Places to Eat in Crete

If you visit Crete, you will be amazed not only by its nature and history, but also by its cuisine. One of the most valuable treasures of Crete is olive oil. It is thought that this quality olive oil has a share in the longevity of the locals. Every Cretan house has a bottle or a tin of olive oil in one corner. Meat dishes are preferred, beef is used less frequently. Graviera cheese, with its strong and spicy flavor, is famous enough to be found on almost every Greek table. Myzithra sour, Xynomyzithra, Pichtogalo from Chania, Xigalo from Sitia, spreadable and aromatic.Anthotyro, Kefalotyri, Malaka, Tirozouli, each telling a different story. For those looking for a different taste, you can also try staka. It is made from sheep or goat cream. It adds a different richness to Cretan dishes. For meat lovers, apaki and synglina are traditional processed delicacies that must be tasted.Dakos (or Koukouvagia in the local language) is one of the symbols of Crete. The barley rusks are topped with chopped tomatoes, plenty of olive oil and feta or myzithra cheese. Sprinkled with oregano and sometimes crowned with olives. Simple but perfect. Vegetable-based dishes like hortopitakia (small fritters) made with wild greens, kalitsounia filled with cheese, marathopita filled with fennel, boureki made with potatoes and zucchini are light and delicious. Perhaps surprisingly, Cretans love snails. Chochlioi boubouristi, snails fried with olive oil, vinegar and rosemary, is one of the most popular recipes. If you like pasta, try skioufichta. Lichnarakia, or honey kalitsounia, melts in the mouth with its cinnamon dough and cheese filling. Sfakianes pites are thin cheese pancakes flavored with honey. The favorite of the festivities is kserotigana, crunchy sweets with syrup and walnuts. Loukoumades (morsels served with honey and walnuts) bring back memories of childhood.

Restaurants

1. Taverna Ta Kioupia (Chania): A cozy taverna where you can enjoy traditional Cretan cuisine. Famous for fresh seafood and traditional dishes.
2. Elia & Diosmos (Heraklion): A stylish restaurant where you can try Cretan cuisine with a modern twist.
3. Arolithos Traditional Cretan Village (Heraklion): A place where you can try local flavors in the traditional village atmosphere of Crete.
4. To Kanoni (Rethymno): A restaurant where you can enjoy meat dishes and traditional appetizers in the historic atmosphere of Rethymno.

Cafes

1. Koukouvagia Cafe (Chania): Famous for its view of the harbor, you can enjoy watching the city while having a coffee.
2. The BOATHOUSE (Heraklion): This cafe with a modern design by the sea has a nice atmosphere as well as coffee and snacks.
3. Thalassino Ageri (Agios Nikolaos): Overlooking the harbor, this café is known for its fresh seafood and drinks.

Bars

Dynameis Bar (Chania): Known for its live music and fun atmosphere, this bar is popular in the evening.
Lion Square (Heraklion): Located in the center of Heraklion, this bar is the ideal place to have a drink in the atmosphere of the historic square.
Fortezza Club (Rethymno): Adding color to the nightlife of Rethymno, this club is famous for its DJ performances and dance floor.

For accommodation suggestions, you can check our Crete Island Hotels page.