The best Greek restaurants Iles grecques

In the small enclosed courtyard, covered with vines, they serve Italian meat specialties such as scalopine, pasta, fresh grilled fish daily, delicious pizzas baked in the traditional oven and several tempting formulas (lunch or dinner). There is also a cozy room with a muffled decor, white tablecloths and an equally careful service. Ideal for a romantic gourmet dinner. The service is meticulous and the wine cellar refined. Ask for advice from Mr. André who comes from Naples and speaks French fluently.

It is a small tavern, the only one near the beautiful beach of Potamos, some 10 meters before the archaeological site. It serves good Greek-style cuisine. It's crowded in July and August, so if you manage to get a bite to eat, be careful with the bill as a mistake could happen. Indeed, many tourists who come to admire the archaeological site are aware of the interest of the place and come to eat there in season. Out of season, the place is a joy of calm and good and frank gastronomy.

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.

Close to the port, in this tavern whose owner is a fisherman, you can have fresh fish but also other traditional dishes at any time. If you prefer simmered dishes, opt for giouvetsi, (meat cooked slowly in the oven with Greek pasta that looks like rice) or the delicious stuffed vine leaves . White wine, from the monastery of Toplou and served chilled, is recommended. Every evening, the speciality offered is the mechoui: melting! Friendly and efficient service. Very good value for money.

Since 1982, they have been serving excellent assortments of Cretan mezzedes . This is the great specialty of the house in addition to the fresh fish served all day long in front of the sea. Meat, Cretan and Greek specialities, grilled lamb skewers, snails... are also offered. Special mention for the pork accompanied by grilled mushrooms and Graviera cheese. All topped with a butter and parsley sauce (the portion is very well served to the point of delighting two people). Ideal for contemplating the boats on the large air-conditioned terrace.

Very nice, this small family tavern with traditional decor in pastel green tones is installed on the port. The simple but quality dishes are well served. Daily fresh fish on display in the window: sea bream, sea bass and lobster are all delicious. Special mention: the mezze platter for 2 people to fall on the floor! Taste, among others, the kleftiko (lamb melting in the oven), grilled cuttlefish, grilled swordfish, tomatoes and peppers stuffed with rice... Very good value for money and a warm welcome.

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.

A rather trendy restaurant that offers, on the kitchen side, quality dishes with generous portions. Cretan and Greek specialities cooked over a wood fire are carefully prepared in accordance with the old tradition. Fresh fish, pasta, rice, mushrooms and grilled vegetables, fava, various salads, meat... In Cretan dialect, parastia refers to the kitchen area where food is cooked in the most ancient way: with two stones on each side of a wood fire, resulting in a very rustic and warm decoration for this restaurant which is well worth a stop.

Located a stone's throw from Place Saint-Tite, this all-day bar is a warm and welcoming place. Seasonal vegetables, salads, meats and pastas - directly inspired by Mediterranean cuisine - dominate the menu. You can have lunch, dinner, drinks and a chat... It's a modern and elegant place where you'll come back again and again, because it's so good to eat light creative dishes to the sound of modern music. It's also a nice bar where you can easily chat with locals and travellers until late at night.

This restaurant was founded around twenty years ago by Stelios and Katina, with the ambition of bringing the finest local produce and recipes of traditional Cretan cuisine to your plate. In a peaceful, quiet and remarkably clean setting in the shady courtyard, you can enjoy dishes prepared daily (including ragouts), grilled or fried fish and vegetables. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes and hearty portions. Consult the wine list. A good address.

In a relaxing atmosphere, this all-day café-restaurant is the ideal place to meet up with friends or to spend pleasant moments, far from the crowded tourist circuits and the noise of the city. The brunch, composed of home-made bread, is a reference, the dishes are succulent. Among the specialities are pasta with carrots with mushrooms and pieces of chicken fried in white truffle oil, with fresh thyme and a bit of garlic, all served with grated local cheese. The prices are unbeatable and the staff is very friendly.

Set back from the tourist flow, O Tembelis (the lazy one) is a must when visiting Heraklion. It's a café/mezzedopoleio where you can enjoy a variety of tasty dishes prepared daily to accompany the excellent fresh raki... Take a seat on the chairs that cover a good part of the esplanade in front of the establishment and let yourself be carried away by the friendly atmosphere. Dishes include homemade sausages, stews, mushrooms... To round off the meal: doughnuts with a scoop of ice cream.

