Mediterranean cuisine restaurants Iles grecques

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 !

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

10 m from the main square of Thira, on a nice terrace with a great view. We recommend the establishment for the warm professionalism of the staff and the quality of the dishes served. Among the house specialties: chicken with artichokes, spaghetti with lobster or garlic, capers and tomatoes... The menu is varied and offers hearty dishes, mainly Greek and Italian, at reasonable prices. By jabbering a little in French and automatically offering a drink, the owner makes the atmosphere even more friendly.

Here's a family-run taverna faithful to the Cycladic tradition of blue and white and Greek hospitality. Open since 1995 and overlooking the bay of Livadia, Trata is renowned for its home cooking based on fresh, tasty produce. Lefteris, head chef and owner of the restaurant, has set himself the highest standards, and the main attraction is the tasty seafood and freshly caught fish. You'll find some of the best grilled calamari on Paros, not to mention all the classics of Greek cuisine.

An attractive alternative on the port, where you can enjoy traditional Italian cuisine. Specialities such as bruschetta, but also more classic dishes: spaghetti with seafood for example. Gluten-free dishes are also available on request. Susanna, the owner of the establishment, decorated the premises with great taste. A unique table on the balcony on the first floor, with a breathtaking view of the port, which must be booked in advance.

Recently opened by the owners of 1500 BC (located just below it on the caldera), this restaurant is sure to become one of Fira's most popular addresses. Named after one of the greatest Italian wines, often described as having aromas of tar and rose, Barolo offers subtle and refined gourmet Mediterranean cuisine. Overlooking the volcano and surrounded by traditional whitewashed buildings, Barolo offers an enchanting dining experience with a breathtaking view.

Opened in 2012, this tavern-ouzerie which overlooks the quays (it can be reached either from the port by a small staircase or by the alley parallel to the port) is a real museum. The owner, Nikos, revives this family place where meat specialities prepared according to the traditional local method are served: wrapped in butcher's paper(sto ladoharto in Greek, literally "greasy paper") and fried (for fish prepared in the same way, you have to go to the Smyneiko restaurant on the ground floor).

Situated in a pedestrian alleyway, To Takimi is an authentic Greek taverna that's a hive of activity at all hours of the day and night. Whether it's its welcoming shaded green patio, its sky-blue beams or its typical wooden furniture, everything makes you want to sit down here, even before discovering the menu. On the plate, unpretentious but well-executed Greek and Mediterranean cuisine: octopus in sauce, grilled fish, cheeses... All palates should be won over. In the evening, the atmosphere becomes more festive.

This restaurant is perfectly placed, in the middle of the main avenue of Naoussa. One can sit outside and enjoy the atmosphere of the street. And the owner is very friendly, as well as the team of waiters. As for the food, the mushrooms sautéed with garlic, onions and tomatoes are very good. The sautéed crayfish(saganaki) with ouzo, feta cheese and garlic, a great classic, are also very good. On the other hand, the seafood pasta is very dry, really disappointing. Nice restaurant, but a bit uneven.

The elegant marble and wooden building of the restaurant was built in 1844 in the area of Paraporti in the town of Naxos, a place where peasants worked in the service of the Venetian conquerors of the island. Paraporti was the second most important south-north entrance to the Naxos Castle area. Outside, on the two terraces, you can enjoy the view of the harbour and start the day with a healthy breakfast, and of course taste the local specialities.

Opened in 1982 in the Monolithos region, Mario's restaurant has become famous in Santorini for its authentic and traditional Greek cuisine. Here, we work with love and respect for the best specialities of the whole Aegean region, with freshness, closeness, authenticity and audacity as our watchwords! Moreover the restaurant can accommodate up to 450 people, making it one of the best places on the island to enjoy a dinner by the beach but also to organize an event... like a wedding. Atmosphere guaranteed!

