Crete is big enough to need a car and generous enough to reward one: harbour restaurants in Chania, farm tavernas in the hills above Heraklion and Rethymno, and raki with meze in almost every village.
126 places in Chania, Heraklion, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Sfakia, Sitia, Plakias and Anogia, each named by at least one published guide (the Listed by tags, with the date we read them). We never copy star ratings, reviews or opening hours: the Google Maps and Tripadvisor buttons open the live pages. Price bands are our own. Spotted a closure or a change? Tell us.
New: our Chania guide, with the old town, the museums, Aptera, the Akrotiri beaches and how to get there.
Restaurant
All day restaurant on the old harbour that builds its menu around seasonal produce from local farms, giving Cretan flavours a modern treatment.
Listed by travel.gr
Taverna
Remote village taverna that cooks everything in clay pots over a wood fire, using produce from its own farms.
Listed by travel.gr The Telegraph
Same taverna as Ntounias: Ντουνιάς in Drakona is written both ways in English, and both cards describe its farm to table kitchen cooking in clay pots on wood fires. We keep both cards, each with its own sources, until the two are merged into one.
Restaurant
Opened in 2025 on Splanzia square, cooking Cretan produce over fire with a low waste approach.
Listed by travel.gr
Seafood
Fish taverna right by the water in the old tanneries district, with a menu that follows the day's catch.
Listed by travel.gr
Restaurant
Seafront brasserie in a restored 1950s building, with a playful menu and produce from the owners' own gardens.
Listed by The Telegraph travel.gr
Restaurant
Restaurant in a building that began as a Venetian bath and later became an Ottoman hammam, with a wide ranging menu and a mostly Greek wine list.
Restaurant
Chef Giorgos Badogiannis's restaurant in a quiet village outside Chania, known for inventive dishes built on overlooked ingredients.
Listed by The Telegraph Greeka
Bar
Open air bar set in the remains of an old synagogue in the Old Town, with DJs in two rooms.
Older listing (source from 2023): check it is still open before you go.
Listed by travel.gr
Cocktail bar
Bar and restaurant on the hill above town with wide views over Chania and the sea; signature cocktails and desserts are the draw.
Bakery
Well known bougatsa shop serving filo pie filled with creamy myzithra cheese, dusted with sugar and cinnamon.
Listed by travel.gr
Kafeneio
Kafeneio in the heart of Splanzia Square serving traditional Cretan meze from local ingredients alongside raki or beer, with simple cooking and low prices that keep locals loyal.
Listed by CreteLocals (single source)
Still trading? CreteLocals guide updated 24 July 2026: listed among the meze places locals use.
Kafeneio
Relaxed meze spot under a canopy of trees, made for slow afternoons with raki, drawing everyone from students to older residents.
Listed by CreteLocals (single source)
Still trading? CreteLocals guide updated 24 July 2026: listed among the meze places locals use.
Meze place
Cooperative run meze kitchen in a narrow old town alley; the guide picks the orange and rosemary pork and the cheese pie with honey.
Listed by CreteLocals (single source)
Still trading? CreteLocals guide updated 24 July 2026: listed among the meze places locals use.
Seafood taverna
Seafood and Cretan favourites, with a counter of daily specials for a budget lunch, half portions of salads and grilled octopus with fava and capers.
Listed by Midnight Blue Elephant (single source)
Still trading? Midnight Blue Elephant, post dated 4 June 2026: named the writer's favourite Chania restaurant, with queues seen at dinner.
All day restaurant
Elegant all day restaurant on the Venetian harbour of Chania with a view of the sea and the old lighthouse. Head chef Sotiris Matsoukas cooks a menu designed with consultant chef Ektoras Botrinis that pairs Chania dishes such as kakavia and Sfakian pies with newer plates like salt cod brandade with soutzouki.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news (single source)
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 keeps its star and says it is open all year; HANIA.news (7 May 2026) repeats it.
Traditional Cretan restaurant
Χρυσόστομος: traditional Cretan restaurant near the harbour warehouses, a short walk from the Great Arsenal and the Porta Sabbionara, which bakes its bread and meats daily in a wood oven. Owner Chrysostomos Orfanoudakis and Inga Karatsaousidi cook mainly with produce from Sfakia: Sfakian pies, rabbit in wine and lamb with stamnagathi in season.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news (single source)
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 keeps its star and says it is open all year; HANIA.news (7 May 2026) repeats it.
Cretan Mexican taqueria
Taqueria where chef owner Dimitris Malandrenis cooks a Cretan Mexican fusion with influences from Oaxaca. On Fridays and Saturdays free range lamb or goat is slow cooked over olive wood in an underground barbacoa oven built from old Cretan firebricks, served with carob tortillas and pickles.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news (single source)
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 keeps its star (fusion and ethnic) and says it is open all year; HANIA.news (7 May 2026) repeats it.