This pretty tavern is nestled in a quiet location in the old village of Malia. This restaurant of traditional Greek cuisine and mezzedes distils a cosy atmosphere in a beautiful handcrafted setting. An address a little apart in Malia, to be preferred in high season to try to avoid the crowds and the mediocre taverns of the tourist centre. We like the warm and quiet atmosphere, the successful and unpretentious but tasty cuisine. A good address, tastefully decorated and pleasant, with all the basics of a good Greek meal.

Charming little restaurant with a shaded terrace with your feet in the water on the beach of Ammoudi (not far from the city centre). Here reigns a beautiful atmosphere between bar and gastronomic restaurant. An annex of the famous Ble Katsoralakia restaurant where you can enjoy seafood as well as a salad, but also succulent traditional mezzes and some inventive recipes. An excellent address for a very pleasant dinner with friends in a typically Greek atmosphere. The menu is very varied and the prices are reasonable.

Alexis Taverna is a small and unpretentious family tavern, like the ones you can find everywhere in Crete. The food is very simple but tasty, and is also family style. You must try the excellent seafood risotto. There are no big restaurants in the village of Malia anyway, you have to be satisfied with a simple, efficient and inexpensive cuisine - and a restaurant where the service is, as at Alexis, well done. You will certainly return there several times during your stay in Malia.

The Ristorante Italiano sign of this restaurant refers to pizzas baked over an olive wood fire. Apart from that, here is a Cretan address as we like them, offering traditional local cuisine. As for the decoration, it's rustic but whatever, here is the most romantic address on the walk, offering a beautiful view as a bonus. Opt for the famous Cretan snails(Κοchlioi), offered à la carte and which have nothing to do with ours: an opportunity to discover a deliciously prepared Cretan speciality.

A traditional tavern in a rustic village setting. The owner studied in Belgium and speaks very good French. He will make you discover a local and tasty cuisine, as we like it. Alekos cooks everything with his olive oil, as it should be in any self-respecting establishment in Crete! He collects his snails himself under the surrounding mountainous rocks and prepares them with a pinch of garlic. The wine in carafe comes from the Lylarakis estate. A greedy stage not to be missed if you are passing through.

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.

This family tavern looks like it's straight out of a 1960s movie. It opened in 1953, and since then it has been treating its customers to the same traditional good food. In the shade of the large tamarisk trees, facing the sea, you can enjoy grandmother's cooking: veal simmered in a tomato sauce, roasted goat's cheese with artichokes (in season), rabbit in sauce, snails with rosemary... and a variety of dishes (taste the zucchini flowers stuffed with rice). Nothing but the traditional, cooked of the day. Delicious!

Vritomartes is another restaurant of Cretan specialties and fish, right in the heart of the port as it is literally located on the water! Open from March 25 to the end of October, this establishment is also accessible by sea. Coveted by tourists for the calm and the magnificent view it provides, it is advisable to book in high season. You can enjoy Greek and Cretan musical evenings and a quiet and gentle atmosphere. Taste the shells and especially the gyalisterés, a shell found in Greece and Crete.

The terrace of this establishment, located 2 minutes from the Aristea Hotel, is almost on the water. The restaurant's winter room is housed in one of the oldest buildings in the village, giving the place a sought-after authentic character. The cuisine is traditional, especially the fresh fish specialities, which are renowned: the varied fish platter, shellfish and seafood salad, lamb stew, veal stew with vegetables, grilled prawns... are among the favourite dishes. Very reasonable prices.

Charm and romance guaranteed. This is the restaurant of the Hotel Pallazzo Di Corina. It has the Greek "organic" label. On the large terrace in the square you can taste, among other things, the following house specialties, depending on the season: "Mitato" lamb with honey, yoghurt and thyme, saganaki kavourma, boureki (meat puff pastry) or stuffed zucchini flowers. Also a la carte, fish, shellfish and seafood, a mix of traditional Cretan cuisine and more creative and contemporary options. Professional service and friendly atmosphere.

This tavern, located on the waterfront and facing the island of Spinalonga, invites you to taste very fresh fish. The owner of this tavern also owns the Megaro tavern in Elounda. The fish comes from the same nets, thrown by the family boats. Between two courses, you only have to go down a few steps to bathe in the transparent sea. The addition of salt is a bit salty, but it is well worth it because the dishes are really good quality and quite copious.

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.

A traditional restaurant for 30 years. Their mezzedes (dishes) are true masterpieces, by the taste, presentation and quality of the raw materials: fava, tzatziki, eggplant salad, grilled cheese, dried white bean salad, beetroot salad, puff pastry, cheese fritters, taramossalata (cod egg purée), stuffed vine leaves. The restaurant is large, nicely furnished in traditional Greek style, and has an olive garden with vines. The menu is in French and the service is impeccable.

