The best restaurants Hania Region

In this modern and bright fish tavern, taste excellent seafood from the market. The menu changes every day, depending on the catch of the day, of course: a guarantee of freshness. The fish are very well prepared and, accompanied by a glass of homemade white wine, what more could you ask for? Also on the menu are some traditional meat recipes. Very pleasant atmosphere and attentive service. Very good value for money for this address in Splanzia, appreciated by the Haniotes.

Bohemia is located in a beautiful shady courtyard, in a quiet area. The restaurant offers unpretentious but refined cuisine prepared with good quality products. The food is very good and the atmosphere becomes languid on hot summer afternoons. We would like to stay for hours in this beautiful setting, and this is what we recommend you to do since this restaurant also serves as a café during the day and a bar in the evening. A good excuse to stay there more than reasonable. Once night falls, a little music accompanies this good time

Grigoris and his son Yiannis have been boasting since 1980 that they have the best fish in the region. It must be said that they belong to a family of fishermen who like to cook different Cretan specialties in addition to the "king fish", always fresh. On the menu there is a wide variety of traditional dishes. The restaurant is located in the middle of the Paleo promenade and offers a direct view of the Libyan sea. You can sit back and watch the waves while enjoying the seafood. Check the menu for the price per kilo of fresh fish.

This restaurant was founded around twenty years ago by Stelios and Katina, with the ambition of bringing the finest local produce and recipes of traditional Cretan cuisine to your plate. In a peaceful, quiet and remarkably clean setting in the shady courtyard, you can enjoy dishes prepared daily (including ragouts), grilled or fried fish and vegetables. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes and hearty portions. Consult the wine list. A good address.

In the Halepa district, Tabakaria's seaside is home to the city's former tanneries. It is a particularly picturesque area that is really worth a visit. This very good fish restaurant has taken over part of the area and spreads its tables almost with its feet in the water. We are like out of time, especially when the sun sets in this unique setting. Beyond this decor, the fish is fresh and deliciously cooked. This very popular address of Haniotes fills up quickly in season: we recommend you to book

This establishment, open only during the day, has been unanimously acclaimed by locals and tourists alike for several years. And for good reason, it offers home-cooked dishes, both traditional and refined. Not very fat and very digestible, they give the beautiful part to spices and delicate flavours. The owners are young and have chosen a resolutely modern, even trendy decor. Fast and very professional service. You choose what you want to eat by lifting the lids of the smoking pots, just like in the old days!

It is one of the oldest taverns in Crete, housed in an old Venetian mill dating back to the 14th century, which can still be admired today in the courtyard of the establishment, which is green and shaded by century-old trees for the most part. This popular restaurant offers excellent traditional and Mediterranean cuisine. All the dishes are prepared with local products and olive oil. Several of the wines on offer come from Cretan vineyards. Reservations are recommended in high season.

In front of the small beach of Kom Kapi, east of the old town, Estrella is a pleasant café-restaurant where the trendy young families of Hania meet for brunch on weekends. They love its freshly squeezed juices, its vegan or vegetarian options, its street food from all over the world and its modern decor. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere: you take your time with friends to drink coffee or have lunch. Here you will find contemporary Hania, with young people living in the city year round, far from the tourist city.

This is an address that really deserves a detour as the dishes (all homemade from day to day) are so tasty! The waitress will be happy to explain you the specialities of the day. Among them: local sausages, rabbit stew, stuffed zucchini flowers with a creamy yoghurt, salads... Even the setting is appreciable: the terrace is shaded by a majestic tree, drowned in the song of the crickets... You can also opt for the room inside the establishment and its guns on the walls.

A beautiful restaurant, in a courtyard that offers a pleasant setting for a quiet meal - a little away from the tourist crowds around. You can eat all the Greek and Cretan classics and for a very low price. The service is ideal, both friendly and professional, one could not dream of anything better. Very good wines on the menu too. And a small dessert is offered at the end of the meal, as is often the case in Greece - even if it is not necessarily the case in the most touristic establishments of the center of Hania.

Among the alignment of tourist restaurants on the port, Glossitses is an exception. Of course, it is frequented by tourists like any restaurant on the port, but the locals also recommend it, which of course is a sign that does not deceive! On the warehouse side, this fish tavern cultivates a modern approach and less traditional than its competitors. A good address to watch passers-by, while being watched, reveling in fresh fish (check the prices per kilo, as always!)

In Splanzia, the old Turkish district of Hania, here is a singular place that will surprise you both for the quality and originality of the cuisine offered, but also by the architecture of the place. The interior is that of an old Turkish house with a well, hence the name of this establishment. The cuisine that is concocted there, always successful, combines the warm flavours of Turkey, the Maghreb and Greece. You can also eat on the terrace in the freshness of this intimate and authentic neighbourhood.

