The best restaurants Iles grecques

This is the tavern of the Vamos association, dating from 1905! In the main room of the building was a cistern, still used today to keep drinks cool! Here you can taste local specialities cooked over a wood fire: stews, coq au vin with homemade pasta, snails, cuttlefish in tomato and fennel sauce. A wide variety of local cheeses and wines are also available. Very frequented by artists, the atmosphere becomes easily festive... Concerts are organized there some summer evenings.

Probably the most typical and original tavern in Spili. Its shady terrace, full of flowerpots, on the edge of a small alley, hides a traditional cuisine as we like it. A very pleasant place to enjoy a local cuisine, based on fresh products, served by people who love to let people discover their dishes. The nice owner, Maria, cooks good Cretan sausages with potatoes or rabbit, grilled meat, tomatoes and stuffed peppers. Ask also to taste the homemade olives!

The owner of this mezzedopoleio, originally from Macedonia ("perperas" means butterfly in Northern Greece), having succumbed to the charms of Crete, has been in Hania for some time and shares his love of cooking with his customers. In his establishment, a little removed from the tourist flows, you can taste very good small dishes and traditional Greek food, prepared from day to day. Sit under the wall trees and taste, among others, the best raki of Hania. Some evenings with live music, without microphones!

A simple taverna that has been located almost on the beach for 40 years. Babis & Popi offers traditional Cretan and Greek cuisine, fresh fish and a variety of dishes prepared daily with vegetables from the garden and other local ingredients. Large, cool terrace under the vines. The owners' sons also rent out a number of well-equipped rooms and studios with private, shaded inner courtyard terraces. Simple and unpretentious, air-conditioned, they overlook the beach. They are practical, clean and comfortable.

Head towards rue 1821 and 5-10 minutes' walk from the town center, down a quiet side street, you'll discover Heraklion's cult tavern. A meeting place for students and regulars who flock here for the excellent food, the undeniable quality of the raw materials, the bulk wine and the raki. The hearty salads are perfect for sharing. Among the dishes prepared daily, according to the season: pan-fried herb tart, cockerel and meatballs in tomato sauce... We'll be back.

On a soft background of rebetiko, Hagiati is a tavern with undeniable charm that radiates in a previously somewhat dull street. In a decor that takes up the traditional Cretan codes, all in ivy and vine leaves, the atmosphere of the place stands out. Its calm will allow you to rest better than anywhere else after a day visiting the very lively Heraklion, and you will be able to enjoy a tranquility and intimacy without equal. In addition, the dishes (mezzedes and main courses on the menu) are absolutely delicious.

Galini is a family tavern only a few metres from the beach and the tamarisk trees, offering a pleasant shady terrace in a well-kept and well-appointed space. An essential and relaxing break after a morning of bathing and beach. It is a classic tavern, offering all the usual dishes of Crete and Greece. A small group of Cretan musicians sometimes come to play in the evening. The parking is free and well protected from the sun by several muriers, for guests right on the beach. Free sun loungers are also available.

As its name suggests, it is a real meeting place in the central square of the village! Greek specialties (pastitsio, moussaka, stuffed tomatoes) are enjoyed in the shade of the pergola, the meat comes from the farm of Yorgos, the owner. He organizes live Cretan music concerts once a week, enough to discover this other traditional facet of the island, after gastronomy and agricultural products. In the plates, you will find all the classics of a Greek tavern, so no surprise there!

Very good traditional tavern located on the road leading to the beach of Sougia, a few minutes walk from the sea. Nice terrace shaded by vines and trees, on two levels, well laid out, very pleasant. One comes here for its Cretan dishes at small prices. The speciality: wild goat dishes. Consult the menu for the dishes of the day, well prepared. Good value for money. We come back to it! Also rents some rooms (from 30 € for two people), from March to mid-November.

