Restaurants in Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi That You’ll Love!

Restaurants in Agios Nikolaos, Crete

There are plenty of restaurants and tavernas serving authentic Cretan cuisine all over Crete, and the best part of it is that you don’t need to be in a big city to enjoy an authentic Cretan meal. The main and trendiest restaurants in the region are in Agios Nikolaos.

This list is continuously updated for you to find the best places to eat in Agios. And I’ve also added and updated restaurants in other towns close to Agios.

Where to Eat in Agios Nikolaos

In no particular order, these are some of the best restaurants, tavernas, and eateries in Agios Nikolaos, the capital of the Lasithi region. They are great places where to eat!

Pelagos

📌 11, Stratigou Koraka, Agios Nikolaos – website

Pelagos is a beautifully decorated restaurant with a lovely outdoor terrace. Its ambiance is relaxing and calm. It is a perfect place to enjoy your meal, be it fresh fish or one of the more traditional Cretan dishes. However, seafood pasta is the most popular dish in Pelagos. The chef and the cooks generally know how to deliver exceptional results.

If you also consider the excellent service by the staff, you start to understand why this restaurant is one of the most visited places in Agios Nikolaos. 

Paradosiako

📌 1-9, Akti Themistokleous, Ag. Nikolaos – website

Again, in the heart of Agios Nikolaos, Paradosiako is a typical Greek tavern surrounded by water in front of the local port. In Greek, paradosiako means traditional, and this says it all about this local restaurant. Here, you can find any popular and traditional Greek dish, from moussakas and pastitsio to fresh fish and gyros. 

The menu’s specialty is galaktoboureko, a handmade custard sweet. Your visit here will be a unique opportunity to order a few little dishes, or “mezedes,” as the Greeks call them, and enjoy the local raki. The view over the small islet in front of the restaurant will make the food taste even better!

Fysalida Wine Bistro

📌 Kon/nou Paleologou, Ag. Nikolaos – website

For a more modern restaurant in Agios Nikolaos, visit Fysalida, a wine restaurant in the heart of the village. Here, you can enjoy your meal in a relaxed setting with chilled-out vibes and quality music. The menu is unique, with some atypical Greek dishes and a wide selection of wines. In addition, the servers are professional and very attentive.

They will even bring you a free side plate for your wine. Most importantly, if you cannot choose which bottle of wine to go for, the waiters are knowledgeable and can help you make the right choice.

Migomis Piano Restaurant

📌 20, Nikolau Plastira, Ag. Nikolaos – website

If you are looking for elegant and tasty fine dining, this restaurant above Lake Voulismeni might be the place for you. Charming atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious dishes… do you need anything else? Some best-sellers include sauteed salmon and shrimp risotto.

Sweets deserve a special mention, especially the fantastic honey mousse with walnut cake. The location is romantic, opposite the lake, and the views are amazing.

Basilico Ristorante

📌 3, Akti Atlantidos, Ag. Nikolaos – website

Featuring amazing sea views opposite Mirabello Bay and only steps from the port, this central restaurant in serves delicious Italian cuisine with Greek influences. You can also find classic Greek dishes such as moussaka or pastitsio and Cretan delicacies such as lamb and goat.

Basilico is famous for its pizzas and seafood and has earned excellent online reviews for its fresh cuisine and affordable prices. The restaurant takes pride in its very Greek wine list.

Ergospasio, Elounda

📌 5, Akti Oloundos, 5, Elounda, Lasithi – website

Located in a dreamy location above the sea, Ergospasio is one of the best restaurants in Elounda. Its menu features Mediterranean flavors created from the finest Greek products. Fresh seafood is a staple in this venue, a former carob processing factory.

The relaxing vibe close to the sea makes it the perfect place to enjoy their interesting wine selection as you enjoy the sunset behind the sea.

Ōkeanís Bistro, Elounda

📌 7, Akti Poseidonos, Elounda, Lasithi – website

It is one of the most popular restaurants in town, known for serving traditional Cretan food with a modern twist. To find a table, you need to book ahead of time.

The place is known for serving the best beef stifado in the region. However, I recommend trying their pasta dishes, tender grilled octopus, and a Greek classic: moussakas.

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MamaLukia & Lotzeta Restaurant

📌 Agios Nikolaos-Sitia Road, Istron Village – website

Located in the wonderful Kalo Xorio, Istron, MamaLukia serves Mediterranean cuisine and also offers vegan and vegetarian options. Open to the public from breakfast time until late in the evening, it never fails to deliver delicious food and a warm welcome!

Among the dishes you should try here are a delicious selection of starters (including their amazing kolokithokeftedes -zucchini fritters). The restaurant also serves fish and Cretan cuisine. Prices are very reasonable.

Miliaras Taverna, Latsida Village

📌 Agios Antonios, Road Latsidas-Lasithi – website

Sometimes, even dining by the sea can get boring. Thankfully, Crete is full of villages in the mountains or hidden places, where you can also find incredible restaurants.

Milaras is one such place, 8 kilometers west of Agios Nikolaos. This family-owned business offers some of the most delicious and authentic dishes in Crete… and some say in Greece! If you are a meat lover, remember to try the local goat. After all, one of the specialties of the restaurant is goat spaghetti.