At the foot of the hotel of the same name, the Porto Veneziano restaurant is a promising new address in town. First of all for its unique location, on the edge of the quay and with a view of the entire port of Hania. Then by the service, sincerely friendly and attentive. And finally by the dishes which, if they are for the most part in the great classics of hotel catering, allow themselves some tasty escapes towards local specialties. A fusion cuisine without excess.

We come here a little by chance, when we try to avoid the rabble-rousers and the touristic affluence of the old town. In the bend of a quiet little street at the top of the city, this restaurant has set up its tables, in the cool. The cuisine is inspired by old grandmother's recipes, Cretan above all. One is welcomed with ouzo and at the end of the meal a cake is offered, often accompanied by a raki. The family owns vineyards and offers a wine of their own production. The atmosphere is friendly and family oriented.

This tavern installed in the former village school offers a very pleasant setting with its terrace shaded by numerous trees, including a large olive tree. In addition, there is a beautiful view, beyond the Anidri Gorge, towards the Libyan Sea. Traditional drinks and food, authentic flavours. Among the dishes: kreatopitta (meat pie with goat's and sheep's cheese, a succulent regional speciality), rabbit with lemon sauce, stuffed zucchini flowers... A good address.

A high-flying, generous and gourmet cuisine, intelligently revisiting Cretan and international classics. The menu is adaptable, but you will find there some fans that we can only warmly recommend: tarama revisited with avocado, deconstructed pasticio with truffle, guinea fowl with orange and tarragon sauce or sea bass in paupiette. Everything, absolutely everything, is excellent. No wonder if we look at the personality of the owner of the place, a meticulous and passionate epicurean.

It is a kitchen that blends Hania's gastronomic influences throughout its history. Thus, you will taste Turkish, Jewish, Smyrnate, Cretan or Arabic specialities. Everything mixes and comes together to create a typically Haniote and therefore cosmopolitan gastronomy. Opt for the few tables on the terrace to take the coolness in the evening but during the hot days, prefer the room below, installed in the old baths of the district and quite fresh. The small room in the bar opposite offers a more contemporary atmosphere

At this address, the delicious and traditional puff pastries filled with fromage frais, sprinkled or not with sugar are a reference. Since 1924, Iordanis has been revamped. No more formica tables, the room is now ultramodern and very comfortable with its bay window overlooking the street. The recipe for the classic bougatsa is always the same, mixing the crispness of the dough and the melting of the cheese, the salty and the sweet. Unless you prefer the cream version. Their reputation has been established for two or three generations!

Located in the heart of Hania's historic center, this tastefully decorated all-day café/bistro, distinguished by its white tablecloths and courteous staff, offers a varied range of dishes for an excellent breakfast or brunch, lunch or dinner for couples or friends in search of tranquility, good taste and good food. The establishment also offers relaxing moments to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail. The pastries on offer (strawberry tart with a scoop of ice cream, among others) are also very good.

This establishment on Akti Tombazi, next to the former Grand Arsenal, is easily spotted by its wooden tables, spread out along the flagstone path that runs alongside the sea to the Koum Kapi district. With its motto "the history of a place is learned around a table", Chalkina offers traditional Cretan cuisine (meat pie, snails, chevron with lemon sauce, coq au vin, etc.). The restaurant is also renowned for the variety of meats on offer: organic black pork, black angus, dry-aged beef.

An excellent address, isolated and quiet, located on the old port of Kissamos. The small terrace is right on the waterfront with its moored fishing boats. The fish is extra fresh and the squid or stuffed cuttlefish are to die for! The Greek salad is fresh and well-stocked. The service is family oriented, with the grandmother at the stove and the daughter in the dining room, while the granddaughter plays with the children passing by and the many cats, attracted by the smell. A nice and pleasant interlude.

This establishment is a waterfront tavern, located in the district of Nea Chora. It is a quiet place to enjoy the sunset in the early evening, while drinking a good glass of raki or ouzo, to be accompanied by one or two orders of seafood or fish. You can also enjoy some other Greek or Cretan specialties, a few of which are exclusively vegetarian and made with very fresh and tasty vegetables. For example, their bougasta is a real delight! The service is pleasant.

The best fish restaurant in the village at moderate prices and with a view. On a large and very pleasant terrace right on the waterfront, you can choose fish and local specialities in the window. Everything is very good, the dishes are generous, the service is a little slow but really friendly, the French speaking waiter takes the time to detail each dish. This allows you to contemplate the boats and the crystal clear turquoise water while having a very good time. In addition to fish, seafood and a variety of other dishes are served.

