Can’t decide where to eat on your trip to Crete? I’ve got you covered.
First and foremost, you’re going to Greece to get a taste of the culture. You'll find delicious and freshly-made meat dishes in Crete, including souvlaki, seafood, mixed grills, pasta dishes, and much more. You can also find plenty of vegetarian options, such as Moussaka and Gemista (stuffed vegetables).
There were always lots of options when we went out for food, but if you’re visiting for longer than a week, the options may eventually become repetitive.
In order to make the most out of the delicious dishes Crete had to offer, we broke up our trip with a couple of different cuisine choices, including one of the best burger places I have ever eaten at and the most delicious Italian restaurant right at the seafront.
This helped introduce more variety into our dinner times and meant we could enjoy plenty of chicken souvlaki without getting fed up.
The sheer amount of atmospheric tavernas and cafes around Crete can make mealtime decision-making seem almost impossible.
And whilst the truth is that you could blindly choose any one of them with the guarantee of a hearty, home-cooked meal, if you’re looking for the best of the best (I’m talking 5-star Greek ambience, friendly service, and impeccable food), here’s a selection of my top-rated places to eat, in and around Plaka, Crete:
Takis Taverna, Plaka
This was our very first taste of Cretan cuisine, conveniently located a two-minute drive from our villa.
Takis Taverna is surrounded by several other popular eateries, but what makes Takis stand out is the combination of friendly and accommodating customer service and the variety of options provided on the menu.
You could easily visit Takis several nights in a row and be able to choose a completely unique and delicious selection of courses. Though after trying their chicken Souvlaki, I’d found the 5-star dish I was going to stick to.
Like the majority of surrounding tavernas, Takis is your typical Greek restaurant - artfully decorated, homely, and inviting.
During the Summer season, seating was arranged outside, scattering outwards from underneath a covered area into the street. There was also live music on both Sundays we visited, which really added to our dining experience.
On a couple of occasions, we ordered pizzas to take away, and they never disappointed us. But it wasn’t just the food that kept enticing us back: the servers were very polite and friendly, and it was clear that they had a genuine interest in ensuring our meal and dining experience was the best it could be.
What more could you ask for?
Staras Comfort Food Gerani, Rethymnon
This was probably our most atmospherically authentic Greek dining experience.
Staras Comfort Food is tucked deep into a series of winding roads and village houses. This was definitely one of those Mary Poppins moments: what didn’t look to be much from the outside opened up to an absolutely beautiful dining area, complete with creative decor, unique seating, and even a small theatre out the back!
Since we were one of the first groups of customers to arrive that evening, we were offered our choice of seating. Once we spotted the small, private tables overlooking the restaurant from a platform above, our decision was made. These two tables sit slightly higher than the rest of the restaurant, and manage to create the perfect combination of being a part of the action whilst retaining privacy.
Once seated, we were promptly attended to by the servers. Whilst on the more expensive side, the quality and quantity of the food explains the cost.
I ordered the ribs and was rendered speechless (a rare occurrence) when my dish was placed in front of me; it certainly put British serving sizes to shame. Not to mention that the ribs were deliciously cooked in a sauce that was homemade by the restaurant, and the crispy potatoes made a nice change to the typical straight-cut chips we’d been having elsewhere.
Again, the service was fast and friendly. As a group, we all agreed that this restaurant got top marks for taste and quality! If we had been in Crete for slightly longer, we would definitely have come back.
Trattoria Don Nikos, Italian Restaurant
I know what you might be thinking: why would you go to an Italian restaurant, in Greece? Let me explain…
Trattoria Don Nikos was the perfect variation from the Souvlaki and chips we had eaten almost every night. The restaurant offers a wide selection of pastas and pizzas which you can enjoy with a clear view of the sun setting over the sea.
Talk about an immersive experience, we were essentially sitting above the waves! It was such a beautiful restaurant by the beach, benefitting from views of the surrounding mountains, and plenty of bars, dessert stops, and shops in the area.
We ordered a couple of garlic breads to start, as well as some mozzarella, prosciutto, and pesto spring rolls. Even though there was plenty to go around, we still found ourselves fighting over the last slice.
The pasta Ragú was my favourite; it was very flavoursome and filling, and not like your typical tomato bolognese. I was sceptical when the dish arrived and it didn’t look saucy and vibrant red like I’m used to, but it was one of the best Italian dishes I have ever tried.
We also tried a couple of the pizzas which were delicious and big enough that we had to take a box home
with leftovers!
The servers were very accommodating, specifically when we were surprised by a spontaneous bout of rainfall at the beginning of the meal. They promptly moved us inside and apologised for the commotion, of which they had no control over.
At the end of each meal, we were given a complimentary dessert which changed depending on the night, but was great both times we visited.
If you’re staying locally, it’s definitely worth giving this restaurant a try.
Psaros Restaurant, Almyrida
This restaurant is busy for a reason: the food is great, the location is ideal, and the service is friendly and fast. It is another great spot for authentic Greek cuisine.
For its choice of menu options, I would rank this restaurant up there with Takis. However, the vibe is completely different. At Psaros, you are sat right by the sea, overlooking a beautiful view of the sunset which sets it apart from its local competitors.
The restaurant remained busy for the duration of our meal, with the waiters having to find ways to manoeuvre some of the tables to fit more people inside. The reason for its popularity is evident when the food arrives, freshly prepared and served with a smile!
This is another example of a restaurant that does not skimp on portion sizes. Specifically with the fried potatoes that we ordered for starters: we expected a couple of small bowls to share between six, but received two large serving plates piled high with crispy, golden potato slices.
If you're staying locally, you don't have to travel far to find delicious places to eat in, like Psaros Restaurant.
Mojo Burgers, Rethymnon
I have never had a better burger, in my life. Mojo Burgers is hidden down a small alleyway just outside the centre of the village. It can easily be missed from its outside appearance, but it is an absolute gem that lives up to the abundance of five-star reviews on TripAdvisor.
If you walk inside the restaurant, you can watch the servers grilling your burger fresh on the grill; the preparation that goes into making this food can really be tasted.
The burgers are absolutely huge, but we all managed to finish them because they were just so tasty. Each burger also came with a side portion of chips which were crispy and full of flavour.
Moving on to the onion rings: these were the best onion rings on planet Earth.
I sometimes find that onion rings have the wrong proportion of onion to batter, but Mojo Burgers found the happy medium. They arrived still piping hot and dusted with what must have been paprika seasoning. The onion wasn't stringy or tough, it was soft and perfectly balanced the crispiness of the ring.
Considering how great the food was, Mojo Burgers never appears to be very busy. This turned out to be a bonus for us though because it meant we found seating both times we visited. Our food was cooked super fast which worked perfectly because it meant we could have a quick dinner before exploring the town centre and busy streets. I actually quite liked the secludedness of the area for this reason: we were able to enjoy a family meal out without the constant string of pedestrian traffic that you find in busier parts of this town.
Ultimately, I can completely understand the reviews online that wish there was something similar in the UK. Mojo Burgers is an award-worthy burger bar, perfect for a quick, filling, and delicious bite.
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