Farm to table mountain taverna
Ντουνιάς: mountain taverna where Stelios Trilyrakis has worked farm to table and Slow Food style for about twenty years; his wife Evmorfili cooks on wood stoves and in clay pots using only their own organically grown produce, meat and eggs. FNL suggests stuffed courgette flowers with their own yoghurt, tsigariasto kid and snails, and warns that service is slow by design.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news (single source)
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 keeps its star (gastro taverns) and says it is open all year; HANIA.news (7 May 2026) repeats it.
Same taverna as Dounias: Ντουνιάς in Drakona is written both ways in English, and both cards describe its farm to table kitchen cooking in clay pots on wood fires. We keep both cards, each with its own sources, until the two are merged into one.
Olive oil estate restaurant
Restaurant of an organic olive oil estate where chef Michalis Papadakis serves a Chef's Pairing Menu built around pairing dishes with olive oil, using seasonal produce from local growers; it can be combined with a walk with the owner. Simpler kafeneio style meze and drinks are also served, and a Chef's Table dinner later in the day. New one star entry in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news (single source)
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 lists it as a new entry, open April to October; HANIA.news (7 May 2026) reports the new entry with a photo credit to biolea.gr.
Fish taverna
Athens Voice calls it a famous fish taverna with very fresh fish, lovely fish meze and the friendliest service from Achilleas and his brothers.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Restaurant
Athens Voice says it looks onto the Egyptian lighthouse and cooks meat and fish from local produce, blending Cretan tradition with modern technique.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Fish restaurant
Athens Voice recommends it for fine fish eating, with fresh Cretan fish and seafood and sunset views over the Venetian harbour.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
All day restaurant
Athens Voice says it moved from the harbour to the new town, opens from the morning and draws a young crowd with good food and music.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Family restaurant
Athens Voice lists it as a new family run arrival in the Old Town lanes, known for one of the best dakos and dishes based on traditional recipes.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Taverna
Athens Voice describes a traditional taverna with home cooking and a courtyard, praising its marinated anchovies, fava and spicy cuttlefish.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Bakery
Athens Voice says everything is handmade daily with Sfakian flavours, from famous rusks and a Cretan brunch to specialty coffee and ice cream.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Restaurant
Athens Voice says it dates from 1933 and is now a restaurant with views over Souda Bay, known for stuffed courgette flowers and pilaf.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Fish taverna
Athens Voice calls it one of the renowned traditional fish tavernas, right on Marathi beach, open from the morning and busy enough that booking is needed.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Bakery
Athens Voice says it is a few minutes from Chania airport, with good coffee, fresh bakes, pies, kalitsounia, sweets and brunch.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026 (guide dated 2026 in its title; exact day not shown in fetched text)).
Restaurant
Seafood led restaurant in the old tanneries of Halepa in Chania, now with chef Konstantinos Vrontoulakis in the kitchen and sommelier Yro Koliakoudaki. Gastronomos (Kathimerini) wrote in July 2026 that it is one of the strongest modern seafood dining experiences on the Greek islands and that it stays open all year.
Listed by Gastronomos (single source)
Still trading? Named in Gastronomos (27 Jul 2026).
Taverna
Traditional Cretan taverna of the Chatzimanolakis brothers in Ano Stalos, in the hills just west of Chania. It is among the Crete winners of Athinorama's Greek Cuisine Awards 2026, as listed by iefimerida on 12 May 2026 and Documento on 13 May 2026.
Listed by iefimerida documentonews.gr
Still trading? Named in iefimerida (12 May 2026); documentonews.gr (13 May 2026).
Restaurant
A restaurant on the old Kasteli wall above the Venetian harbour of Chania, cooking across Italian, Japanese and Greek styles. Travel.gr points to truffle risotto, sushi with a Mediterranean accent, lamb cutlets with miso glaze, pizza and fresh seafood.
Listed by travel.gr (single source)
Still trading? Named in travel.gr (25 Jul 2026).
Cafe
An all day spot at Koum Kapi in Chania, at the address formerly known as The Five, built around bagels, salads, coffee and beer with tables looking out to the water. Travel.gr suggests it for breakfast, brunch or a late lunch by the sea.
Listed by travel.gr (single source)
Still trading? Named in travel.gr (25 Jul 2026).
Restaurant
An all day restaurant at the port of Souda, outside central Chania, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner from a menu credited to chef Lefteris Lazarou. Travel.gr calls it a polished all day stop for those staying outside the centre or arriving by ferry.
Listed by travel.gr (single source)
Still trading? Named in travel.gr (25 Jul 2026).
Taverna
A taverna a few steps from the sea in Agia Marina, west of Chania, built around a wood fired oven. Athinorama mentions Cretan boureki, lamb kleftiko from the oven, beef giouvetsi, pizza with handmade dough and a list of Cretan wines.