Our gastronomic favourite! Georgia starts by sitting down at your table to explain to you, in colourful French, the dishes of the day that have just come out of the oven. As you listen to her speak, you will quickly understand the care and love she brings to her kitchen. The dishes are tasty, well dosed and accompanied by seasonal vegetables. Snails with herbs, stuffed zucchini flowers, or the very tender lamb (raised by the owner) accompanied by her ratatouille, are to die for. A delight from beginning to end, as the cosmopolitan guestbook testifies...

This small tavern is located in the heart of the city, where all the products are fresh and high quality. Take a look at the small olives offered at the aperitif, order the eyes closed the mixed salad, taste the homemade French fries or the excellent pilaf and courgettes flowers (Cretan speciality). Very reasonable prices and live music almost every night.

There is a succulent tavern inland in the village of Vafes, which can be reached via tiny winding country roads. But it's worth the effort! Here time stands still and you feel like you're deep in Crete. You will eat in the quiet stone courtyard of a recently restored old monastery. On the menu: fresh mushrooms from the region, antikristo (pieces of lamb cooked slowly around an ember), tzatziki prepared with local yoghurt, etc. Local wine in a pitcher and raki to drink in moderation!

Theodosi is a modern restaurant on the ground floor of Hôtel Alexis. An escape Ideal for one evening away from the tourist sites from mass. Greek and Cretan creative cuisine served à la carte, we strongly recommend the chicken fillet with smoked pork and pork chops with honey and thyme. The owners had a restaurant in Vancouver, Canada for years, giving an original mix to the already carefully prepared dishes. Fresh fish on the menu and magnificent sea views as well as on the city of Hania.

Overlooking the small fishing port of Nea Chora, Portes is a very good address for those who want to taste a cuisine made from fresh products, in a pleasant setting. Far from the hustle and bustle of the historical center, you can rediscover the classics of Greek cuisine, prepared with care and with quality above all. The service is pleasant and warm, and the sunsets add to the attraction of the place. Do not hesitate, this is an address that is very popular with the residents of the neighborhood, both locals and regular tourists

The must-see Rousios farm is located high up on the Sfakia plateau at the entrance to Samaria. This is where all the ingredients served in his tavern come from, including thyme honey. Some of these products are available for purchase. This is a typical Cretan speciality tavern with a large, shaded terrace, a rustic decor and a very relaxed atmosphere. Olive-wood-fired grills, traditional dishes, fish... You'll be spoilt for choice. Wifi free of charge. Rousios also offers rooms for rent.

Located just outside Hania, in the small village of Agios Ioannis, this iconic café has been unearthed by connoisseurs of authentic Cretan cuisine. The establishment is famous for its stews, lamb chops with herbs and lemon (succulent), and various traditional vegetable dishes (stuffed tomatoes and peppers, among others). The fried potatoes are homemade... In short, all the secrets of Stella^Mpolanaki, the soul of the establishment and cook, on your plate. We'd love to go back.

A rather chic and modern Italian restaurant offering refined cuisine. Fine wine list.

Small family tavern held by an expert in Cretan cuisine in a small courtyard planted with trees. She's on the edge of the road, but it's more quiet than on the harbor. For a quiet evening.

This is the restaurant of the Caravella Hotel. It is a fish and mezze restaurant, which overlooks the sea from its blue and white front. Two brothers are the owners of the place and they are the ones who fish with their boat off Paleohora, a family tradition (as shown by the family photos in the back room). You can choose your own fish in the kitchen among other dishes, including vegetarian ones. Ask for the price per kilo in order to avoid a bad surprise at the time of the bill: fresh fish is always more expensive!

Stop above all for its situation below the main street, on the edge of the water, under plane planes. Average prices for an exceptional but correct food quality in a restful setting.

Not necessarily refined, that's why you're advised to go for a quick snack, share mezzedes for example, or take a gyros. It is especially the setting that is very pleasant, even if in a pedestrian street. The shady terrace allows you to enjoy a pleasant break. Service and proper atmosphere. A little tourist machine but the courtyard and tables on the street offer a profitable framework.

In the shade of centuries-old plane trees, this tavern in the village of Spilia offers typical Cretan cuisine, succulent, prepared with quality ingredients. Sometimes crowded during big celebrations or weddings, it will be an opportunity to get in touch with local life. Among the dishes to be tasted: baked aubergines, au gratin, with tomato sauce and cheese, grilled lamb chops, chips (homemade), pork in wine, fried zucchini, meatballs, baked lamb, etc. A very good address!

Stachi is a family tavern where the Cretan diet of the past is followed, when meat was scarce on the table. Most of the raw materials come from the organic vegetable garden of Stelios Michelakis, the owner, and he makes the bread every day with his own yeast. A no-frills establishment, but already well known for the quality of its dishes: mushroom stew, stuffed zucchini flowers, home-made yoghurt, herbal turnovers... The menu varies according to the season. Very good value for money. Vegans. Vegetarians.