Those who love more traditional tastes should try their meat skewers. At the same time, those seeking unique experiences should look at the picture! However, because of its popularity, Milaras is usually busy with locals and tourists. So remember to get in early to find an empty table.

Platanos, Kritsa Village

📌 Kritsotopoulas, Kritsa, Ag. Nikolaos – website

Located in the center of the village Krista, Platanos is a picturesque tavern in a green environment. The outdoor seating area is full of trees and offers a nice view of the main street. You can enjoy your meal while watching the locals come and go. It is a lovely spot to see life in a typical mountainous village in Crete.

The menu offers traditional Greek dishes, desserts, and drinks. There is also a wide selection of meat and vegetarian options. Finally, Platanos is the place to go even during the hottest summer day. The trees and altitude mean the dining area is always cool and shaded. All in all, Platanos is a lovely spot to enjoy your lunch or dinner.

Xatheri, Authentic Cretan Cuisine (Kroustas)

📌 Kroustas village, Main road, Lasithi – website

One of the place we make time to visit when exploring Agios Nikolaos is Xatheri, a fantastic Cretan restaurant in the small village of Kroustas serving modern Cretan cuisine in a traditional village home.

Over here, you will find fresh ingredients from the region, cooked to perfection and respecting ancient cooking techniques. Try their cheese, pies, the stunning Cretan salad, and the impressive meat grilled on the spot. The place is very popular, so I suggest you book in advance.

Elia Restaurant, Agkathia Village (Palekastro)

📌 Agkathia, Palekastro, Sitia – Lasithi – website

There is always a great place to eat nearby, wherever you are in Crete. Elia Restaurant is a testimony to that. Located in the most eastern part of Crete, in the tiny village of Agkathia, Elia is a traditional Greek restaurant you want to visit if you are near or spending a day on the paradisiac beaches of Chiona or Kouremenos.

Apart from the standard menu and plates, there are daily specials that you can see in the kitchen before you order! Quality and taste are always superb and guaranteed. You can notice the dedication and love the owners put into this restaurant. 

They even use their self-produced olive oil, which you can taste or purchase. In short, Elia should be among your first options if you want to taste authentic Cretan food.

Inodion, Sitia

📌 157, El. Venizelou Sitia – Lasithi – website

In the northeastern part of Crete, in the seaside town of Sitia, Inodion is the local place to go if you are looking for quality Greek food. This is a great place to stop after visiting the Vai Palm Beach, a few minutes from Sitia.

Here, you can choose a wide variety of traditional Greek dishes made with care by the dedicated cooking team. The owner and staff are also very professional and attentive, eager to provide the best possible service to you and your company. If you want, you can ask them for any meal or place recommendations. They are extremely talkative and friendly. You will notice that from the first moment.

Cretan House (Kritiko Spiti), Sitia

📌 10, Kon/nou Karamanli St., Sitia – Lasithi – website

Cretan House is what the name suggests: a place to summarize and showcase the beauty of Crete. There are three main reasons you will fall in love with that restaurant in Sitia: delicious food, warm hospitality, and incredible scenery. It is indeed a miniature of the entire Crete.

If that is not enough, the portions in Cretan House are particularly generous. Even the pricing is better than the competition. In short, you cannot but love Cretan House, just as you love Crete.

Estiatorio Kleio, Ierapetra

📌 Lebadea, Ierapetra – Lasithi – website

On the outskirts of Ierapetra, Kleio is another beachfront tavern right on top of Livadi Beach. Their menu includes both traditional and modern Greek dishes at reasonable prices and with great taste.  What you will love the most about Kleio is nothing else but the atmosphere.

The waves fall a few meters from the tables, with only sand and a few sunbeds between you and the water. If that is not enough, the place is full of trees that offer natural shade and can keep you cool even during the hottest summer day. Thanks to that, Kleio can also be a lovely venue for a romantic dinner under the stars. 

Vira Potzi, Ierapetra

📌 82, Samouil St., Ierapetra – Lasithi – website

Another great restaurant in Ierapetra is Vira Potzi, right in the local port’s center. Not only can you enjoy the view over the water, but you can also admire the beauty and majesty of the nearby old fort of the village. It is a truly serene location to enjoy your meal.

The cooks at Vira Potzi prepare everything with great care and attention to detail. The menu offers a selection of traditional Greek dishes and plenty of vegetarian options. Finally, the staff is super friendly and makes the right recommendations for enjoying your meal.

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→ Restaurants in Ierapetra, Lasithi That You’ll Love!

L’Angolo, Ierapetra

📌 37, Akti Markopoulou, Ierapetra – Lasithi – website.

If you would like a break from Greek food, Ierapetra has its fair share of options to try other cuisines. L’angolo is one such restaurant where you can enjoy a lovely Italian meal.

There are also Greek dishes, but the place’s identity and specialty are Italian food. This is the place to go for pizza, carbonara, or ravioli.

The scenery is nothing short of a majestic modern restaurant opposite the sea. The nearest table is only a few centimeters away and above the water. Thus, L’angolo is not easily comparable to any other Italian place on the island.

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