Listed by Athinorama Athinorama
Still trading? Named in Athinorama (24 Jul 2026); Athinorama (27 Jul 2026).
Beach bar
A beach bar and restaurant on the sand at Agia Marina, west of Chania, with cocktails, a playground and live music. Athinorama says chef Sifis Apostolakis signs a renewed menu of seafood, meats and pasta built on Cretan ingredients.
Listed by Athinorama Athinorama
Still trading? Named in Athinorama (26 Jul 2026); Athinorama (27 Jul 2026).
Beach bar
A beach bar on Loutraki beach near Chania with its own seafood restaurant, Istio. Athens Voice describes it as an upscale beach bar with a sea view and creative seafood cooking overseen by chef Lefteris Lazarou.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Bakery
A bakery in the centre of Chania town. Athens Voice calls it a sight in its own right, for its architecture as much as for what it bakes.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
New: our Heraklion and Knossos guide, with the Archaeological Museum, the Palace of Knossos, Koules, the old town and how to get there.
Restaurant
Restaurant with tables under old trees in the village of Archanes, south of Heraklion, known for handmade Cretan pastas.
Listed by The Telegraph
Taverna
Slow Food member taverna cooking organic produce from local growers in a stone walled, beamed room.
Listed by The Telegraph
Restaurant
Low key bistro where chef Stefanos Lavrenidis plates Cretan ingredients with a Nordic influence.
Listed by The Telegraph
Taverna
Stone built farm to table taverna in the wine village of Peza, using vegetables from the owner's organic smallholding.
Listed by The Telegraph
Bar
Year round bar and restaurant on Agios Titos square that doubles as a cultural venue, with exhibitions, readings and concerts.
Listed by travel.gr
Restaurant
Πεσκέσι: Cretan restaurant in the restored mansion of Captain Polyxingis that revives old recipes and forgotten ingredients, growing produce on its own farm and buying from Cretan producers: lamb in the gastra, staka, snails with rosemary and seasonal greens, with Cretan wines.
Listed by Crete Direct Crete Direct Peskesi (official site) Open Travel Guide
Still trading? Crete Direct, 14 June 2026, advises booking from late June through August; Open Travel Guide page updated 23 May 2026.
Fish taverna
Ιππόκαμπος: seafront seafood restaurant that stands out on the harbour row by the Koules fortress for charcoal grilled octopus, fresh sea bream and kakavia fish soup.
Listed by Crete Direct Crete Direct Ippokampos Seafood (official site)
Still trading? Crete Direct, 14 June 2026.
Gastro bistro
Gastro bistro of chef owner Manos Maniadakis in a hard to find square of central Heraklion, with a terrace facing the Venetian walls above the courts of the local tennis club. FNL mentions calamari with pesto, flatbread with beef ragout, a traditional meat pie, fish tacos and a pastitsio with rooster; it is a new one star entry in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news Gastronomos
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 gives it a new star and says it is open all year; HANIA.news (7 May 2026) reports the new entry.
Country taverna
Λογάρι (hidden treasure in Cretan dialect): taverna in an old farmstead on the wooded banks of the Aposelemis river, with tables under olive trees and plain Cretan food such as fried courgettes or mushrooms, dolmades and grilled meats. Run by the Giannakakis brothers.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news (single source)
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 keeps its star; season April to October per FNL. HANIA.news (7 May 2026) repeats it.
Beach bar and restaurant
Bar and restaurant right above Stalida beach. Chef Apostolis Loukakis mixes Cretan produce with island meats, seafood and fish, sushi chef Evangelos Michalis runs a sushi menu with Nikkei touches, and FNL calls the cocktails by Thomas Xekardakis a must. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; no season given in the entry.
Hotel restaurant, seafood
Seafood restaurant on a terrace over the water at the Abaton Island Resort. Executive chef Giorgos Chronakis and sous chef Konstantinos Papadopoulos cook fish and seafood bought daily; FNL singles out the fried calamari with jalapeño mayonnaise and prawn saganaki with basil and Selliano cheese. Upgraded to two stars in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026, and most wines on the list come by the glass.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October, lunch and dinner. It is a hotel restaurant (Abaton Island Resort and Spa): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Hotel restaurant, contemporary Cretan
The Cretan restaurant of the Abaton Island Resort: breakfast until late, then a dinner menu by executive chef Giorgos Chronakis that reworks Cretan tradition with produce from local farmers and breeders, such as cuttlefish in tomato sauce with handmade maggiri pasta and staka. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October. It is a hotel restaurant (Abaton Island Resort and Spa): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Fish restaurant
Elegant fish restaurant on Saradari beach in Hersonissos. The menu by executive chef Christos Lapas, cooked by chef Angelos Markoulis, uses premium fish cuts nose to tail: monkfish cheeks with fennel butter, Messolonghi bottarga and kakavia sauce sit next to sushi, sashimi and ceviche. Upgraded in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as May to November.
