Food and drink keep body and soul together – especially on holiday!
Below, we have put together a few tips for you, including restaurants and taverns that we or our regular guests have tried ourselves. Of course, taste is always a matter of opinion, especially when it comes to food. What one person likes, another may dislike – try it for yourself!
We hope you enjoy yourself and bon appétit!
One of the most romantic places to dine is undoubtedly the Venetian harbour. However, the view of the lighthouse and fishing boats comes at a price. Friends of ours are regulars at Knossos, which is located in a row of tavernas.
Why not try the grilled octopus with tzatziki and a bottle of ouzo, or let the menu inspire you. Enjoy the humorous, multilingual service provided by Stavros and his sister Maria. Next to Knossos, there is a narrow alley that leads directly to the tavern. This way, you can avoid the touts in front of the other restaurants. If you order fresh fish, ask for the price beforehand!
Close to the car park at the harbour, you will find more tavernas if you turn right from the car park towards Fortezza. It is best to take the stairs at the end of the car park. Right at the beginning, you will see the ‘Fanari’ on the right-hand side of the street, which serves Cretan cuisine at reasonable prices.
A little further down the same street, on the left-hand side, is Thalassografia, a mezedopolio where you can put together your own meal from a selection of small plates. The view over the harbour is impressive, and on hot summer nights you can enjoy a drink in the adjoining bar directly below the castle walls, where a cool breeze blows.
In the centre of Rethymno's old town, we also recommend the Agrimia tavern, just a few steps away from Rimondi Fountain. It is located in a row of taverns, but stands out for its exceptional cleanliness and very friendly service. German is also spoken there. We ourselves and many of our guests have eaten there on numerous occasions and have always been very satisfied. You can simply eat à la carte or have various dishes put together to form a meze menu. Just ask the waiters. Mezedes are various dishes on small plates that are placed in the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves. They are available as meat or fish variations. As in many taverns, dessert is on the house
and always accompanied by a raki.
Nearby, at Alana, you will find Greek cuisine such as octopus, as well as steaks, risotto and a selection of pasta dishes. Everything is very tasty and there is also a large selection of fine wines.
Right in the old town is Raki Ba Raki, which serves good food that you can put together yourself on various small plates (mezedes).
If you then walk from here towards Rimoni Fountain, you will discover Mesologiou Street after a few metres. Here you will find Hari's Creperie. They serve excellent cappuccino, ice cream, pancakes and crêpes, with both sweet and savoury fillings.
Right next to the Rimondi Fountain is the Galero, a café open from morning until late at night, where you can get just about any drink you can imagine, from various types of coffee to alcoholic beverages of all kinds. There are also snacks available, and waiter Dimitris will be happy to advise you! In the evening, it's like being at the cinema here, with hundreds of tourists strolling past while you sip your drink. Sometimes fire-eaters and other artists also pass by.
Right on the left, also next to the Rimondi fountain, is a branch of ‘Meli’, where you can get delicious ice cream. The original ‘Meli’ is located directly on the beach promenade, opposite the Marina car park, covered by a beautiful pergola.
For those with a sweet tooth, head around the corner towards Loggia, where you will find ‘Mona Lisa’ on the right-hand side – a Zacharoplastio (similar to a patisserie) that also offers excellent ice cream.
If you are out for a stroll in the old town and fancy a really good coffee and a few snacks, then head to Pantermo, a cool café run by young people. Try bougatsa (pastry made from filo dough and semolina cream) or other snacks. There are not many seats available, but everything is also available to take away.
For a quick bite to eat between meals, for example while shopping in Arkadiou, we recommend Nikos Souvlaki Shop, which serves delicious souvlaki or gyros at unbeatable prices. It is mainly Greeks who shop here, from local grannies to students and shopkeepers from the surrounding area.
There is a good Italian restaurant called Pagliaccio on Strandstraße, just outside the town. The staff are multilingual and attentive. The pizzas are delicious, but the other dishes are also of good quality. It is best to park at the marina and then walk the few minutes to the restaurant.
If you walk from the beach promenade towards the Venetian harbour, you will come across the Pepperoncino, a new pizzeria. It serves all kinds of snacks and very good pizzas.
