The best restaurants Iles grecques

This tavern opened its doors in the first building built in Elounda in 1906. It is a family tavern located in the town square by the sea. The locals proudly recount that Victoria Hislop, author of The Island of the Forgotten, whose plot is set on Spinalonga Island, is said to have sat there. A restaurant of fish, shellfish, fresh seafood and Greek specialties, copiously and generously served. The tavern has a varied wine list of wines from the regions of Crete and Greece.

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.

Established in 1978, Kri Kri is a Greek cuisine restaurant offering excellent grilled meat (especially lamb chops grilled over a wood fire), fresh fish and various mezzedes of excellent quality. From its spacious and well-shaded terrace, with a panoramic view of the picturesque bay of Ormos, you can enjoy, among other things, grilled swordfish served with steamed vegetables and lemon sauce, with 500 ml raspberry and blueberry cider. Ask for advice on local wines. Impeccable service.

Traditional Cretan cuisine from father to son since 1930. Among the most popular dishes, baked lamb with potatoes, gamopilafo (pilaf with lamb: the typical dish served at weddings in Crete). The tavern is also recommended for its grills. In season, every Saturday, from 8 pm, the Cretan evening begins with traditional dances to the rhythm of the lyre and lute. The tavern is a real folklore museum where you can also buy local products to take away. Very good address.

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.

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.

This restaurant serves typical Cretan dishes flavoured with the island's many herbs. The waiters are professional and will advise you very well, both on the choice of wines and on the refined dishes. We also offer meat roasted over a wood fire, slowly cooking in front of your eyes. Some dishes are covered with a bell to keep them warm but, above all, the inside is covered with herbs which, thanks to their aroma and flavour, give the meat a unique aroma and taste. Do not miss this experience, which is highly recommended.

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!

If you are looking for quality, elegance, freshness and a breathtaking view of the sea, 7 Thalasses is the ideal address. It is the restaurant of the Thalassa boutique hotel and since 2000 it has placed Rethymno among the best gastronomic destinations in Crete with its menu. It offers Mediterranean and Cretan cuisine: fresh fish and shellfish platters, delicious salads, dishes for lovers of the flavors of the sea. First class wine list. Reservations are recommended.

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.

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.

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.

Small family restaurant, very well situated high up to admire the splendid view of the port. Among the large choice of dishes, we enjoyed the kleftiko (oven-baked lamb with cheese and vegetables). Good classic Cretan cuisine (tarama, garlic bread, saganaki shrimps, grilled sea bream, lamb in sauce...), with a welcome like the Cretans know how to make. The staff is smiling. The traditional glass of raki and the small plate of pastries are always offered with joy at the end of the meal. There are a lot of regulars, it's relaxed.

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.

At the port, on the waterfront in the old town, this tavern was created in 1936 by the Frangiadaki family. It is run by Nikos, a French-speaking man, who prepares, with organic products from his farm, traditional cuisine at reasonable prices. Other specialties are stuffed zucchini flowers, snails in rosemary tomato sauce, good quality grilled octopus, cuttlefish in wine, keftés, or swordfish. The fresh fish is brought daily by his fishing buddies from Ierapetra. Map in French. Wifi.

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.

Very popular with locals and visitors alike, people come here to enjoy the authentic flavors of top-quality raw materials: grilled meats, salads, doughnuts with vanilla ice cream... and, of course, chicken in sauce, a unique dish. Here, in the center of the village lost in nature, traditional cooking classes are given in French: contact neighbors Mireille or Pierre on +30 697 562 6830 or +30 697 99 12034.

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.

A meeting place for young students from Rethymno, for young people from the city, for alternative clients... It is a kafeneio (café) of yesteryear where you can quietly drink your coffee, have a drink or satisfy your hunger with simple but good quality meals that are not lacking in flavour. Later in the day, the kafeneio turns into a bar and, with a bit of luck, you can attend improvised or organised concerts of Greek and Cretan music. In any case, the good mood lasts until dawn...

Two very clean and shady terraces overlooking the beach of the small port: this tavern enjoys a good reputation and an unbeatable location. It is frequented by locals as it is renowned for the undeniable quality of its fresh fish, seafood and shellfish. Some carefully prepared Cretan dishes based on local products are also offered in addition to all the tavern classics. We come back mainly for the setting and location, the cuisine is not breathtaking but is very honest.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Entering Sissi from Heraklion, on the right side is this family restaurant since 1988. Greek and international cuisine at reasonable prices served in a large garden with a fountain and a playground for children. Katarina, the owner's daughter, is French-speaking and will welcome you with a friendly smile. Practical side: the bus station is just in front.