Hotel restaurant, traditional Cretan
Seaside restaurant of the Yianna Caravel hotel on Ammoudara beach, just west of Heraklion, where executive chef Christos Lapas cooks traditional Cretan food with a light modern touch, for example grilled pies filled with stewed greens and herb yoghurt. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October. It is a hotel restaurant (Yianna Caravel Hotel): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Hotel restaurant, contemporary Greek
Poolside restaurant of the Acro Suites hotel at Agia Pelagia. Chef Theodoros Koukoulis took over from Giannis Rokanas this year, and FNL kept its star as a vote of confidence in the new chef and the hotel team.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October. It is a hotel restaurant (Acro Suites Hotel): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Hotel restaurant, contemporary Greek
First floor terrace restaurant of the Castello Infinity hotel, looking over the whole bay of Agia Pelagia. FNL calls chef Kostas Assargiotakis one of the most pleasant surprises in Crete, with Cretan rooted but cosmopolitan cooking such as a Greek salad served as a wreath with pickled bulbs and feta.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October. It is a hotel restaurant (Castello Infinity Hotel): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Seafood restaurant
Terrace restaurant up a flight of steps above the bay of Matala, cooked by Chara Tsavolaki and Pavlos Dibiakas under chef Christos Lapas: marinated anchovy with seasonal greens, tsiladia (fish jelly) made with prawns, wine braised octopus, seafood pastas and rabbit stifado. FNL says it is worth the journey; one star in 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as May to October.
Hotel restaurant
Steak restaurant at the Abaton Island Resort and Spa in Hersonissos.
Listed by FNL Guide hania.news
Still trading? Named in FNL Guide (3 Jun 2026); hania.news (7 May 2026). It is a hotel restaurant: ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Restaurant
A Cretan restaurant in central Heraklion, open since 1999 in a 1903 neoclassical building looking out to the Cretan Sea. Athinorama says chef patron Charis Papadakis builds the menu around cooking over fire and produce from small local producers.
Listed by Athinorama Athens Voice
Still trading? Named in Athinorama (27 Jul 2026); Athens Voice (2026).
Restaurant
A rooftop restaurant and bar on top of the Lato Boutique Hotel in Heraklion, looking over the Venetian harbour. Athens Voice recommends it for creative Mediterranean cooking and for drinks with a harbour view on summer nights.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Meze place
A meze spot on Rigas Feraios Square in central Heraklion. Athens Voice suggests it as a stop for authentic meze.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Bar
A bar in central Heraklion that Athens Voice counts among the best known bars in the city.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Cafe bar
A cafe bar in the centre of Heraklion that the Athens Voice 2026 guide calls a steady meeting point, from morning coffee until cocktails late at night.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Bar
A bar in central Heraklion that the Athens Voice 2026 guide picks out for its wide range of beers and spirits.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Taverna
A taverna in a vine covered stone building within reach of Hersonissos, where most of the waiters are family members. Telegraph Travel points to dakos, spit roasted meats and Greek salads, and calls it a rustic gem with a Greek only menu.
Listed by The Telegraph (single source)
Still trading? Named in The Telegraph (25 Apr 2026).
Restaurant
Garden courtyard restaurant in a Venetian mansion in the old town, with refined Cretan cooking and a large Greek wine collection.
Taverna
Farm estate built to look like an old village among olive groves, with a set Cretan menu. Reservations essential.
Listed by The Telegraph
Taverna
Tiny village taverna under mulberry trees with home cooking from the garden and honey soaked loukoumades. Walk ins only.
Listed by The Telegraph
Cafe
Village kafeneio of about 150 years, run by the family of Cretan musician Vassilis Skoulas, with raki and small plates by the wood stove.
Listed by The Telegraph
Restaurant
Restaurant right beside the water with views to the sea, the Fortezza and the sunset, mixing Mediterranean cooking with Cretan produce, fresh fish, meat and a separate sushi list, with ingredients from smaller producers.
Listed by ClaraTravels (single source)
Still trading? ClaraTravels guide dated 27 July 2026 (last updated July 2026): listed among the ten best restaurants in Rethymno.
Restaurant
Creative contemporary Greek cooking in the Old Town; ClaraTravels names it the pick for modern Greek cuisine in Rethymno.
Listed by ClaraTravels (single source)
Still trading? ClaraTravels guide dated 27 July 2026 (last updated July 2026): listed among the ten best restaurants in Rethymno.
Rakadiko and meze place
Best known modern rakadiko in the Old Town, serving inventive Cretan small plates to share over rounds of raki.
