Plakias
This downstairs waterfront cafe is a handy place to hang for breakfast, a cold beer or a snack any time of day, while the balconied upstairs bar kicks…
Must-see nightlife in Crete
Hania Province
This is the perfect spot to witness Falasarna's famous sunsets, under a thatched umbrella on a hill overlooking the sea with cocktail in hand. It gets…
Rethymno
Hobnob with fun-lovin' locals at this hot-and-heavy party palace. In summer DJs spin mostly international chart music for the tourist crowd, while Greek…
Hania
By day locals fill the tree-shaded plaza tables at this modern, cool cafe and sip iced coffee, and by night the place buzzes with party life. There’s no…
Hania
Hidden just off the eastern edge of the harbour, arty cafe-bar Ta Duo Lux is a perennial favourite among alternative types and is lively day and night…
Hania Province
Plonked on the sand at Pahia Ammos, this tourist haunt is known for its cocktails and sunset views. A menu of snacks (€4 to €8) is served all day to keep…
Plakias
Less is more is often the winning formula for a beach bar, and here at Mes Tin Ammo they do simplicity at its best: a bamboo shack, chairs in the sand and…
Ierapetra
Generations of locals have bopped their heads to rock of all stripes at this classic party den since it opened in 1990. Redone in 2015, it now flaunts a…
Agios Nikolaos
Mark your turf amid hanging plants, shrubs and funky decor in this high-in-the-sky bar overlooking lake and harbour. Wallet-watchers invade before 10.30pm…
Hania
Locals in the know get their caffeine at this corner cafe, bedecked in pastel green and pink and plenty of greenery. It also has a small branch in the old…
Lasithi Province
In a lovely stone house in the pedestrian zone near the village entrance, just off the main street, this cosy cafe has sidewalk tables and is a good pit…
Rethymno
A classic Rethymno hang-out, this place has been renamed and revamped but continues to house two bars and a dance floor that gets filled nightly by…
Hania
Beautifully set in the courtyard of a 16th-century monastery turned art centre, this open-air bar has a vibrant ambience, attentive service, great…
Hania Province
In a beautiful restored stone mill on the sea, this cafe-bar is a great place for a coffee or an evening drink and also serves light snacks, pizza, pasta…
Iraklio
If the trendy cafes along this pedestrian strip don’t do it for you, grab a table at down-to-earth Fix, which is sought out by an older crowd of…
Lasithi Province
This alt-flavoured lair plays it cool with head-bopping rock and an outdoor lounge area overlooking the promenade leading to the ferry terminal.
Lasithi Province
An excellent little cafe, this place makes for a cool stop in the shade to grab some homemade honey and yoghurt or a fresh orange juice.
Rethymno Province
Catch the sea breeze and a sunset with a pina colada in hand at this laid-back beach bar in a prime spot overlooking Varkotopo.
Iraklio
Grab an outdoor table, guzzle a cold one (a brew or a Freddo espresso) and watch the world on parade at this buzzy cafe.
Hania
Michalis and his Belgian wife, Aurelie, run this nanobrewery 4.5km southwest of Hania. They brew two beers: a triple-hop pale ale and an annual special…
Rethymno
No matter where the hands are on the clock, the comfy lounge sofas of this popular hang-out are always packed with fashionable townsfolk. Mellow in the…
Hania
Austrian-born long-time Hania resident Rudi is a knowledgeable beer buff who runs the show at this pub a block back from the harbour. There are Trappist…
Iraklio
This cosy spot serves serious Brazilian- and Indian-sourced espresso out of its Italian-made La Marzocco machine and offers a shaded patio across the…
Iraklio
One of the town’s oldest bar-cafes, this long-time favourite formerly on El Greco Park has relocated to smaller, more modernised digs on trendy Korai,…
Elounda
On the western side of the main square and overlooking the little harbour, this convivial bar is as busy as a beehive from morning till late at night. It…
Ierapetra
With its mint-blue-and-white interior, modern tunes, and mixed crowd of young students and old boys flicking worry beads, this cafe-bar is a good spot no…
Hania
Look for the psychedelic decorated facade at this tiny bar with a bamboo-covered terrace. The owner spins vinyl from his collection of over 700 albums,…
Rethymno
In summer there are few locations more enchanting than this laid-back garden among the branches of orange, grapefruit and lemon trees. Occasional live…
Agios Nikolaos
This casual haunt popular with locals and visitors prides itself on being the only place in town to play only Greek music. A low-key drinking den by day,…
Iraklio
This alt-flavoured lair draws unpretentious types for beer, beats and bands. There’s an alchemy of electro, funk and new wave on the turntable and the…
Iraklio
Rock, metal, punk and country from Johnny Cash to Johnny Rotten is the ammo at this dimly lit pub in a barrel-vaulted Venetian-era building. Decent…
Hania Province
Fortuna, on the left before the entrance to the town, is a great open-air place for a late-night drink. Things really get going after midnight.
Hania Province
Nostos has a terrace bar and a small indoor club playing Greek and Western music.