This typical Cretan rakadiko is located opposite the Avli Restaurant: It's his little sister… In other words, it's the more relaxed version of the great Avli, where you drink raki by sharing small dishes or mezze that are simmered on the spot before our eyes. Good alternative to eating well if you want to stay light or if Avli is complete as often in the full season. Ideal for a small traditional evening, between drinks and good dishes. Ingredients come from small local producers, most of them organic.

This is a Greek restaurant known for its particularly warm welcome. On the stove side, it will offer you a quality Greek cuisine. In the kitchen, they prepare delicious dishes, and all for a very affordable price. In short, a very good traditional address in Kamari that it would be a shame to miss. The decoration is also very pleasant, with a special mention for the walls decorated with old rural objects and the multitude of plants and flowers which bring a welcome touch of serenity to this place.

The dishes are inspired by typical Sifnos dishes, but the aim here is not to repeat the classics. With the help of his close-knit team, Alexandros is trying to reinvent and finally create the future of a traditional cuisine that lacks inventiveness. Try eggplant salad with pomegranate and feta seeds or salted cheesecake. The products are fresh and of good quality since it is Alexandros' father who grows them on his farm. He also organizes very interesting tours with tasting.

In a small street parallel to the Paleologou, a pretty little garden under fig and lemon trees shelters this family tavern-ouzerie where you can eat for a reasonable price typical Cretan cuisine of excellent quality. An address that is especially appreciated by the locals even out of season. The secret is the ingredients that come from the owner's mountain farm. A real breath of fresh air, simple and unpretentious, but so authentic and sincere. The raki and olive oil also come from the same farm.

This beach restaurant is a must in Lindos. You'll be sure to stop off here during a swimming session on the village's main beach. Deckchairs are available to guests free of charge. All the Greek classics are on offer in the kitchen, even if the tourist pressure doesn't make it a first-rate establishment. But the setting makes up for a break on the beach, if only for a drink or a coffee with your feet in the water.

It never stops... Open all day long from breakfast, from 10 or 11 am, to the evening with a cocktail bar. The two terraces overlook the port: perfect for a drink in front of the sunset. It serves wine and 24 different cocktails, as many letters in the Greek alphabet. Its name comes from the first three numbers on the bar codes of products made in Greece. One of the best places on the island to eat as well: all the ingredients are fresh and most of them are organic.

As far as the setting is concerned, the restaurant has a huge terrace spread over two floors. Sea view guaranteed at each plate. The music is extremely well chosen, a mix of jazz and pop in remix chill immediately pushes us to relax and our gaze is quickly lost on the incredible panoramic sea view that the Compass offers on the bay of Chora. View disturbed only by the waltz of the ferries.... which will delight the youngest.

A regulars' tavern specialising in fresh fish since 1984, but also serves delicious dishes prepared by the owner's wife and sister. Scala offers a more refined cuisine than elsewhere (and, rarely, innovative desserts), in a more intimate setting, and offers the highest panoramic terrace in Matala, perched on its small cape and closing the bay to the west. Access to the sea below is via small stairs. Beautiful view and quality dishes of the day. Booking is almost obligatory in high season, but you won't regret it.

Theodosi is a modern restaurant on the ground floor of Hôtel Alexis. An escape Ideal for one evening away from the tourist sites from mass. Greek and Cretan creative cuisine served à la carte, we strongly recommend the chicken fillet with smoked pork and pork chops with honey and thyme. The owners had a restaurant in Vancouver, Canada for years, giving an original mix to the already carefully prepared dishes. Fresh fish on the menu and magnificent sea views as well as on the city of Hania.

The magnificent shaded terrace of the Dolci overlooks the western flank of Kastro, offering the ephemeral epicurean sitting at his table a remarkable view and tranquility. Kastro is a unique place, but the jazzy atmosphere and the dominant position of the Dolci will make you discover it from a different angle, sunny, calm, soothing and of course gourmet. Salad 7 martyrs (in homage to the church of the 7 martyrs of Kastro), fresh mussels with orange sauce and flower petals, revisited pasta and risottos, or homemade ice cream.

In summer, its lush courtyard is one of the most pleasant places on the island. This establishment, open all year round, is worth a visit. Surrounded by olive trees and in the shade of three eucalyptus trees, you can taste specialities from the Ionian Sea. Beautiful menu with many corfiote dishes, originating from the neighbouring island, such as sofrito (beef and garlic sauce), bourdeto (fish in red sauce) and pastitsada (chicken and beef in sauce with pasta), but also dishes specific to Paxos such as tsilichourdopita, a pie with lamb giblets...

