The best seafood restaurants Crete

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

A family-run taverna with a great reputation, located in the port of Plaka. It serves excellent fresh fish all year round, and you'll meet plenty of locals, which is always a sign of quality and authenticity. It's the ideal place to enjoy a Greek-style lobster worthy of the name! Excellent fried anchovies and grilled calamari seasoned with olive oil and oregano, fresh salads and more. As always with fresh fish, ask for the price per kilo before ordering, as the bill quickly rises.

Located in a beautiful stone house, the restaurant enjoys a magnificent view of the sea and the mountains. Run by Dimitri and Kostas, it is warm and offers an à la carte selection of fresh fish and seafood. A home-made cuisine prepared on a daily basis with local products that will delight those who come in search of the authenticity of Cretan, Greek and Mediterranean flavours. To taste:apaki (smoked Cretan sausage marinated in vinegar), saffron risotto, pasta with shrimps and mussels, lamb with rosemary and feta..

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.

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.

In front of St. George's church, you can spot this charming tavern: a subdued atmosphere in an old house with a very nice shaded garden and an interior space decorated with care. Bougainvilleas, palm trees and a lot of flower pots make the evenings even more summery. You come here to eat fresh fish (more expensive per kilo) which is spread out on the pretty little caique in front of the entrance. Several dishes inspired by Greek-Cretan cuisine are also offered, as well as various dishes and salads. Perfect for a romantic dinner.

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.

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.

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.

Opened in 1965, it was the first restaurant in this place called also «fisherman's square». This was the meeting of the fishermen who were feeding fresh fish daily. At the corner of the port, recognizable with its terrace, you can easily find this family restaurant. Taste seafood specialties and fresh fish. Be careful, as always with fresh fish in Greece: check the price per kilo so you don't have a bad surprise at the time of the addition that can rise very fast.

The Kalidon restaurant is located by the sea, near the small port of Elounda. On a floating platform you can taste traditional Greek dishes as well as international cuisine arranged to local taste. A wide variety of fresh fish is always on the daily menu. The reception is really friendly, in addition to the originality of the restaurant on the water. On the other hand, for typical dishes, you pay a little more than elsewhere.

It's a beach restaurant - the one at the far end on the right as you enter Bali. Here you can eat simple but good Cretan food, lulled by the sound of the waves. The grilled meat mix for two is recommended... but there are also homemade dishes, fresh fish and a varied menu. The dishes are carefully prepared and the food is hearty, which is not always usual in this kind of establishment. The setting is friendly and pleasant, as is the staff. Complimentary deckchairs and parasols. We'll come back to this with pleasure!