Dining

Crete

Dining in Crete

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DiningGuide was updated: April 29, 2026

In the restaurants and traditional tavernas of the towns and villages of Crete, you'll find all the genuine flavours of traditional cuisine and an insistence on using local products. Mediterranean cuisine is inherently healthy and vegetarian-friendly, and everyone is bound to find something to suit their tastes. Apart from an abundance of olive oil, fish, and seafood, local specialities to try include cheese pie, fried snails, smoked pork and raki — an alcoholic beverage served after the meal.

Herb's Garden (Heraklion)

Herb's Garden (Heraklion)

Herb's Garden restaurant is located on the rooftop of Lato Boutique Hotel and offers a beautiful view over the Venetian harbour of Heraklion. On the menu you will find fresh seafood, salads, meat dishes and homemade ice cream.

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Pan Asia Restaurant (Heraklion)

Pan Asia Restaurant (Heraklion)

Pan Asia Restaurant has many years of experience in Heraklion and selects the best and most popular recipes of Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine. They only use fresh meat and vegetables without preservatives and the cooking is done with the traditional wok. Choosing the set menu for two will allow you to try various specialities at a competitive price, but you can always choose your favourite ones a la carte.

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Bakaliko Crete (Heraklion)

Bakaliko Crete (Heraklion)

Bakaliko Crete is a deli (grocery and eatery) that brings you fine foods and wines from Crete and the rest of Greece. It is a place where all dishes are made from the quality products that you can buy from the store. Their shop is in Archanes, ideally situated in the heartland of Heraklion's wine and olive oil region, from which many of the products come from.

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Parasties (Heraklion)

Parasties (Heraklion)

Parasties restaurant is located near the Historical Museum of Heraklion. Its name refers to a traditional way of cooking in Crete, which involves a fire between two parallel stones. If the weather allows, you can dine al fresco in the terrace or the balcony. They serve Mediterranean and Cretan food, combining classic and special flavours to create original dishes.

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Terzakis (Heraklion)

Terzakis (Heraklion)

Terzakis's cuisine is based on traditional recipes, cooked using modern culinary techniques by experienced professionals. On the menu you'll find Cretan delicacies with a focus on fish and seafood dishes, like fried sardines, steamed mussels and shrimps with artichokes. You can accompany your meal with a bottle of good wine or a glass of cool ouzo.

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Krites (Heraklion)

Krites (Heraklion)

The taverna is located close to the CretAquarium, in the area of the former U.S. base at Gournes. All of their dishes are prepared in accordance with the Cretan dietary pattern, with exclusive use of extra virgin olive oil and meat cooked in a wood-oven.

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Brillant (Heraklion)

Brillant (Heraklion)

Brillant Restaurant of Lato Boutique Hotel in Heraklion has been offering fine dining since 2007. Here, fine raw local ingredients cooked with imagination and respect towards local traditions result in delicious outcomes of Nouvelle Greek Cuisine. The restaurant is open from noon till late at night from November to April. Then, it steps aside and passes the torch to the outdoor Herbs’ Garden Restaurant to welcome the Cretan spring.

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Ligo Krasi, Ligo Thalassa (Heraklion)

Ligo Krasi, Ligo Thalassa (Heraklion)

"Ligo krasi, ligo thalassa" translates into English as "a little wine, a little sea". Indeed, the restaurant boasts a nice view over the Koules Fortress and the Venetian harbour, serving a variety of dishes prepared with fresh fish and seafood. The menu is typically Mediterranean and the wines are local.

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Lemonokipos (Rethymno)

Lemonokipos (Rethymno)

Lemonokipos is situated near the centre of the medieval town of Rethymnon, in the courtyard of an old Venetian mansion. The restaurant has a history of over a century, since it was originally opened in 1910. The name means "the lemon tree garden", as the restaurant features a lovely one. The cuisine is based on the local Cretan tradition, but with a modern twist, so you will have the opportunity to taste both old traditional recipes and modern flavours of Greek and international cuisine.

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Alana (Rethymno)

Alana (Rethymno)

Alana restaurant, featuring 100 seats and a spacious garden, is located in the heart of Rethymnon old town and was one of the first taverns of the area. They serve healthy Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine, always using the best local market products. On the menu, there are different types of salads, grilled and cooked meat, fish and pasta dishes, all with reasonable prices.

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Agia Fotia Taverna (Rethymno)

Agia Fotia Taverna (Rethymno)

The tavern is located on a secluded beach in the bay of Agia Fotini, near Kerames village. Open in the 1960s, it still keeps its original style and is beautifully located next to the sea. It serves fresh fish and local food and drinks at reasonable prices.