The most curious among you will make the effort to go to the tiny fishing port of Halepa where time seems to have stopped, as in a village of yesteryear. There, facing the sea and far away, far away from the tourist crowds, you will be able to sit at this charming mezzedopoleio specialising in seafood. It's simple but so good that we can only advise you to come here. Order a dish of small fried fish to share, drizzle on a fresh raki or white wine and listen to the time go by.

A traditional family tavern that has long been famous for its fish. It also offers a very varied menu of Cretan dishes. Fried anchovies, squid and prawns are recommended. Octopus and lobster pasta are also a good choice. The menu can satisfy vegans and vegetarians. The view is overlooking the sea and there is a beach below for those who wish to sunbathe (sun loungers are free). Breakfast is served. Brunch. And a few alcoholic drinks for later.

Sokaki, in Greek, means "alley" and for good reason, this tavern is located in an alley perpendicular to the beach, 50 meters from the police station. Excellent Cretan specialties, prepared in the respect of family traditions. The simmered dishes are succulent, the portions are copious and the atmosphere is that of a village tavern. Don't miss the pretty shady courtyard. Very reasonable prices. Among the personalities who have frequented this establishment is the former Greek Prime Minister Geórgios Papandreou!

Located at the same address for more than 50 years, just a few steps from the city's central market, Oasis is the street food spot in Hania. A must-visit establishment, it still keeps the secret of the seasoning and marinade that makes the meats so juicy and tasty. Wrapped in a grilled pitta or in the form of a sandwich (the bread used, the other key to success!), the gyros are accompanied by a yoghurt sauce, finely chopped tomatoes, onion, all sprinkled with sweet paprika... A must-taste!

This classic seaside tavern, Chryssi Akti or Golden Beach, established in 1983, serves good local cuisine on a terrace well shaded by some old tamarisk trees, by the sea. It is a neat establishment serving both Cretan specialities and international dishes. The salads are hearty (Greek salad, tuna and avocado salad, among others). On the menu: grilled octopus or octopus with vinaigrette sauce, veal with tomato sauce and small onions, moussaka... and, of course, fresh fish grilled over a wood fire.

This fish restaurant has been popular with the locals for about 30 years: the quality and freshness of the fish have never been compromised. We expect nothing less, knowing that the tavern also serves as a fish market where you can buy the catch of the day. Still, if it has been more than 30 years that one rushes to taste fish and sea products in this family restaurant, and since a few years the quality is still upmarket. The son has taken over the stoves and is trying out a more creative cuisine, which is very successful.

This is an unpretentious traditional family tavern within the hotel of the same name. It is located on the side of the road but you can eat well for cheap. The service is nice, the menu is in French and there is a choice for all tastes, seafood and pizzas among others. The pizzas as well as the meat in foil are cooked in a wood oven. Nothing to say, you have to go there for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner... they serve all day long. In season, choose a table in the small courtyard of the tavern.

The menu of this "fusion" restaurant, which finds its inspiration in Mexico and Crete, includes revisited dishes, carefully prepared by the renowned chef D. Malandrekis according to traditional Mexican practices. The restaurant opened its doors in 2021 with the ambition of creating a unique place in Hania, and it has already become one of the best restaurants in the city. You can enjoy, among other things, delicious tacos or meats cooked with barbacoa in a banana leaf. The Margarita cocktail is really worth trying!

In the heart of the historic centre of Réthymnon, this restaurant has found a corner away from the major tourist circuit to display its tables and offer meals based on Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine. It is an excellent choice if you don't want to leave the city while having the opportunity to taste a good fried squid, fresh salads, stuffed vine leaves. The products are of remarkable freshness and quality, the managers are very friendly and very hospitable.

Petros Place is a traditional tavern that offers a very varied and good quality menu. The establishment is mostly frequented for its juicy grilled meats as well as for the gyros, the famous Greek sandwich that is a hit with the customers. The portions are copious, the staff is friendly and the service efficient... On the menu, several home-made dishes, burgers, pastas, fried calamari and shrimps, mixed salads and some stewed dishes, among others. To eat in or take away. Good quality-price ratio.

