Local Food and Drink Guide to Rethymno, Crete, Greece

Breakfast

Earth Flavors:

In the heart of the Old Town near Megali Porta (the Big Door), is a friendly and multigenerational family-run bakery. It’s close to where I live, which means that I go there for breakfast nearly every morning. It has traditional pastries, fresh orange juice, sweets, and homemade ice cream. I like their spinach pies, cheese pies, and pizzas with feta, olives, and tomatoes.

Rustico:

This is a new bakery for Rethymno, opening its doors in 2021, and a great spot to pick up a local pastry or pie for breakfast. It’s within walking distance from the Old Town, and just a block away from Rethymno Beach. Rustico has modernized a lot of classic Greek breakfast options including cheese and spinach pies, sandwiches, pizzas, and pastries. It also sells a wide variety of freshly baked breads. It’s my husband’s favorite spot to grab something quick in the morning.

Koo Koo Brunch Café:

This is centrally located right across from Megali Porta (the Big Door). It’s open year-round, offering service to locals and tourists alike. It has options for grab-and-go, but also serves sit-down breakfast, brunch, and lunch options, including innovative pancakes and waffle dishes, sandwiches, pizzas, pies, and various omelet creations. This is a great place to either sit with a group or choose something to nibble on while strolling down Rethymno’s cobblestone streets.

Gyros / Souvlaki

Gourounaki:

Gourounaki means “little pig” in Greek. It is located a bit outside Rethymno’s Old Town, but offers delivery. This is a classic souvlaki joint that remains open all year long, because the locals love it as much as the tourists. I prefer to order grilled chicken filets in a pita with tzatziki sauce, and vegetable toppings, but the list of sauces and fillings seems to be endless.

Souvlaki Nikos:

This is one of my favorite souvlaki spots in Rethymno. It has been operating by the same family for over fifty years. These traditional pitas, gyros and souvlaki sticks are made fresh every day with classic flavors. It’s a small shop, with a couple of tables inside, as well as outside if you prefer to sit, but I usually get my pita to go. Get the pork souvlaki in a pita with everything!

Bar B.Q.:

This souvlaki restaurant is more spacious than others, especially for being located in the Old Town. It offers the option to sit down with your friends and family, as well as delivery and take-away. It has a relaxing outdoor patio where you can enjoy a leisurely meal. The fried potatoes are a big highlight here, as well as their modern take on gyros and pitas alike.

Lunch / Dinner

Maria’s Taverna:

This traditional and classic taverna is across the street from the entrance to the beach. It’s one of my favorite places to eat in Rethymno, and a perfect lunch spot that won’t break the bank. It has been run by the same local family for over fifty years. The owner and his wife prepare traditional dishes daily and welcome you to peer into their open kitchen, and peek inside the pots and pans to hand-pick your meal. There is outdoor and indoor seating, as well as a takeaway options for dining. I like their pastitsio, beef stew, chickpea stew, and beefteki (Greek hamburgers) with roasted potatoes. I suggest going here for lunch in the early afternoon, as they usually prepare all of the dishes for the day in the morning, and serve them until they run out.

Samaria:

Samaria is a traditional taverna serving homemade Cretan dishes, including stews, seafood, grilled meat, casseroles, salads, dips, and appetizers. It hosts a family-friendly environment, and is a wonderful place to enjoy with your travel group. Samaria is loved by both locals and tourists alike. It has outdoor dining as well as take-out options. It is open for both lunch and dinner seven days a week. The fried calamari, grilled shrimp, grilled pork, and grilled lamb chops are my top recommendations.

Psaras:

This is a restaurant in the center of the Old Town, on the corner of a small, yet ancient square. It’s a fabulous spot to people-watch, located in the midst of shops and adjacent to an Orthodox Church. Most of the seating is outside, while indoor seating is also available. The owners, Manolis and Irina, are close friends of mine. Manolis and Irina keep this restaurant running today, after Manolis’ grandfather opened it decades ago. This restaurant has seafood / fish, meat, pasta, soups, and vegetarian / vegan options. Although most patrons of this restaurant are tourists, it’s not your typical tourist restaurant. The owners and head chef have collaborated in elevating classic Cretan cuisine. Their seafood pasta and lamb kleftiko are my personal favorites here, along with the chocolate cake served a la mode for dessert.

Arabas:

This is a quaint little spot with a few tables nestled outside on the cobblestone street of the Old Town. Arabas is a great place for a group of friends to sample and share small selected plates of traditional Cretan favorites. I love to go here with a group of girlfriends to taste the wonderland of sauces and flavors these plates offer. It has meat, fish / seafood, as well as vegetarian and vegan options. The house wine and traditional Cretan liquors are also quite a treat. Try any of the shared plates, but make sure to especially try their eggplant papoutsakia (eggplant stuffed with minced meat and cheese).