If you continue towards the Venetian harbour, you will find two gastro bars on the left-hand side, called ‘Livingroom’ and “Queens”, where you can have breakfast, drink coffee or eat cake, and also try the cocktail menu in the evening.
Prima Plora is located in the Koumbes district (near the Atsipopoulo motorway exit, see map above). It is one of the most beautiful places to enjoy dinner right by the sea with a view of the illuminated Fortezza. The food has been consistently good and varied for years, from tasty salads (e.g. rocket with parmesan and tomatoes) to various small dishes to fish and meat. For starters, try the various bruschetta with salmon, grilled sardines or fava beans. For a change, there is also delicious sushi. There is a car park right next to the restaurant. We recommend that you always make a reservation!
There is another tavern right by the sea nearby – about 150 metres into town on the left-hand side. It is called ‘7 Thalasses’ and belongs to the Thalassa Boutique Hotel. You enter the tavern via the hotel entrance and can then sit right by the sea. The food is Greek-Mediterranean with a focus on fish dishes. Unfortunately, parking is not particularly convenient.
Another alternative is Galera. It is located between Prima Plora and 7 Thalasses. Here, too, you can enjoy Greek dishes and fish dishes. There is a car park right next to the restaurant.
In Misiria, you will find Taverna Zisis on the old road to Heraklion. It serves excellent traditional Greek cuisine. You can also choose your food at the counter.
When driving through Armeni (towards Spili), after about 1.5 kilometres, a road branches off to the left towards Kare and Goulediana. Drive to Goulediana. Almost at the
end of the village, in a bend, you will see the ‘Taverne Goules’ on the right-hand side. You can park diagonally opposite. This tavern serves extremely tasty Greek cuisine. The owner cooks according to traditional recipes and uses the best ingredients. All our guests have been very satisfied there so far. There is a menu of main courses that changes every few days; we really enjoyed the braised lamb with vegetables, for example. Let yourself be surprised! The restaurant is open from 2 p.m.
If you drive south from Prines, you will find the Androulidakis tavern on the left-hand side in the next village, Gonia. It is open daily from around 6 p.m. Outside the season, it is closed on Tuesdays. The owner, Mariana, also speaks English. The food is tasty and typical of Greek country cuisine. The kolokithokeftedes (courgette fritters) with tzatziki are particularly delicious. Gonia is only an 8- to 10-minute drive from Kastellos.
In Prines itself, you will find Antonis' small tavern ‘The Olive’ on the new Platia. The mother cooks daily specials, the father barbecues, and the son Antonis takes care of the service. Here you can enjoy good food at reasonable prices! Open daily from around 6 p.m. It is only a few minutes' walk from Villa Sifina.
We particularly enjoyed the food at the Mariou tavern. Drive towards Plakias. Before Plakias, there is a road on the right that goes up the hill. Drive up this road. Turn right at the next crossroads and then drive through the village. When you leave the village, there is a small tarmac road on the left that goes uphill. There is also a small sign there. Drive up this road. The tavern is right at the top. Various dishes are freshly cooked every day. They are usually ready around 1 p.m. All the best Greek country cuisine, plus a great view of Plakias and the sea. Highly recommended.
If you are travelling from Rethymno towards Chania on the motorway, you will see a turn-off for Episkopi at Pirgos. Turn left here and follow the road towards Episkopi. Stay on this road and turn sharp right at the end of the village, then left again after a few metres. Drive past the football pitch (sand pitch); after a few hundred metres you will reach the tavern ‘Kipos tis Arkoudainas’ (Bear Garden). It offers excellent traditional cuisine in a pleasant atmosphere. Particularly noteworthy are the salads with up to 40 ingredients, depending on the season.
If you continue from Episkopi to Argiroupoli, turn right before the Argiroupoli town sign. Follow the sign for ‘Springs of Argyroupolis’. After about one kilometre, you will see several tavernas. Park at the last taverna, ‘Palaios Mylos’. The owner is G. Manousakas. You can sit under shady trees or by the waterfall. They serve fresh trout from their own farm and other good Greek country cuisine under the motto ‘Large portions at small prices’.
Are you planning a day at the beach in Episkopi? Then we recommend Mikro Livadi, just a stone's throw away by car. Sit in a well-shaded garden and enjoy delicious Greek cuisine, much of which is sourced from their own garden.