Here's a traditional café that retains its charm and authenticity. At Giortamis, regulars get together, exchange anecdotes and experiences, enjoy a warm welcome and eat very well at more-than-affordable prices. Located on Market Alley, this café often becomes a festive place, thanks to the groups of young musicians who set the mood by playing traditional Cretan music. On the menu: homemade dishes, snails, excellent sausage, yoghurt with honey and daily specials. The raki is delicious.

On the wooden terrace above the waves, the tavern owner peels her vegetables in the early morning surrounded by the regulars who come to have coffee. If you prefer seafood, Spyros, the tavern owner who speaks a little French, offers fresh fish (more expensive), shellfish and seafood. Let yourself be tempted by the grilled red mullet, with its fine and tasty flesh. On the menu, Cretan cuisine, also prepared daily and with local raw materials. Warm welcome and impeccable service.

On the edge of the St Antonio gorges, in this so quiet and secluded place, the Drimos tavern is a nice surprise, especially after a long walk. In the middle of an exuberant nature, the owners serve a typical and local cuisine of quality, prepared with good local products. Many animals are raised on site and are part of daily life. Fruits and vegetables are fresh from the owners' garden! Taste, among others, the rice pilaf, gamopilafo, this Cretan speciality (sometimes with goat), served at weddings and parties.

On the square of the beautiful church of Agios Titos, a little quiet because it is set back from the very busy street of August 25, the tavern Gero Platanos is a good solution if you feel like eating in the heart of the city, or, simply, if you feel like a coffee break, a cold beer or a glass of raki. Under the old plane trees, mezzedes and traditional Cretan dishes are served for a reasonable price. The shady terrace is a great place to be! It is ideal for children because they can play safely in the square.

Manolis, the owner, invites you to taste a typical Cretan cuisine, just above the Kotsifou canyon, in the place called Kanevos. The fame of the dishes simmered by his wife, prepared with rabbit, mutton, chicken raised on the spot and vegetables from the garden, exceeds the surrounding mountains and makes the locals flock. Prepared on a daily basis, all products are fresh and tasty. The cheese, homemade from sheep's milk, is a delight. You choose your dish in the kitchen, directly from the steaming pots of the cooker!

A tavern, the oldest in Frangokastello, set on the water's edge: the sea and the beach are the backdrop. The place is ideal for admiring, from the terrace, the magnificent sunsets. The menu is varied, you can find a bit of everything. Crowded in July and August, the place is highly touristic because there is not much choice around the famous castle. You can also stay in the rooms and studios for rent which have been tastefully renovated.

Go for the sunset because the view on the harbour is unique. Fish and seafood only.

200 m from the centre, it is the only pizzeria and café restaurant in the new port. It is also one of the oldest establishments in Tinos. Very well known by French tourists for more than 30 years, it changed owners 5 years ago, but its reputation has not deteriorated. Ideal for breakfasts, lunches, dinners by the sea. It offers homemade pizzas cooked over a wood fire, local products, fresh fish, Tinos omelettes, local loukoumades sweets, all at very good prices.

Restaurant, certainly highly tourist but whose copious meats offer good value for money. Fish is expensive.

5 € for a superb moussaka and 1 € the glass of white wine. A very affordable treat!

Once located on the harbour, it was one of the first restaurants to open for tourists. The same team always offers excellent Greek specialities, stuffed aubergines aubergines, stifados (onion beef with tomatoes), fresh swordfish with lemon… We're going to choose its dish from the day in the window at the bottom of the room. Some servers speak French. The prices are very correct. Breakfast in the morning.

This restaurant, opened in 1999, is located below the pedestrian street, right after the square near the main church. Ambrosia means "divine food". It is best to book, because the tiny terrace that overlooks the caldera directly counts only about twenty hedges. Greek fusion kitchen. Pasta, salads, fish, vegetarian dishes prepared with local produce.