Zisis:

A beloved favorite of locals, and is also enjoyed by several tourists every year. It’s about a 10-15-minute drive from Rethymno’s Old Town. It has a massive outdoor patio, as well as indoor seating. It boasts an extensive menu, focusing on local and traditional Cretan dishes and flavors. There is something for everyone here, including meat, seafood, fish, salads, vegetarian options, pastas, soups, and more. My husband and I are regular patrons here. Their roasted eggplant with tomatoes will melt in your mouth, and prepare your palette for the main course. Any of their lamb dishes are recommended, along with the fried calamari.

Prima Plora:

This gem is one of Rethymno’s more upscale, exotic, and trendy restaurants of choice. It’s located on the outskirts of Old Town, right along the seashore. This is another restaurant that keeps its doors open during the winter months to serve locals, as well as tourists in the high season. It serves mostly seafood, including carefully crafted sushi rolls, salads, raw tartars, pastas, and entrées. There are also a few meat options available. I would suggest ordering a bunch of seafood dishes to share with a family or group. This kitchen strays from traditional Cretan recipes, and focuses on more of a fresh and modern menu with Mediterranean flavors kept at the forefront. All of the raw dishes use organic ingredients, and gluten-free pasta and bread is also available upon request.

Desserts

Unnamed Phyllo Spot:

This hidden nugget of Rethymno’s history is located in an old Venetian Mansion in the heart of Rethymno’s Old Town at 30 Vernardou Street. The owner, and long-time phyllo master, George Hatziparaschos and his wife, have been tirelessly rolling, stretching, flipping, and baking the thinnest phyllo dough known to man since 1960. George and his wife use their phyllo dough to create sweet treats such as baklava and kataifi, which are sold in-house. This spot doesn’t have an official name, but has become a pilgrimage for tourists to seek out and witness the original method of phyllo dough preparation. My mother-in-law would often buy her phyllo from here when making her own desserts at home. Even Greeks from other parts of the country will visit Rethymno to specifically seek this place out.

Skartsilakis Patisserie:

A beloved sweetshop by the locals in Rethymno. If you are in the mood for something sweet, this has traditional desserts, as well as modern and creative style cakes and sweets, plus ice cream made in-house. My husband and I like to sample their cakes, anything with chocolate, but also their lemon-merengue pie. And in the summer time I always opt for their kataifi (shredded phyllo) ice cream.

Mona Lisa:

A traditional and family-run shop of sweets in Rethymno’s Old Town. Mona Lisa has been in business for decades and is a staple of Rethymno. They make their own ice cream from local sheep’s milk. It doesn’t have as an excessive list of ice-cream flavors, like many of the other shops, but quality definitely trumps quantity in this case. I would opt for their rose pedal or pistachio ice cream.

The Cream Society

This is a favorite of mine and my husband. It’s located in Rethymno, outside the old town. The owner studied as a pastry chef in France and has incorporated traditional French techniques, while putting his own unique twist on classic deserts. It’s definitely a fun option for both locals and tourists. They have their own homemade spins on candy-bar classics, such as the Twix Bar. Their chocolate soufflé is crafted with the highest level of expertise, as well as many other luscious cakes and desserts.

Drinks

Home Café:

This spot is located by the sea with a view of Rethymno’s Fortress. This has indoor and outdoor seating serving a fun list of creative cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, coffees, and snacks. The owner, Niko, is a childhood friend of my husband, who has spent most of his life tirelessly studying mixology and the art of cocktails. He always has funky music playing, and sometimes hires DJ’s for weekend parties and events. All of their cocktails are crafted with the highest level of care and expertise. As a wine-lover, I personally prefer their Sangria, but if you’re a cocktail lover, try the Tiki or Creole Pina Colada.

Je T’aime:

This is a newer café for Rethymno, it opened its doors in recent years (2020/2021). It focuses on a French style, and offers a unique variety of coffees, teas, cocktails, cigars, and small sharing plates to savor with a group. Personally, I’m not big on alcohol, but I love the interesting list of ice teas and fruit juices. If you happen to be in the mood for something harder, then the cocktail list will be sure to meet your standards.

Chaplins:

For lovers of rock ‘n’ roll, this is a bar for you. It is open during the day as a café serving drinks, coffees, meals, and snacks. At night, it is a bar dedicated to all things rock ‘n’ roll. There is also a happy hour between 6-7pm daily. This is one of my personal favorites for a night out in Rethymno. Try any one of their signature cocktails, or just a good old-fashioned beer.

Lux Cafe:

This is a trendy fuse between café, lounge, and bar. It has an extensive menu including Mexican and Japanese dishes, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. It is family-friendly during the day, and great for a group of friends to experience Rethymno’s night-life after dark. Order some cocktails, sample plates, and even a hookah to experience Rethymno like a local. This joint is also often featured in the beloved Greek Television Series – Sasmos.