Psychro has suffered from the organized tours that only go through the village at full speed... But if you have decided to rent a car to visit the Lassithi Plateau at your own pace, we advise you to have lunch or dinner at the Stavros tavern. The cuisine is simple and family-friendly and the products used come from the owners' farm. The dishes are tasty: lamb with lemon and herb sauce, soft and delicious, grilled meats, salads and various dishes, among others. Pleasant mezzanine, friendly and efficient service.

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.

Frequented by locals and, above all, students of Rethymno, this mezzedopoleio makes no concessions on the quality of the dishes offered. Located in the heart of the historical center, it is an ideal address to enjoy traditional Cretan and Greek cuisine at a very good price. Among the dishes: the Cretan brusquette, marinated anchovies, steamed mussels... Doughnuts with chocolate sauce offered generously at the end of the meal. Excellent value for money. With a little luck, you can also attend a live music evening.

On the beach of Plaka, this superb restaurant with its elaborate decoration offers an ideal setting to stay for more than just a meal. On the kitchen side, here again of the very high level. The use of fresh Naxiot and Cretan products has created a unique gastronomic place, creating a fusion cuisine of these regions. The result of this culinary originality is exquisite, the service impeccable and the setting simply magnificent facing the sea. It also has a concept store next to the restaurant for a few shopping sprees.

It is one of the best Greek taverns on the island. Rich and inventive menu thanks to the inspiration of Yorgos who works in the kitchen with talent. It offers some traditional Greek dishes but above all homemade specialities: taste its "Fava" with caramelized onions and fresh mint or beetroot with goat cheese and nuts. Map in French. The friendly Karine (French-speaking) gets up early to bring back the best products on the market. Leave some space for dessert because they are just as good. Very cheap. Takeaway meals.

With its sublime view over the caldera from the slopes of the village of Oia, Petra is the perfect restaurant for a honeymoon. The cuisine? Greek gastronomy revisited with a successful experimental touch. Here's an extract from the tasting menu: calamari with pistachio, lobster with leeks and lemongrass, prawns with wild mushrooms served in their own bisque, trout with onions and pickled celery, monkfish with celeriac, truffle and bergamot, honey ice cream... All served with sublime paired wines. A real firework display!

A warm welcome awaits you in this authentic tavern where you will taste the dishes of the day proposed by the owner (no menu). You won't be disappointed and the bill will delight all purses! A good address to change from the local trout and taste the famous Cretan snails! And, outside of meals, the tavern turns into a small café-ouzerie where you can meet during the day or in the evening to share a drink or coffee and discuss the day's events. A pleasant stopover if you're passing through the area.

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!).

If you really want to be in the local atmosphere, this is the place to go. Every year, the quality is always there in this restaurant, which is mostly frequented by locals and is located a little away from the centre. The restaurant is frequented by Greeks, fishermen, for whom Apostolis has been cooking for almost 30 years. Fish specialties, local wine, sea view. A good address for lovers of fried food and seafood. And in the end, the bill is never too high. Excellent value for money and very friendly staff.

One of the best restaurants in Lindos, it sprawls over three floors, but you won't be disappointed by the climb once you reach the top: the view of the Acropolis is memorable. Preferably go there at dusk and enjoy the panorama from the rooftop. The dishes are not disappointing either: we recommend that you share with several of the mezzedes. They are excellent, copious and more economical. The atmosphere at Stephany's Taverna is relaxed and friendly. Favour the place to spend a warm evening with a view.

This restaurant is in a truly picturesque location on Porto Roxa beach on the west of the island, ideal for sunset. Access is through a magnificent wild landscape. Away from mass tourism, just 5 km from Agios Léon (follow the signs), you can enjoy a variety of reasonably priced dishes: salads, pastas, pizzas and grilled meats. Specialties include rabbit with oregano and stuffed chicken. The setting is spectacular. And as a bonus, you can enjoy the deckchairs on the beach!

In an old green garden full of palm trees and flowers. A relaxation area to enjoy coffee, wine, ice cream or meals under the vines. Excellent cuisine. It is also recommended to visit the wine cellar which is a museum with more than 200 bottles, mainly from local production. A veritable vaulted cellar 10 m underground for 400 years, now open to the public. Live music on Tuesday and Wednesday at 22 pm. Bar-restaurant in the centre near the square, in the small street down next to the Pelican hotel. An address for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

This Venetian building is perfect for a drink near a small urban beach. But En Plo also offers decent dining services. Fish or grilled meat dishes, tasty salads and a wide range of wines are likely to make your meal unforgettable as the secluded and quiet setting, with the sea in front of you, envelops it in magic. En Plo also serves excellent local wine and cocktails at fair prices.

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.