Another restaurant at the Nautilus Hotel, and as its name indicates, is specialized in purely Italian cuisine. The service is the same, only inside the changing dishes.

One of the restaurants at the Nautilus hotel. The hotel specialises in local cuisine, especially on the island. The dishes are a pure delight, well served, in an architectural setting blending tradition and modernity. Magnificent view over Caldera. Private parking. Maps accepted: Visa, Master Card and American Express accepted.

Welcome to a pleasant tavern on the waterfront facing the volcano. What a nice surprise to find it after walking down the steps to share tasty plates with a welcoming Greek clientele. They serve very good specialities based on fresh fish. Taste the delicious homemade specialties: fish balls, eggplant puff pastry, tomatokeftedès and octopus. Prices are all the more correct compared to the restaurants that line the caldera in height and whose quality is sometimes questionable.

Propiétaires always offer fresh fish every day.

The restaurant is famous for its cafés and pastries.

Under a bicentennial pine tree and in a small garden lined with orange trees, Dimitris welcomes you in simple but very clean and functional studios. Good value for money.

Very nice setting for a pleasant and romantic dinner on the background of Greek music. Greek and French map. The chef advises the lamb square that is particularly tasty. Big appetites will be tempted by T-Bone steak (which is huge). Fine wine list also.

In 1971, La Maison de Catherine opened its doors with the idea of bringing French gastronomy to Mykonos. Since then, the name of the restaurant has been anglicized, but the menu remains faithful to its origins. It is an absolute institution in Mykonos and you will have to make a reservation in order to hope to have a table in the discreet whitewashed alley. No "bling-bling" decoration, but an address of (rich) regulars where you will not necessarily be received with the same warmth if you come for the first time. The quality is there if you are in need of coq au vin or tartar...

Bonatsa is the last restaurant on the beach of Platys Gialos. It is possible to eat on the deckchairs under the umbrellas, with your feet in the water. On the menu here: fresh fish from Mykonos, modern and light cuisine and sushi bar. Friendly owner, good staff and good quality products for a simple cuisine based on fresh products. Ideal for a light evening meal. And not very expensive to eat Japanese food (the dumplings and noodles were very good). In short, the food is as good as the setting is enchanting.

Grilled chicken offers excellent value for money. Lamb and rabbit are not bad either.

One of the few taverns on your road to Tripiti. Traditional dishes nicely served, and with view. Nothing original, but a significant oasis under the sun…

Ndaxté extra to away on the thumb. The savings you will make at Takis will soon be spent in the jewellery of its restaurant.

Great choice of music or disco-bars for the tard.

This restaurant has the reputation of being the most elegant of the island with a magnificent view of the illuminated harbour and the sea.

A small, cosy and French-speaking bistro. It's nice, it's cool, you eat it, you drink it, it's good… you look at people, look at the sea, we're discussing the sea.

Undoubtedly one of the best addresses in Parikiá and a place that changes from the usual Greek restaurants. The setting is very pretty, in a patio covered with vines. This address offers a refined menu where Greek traditions and influences from elsewhere are mixed (beet and ginger ravioli, fennel risotto...). This contemporary approach does good and changes a little from the classics that can be found everywhere. Chef Giorgios Mavridis elegantly receives guests in a pleasant inner courtyard. A very very good address.

Good cuisine, elegant and unpretentious, behind a small porch.

Quality international cuisine at a moderate price to savour in a beautiful garden. Let yourself be tempted by Daphne's salad, ideal for lunch or by the many more consistent evening dishes.

Located not far from the port and the Panagia Pantanassa, this restaurant serves quality Greek and fast food at very reasonable prices. Unsurprisingly, Allas is often a victim of its own success (come during off-peak hours to enjoy one of its tables), and understandably so: the gyros and souvlaki are exquisite, the portions are very generous and the salads are also very good. For vegetarian and vegan friends, you'll find an excellent vegan gyros here. A great place to enjoy a meal on the go.