The best restaurants Zakros

If you like hiking, your steps will take you to Adravastoi, a tiny village near Palaikastro, in the Zakros region. Here you can sample Cretan cuisine in a friendly, family-run tavern: stuffed zucchini flowers and vine leaves, grilled meats, veal and lamb stews, wood-fired lamb. The owner, Mr. Yannis, is friendly and welcoming. At weekends, in high season, it's a good idea to book or call ahead to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Napoleon is the restaurant not to be missed in Zakros and the oldest in the city. The owner offers traditional Cretan dishes on a daily basis, with a preference for lamb or rabbit stew. The grills are juicy (opt for lamb chops), the meat is always of excellent quality. Everything is prepared with local products from the village orchards and vegetable gardens. To vary, he also prepares good pizzas but it is better to stick to the dishes of traditional cuisine.

Akrogiali is the oldest tavern in the Kato Zakros region. Founded in 1898, it was taken over in 1991 by Nikos and his wife Tania. Since then they have been offering Cretan meals based on local products (meat, cheese, vegetables) and good fish and shellfish. At 5 meters from the beach, almost with your feet in the water, you will taste at the Akrogiali (which means "at the end of the sea") good dishes carefully prepared. The owner, Nikos, speaks French. He also owns the Athena and Coral residences where you can stay.

Family tavern owned by Nikos Platanakis. Traditional cuisine is prepared here, using melting vegetables from the garden. The owner, will make you taste the best homemade paximadi of the region. The son, who is very charming and speaks excellent French, will perhaps show you around the kitchens so that the women who officiate there will lift the lids of all the pots of the day: green beans in tomato sauce, lamb or rabbit stew....