and regulars who flock here for the excellent food, the undeniable quality of the raw materials, the bulk wine and the raki. The hearty salads are perfect for sharing. Among the dishes prepared daily, according to the season: pan-fried herb tart, cockerel and meatballs in tomato sauce... We'll be back.

On a soft background of rebetiko, Hagiati is a tavern with undeniable charm that radiates in a previously somewhat dull street. In a decor that takes up the traditional Cretan codes, all in ivy and vine leaves, the atmosphere of the place stands out. Its calm will allow you to rest better than anywhere else after a day visiting the very lively Heraklion, and you will be able to enjoy a tranquility and intimacy without equal. In addition, the dishes (mezzedes and main courses on the menu) are absolutely delicious.

As its name suggests, it is a real meeting place in the central square of the village! Greek specialties (pastitsio, moussaka, stuffed tomatoes) are enjoyed in the shade of the pergola, the meat comes from the farm of Yorgos, the owner. He organizes live Cretan music concerts once a week, enough to discover this other traditional facet of the island, after gastronomy and agricultural products. In the plates, you will find all the classics of a Greek tavern, so no surprise there!

A traditional family tavern that has long been famous for its fish. It also offers a very varied menu of Cretan dishes. Fried anchovies, squid and prawns are recommended. Octopus and lobster pasta are also a good choice. The menu can satisfy vegans and vegetarians. The view is overlooking the sea and there is a beach below for those who wish to sunbathe (sun loungers are free). Breakfast is served. Brunch. And a few alcoholic drinks for later.

Sokaki, in Greek, means "alley" and for good reason, this tavern is located in an alley perpendicular to the beach, 50 meters from the police station. Excellent Cretan specialties, prepared in the respect of family traditions. The simmered dishes are succulent, the portions are copious and the atmosphere is that of a village tavern. Don't miss the pretty shady courtyard. Very reasonable prices. Among the personalities who have frequented this establishment is the former Greek Prime Minister Geórgios Papandreou!

This is an unpretentious traditional family tavern within the hotel of the same name. It is located on the side of the road but you can eat well for cheap. The service is nice, the menu is in French and there is a choice for all tastes, seafood and pizzas among others. The pizzas as well as the meat in foil are cooked in a wood oven. Nothing to say, you have to go there for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner... they serve all day long. In season, choose a table in the small courtyard of the tavern.

On the square of the beautiful church of Agios Titos, a little quiet because it is set back from the very busy street of August 25, the tavern Gero Platanos is a good solution if you feel like eating in the heart of the city, or, simply, if you feel like a coffee break, a cold beer or a glass of raki. Under the old plane trees, mezzedes and traditional Cretan dishes are served for a reasonable price. The shady terrace is a great place to be! It is ideal for children because they can play safely in the square.