Mediterranean cuisine restaurants Crete

The Fifty is the new name of 50/50, an establishment that for more than 12 years welcomed its clientele on 1860 Street. It is an allday café-restaurant that attracts the young people of the city. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. If you don't feel like eating, just have a coffee, a glass of ouzo or raki, it will leave you with a pleasant memory. Otherwise, late at night, especially on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, there is a DJ atmosphere or live Cretan and traditional music.

An establishment that's got people talking. This tiny tavern on the corner behind the Bogatsi doesn't have a view of the port - but we're quick to forgive it. We love its little blue-and-white terrace, where it's good to sit down for an aperitif, a coffee or a homemade sorbet. Dimitris trained as a chef in Switzerland before settling in Mochlos, and his French wife is in charge of cocktails and reception. Impeccable, tasty and surprising cuisine, at reasonable prices. Hospitality, culinary discovery and an authentic atmosphere.

Located in the green village of Myrthios, the tavern offers from the terrace a beautiful and panoramic view of the bay of Plakias. Mirios offers Mediterranean cuisine and specialties inspired by traditional Cretan recipes. The dishes offered are prepared with generosity and raw materials of undeniable quality. Among others, the melting lamb and pork roast, the kleftiko with raw milk from Hania, the giant dried beans with tomato sauce and feta cheese are to be enjoyed. Friendly service.

Rotisserie specializing in the famous meat-filled pita (chicken or pork skewers or gyros) with a large and pleasant multicolored terrace at the Karnagio Bar, located right across the street. The establishment is very popular with young Greeks especially in the late evening. Excellent location in front of the lake. There are also nice portions of fresh fish from Elounda, seafood, various mezzes with a background of traditional Cretan music. Here too, one is indeed inspired by the philosophy of the island. Relaxed atmosphere.

In the small enclosed courtyard, covered with vines, they serve Italian meat specialties such as scalopine, pasta, fresh grilled fish daily, delicious pizzas baked in the traditional oven and several tempting formulas (lunch or dinner). There is also a cozy room with a muffled decor, white tablecloths and an equally careful service. Ideal for a romantic gourmet dinner. The service is meticulous and the wine cellar refined. Ask for advice from Mr. André who comes from Naples and speaks French fluently.

It is a small tavern, the only one near the beautiful beach of Potamos, some 10 meters before the archaeological site. It serves good Greek-style cuisine. It's crowded in July and August, so if you manage to get a bite to eat, be careful with the bill as a mistake could happen. Indeed, many tourists who come to admire the archaeological site are aware of the interest of the place and come to eat there in season. Out of season, the place is a joy of calm and good and frank gastronomy.

Mouragio is a family-run fish tavern, located on the beach of Agia Pelagia. The mother of the family is in the kitchen while the men, Vassilis and Nikos, run the service with great efficiency. The seafood and fish are prepared to perfection, just seared and drizzled with olive oil. Typical Greek dishes and mezzedes are also on the menu, we recommend the pork or chicken gyros. Ideal for a meal or a drink, at any time, between two dives in the turquoise water. A good address.

This family tavern is easily recognizable because it is the only one to carry the colors of Greece with the national flag on the sign. It is located in the middle of the beautiful beach of Agia Pelagia, by the sea. The portions are well served there and with a big smile, the atmosphere is friendly and the food good, which is why customers come back again and again. A la carte, among others, seafood rice, snails in Cretan style, fisherman's salad, various soups, lamb kleftiko, grilled lamb chops, grilled sea bream...

Close to the port, in this tavern whose owner is a fisherman, you can have fresh fish but also other traditional dishes at any time. If you prefer simmered dishes, opt for giouvetsi, (meat cooked slowly in the oven with Greek pasta that looks like rice) or the delicious stuffed vine leaves . White wine, from the monastery of Toplou and served chilled, is recommended. Every evening, the speciality offered is the mechoui: melting! Friendly and efficient service. Very good value for money.

A restaurant whose menu is signed by the famous chef Yannis Baxevanis. Gastronomic, with its terrace on the waterfront, it is the most chic address in the city, but also the one that offers the most refined cuisine. Fish and seafood are put in the spotlight. Traditional cuisine too: try fried courgettes, lamb with herbs, chickpeas... A particularly recommended address. Hospitable welcome, affordable prices, romantic atmosphere. It's all there! The establishment hosted the filming of the series Who pays the Ferryman?

