Restaurants in Rethymnon That You Will Love!

If you’re spending your vacation in Rethymnon, you’ve probably sorted out where you’re staying. And if you’re now in town and reading this, it’s probably dinner time. If you’re looking for a great restaurant in Rethymnon, you’ve arrived at the right place.

Over here, you will find a list of the top restaurants in the old town and some nearby villages. I’ve included restaurants for any budget and a link to authentic reviews! Bon appetit!

Restaurants in Rethymnon Town

In no particular order (well, kind of…!), these are among my most beloved restaurants in Rethymnon and the ones I’d suggest you visit when visiting Crete.

Avli

📍Xanthoudidou & Radamanthios Streets – see the website.

I urge you to book a table at Avli, which is probably the most enchanting garden in town. It is home to fabulous cuisine and authentic Cretan hospitality.

Their impressive menu features fresh local products made with creativity and impeccable touches of taste. Are you looking for unique flavors? Try their slow-cooked wild goat with honey, thyme, and petimezi (grape molasses). Avli is also one of the finest boutique hotels on the island. It offers a wonderful a-là-carte breakfast for both guests and non-guests.

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7 Thalasses

📍89, Stamathoudaki Street, Rethymnon – see the website.

7 Thalasses (which translates as Seven Seas) is a Mediterranean food restaurant serving delicious, fresh seafood right by the sea!

The restaurant, part of the Thalassa Boutique Hotel, features stunning fish platters, local specialties, and dishes with a clear Mediterranean influence. If you’re in the hint for freshness and utter quality combined with unique sea views and paired with a top wine list, then this place won’t disappoint.

You can also visit 7 Thalasses in Heraklion (Iraklitou & Irodotou 1, Nea Alikarnassos).

Lemonokipos

📍100, Eth. Antistaseos, Rethymnon Old Town – see the website.

The name of this place, Lemonokipos, is translated from Greek as Lemon Tree Garden. And no wonder! This restaurant featured a lovely garden overlooking the main Mikrasiaton Square in the Old Town, opposite the impressive Neratze Mosque.

Sit at the wooden table under the foliage of lemon and pomegranate trees and enjoy a delicious dinner or just a coffee and their iconic Lemon tart. If you do come for a meal, don’t overlook the outstanding seafood choice. The menu also features Cretan and Mediterranean-inspired dishes made with fresh local ingredients. If you’re a wine lover, check out their extensive collection of carefully selected Cretan and Greek wines.

Asikiko

📍13, Emmanouil Vernardou Street, Rethymnon Old Town – see the website.

This traditional Cretan restaurant should be on your list. I adore their grill mix meat plate on a wooden board and a carafe of their signature Rakomelo. The place, in a narrow alley of Rethymnon’s Old Town, features inside and outside dining areas only steps from the historic Neratze Mosque.

The evenings here are amazing, featuring traditional Cretan music and the magical lights from the colorful old-fashioned lamps. This place is always busy in the evening, so it is better to make a reservation if you decide to have dinner there.

CAVO Rethymnon Restaurant

📍13, Akrotiriou Street, Rethymnon – see the website.

Situated directly on the sea rocks, this elegant restaurant in Rethymnon is perfect for a romantic dinner. Enjoy your meal with the sea splashing nearby and observe the magnificent view over Rethymnon Bay and the Fortezza. Their menu offers some of the greatest Cretan dishes, with only Cretan organic ingredients.

Their Graviera cheese and the daily grilled fish should definitely be on your list. Complement your meal with their carefully selected premium wines, or go for a signature cocktail.

Prima Plora – The Food Experience

📍4, Akrotiriou Street, Rethymnon – see the website.

It is one more stunning place for a romantic dinner by the sea and, hands down, one of my favorite restaurants in Crete, which I’ve visited more than once! Prima Plora is set in a wonderful location and remains one of the top places to dine in Rethymnon.

The restaurant’s menu offers a fantastic selection of fresh seafood, from sushi to more traditional choices, with fine cuisine attached to every dish. Romantic, elegant, and delicious, this is another must in Rethymnon for great food.

La Boheme

📍15, Souliou Street, Rethymnon Old Town – see the website.

If you’re looking for an inspiring place to enjoy a memorable dinner, head to La Boheme in the Old Town of Rethymnon. It’s a fabulous place, with fresh and creative Cretan delicacies served by a super courteous staff.

Baked vegetables, great meat, and a magnificent selection of wines taste better in the fantastic outdoor setting of La Boheme. Mediterranean cuisine at its best.

Bankery, Tasty Flirts

📍2, Dimitraki Street, Rethymnon – see the website.

You can’t miss this bustling place in the center. A trendy café-restaurant that can offer whatever choice you’re in the mood for. Crispy pastry, hearty breakfasts, a stunning all-day menu, and fast-food choices freshly cooked daily. As a plus, they have a great bar with professional bartenders making premium quality coffee and exceptional drinks.

I love this place for a fulfilling pasta dish (like the gnocchi in the picture), a brunch with a salmon burger, or a refreshing salad with shrimp and oranges. The restaurant’s wonderful interior design changes according to the season.

Thalassographia

📍33, Kefalogiannidon Street – Rethymnon – see the website.