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.

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.

International and Greek cuisine, with all kinds of meat. The olive oil used in the restaurant is produced by the owners, such as dressing and wine that we really enjoyed. It differs from other restaurants on the street by the refinement of modern style decor.

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.

In addition to the fish and seafood that are here, there are traditional Cretan dishes, economic menus, many vegetarian dishes. Desserts and bread are freshly prepared in kitchen by the owner himself. It is copied in a beautiful setting facing the sea. You could be cooled by the downside of the servers on the terrace but the food does not disappoint. Very good value for money. It's the kind of place where you feel good and where you're happily coming back.

Kostas opened this waterfront tavern in 1998. Here you can enjoy the tasty dishes of Dora who works in the kitchen. Everything is extra fresh and delicious. In the quiet, we can only recommend you to come and enjoy the warm and serene atmosphere that reigns here. One last recommendation: come at the end of the day to see the sun set in the distance. Friendly atmosphere. Kostas also offers charming studios: see the site.

Sitting comfortably in armchairs overlooking the sea and the port of Agios Nikolaos in the distance, you can have lunch, dinner, just a drink, or just relax on a mattress in the grass and the large soothing car-free park while being lulled by pleasant modern music. A unique place in Agios Nikolaos hidden at the back of the city with a lounge atmosphere to be tested with your eyes closed. Impeccable cleanliness everywhere. Very beautiful beach of fine golden sand.

This pretty tavern, shaded by large tamarisk trees and located a few steps from the sea, is the domain of^Mrs. Eleni. There she prepares traditional dishes, cooked as at home, with products from her garden. Among the dishes not to be missed are the melting lamb from the Ziros hills, the succulent kakavia (fish soup) or the snails with tomato and onion sauce. Fresh fish and shellfish, grilled or simmered in different sauces, are of excellent quality. Also on the menu: grilled meats and various dishes.

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.

Offering full views of the Vrachasi hills, and, above all, coolness during the hottest hours, a detour to the family-run Kyvernitis taverna is a must when visiting the area. On the terrace or under the trees of the esplanade in front of the tavern, you can savour delicious Cretan and Greek dishes prepared daily, or juicy wood-fired grills. The quality of the ingredients is perfectly matched by the savoir-faire of good home cooking. Excellent value for money.

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.

There's nothing special about this fish tavern. Located at the end of the port, on a street corner towards the Neoria Moro, the terrace does not necessarily attract the customer. However, it is one of the most appreciated addresses of the locals to eat fresh fish on the port. Groups of friends meet there to share plates of grilled sardines or small fried fish and stay for hours with a string of beers and raki. It's good timing, there's no need to hurry here: the service is slow, as if it were out of tourist time, and so much the better!

In the central square of the town, a classic tavern with a wide variety of choices from the usual homemade Greek and Cretan cuisine: stews, grills, kebabs, vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, dakos, moussaka, etc. Some international dishes as well. Friendly welcome and service. Pleasant terrace shaded by mulberry trees. The establishment offers a vegetarian and even vegan menu as well as gluten-free dishes. The tavern also serves breakfast and brunch.

Settled since 1976 on the port of Agia Galini, Faros is a small traditional and family tavern as we like it. The speciality is of course fresh fish, shellfish and seafood: the menu varies according to the arrivals. The fresh fish is displayed in a special window at the entrance of the establishment: it is chosen and weighed in the presence of the customer. As always in this case, check the weight per kilo and ask how much the animal weighs before it is prepared, this will avoid unpleasant surprises.

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.

Here is a small tavern, full of charm, located in a quiet alley in Panormos where you can settle under the flowering bougainvillea. At Makis's you can't go wrong: we are on holiday and we are in Crete! We're in Crete for the quality of the meat (Makis, the boss, is the butcher next door!) and the raw materials, all coming from the surroundings of Panormos. Taste the juicy grilled meat, baked aubergines, peppers stuffed with feta cheese... For the dishes of the day, Makis invites you in his kitchen to make your choice..

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 !