On the beach of Périvolos near Perissa, this fish and seafood restaurant is a nice surprise. But it cannot be reduced to seafood, moussaka, for example, is delicious. We appreciate the pretty platform with the bar and the swimming pool on the beach, an ideal setting for resting outside the hustle and bustle of Fira. In addition, Edmond the French-speaking boss offers sun loungers to all French people! A good listener...

George, the young creator of this restaurant, which opened in 2014, has very quickly managed to share his enthusiasm and his talent as a cook. And despite its location slightly set back from the harbour, it fills up every night. Simple but delicious cuisine, with a clever mix of local products and flavours. Special mention for the meats. Professional staff. Prices are very affordable. Do not hesitate to ask to meet him and share his kindness. The establishment also runs the Anoi Bar Bistro upstairs, with a rooftop.

After the now famous Cavo d'Oro in Paros, opened in 1980, here is the new restaurant designed by Adonis Vassilas, located in the beautiful village of Filoti, in Naxos this time. On the menu side, a tasty Greek and Italian cuisine made from fresh and local ingredients (all products are grown on the island). Pizza cooked over a wood fire (5 sizes are possible!), fresh pasta, salads, mezzes, grills, seafood and traditional Greek dishes to satisfy all tastes. As in Paros, the bread is excellent and homemade

When you arrive at Maistros, you can ask a question: "What is your boat? Yes, the fish here is very local and will have followed a very short route from Ioannis' boat to his son Antonis' plates. A few hours later, his cooking is delicious, the products are of good quality, fresh, and the chef undeniably talented. Try the squid stuffed with feta and tomatoes, or the eggplant revisited, all accompanied by a small Nissos. The terrace overlooks the beautiful port of Panormos.

It is probably the first pizzeria opened on the island, appreciated by the locals for 30 years for its pizzas baked in the original wood-fired oven. The prices are more than fair, which makes the place very popular, even taken by storm by locals and visitors alike. But we also offer pasta, Greek specialties, homemade ice cream... All this on a very pleasant terrace, facing the sea of course. On the multicultural side, among the pizzas, some are revisited with feta cheese for the adventurers of the gastronomy...

From breakfast to dinner, this establishment located on the port, to the right of the landing stage, is, as its name suggests, open all day long. It is often full, has an excellent reputation and hasn't stolen it. You will find a varied, simple and quality Mediterranean cuisine (dishes, snacks...). Also note a good service and a friendly atmosphere. It is an ideal place where you can go for a brunch or a cocktail in the evening. It's also a place very frequented by locals, which is always a very good sign.

A highly recommended address. You will find that all the dishes served here are (re)worked with finesse and elegance. The pinnacle of this work is found in the amazing version of pasticcio. And the recognition of these efforts appears in the Greek Taste Beyond Borders Award received in 2021 by owner Zacharias. Let's not forget to mention the location, a nice terrace by the beach of Pollonia, all elements gathered to have an excellent time here.

This beautiful restaurant located in the hotel of the same name offers a refined and quality Mediterranean cuisine, using local products, all in a hushed and romantic setting. You can also discover a beautiful wine list and admire the panoramic view.

This hut located on the beach is not lacking in charm. If you want to sunbathe while sipping a cocktail and contemplating the island of Naxos, you can rent a deckchair and its parasol. If you want to have a bite to eat, it happens in the restaurant. The decoration is made of wicker, the lights are carefully subdued in the evening, you feel good. On the menu? Pork shank with potatoes, sardines or mussels in ouzo with cherry tomatoes, fresh cream and gentian. Some rooms are available with sea or mountain view.

We are about to reveal one of our favorite addresses. The Thalassamou restaurant is located at the end of the beach, where it enjoys a royal isolation. We sit on the terrace or under the trees, with our feet in the water. The spot is charming but simple, you feel good. Marios Salmatanis, who revisits the local cuisine after training in France, serves incredible tarama, eggplant caviar, fava, sardines and guacamole, bruschetta, mussels with garlic and white wine, squid cooked in its ink... Everything is to die for. And it's not expensive at all!-