Listed by ClaraTravels Hello Rethymno
Still trading? ClaraTravels guide dated 27 July 2026 (last updated July 2026): listed among the ten best restaurants in Rethymno. Hello Rethymno, last verified 10 June 2026, also lists it.
Garden restaurant
Cretan and Mediterranean cooking served outdoors in a leafy garden in the Old Town.
Listed by ClaraTravels (single source)
Still trading? ClaraTravels guide dated 27 July 2026 (last updated July 2026): listed among the ten best restaurants in Rethymno.
Taverna
Traditional taverna for familiar Cretan cooking at moderate prices on Petichaki Square.
Listed by ClaraTravels (single source)
Still trading? ClaraTravels guide dated 27 July 2026 (last updated July 2026): listed among the ten best restaurants in Rethymno.
Fish taverna
Traditional setting beside the old Venetian harbour for fresh fish and Greek seafood.
Listed by ClaraTravels (single source)
Still trading? ClaraTravels guide dated 27 July 2026 (last updated July 2026): listed among the ten best restaurants in Rethymno.
Hotel restaurant, farm to table
Restaurant of the Kapsaliana Village hotel, in a restored 16th century stone hamlet that once belonged to Arkadi Monastery, next to the monks' old olive press. Chef Sotiris Evangelou cooks mainly from the restaurant's own vegetable garden, joining Cretan tradition with modern technique. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to November. It is a hotel restaurant (Kapsaliana Village Hotel): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Traditional Cretan taverna
Taverna at Kanevos on the road from Rethymno to Sfakia, run like an old mageireio where you look into the pots before ordering. Chrysoula Iliaki cooks with her mother Maria, using meat from the family herds, vegetables from their gardens and their own galomizithra; FNL suggests goat in tomato sauce, hen with okra and mizithra kalitsounia.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as all year round.
Traditional Cretan taverna, since 1972
Long standing taverna at Misiria in the Rethymno area, open since 1972. The kitchen cooks traditional Cretan and Asia Minor pot dishes from family recipes handed down through the generations. Athens Voice 2026 recommends it as the more authentic Cretan option in the area.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the Athens Voice guide Ρέθυμνο 2026 (summer 2026).
Mediterranean restaurant on the Venetian harbour
Restaurant on the Venetian harbour of Rethymno cooking Mediterranean food and traditional Greek recipes with local produce. Athens Voice 2026 picks it for the food and for one of the prettiest views in town.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the Athens Voice guide Ρέθυμνο 2026 (summer 2026).
Taverna
Very old Rethymno taverna run by the same family for three generations with an unchanged setting and menu. Gastronomos (Kathimerini) named it in August 2026 among its favourite island tavernas, known above all for its bifteki grilled on charcoal, served with village salad, mizithra and fried potatoes.
Listed by Gastronomos (single source)
Still trading? Named in Gastronomos (1 Aug 2026).
Taverna
Village taverna at Yeni Gave (Drosia) in Rethymno prefecture that fills up every Sunday with locals from Rethymno and Heraklion. Gastronomos (Kathimerini) listed it in August 2026 for its suckling pig roasted over charcoal, served with potatoes and dakos.
Listed by Gastronomos (single source)
Still trading? Named in Gastronomos (1 Aug 2026).
Taverna
Taverna in the centre of Anogia, the mountain village in Rethymno prefecture, where Manolis Pasparakis prepares ofto, the local name for lamb roasted upright beside the fire. Gastronomos (Kathimerini) named it in August 2026 among its favourite island tavernas and also suggests aged Anogia graviera, anthogalo and lamb belly in tomato sauce.
Listed by Gastronomos (single source)
Still trading? Named in Gastronomos (1 Aug 2026).
Taverna
Traditional Cretan taverna in Armeni, a village just south of Rethymno town. It is one of the Crete winners of Athinorama's Greek Cuisine Awards 2026, as listed by iefimerida on 12 May 2026 and Documento on 13 May 2026, with chef Vangelio Alexaki.
Listed by iefimerida documentonews.gr
Still trading? Named in iefimerida (12 May 2026); documentonews.gr (13 May 2026).
Restaurant
A restaurant in the heart of the Old Town of Rethymno that has been cooking for more than two decades. Athinorama notes produce from local growers, herbs from its own garden, and dishes such as onion pie with dry anthotyro and octopus with fava.
Listed by Athinorama (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athinorama (27 Jul 2026).
Restaurant
The restaurant of the Veneto boutique hotel, in a historic Venetian building in the Old Town of Rethymno, running since 1997 and taking table bookings. Athens Voice calls it one of the steadiest names in the area, with Cretan cooking built on local produce and a rich wine list.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Kafeneio
A century old kafenion in the village of Ardaktos, owned by lyra player Alexandros Papadakis, with live Cretan music and a few meze each day, often from foraged ingredients. Telegraph Travel mentions pies with wild greens and snails in garlic sauce, served with raki.