If you want to dine surrounded by a remarkable atmosphere and the spectacular landscape of Rethymnon’s Fortezza, visit Thalassographia.

When in Rethymnon, it’s a good idea to check out this bar and restaurant in a quiet area of town.
You will enjoy delicious seafood and splurge on the fantastic sea view. Pair some crispy fried fish with an ice-cold beer to start a magnificent dinner by the sea.

Raki BaRaki

📍17, Arabatzoglou Street, Rethymnon – see the website.

Another of my favorite places in town, don’t miss Raki BaRaki if you’re looking for a more relaxed, informal atmosphere, authentic Cretan mezes, and a couple of shots of tsikoudia.

The most stunning selection of Cretan dishes, from mussels to sausages, Cretan kalitsounia pastries to snails or rabbit stew, and much more! Enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of one of the best places to eat in town.

La Casa di Hari’s 

📍20, Mesologgiou Street, Rethymnon – see the website.

The pizzeria has a pleasant interior design with interesting details, like a big painting of the ancient Greeks cooking pizza. Yet, the flavors are Cretan. Try their Cretan pizza with smoked pork and chicken apaki (a locally curated meat) topped with Kefalotyri and dry Anthotyro cheese.

If you want something sweet, go to Hari’s Creperie (next door, 10 Mesologgiou St.). People come from all over Crete to eat here, and they have amazing homemade pizzas and pasta dishes.

Pancakes and waffles are a piece of art! All with different toppings, fruits, syrups, chocolates, and cookies. The menu is full of choices. They also serve savory waffles and pancakes with salami, cheese, bacon, and other ingredients.

My favorite? Hari’s Special – a waffle with all the possible toppings, including ice cream, fresh strawberries, and bananas, but also chocolate cookies, white and dark chocolate, and even caramelized popcorn! Both places are always busy, so getting your order can take a long time, but it is 100% worth it!

Mojo Burgers

📍28, Damvergi Street, Rethymnon – see the website.

This has been one of my favorite places since my first trip to Rethymnon years ago! It is a place where you will not only taste their delicious burgers but also want to leave your signature on the wall!

Not far from the new port, in one of the small alleys of the old town, this is a fantastic place for an informal meal. Try their Μichael Jackson Burger, with Philadelphia cheese, bacon, tomato, and onions. Check out their chicken nuggets and homemade onion rings.

Veneto Wine Restaurant

📍4, Epimenidou Street, Rethymnon Old Town – see the website.

Check out this great place in the heart of the old town, which has stunning reviews—and for good reason! With a certified Cretan menu, the restaurant and hotel offer stunning local dishes based on traditional local recipes, using only certified ingredients, such as 100% organic vegetables from local producers and fish from the Cretan Sea.

Discover the spectacular atmosphere of the old building, dine in their cozy garden, and enjoy the friendly service that makes Veneto one of the best restaurants in Rethymnon. If all that was not enough, peruse their centennial wine cellar, featuring over a hundred labels from the island, Greece, and the rest of the world.

Derlikatessen

📍8 Eth. Antistaseos, Rethymnon Old Town – see the website.

I can honestly say that here you can have some of the best gyros in Rethymnon! Derlikatessen (yes, you read it right!) is in the old town directly after passing the Guora Gate. The service is extremely fast. Everything is cooked right in front of you, which will make you even hungrier!

You can either order your food to take away or sit at a table outside, observing the lively main street of the Old Town. Order a classic pita gyro (chicken or pork) or discover their grilled choices, like one whole chicken or lamb chops. All the portions here are huge, but the prices are not! Another advantage of this place is that they have a vegan-friendly menu.

EATING OUT IN THE REGION
When exploring the region of Rethymnon, do not miss a dinner in a seaside tavern, maybe at sunset, enjoying the delicious local tastes, a good glass of wine, and pleasant company. Exploring the villages surrounded by the Cretan mountains and soaking in the island’s natural landscapes is also a great idea.

These two restaurants are not in town, but they are perfect for trying the most authentic local flavors, so if you don’t mind driving, check them out!

Taverna tou Zisi

📍63, Machis Kritis, Misiria, Rethymno – see the website.

Probably among the most popular places in the area, Taverna tou Zisi is not exactly in the old town but close to the center. It is a staple place in the region for good Cretan food.

Goules Tavern – Traditional Cretan Food

📍Goulediana Village, Rethymnon – see the website.
One of the top-rated restaurants in the region, Goules Tavern, lives up to its impeccable reputation. They offer a selection of old-time recipes with traditional Cretan traits, including plenty of herbs and tasty spices from the surrounding countryside.

A menu that features the local motto of a little bit of all, including plenty of fragrant Cretan olive oil and strictly fresh products. Their salads add to the experience of a wonderful road trip ride through the local landscape.

This is just a selection of the places I enjoy and where I usually meet with friends when having a night out in Rethymnon.

Rethymnon features so many restaurants, tavernas, and places to try delicious local food that you wouldn’t know which one to pick. Hopefully, this guide has given you an idea about where to have your next Cretan meal in town! What restaurant will you visit?

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Guide to the Best Restaurants in Rethymnon, Crete

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