Elounda
Clinging to a steep hillside in the ancient hamlet of Mavrikiano above Elounda, Hope has been a local fixture since 1938. The terrace where fishermen once…
Must-see restaurants in Lasithi Province
Lasithi Province
The oldest among several waterfront tavernas, Ta Kochilia has cooked up a storm for nearly a century and is still an excellent port of call for fanciers…
Lasithi Province
One of two top-ranked tavernas at the northern end of Hiona Beach, this more upscale contender in a stone house is usually filled with patrons lusting…
Elounda
At Okeanis, the decor, menu and service blend as perfectly as the rich oven-baked lamb with garlic and sweet wine that's a top menu pick, alongside chef…
Lasithi Province
Favoured by the cast of hit TV series To Nisi (look for the fading photos inside), this wood-beamed hobbit hole on the seaside promenade has a welcoming…
Agios Nikolaos
Pelagos is not for the indecisive. First you must choose whether to sit in the elegantly rustic historic house or in the romantic garden with colourful…
Lasithi Province
The rightly popular O Kroustas serves traditional Cretan food, including a superb lazania (twisted handmade pasta also called stroufikta) cooked in stock…
Elounda
A design feast in a converted carob factory with rave-worthy food to match. Count the fish in the sea from tables lined up along – and above – the…
Agios Nikolaos
Commanding Olympian views of Voulismeni Lake, this cliffside eyrie in a historic building exudes romance, with exposed stone walls, linen tablecloths and…
Elounda
One of Elounda's oldest and most traditional tavernas, Marilena enchants with checked-cloth tables, decorative handicrafts and a lively atmosphere…
Agios Nikolaos
Conversation flows as freely as the excellent house wine at this garage-sized taverna, where wooden doors, all evocatively weathered and cheerfully…
Elounda
Book ahead for a table with front-row vistas of Mirabello bay to complement the fresh-off-the-boat snapper, lobster, sea bream or whatever else the…
Ierapetra
Special jazzes up Ierapetra's dining scene with quality fast food served in an upbeat, contemporary setting. The menu is a reminder of the simple goodness…
Agios Nikolaos
Salads, toasties, ice creams, sandwiches, juices, cocktails – the menu reads like those of your average day-to-night cafe-bar, but in this upscale charmer…
Lasithi Province
Soft lighting, fine wine and delicious food are the hallmarks of a romantic night out in this al fresco–only lair wedged into an alley off the main drag…
Lasithi Province
Tops among the waterfront tavernas, this rustic family place offers a recognisable array of Greek dishes, but it's the local seasonal specials that truly…
Agios Nikolaos
One of several tavernas fringing tiny Kytroplatia Beach, family-run Faros (which means lighthouse) sends signals to empty stomachs with aromas wafting…
Ierapetra
If your tummy starts rumbling while in Koutsouras, a seaside town about 25km east of Ierapetra, point the compass to this cheerful taverna in an…
Agios Nikolaos
Enjoying great views of the harbour, this effervescent restaurant, with its modern decor of exposed stone, turquoise walls and white-wood floors, offers a…
Lasithi Province
A welcoming family vibe pervades this attractive stone taverna on the waterfront that excels in its execution of dishes featuring fish and seafood, all…
Lasithi Province
Beneath a giant plane tree on the main street, Platanos is a focus of village social life and has live music on many summer evenings. Feast on reliable…
Lasithi Province
Enjoy lovely views of the palms, the gleaming sand and the cobalt sea from the covered terrace of this waterfront restaurant serving classic Greek fare,…
Lasithi Province
With its stone floors, open range and tables topped with Cretan rugs, this is an atmospheric spot for dinner. Local vegetables are grown next door, and…
Ierapetra
Next to the Kales Fortress, this next-gen Cretan seaside tavern has an enticing menu packed with culinary twists such as grilled calamari with zucchini…
Lasithi Province
The food gods have been smiling upon Kato Zakros’ oldest taverna, which does a brisk trade in fresh-off-the-boat fish and Cretan classics, all prepared…
Lasithi Province
This cheerful little restaurant on the village's main street has stone walls decorated with Cretan artefacts. The soul of the kitchen is Maria Spanaki,…
Agios Nikolaos
This tiny, been-here-forever taverna in a quiet residential area has a dozen or so cheerfully painted tables across the street beneath a shady pergola and…
Lasithi Province
No direct sea view but Greek food with a dollop of French je ne sais quoi is what awaits at this little taverna where you can make your taste buds dance…
Lasithi Province
This cafe and pastry shop is a Sitian institution (open since 1965) and famous for its sugar-rush-inducing galaktoboureko (custard-filled pastry),…
Agios Nikolaos
Eclectic curios, wooden furniture and a fairy-tale garden make this traditional restaurant a few steps from the lake as welcoming as a hug from an old…
Agios Nikolaos
This colourful haunt has fed its feistily flavoured mezedhes menu to friends, couples and families since 2002. Rather than resting on its laurels, its…
Lasithi Province
Attached to the Myrtos Hotel, this high-ceilinged main-street joint offers excellent homemade food: souvlaki, mousaka, red mullet and pork chops. It's…
Lasithi Province
Attractively decorated, with its rock walls accented with colourful murals, this friendly family taverna on the main square cooks only with olive oil and…
Lasithi Province
Run by a lovely Greek-Swiss couple, this seafront tavern has a capacious terrace with cheerful purple-and-white furniture and a menu loaded with dishes…
Lasithi Province
Right on the beach, this fish taverna is run by the lovely Anastasia and her fisherman husband. Come for great sunsets accompanied by well-prepared…
Lasithi Province
This powder-blue, hole-in-the-wall waterfront restaurant has an interior festooned with coral and shells, and a few tables outside for tucking into…
Ierapetra
This modern cafe is known for its good coffee and gooey loukoumadhes (honey doughnuts) along with generously stuffed fresh sandwiches, cakes and cheese…
Ierapetra
This ristorante with peach interior and linen-bedecked tables overlooks the big blue and offers a choice of classic Greek starters followed by wood-fired…
Lasithi Province
Both local and visiting fish fanciers flock to this charismatic taverna overlooking the petite harbour for dock-fresh piscine treats, although the big…
Lasithi Province
A taverna-kafeneio (coffeehouse) halfway along Kritzotopoula, Platanos has a pleasant setting under a giant 200-year-old plane tree and vine canopy. The…