Listed by The Telegraph savoire.gr
Still trading? Named in The Telegraph (25 Apr 2026); savoire.gr (11 Aug 2026).
Ouzeri or meze
Family run meze house where small plates such as wild greens and fennel pies come to tables set out on the pavement.
Listed by The Telegraph
Fine dining
Seasonal Mediterranean and Cretan menu from chef Yiannis Baxevanis, served on a deck over Mirabello Bay.
Listed by The Telegraph
Hotel restaurant, traditional Cretan
Main restaurant of the Phaea Blue hotel at Plaka near Elounda. FNL says the hotel takes local culinary tradition very seriously: fresh, aromatic ingredients cooked into an authentic Cretan meal, executed with precision. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; no season given in the entry. It is a hotel restaurant (Phaea Blue Hotel): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Hotel restaurant, Italian and contemporary
Sea view terrace restaurant of the Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas, where executive chef Mauro Peressini cooks an authentic Italian menu built mainly on fresh local produce, alongside his own more contemporary dishes. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to November. It is a hotel restaurant (Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Hotel restaurant, Mediterranean
Tables under olive trees in the inner square of the Elounda Beach hotel, beside its chapel. Chef Albert Hazma cooks a Mediterranean menu with Cretan touches, such as sea bream with wild fennel and fresh peas, and dishes inspired by his travels in Japan, such as a lobster gyoza in fish broth. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to November. It is a hotel restaurant (Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Hotel restaurant, Italian (Tuscan)
Summer home of Il Borro, the Ferragamo family's Tuscan restaurant concept, inside the Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel. FNL calls it one of the finest Italian restaurants in Greece and praises its pizzas, pastas and risottos. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October. It is a hotel restaurant (Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Hotel restaurant, fine dining
Evening fine dining restaurant of the Domes of Elounda hotel, where executive chef Petros Dimas serves a tasting menu and an à la carte menu on a terrace facing Spinalonga and its Venetian fortress; dishes draw on local cooking and the wine list includes Cretan labels. Upgraded in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October. It is a hotel restaurant (Domes of Elounda hotel): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Hotel restaurant, contemporary Cretan
Fine dining restaurant of the Elounda Mare hotel on a seaside terrace, with tables set around an old millstone in a flowering garden. Chef Stavros Kokkinakis cooks contemporary Cretan food, for example rabbit cooked in a clay pot with carob honey and anthotyro; the wine list is curated by sommelier Babis Papadatos. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October. It is a hotel restaurant (Elounda Mare Hotel): ask whether non residents can book before you go.
Seaside Cretan taverna, family run since 1984
Family taverna set right above the sea in Agios Nikolaos, cooking Greek and Cretan dishes and fresh seafood. Athens Voice 2026 recommends it for creative Greek cooking by the water. The name is an expression of delight from Anogeia, where the family comes from.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the Athens Voice guide Άγιος Νικόλαος 2026 (summer 2026).
Mediterranean restaurant with bay view
Restaurant on Akti Koundourou, the seafront road of Agios Nikolaos, serving Mediterranean cooking. Athens Voice 2026 picks it for the food and for its view over the Gulf of Mirabello.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the Athens Voice guide Άγιος Νικόλαος 2026 (summer 2026).
Cocktail bar
Cocktail bar on the Akti Koundourou waterfront of Agios Nikolaos. The Athens Voice 2026 guide rates it among the most stylish places in town for a drink.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the nightlife section of the Athens Voice guide Άγιος Νικόλαος 2026 (summer 2026).
Sea view lounge bar
Lounge bar in Agios Nikolaos that pairs a sea view with a modern look. Athens Voice lists it in its 2026 guide among the places to go out in town.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the nightlife section of the Athens Voice guide Άγιος Νικόλαος 2026 (summer 2026).
Restaurant
The restaurant of the Elounda Mare hotel in Elounda, where Jean Charles Metayer leads the kitchen. It was one of the few Cretan restaurants to receive a Greek Cuisine Award 2026 from Athinorama, handed out at a ceremony in Athens in May 2026.
Listed by anatolh.com documentonews.gr
Still trading? Named in anatolh.com (14 May 2026); documentonews.gr (13 May 2026).
Taverna
A small taverna with a panoramic view in Agios Nikolaos, cooking meat and seafood in the Cretan tradition for more than a decade. Athinorama singles out the rofos (grouper) pasta, the kakavia risotto and a beef rib eye.
Listed by Athinorama (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athinorama (27 Jul 2026).
Restaurant
A restaurant in the historic village of Kritsa, a short drive from Agios Nikolaos, where chef owner Alexandros Zacharias cooks farm to table Cretan food. Athinorama notes that he grows his own vegetables and works with top local ingredients.