For over 50 years, this restaurant has been a favorite for the quality of its fish and shellfish dishes. By the sea, you can take your time over an aperitif or a meal accompanied by a fine house wine. When the season is right, opt for sea urchin roe salad! Marinated anchovies, lobster, squid and wood-grilled fish are a delight. Enjoy the marvellous sunsets as you savour the riches of the crystal-clear Cretan sea.

This tavern is well located, a little out of town, a few meters from the sea, on the peninsula to the east. You can't miss it: a small caique is in front of the entrance of the establishment! It serves traditional Greek and Cretan cuisine and fresh fish (depending on the arrival). The dishes are prepared on a daily basis. Among the specialties: kleftiko (lamb with vegetables and cheese in the oven), octopus with wine, cheese fritters, grilled lobster, sardines... You can digest on the small beach in front of the restaurant.

This tavern is located within the walls of a 16th century ruin, under cool and welcoming trees. The collapsed roof of the Venezia Loggia has never been rebuilt and people now eat outdoors. During the day, the restaurant is a pleasant break in the shade of the trees, while in the evening you come to listen to live traditional music and enjoy good food accompanied by a Cretan beer or a glass of homemade wine. An establishment and a good-natured atmosphere, for a pleasant culinary moment in Hania.

Kertos is a fish and seafood specialty restaurant. On the promenade of Nea Chora, quietly, facing the sea, you can enjoy lunch and dinner, especially for seafood. Polite servers, good atmosphere, reasonable price: no reason not to go! In July and August you will need to think about booking because it is rare to find space, especially when you are in small group.

Take the small road in front of the church on Armeni square and you will arrive at this tavern located in an enchanting site. On hot summer days you can enjoy the shade of the ancient plane trees and the coolness of the surrounding streams. Here everything is about quality: the products are local and organically grown. Everything is fresh, home-made and delicious. You take your time, around a good meal or a coffee and contemplate the passing of time. To note: live music programmed some evenings.

On a terrace shaded by a tamarind overlooking the sunrise and with sea view. Ideal for breakfast or snack. Also sells olive oil from Gavdos.

The Amphora restaurant has been in the harbour for about years, and it is the only one here that does not need rabatteurs. Its main quality in addition to the direct view of the port is the dishes cooked according to the ancient Cretan tradition. There's also fresh fish in everyday life, but today we've decided to taste the lemon stamnagathi lamb. The stamnagathi is a wild plant that grows on the rocks near the sea, only in Crete. It's a little dish available in the menus of other restaurants. In the plate, it looks like spinach, but the taste is different. Their famous recipe for fish soup is still kept secret; We only know that it's a broth of different fish that kaminraum with celery, olive oil and lemon. Dessert is available to all clients: it is a small glass of Greek yogurt teeming with candied grapes. A real treat and servers have lots of stories to share. Please note that there are a dozen nice rooms to rent in the hotel of the same name, just above the restaurant (see heading accommodation).

A nice restaurant held by a mixed couple (Greek and German) who also owns the Blue Sky rental agency (cars and mountain bikes). They also offer a few rooms for rent.

An ideally placed tavern, almost with your feet in the water, where you can enjoy the refreshing sea breeze under the pleasant shady terrace. The owner will propose you a whole list of Cretan specialities according to the season: rabbit with small onions, grilled lamb, meat turnovers, spaghetti with shrimps and seafood, stuffed tomatoes... It also offers fresh fish and shellfish (lobster, crayfish, etc.), depending on the arrival. It also rents out double rooms at low prices. Playground for children.

This tavern serves traditional meat dishes, dishes in the oven or oven, and beautiful grills. All kinds of salads and horta. During lent, the boss serves dishes adapted to those who respect fasting.

This restaurant offers a very large selection of Cretan, Mediterranean and international specialities at truly affordable prices: cooked dishes, grills, seafood, fish, salads etc. All products are fresh and portions are well served. Note that the staff is friendly. French menu. Ideal for small budgets.

Here is a chic and stylish address on the port of Hania, for a break between friends or, more romantic, two. The tables are elegantly prepared and the view overlooks the fortress opposite. The dishes are simple but carefully presented and prepared. Glass of wine is a good surprise.

This classic tavern, located on the beach in the village of Kolymbari near the port, offers very good fish with sea view. The various fried platters of small fish (anchovies) and shellfish and seafood (mussels, prawns, octopus, squid) or various grilled meats are a very good choice for a meal for two. Very good salads too, freshly cut and generously portioned. Several dishes and dishes based on the traditional Cretan cuisine, very successful. Good address.