This is the restaurant of Maria Beach Hotel, located by the beach. On the shaded terrace, overlooking the sandy beach and overlooking the sea, you can enjoy dishes based on seafood and fresh fish. The restaurant also offers traditional Mediterranean specialities and tasty grills. Home-made cakes. Varied wine list. Also offers daily dishes to be enjoyed for lunch and dinner on the beach, lulled by the waves. It is advisable to book in high season.

Just a few kilometers from the center of Agios Nikolaos, here's a family-run taverna, popular for the quality of its grilled meats and traditional Cretan dishes. All raw materials are of the highest quality: the owners take great care of their loyal clientele. Excellent dishes include kebabs, lamb chops and wood-grilled kebabs. The homemade raki is also of excellent quality. Impeccable, attentive and efficient service. We'd love to go back.

As soon as you enter the village of Krousta, you pass under an arch of mulberry trees before reaching the square. There, we discover the Xatheri, an unmissable tavern whose name, well deserved, means "excellent quality". The dishes are succulent according to the Cretan culinary tradition, prepared with local raw materials and quality. Among them, we recommend lasagna with fresh local cheese, goat stew, lamb stir-fry, pilaf, grilled lamb chops. Wine list. Home made ice cream. We will gladly return!

In an exceptional setting, on a terrace of the old port of the city of Hania, on the edge of the Venetian walls, with a full view of the sea, this restaurant-wine bar offers moments of relaxation during a meal or an aperitif-dinner. Stylish, respecting the rules of hospitality and good Mediterranean cuisine, the establishment has become a reference for lovers of quality Cretan wines and the dishes that accompany them. Among them, the mixed salads, remarkably fresh and tasty. A good address.

Not easy to find but the place is worth it! Good reputation for several years, it is an authentic family business and far from the crowd: mom is in the kitchen, son in the dining room and everyone in a courtyard in the shade of a superb fig tree. The specialities are Cretan and international but the whole reputation of the house is made around the lamb and pork baked with tomato, feta and mushrooms, sprinkled with white wine sauce. In the evening it is a friendly atmosphere with soft light and soft music.

Cretan, Greek and international cuisine creatively executed by a chef trained in France. In an ideal setting right by the water, on the beach, you can enjoy tasty and refined dishes. With an extremely warm and sincere welcome, the restaurant offers a varied and original menu. It is modern, high quality cuisine prepared with the best local products. Constantina Voulgaris Kontesopoulou who officiates in the kitchen has received the best culinary awards in the country. The set is very affordable for the quality offered.

Since 1982, they have been serving excellent assortments of Cretan mezzedes . This is the great specialty of the house in addition to the fresh fish served all day long in front of the sea. Meat, Cretan and Greek specialities, grilled lamb skewers, snails... are also offered. Special mention for the pork accompanied by grilled mushrooms and Graviera cheese. All topped with a butter and parsley sauce (the portion is very well served to the point of delighting two people). Ideal for contemplating the boats on the large air-conditioned terrace.

With panoramic views over Souda Bay, the Vamos village valley and the White Mountains, the Aétopholia tavern (eagles' nest) offers authentic Cretan mountain dishes: lamb in wine (Sfakia recipe), rabbit stew, pork fricassee or, especially on Sundays, baked piglet. The grills are exquisite, and the food and salads are of the highest quality. Don't leave before you try the meatballs! The bread is sourdough and baked over a wood fire. A very good address.

This spacious, warm and welcoming stone tavern offers delicious dishes at incredible prices: grilled meats, salads, stuffed vine leaves, smoked pork and Cretan puff pastries as well as some dishes simmered according to the recipes that the Greek refugees from Asia Minor brought back in their luggage are among the most original culinary options. Just 4 km from the center of Rethymnon, you can sit comfortably on the shady terrace or inside and have a good time. Ideal for families.

You'll recognize this tiny tavern by all the colorful umbrellas hanging on the awning that protects you from the sun! Take a seat on the pedestrian street and enjoy the succulent, home-made dishes, prepared day by day with great generosity. The stuffed vine leaves are a delight. Stews, casseroles, soups, stewed dishes, yoghurt with candied fruits, offered at the end of the meal, bring the authentic Cretan flavors to your plate. Don't leave without a jar of home-made jam!

In the heart of the historic Platzia, this chic bistro offers a simple and refined menu in an elegant yet casual setting. The chef revisits the great classics of international and Mediterranean cuisine and has already won over locals and those in search of authentic, gourmet cuisine. Ideal for those who love great wines and delicate dishes. Alternatively, you can sit peacefully under the ancient plane tree and enjoy your coffee or cocktail. The establishment offers brunches, snacks and various desserts.