Listed by Athinorama (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athinorama (27 Jul 2026).
Cocktail bar
A cocktail bar by the port of Agios Nikolaos that the Athens Voice 2026 guide counts among the most popular summer hangouts in town. Its own site describes an all white space up a flight of stairs.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Restaurant
A restaurant on a rise just above Lake Voulismeni in Agios Nikolaos, where chef Giorgos Markakis cooks Greek dishes from Cretan produce. Telegraph Travel calls it a local favourite and an exception among the lakeside tavernas, with colourful tables under a sprawling vine and meats grilled over charcoal.
Listed by telegraph.co.uk Athens Voice
Still trading? Named in telegraph.co.uk (25 Apr 2026); Athens Voice (2026).
Taverna
A waterside taverna at Elounda, open since the 1970s, which its own site links to the 1977 BBC series Who Pays the Ferryman, filmed in Elounda. Telegraph Travel points to white cod roe taramasalata, slow cooked lamb with artichoke puree and a charcoal grilled carob pie.
Listed by telegraph.co.uk (single source)
Still trading? Named in telegraph.co.uk (25 Apr 2026).
Seafood
Family run seafood taverna beside Ierapetra harbour, where the fishing boats land the catch that ends up on the menu.
Listed by The Telegraph
Seaside fish and seafood restaurant
Fish and seafood restaurant in Ierapetra with tables right next to the water. The Athens Voice 2026 guide picks it for fresh fish and seafood served practically on the waves of the Libyan Sea.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the Athens Voice guide Ιεράπετρα 2026 (summer 2026).
Italian restaurant
Italian restaurant on Stratigou Samouil, the street that also holds Vira Potzi. The Athens Voice 2026 guide calls it a steady, reliable choice in town when you want Italian cooking.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the Athens Voice guide Ιεράπετρα 2026 (summer 2026).
Mediterranean restaurant
Restaurant on Leoforos Dimokratias in Ierapetra serving Mediterranean cooking. The Athens Voice 2026 guide recommends it for its food and its pleasant atmosphere.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the Athens Voice guide Ιεράπετρα 2026 (summer 2026).
All day seaside cafe bar
All day cafe by the sea in Ierapetra. Athens Voice notes that it opens in the morning for coffee and keeps going until late at night for drinks beside the water.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Recommended in the nightlife section of the Athens Voice guide Ιεράπετρα 2026 (summer 2026).
Bar
A cocktail bar at Kyrva 15 on the seafront strip of Ierapetra. Athens Voice named it in its 2026 Ierapetra guide as one of the most popular choices in town for cocktails along the waterfront.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Bar
A bar at Kyrva 14 in Ierapetra. Athens Voice listed it in its 2026 guide to the town as a long standing favourite meeting point for a night out.
Listed by Athens Voice (single source)
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026).
Taverna
Family taverna of the Papadakis family at Koutsouras, east of Ierapetra, with tables almost on the water. Gastronomos (Kathimerini) picked it in August 2026 among its 37 favourite island tavernas for fresh fish, local goat slow cooked in the wood oven, stuffed courgette flowers and wines from the family winery Ampelourgein.
Listed by Gastronomos (single source)
Still trading? Named in Gastronomos (1 Aug 2026).
Taverna
A traditional taverna on the waterfront near Koutsouras, open since 1954 and now run by the original owner's children. Telegraph Travel points to stuffed pumpkin flowers, snails in garlic sauce and the catch of the day on a shaded terrace.
Listed by telegraph.co.uk (single source)
Still trading? Named in telegraph.co.uk (25 Apr 2026).
Beach taverna
Βάταλος: taverna of the Geronymakis brothers at the western, more sheltered end of the long Frangokastello beach. It serves the meat meze Cretans love, such as apaki fried in wine and smoked sausages, but is best known for pot dishes: goat in red sauce, kid with myzithra or Sfakian stew, and stifado with lamb liver or rabbit.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news (single source)
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 keeps its star and says it is open all year; HANIA.news (7 May 2026) repeats it.
Mountain taverna
Πανόραμα: taverna whose terrace looks over the Askyfou plateau, with home cooking by Eleni Lentari. FNL names her tsigariasto kid, rooster in wine and pasta cooked in goat broth, plus fine wild greens pies (chortokalitsouna) and, in winter, boiled wild stamnagathi.
Listed by FNL Guide HANIA.news (single source)
Still trading? FNL Crete list of 15 May 2026 keeps its star and says it is open daily all year; HANIA.news (7 May 2026) repeats it.
Taverna
Village taverna in Komitades, the Sfakia village where the Imbros Gorge walk ends, a few kilometres east of Chora Sfakion. It serves traditional Cretan dishes to hikers coming off the gorge path. Known for: traditional Cretan dishes, stop after the Imbros Gorge walk, near Chora Sfakion.