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Prima Plora (Rethymno)

Prima Plora (Rethymno)

In a privileged location, opposite the Fortezza and just next to the sea, the Prima Plora restaurant serves creative Greek cuisine. The tables are set by the sea, and the dishes are cooked with olive oil using exclusively goods from small, organic local producers. They have seafood and meat dishes, pasta, risottos and casseroles recipes to suit all tastes.

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The Well of the Turk (Chania)

The Well of the Turk (Chania)

The Well of the Turk, in Greek To Pigadi tou Tourkou, features three interconnected rooms painted in ochre and blue, with strong oriental touches and a well in the middle room, as well as a beautifully carved fountain. Here you can taste the authentic flavours of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, including specialities from Greece, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey and Lebanon. Music from those countries will accompany your meal.

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Kouzina EPE (Chania)

Kouzina EPE (Chania)

This modern tavern serves Greek and Mediterranean dishes at affordable prices. As a family-run business, it has a special focus on home-cooking dishes. The menu features different types of cheeses and salads, grilled meat, pasta dishes and a variety of appetisers that include fried zucchini flowers, grilled mushrooms and spinach pie.

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Apostolis (Chania)

Apostolis (Chania)

The Apostolis restaurant always procures the freshest fish straight from the fishing boats, which means the menu reflects the season and the catches of the day. Some examples of dishes you might find here are Lobster pasta, fish soup, stuffed calamari, shrimps, scallops and whitebait.

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Argoulias (Lasithi)

Argoulias (Lasithi)

The guest house restaurant Argoulias at Tzermiado enjoys unrestricted views of the Lassithi Plateau and the mountain range of Dikti. It has an upper room where you can enjoy breakfast with coffee, local herb teas, fresh juices, homemade sweets and alternative sandwiches. In the lower room, there is the restaurant, which offers a menu based on the Cretan culinary tradition.

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Sto Scholeio (Anidri)

Sto Scholeio (Anidri)

The old school-house of Anidri closed in 1970 and was subsequently turned into a cafe with a terrace offering amazing views. Here you can taste hot and cold dishes belonging to Greek cuisine, and if you fancy something sweet, you should try the traditional baklava with fig or perhaps a cheesecake.

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Pelagos (Agios Nikolaos)

Pelagos (Agios Nikolaos)

Pelagos is located in Agios Nikolaos, in a beautiful mansion of the early 20th century and is one of the most elegant dining options in the city. You can eat in the courtyard courtyard and enjoy fresh fish, seafood and more delicacies of the Cretan cuisine.

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Almyra Seaside Food & Cocktails (Agia Pelagia)

Almyra Seaside Food & Cocktails (Agia Pelagia)

Located at the picturesque and windless cove of Agia Pelagia, Almyra Seaside Food and Cocktails is a restaurant and beach bar with a view over the endless blue of the Cretan sea. They serve typical Mediterranean food, like seafood risotto, moussaka, and Dakos, a Cretan speciality made with dried bread, tomatoes, and cheese. During the summer, they organise parties and special events.

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7 Thalasses (Heraklion)

7 Thalasses (Heraklion)

7 Thalasses, meaning "7 seas", is a restaurant with two locations, in Heraklion and Rethymnon, specializing in fish and seafood dishes. Some of the specialities featured in both menus are fisherman's pasta, seafood risotto, carpaccio, steamed mussels, grilled octopus, fish soup and salmon fillet. The Heraklion location also offers sushi options for dinner. Their signature dessert is the crunchy mille-feuille with vanilla cream.

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Hiona Taverna

Hiona Taverna

Taverna with modern island style, serving on a terrace and tables located by the sea near Palaikastro. There is always fresh fish and seafood soup. The vegetables are from their garden.

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Migomis Piano Restaurant & Café

Migomis Piano Restaurant & Café

In a historic 1890s building, at the edge of a high cliff, the restaurant enjoys a unique view of the lake of Agios Nikolaos. Stylish decor, international cuisine and an extensive wine list with labels from around the world. The whole atmosphere complements the sound of a live piano, playing tunes from the international repertoire.

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Via Pastarella

Via Pastarella

Since 2014, the restaurant Via Pastarella has been serving genuine Italian and Mediterranean food in Heraklion city centre. Their menu features many pasta dishes, pizzas, fresh ravioli and risottos.

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Avli

Avli

Housed in a beautiful Venetian mansion from the 16th century and featuring a spacious courtyard, Avli is a fine dining restaurant offering modern and traditional Cretan cuisine. Their wines are from Greece and they use plenty of local and organic ingredients.

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