Very nice, this small family tavern with traditional decor in pastel green tones is installed on the port. The simple but quality dishes are well served. Daily fresh fish on display in the window: sea bream, sea bass and lobster are all delicious. Special mention: the mezze platter for 2 people to fall on the floor! Taste, among others, the kleftiko (lamb melting in the oven), grilled cuttlefish, grilled swordfish, tomatoes and peppers stuffed with rice... Very good value for money and a warm welcome.

In a more refined and modern setting than the taverns found in places overrun by tourists, you will taste tasty dishes for reasonable prices. On the terrace by the water, the smiling and multilingual staff will be on hand to offer the best service and the best fish. Among the dishes: spaghetti with prawns and seafood, zucchini fritters, grilled meats, etc. Home-made pastries. Sign of quality: the locals prefer to wait for a table and wait in line rather than go elsewhere.

True to its reputation and with over 50 years of history, this ouzerie is among the best in town, according to the locals who flock to it. Close to the port, it's behind the pedestrian street in a hidden alley in the old town, opposite the tiny chapel of Saint Dimitriou. The mezzedes reinforce its reputation, but the rest is very good too. The kitchen uses mainly organic olive oil from the Toplou monastery. The menu varies according to the season. Ask the waiter for the daily special and the price per kilo of fresh fish.

Famous tavern since 1986. The tables carefully set up in the shaded and flowered patio are of the most beautiful effect. What awaits you on the plates is also very appealing; refined Cretan specialties, grilled or stewed local mountain meats, veal fillet carpaccio, snails or even sea bass fillet. Our favorite is the Chateaubriand for 2! Very well located on one of the arteries of the old city between the old port and the fortress. Excellent address where the locals come to eat meat.

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.

A rather trendy restaurant that offers, on the kitchen side, quality dishes with generous portions. Cretan and Greek specialities cooked over a wood fire are carefully prepared in accordance with the old tradition. Fresh fish, pasta, rice, mushrooms and grilled vegetables, fava, various salads, meat... In Cretan dialect, parastia refers to the kitchen area where food is cooked in the most ancient way: with two stones on each side of a wood fire, resulting in a very rustic and warm decoration for this restaurant which is well worth a stop.

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.

Located a stone's throw from Place Saint-Tite, this all-day bar is a warm and welcoming place. Seasonal vegetables, salads, meats and pastas - directly inspired by Mediterranean cuisine - dominate the menu. You can have lunch, dinner, drinks and a chat... It's a modern and elegant place where you'll come back again and again, because it's so good to eat light creative dishes to the sound of modern music. It's also a nice bar where you can easily chat with locals and travellers until late at night.

A fun atmosphere with waiters and waitresses in antique Greek garb, but that's not why everyone gathers here. On the table, white tablecloths, candles and crystal glasses to enjoy original dishes, all washed down with a local white wine. This is undoubtedly the best restaurant in the area. Since 1987, the family-run Galini restaurant has been serving creative Cretan cuisine, inspired by French and Italian cuisine and prepared with organic ingredients. Panoramic view of Hersonissos harbor from the terrace.

With a full view of the bay of Mochlos, only a few kilometers from the beach, this tavern is well worth a visit. It is a family tavern, tastefully decorated in a dark yellow ochre tone, where the owners and staff are calm and friendly. Sit on the beautiful, shady terrace and enjoy the authentic, home-made Cretan cuisine. The quality of the raw materials and the know-how of the managers are the guarantee of a succulent meal with Cretan and Mediterranean flavors.

An excellent address to taste the inventive Cretan cuisine from the beginning of May to the end of October. Ideal for a romantic dinner on the roof terrace overlooking the old port and the Venetian ramparts. The chef, a native of Crete, uses only fresh produce from the island and herbs that grow on the hotel roof (hence the name of the restaurant). The panoramic view and the professional service of the staff are appreciated. The menu changes regularly. Remember to make reservations, especially for dinner in season.

In a relaxing atmosphere, this all-day café-restaurant is the ideal place to meet up with friends or to spend pleasant moments, far from the crowded tourist circuits and the noise of the city. The brunch, composed of home-made bread, is a reference, the dishes are succulent. Among the specialities are pasta with carrots with mushrooms and pieces of chicken fried in white truffle oil, with fresh thyme and a bit of garlic, all served with grated local cheese. The prices are unbeatable and the staff is very friendly.

