Food & Drinks – Places to eat and drink in Crete

What kind of establishment offers what and what you can expect

What kind of place is it, actually?

There are many different types of establishments in Crete, and not all of them are restaurants in the traditional sense. If you know the difference between a taverna, a kafeneio and a psitopoleio, you will have a better idea of what to expect and avoid disappointment.

This page is intended to help you classify the typical types of establishments in Crete: not as a rating, but as a guide.

A few thoughts from practice

Anyone who eats out in Greece will quickly notice that not all restaurants are the same here. There are tavernas, mezedopolia, psitopolia and kafeneia, and each has its own character. If you confuse them, you may quickly find yourself standing there with a glass of raki in your hand when you actually only wanted a coffee. Or you may end up in the middle of a cloud of smoke from the grill when you thought you were getting fish. But don't worry, with a little basic knowledge, you'll find your way around Greece's culinary labyrinth. Whether you want to feast in a tavern, share appetisers in a mezedopoleio, conquer mountains of meat in a psitopolio, or listen to village stories in a kafeneion, you'll go home full, happy and slightly tipsy at the end of the day.

Tavern

The tavern is the traditional restaurant for hot meals and social gatherings.
It is the classic Greek restaurant, the place where families, friends and neighbours come together to eat, drink and talk. The food here is usually simple, honest home cooking: moussaka, souvlaki, fried courgettes or fish straight from the grill. The atmosphere is often rustic and cosy, with chequered tablecloths, open wine carafes and lots of laughter.

Mezedopoleio

Mezedopoleio is all about sampling and enjoying lots of small dishes together, making it perfect for sitting and chatting for hours.
Mezedopoleio is, so to speak, the little sister of the taverna, specialising less in large main courses and more in lots of small plates. You order several ‘mezedes’, or starters, to share: fava, octopus, cheese balls, dolmadakia or fried sardines. These are accompanied by raki, ouzo or wine, and the whole experience is relaxed and unhurried.

Psitopolio

Psitopolio is a grill restaurant. Fast, hearty, meat-heavy and usually without any frills.

A psitopolio is the Greek version of a grill house. Here, everything revolves around meat: skewers, chicken, pork, lamb, often straight from the charcoal grill. Many also offer takeaway, and you can smell the smoke and spices from afar. The atmosphere is uncomplicated, the food hearty and filling.

Kafeneion

The kafeneion is a traditional village café, more of a social meeting place than a restaurant.

Kafeneions are a piece of Greek cultural history. People don't meet here to eat, but to talk, play games and drink coffee. In the past, it was the domain of the men in the village, who would spend hours discussing or playing cards over Greek coffee and raki. Today, it is more open, but the spirit is the same: it's about community, not the menu.

Cafés, bars and hybrids

In Crete, the boundaries are fluid. Many establishments cannot be clearly assigned to one category.

You will often find:

  • Cafés that also serve small meals in the evening
  • Taverns that operate as cafés during the day
  • Establishments that change depending on the time of day

A glance at the time of day, the guests and what is on offer often says more than the sign on the door.

Keep expectations realistic

A common reason for disappointment is not the food, but false expectations of the restaurant.

It helps to:

not compare every restaurant to a fine dining establishment

not equate simplicity with poor quality

embrace the character of the place

If you know where you are sitting, you will also have a better understanding of what is being served.

Conclusion: The right venue makes all the difference

In Crete, it is often not the court that decides, but the type of restaurant that determines the experience. Those who know the differences make more informed choices and enjoy themselves more.

Not every restaurant is suitable for every situation. But in Crete, there is a suitable restaurant for every situation.