Listed by cretetip.com (single source)
Still trading? Named in cretetip.com (13 May 2026).
Taverna
A seaside taverna set on the rocks at Marmara beach near Loutro, a cove reached only by boat or on foot along the coastal path. Athens Voice called it the famous taverna of Chrysostomos, and Gastronomos noted that Chrysostomos, whose main restaurant is in Chania, keeps this place in his home area of Sfakia with cooking built on Sfakian tradition and local ingredients.
Listed by Athens Voice travel.gr Gastronomos
Still trading? Named in Athens Voice (2026); travel.gr (24 Aug 2026); Gastronomos (27 Aug 2013).
Kafeneio
Kafeneio of stockbreeder Nektarios Tsitsiridis at Ammoudari on the Askyfou plateau in Sfakia, where he serves tyrozouli made from the milk of his own sheep and goats. Gastronomos (Kathimerini) chose it in September 2026 among the 20 places cooking at its Athens festival, praising its inherited local cooking, and its 2023 report called it the first shop to serve lamb with staka.
Listed by Gastronomos newsit.gr Gastronomos
Still trading? Named in Gastronomos (7 Sep 2026); newsit.gr (8 Oct 2026); Gastronomos (2 Aug 2023).
Fish taverna
Renewed traditional fish taverna with its tables on the rocks at one end of Chiona beach, one kilometre from Palekastro. FNL names its kakavia (fishermen's soup) and its fried octopus with ouzo, fennel, capers and chilli. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as May to October.
Seaside restaurant and cafe
The Lilimpakis family's restaurant and seaside cafe on the rocks around the beach of the Vai palm forest, cooking mostly fish. FNL suggests the grilled sun dried octopus, the fisherman's kakavia and local cooked dishes such as Cretan rooster in tomato sauce with skioufichta pasta and anthotyro. Holds a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026.
Listed by FNL Guide (single source)
Still trading? Listed in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 Crete list of 15 May 2026; season given as April to October.
Bar
A rakadiko on Venizelou street in Sitia, a place where raki is served with meze, listed in the Petit Futé 2026 selection.
Listed by Petit Futé (single source)
Still trading? Named in Petit Futé (2026).
Restaurant
A restaurant and pizzeria serving Greek and Cretan dishes near the end of Sitia's harbour, on the seafront. It is listed in the Petit Futé 2026 selection.
Listed by Petit Futé (single source)
Still trading? Named in Petit Futé (2026).
Restaurant
A Cretan restaurant on El. Venizelou street in Sitia, listed in the Petit Futé 2026 selection. Petit Futé places it in its lowest price band.
Listed by Petit Futé (single source)
Still trading? Named in Petit Futé (2026).
Taverna
A taverna close to Sitia's port whose owner is a fisherman, so fresh fish is on offer, according to Petit Futé. It is listed in the Petit Futé 2026 selection.
Listed by Petit Futé (single source)
Still trading? Named in Petit Futé (2026).
Restaurant
A Cretan restaurant at Sitia's harbour, at the start of the seafront promenade. Its own website describes traditional Cretan cooking, Greek specialities and seafood, and Petit Futé lists it in its 2026 selection.
Listed by Petit Futé kritikospitisitia.gr
Still trading? Named in Petit Futé (2026); kritikospitisitia.gr (2025).
Taverna
An ouzeri and taverna on E. Venizelou street with a terrace, described by Petit Futé as always lively and popular with Cretans of all ages. It is listed in the Petit Futé 2026 selection.
Listed by Petit Futé (single source)
Still trading? Named in Petit Futé (2026).
Seafood taverna
Old style beach taverna under the tamarisks at Peristeres beach near Rodakino, on the south coast west of Plakias. Gastronomos (Kathimerini) picked it in August 2026 among its 10+1 holiday fish tavernas for grilled fish, vlita greens, kalitsounia, graviera saganaki and fried courgettes, and Athens Voice wrote in 2021 that it sits on the Rodakino beach in south Rethymno with excellent food and old Cretan hospitality.
Listed by Gastronomos Athens Voice
Still trading? Named in Gastronomos (14 Aug 2026); Athens Voice (11 Sep 2021).
Taverna
Αροδαμός is a taverna in Anogia whose owner and grill master is Alekos Ntagiantas, according to Gastronomos. In its kitchen Zoumboulia Andreadaki cooks Cretan pasta and a handmade vinegar cured pork similar to apaki, cooked with eggs and served with katsochoiri cheese saganaki alongside.
Listed by Gastronomos (single source)
Still trading? Named in Gastronomos (27 Jul 2026).
Other regions: The Cyclades Rhodes Thessaloniki The mainland The Peloponnese The Ionian islands beyond Corfu The North Aegean islands
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