Set back from the tourist flow, O Tembelis (the lazy one) is a must when visiting Heraklion. It's a café/mezzedopoleio where you can enjoy a variety of tasty dishes prepared daily to accompany the excellent fresh raki... Take a seat on the chairs that cover a good part of the esplanade in front of the establishment and let yourself be carried away by the friendly atmosphere. Dishes include homemade sausages, stews, mushrooms... To round off the meal: doughnuts with a scoop of ice cream.

This pretty tavern is nestled in a quiet location in the old village of Malia. This restaurant of traditional Greek cuisine and mezzedes distils a cosy atmosphere in a beautiful handcrafted setting. An address a little apart in Malia, to be preferred in high season to try to avoid the crowds and the mediocre taverns of the tourist centre. We like the warm and quiet atmosphere, the successful and unpretentious but tasty cuisine. A good address, tastefully decorated and pleasant, with all the basics of a good Greek meal.

Olga was the first name of the deceased grandmother who, in 1977, left it to her son Stathis to carry on here (in this museum) the Cretan culinary traditions that she had successfully served in her best years. At present, her son and his daughter work in the dining room, with a smile on their faces, while mummy works in the kitchen for our happiness. The dishes are prepared with great care and with raw materials of impeccable quality. Moreover, the view is simply splendid from the shaded terrace with local fragrances.

Since 1924, this café has been synonymous with Heraklion's history. In its early days, the establishment, which measures no more than 15^m2, served coffee to market traders. Over the years, raki and ouzo, accompanied by a few delicacies, brought together a clientele who flocked to the small tables to catch up on old times. Today, three young chefs are carrying on the tradition with succulent dishes. Don't leave before you've tried the zucchini dumplings and goat's cheese stew... You'll be back again and again, jostling for a seat.

Faros Restaurant offers good Cretan cuisine prepared according to traditional recipes and has been serving it for over 30 years. You will also find some international specialties, pizzas, among others. But locals and discerning visitors alike come here especially for lamb, the restaurant's specialty, and fresh fish grilled on charcoal. It's a very affordable, family-run address where you can literally eat with your feet in the water. Ideal for families as there are children's games and the beach is right next door.

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.

Charming little restaurant with a shaded terrace with your feet in the water on the beach of Ammoudi (not far from the city centre). Here reigns a beautiful atmosphere between bar and gastronomic restaurant. An annex of the famous Ble Katsoralakia restaurant where you can enjoy seafood as well as a salad, but also succulent traditional mezzes and some inventive recipes. An excellent address for a very pleasant dinner with friends in a typically Greek atmosphere. The menu is very varied and the prices are reasonable.

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.

Vritomartes is another restaurant of Cretan specialties and fish, right in the heart of the port as it is literally located on the water! Open from March 25 to the end of October, this establishment is also accessible by sea. Coveted by tourists for the calm and the magnificent view it provides, it is advisable to book in high season. You can enjoy Greek and Cretan musical evenings and a quiet and gentle atmosphere. Taste the shells and especially the gyalisterés, a shell found in Greece and Crete.

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.

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.

Traditional Greek cuisine for this family-run restaurant, which is already 25 years old, as we love them at the water's edge. You will enjoy tasty seafood pasta, octopus or squid grilled over a wood fire, fresh fish to choose from in the entrance window (as always with fresh fish, confirm the price per kilo before ordering to avoid salty additions), steamed mussels, grilled lamb chops... Impeccable, quick and polite service. Kostas and his family have been at it for ages.

This family tavern looks like it's straight out of a 1960s movie. It opened in 1953, and since then it has been treating its customers to the same traditional good food. In the shade of the large tamarisk trees, facing the sea, you can enjoy grandmother's cooking: veal simmered in a tomato sauce, roasted goat's cheese with artichokes (in season), rabbit in sauce, snails with rosemary... and a variety of dishes (taste the zucchini flowers stuffed with rice). Nothing but the traditional, cooked of the day. Delicious!

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, located on the waterfront and facing the island of Spinalonga, invites you to taste very fresh fish. The owner of this tavern also owns the Megaro tavern in Elounda. The fish comes from the same nets, thrown by the family boats. Between two courses, you only have to go down a few steps to bathe in the transparent sea. The addition of salt is a bit salty, but it is well worth it because the dishes are really good quality and quite copious.