8 replies to this topic

[Julie]

Hasn't anyone ever had a good, reasonably priced meal in Iraklion? I can't believe it, so I'm trying again.

Here's a copy of my last week's post:

I will be in Iraklion for one night on 5 May on my way to Chania and Loutro the next day. My Easyjet flight arrives at 20.55, so supper will be late. I'm staying at the Irini. I'd love recommendations for a nice, central, traditional and reasonably priced eating place that will still be open after 22.00pm. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

(Yannis?)

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[Dinny]

Well, Julie, I did read your post... and in my mind I went back to a couple of hours spent with a friend of mine trying to find not just a good place to eat, but a place to eat. OK, arriving in Heraklion we decided to park near the harbour and then go looking for some place for lunch... but we were walking and walking up and down all the streets and nothing was to be found if not "souvlaki places", which was not what we were looking for. Asking for advice we were told to go down to the center of Heraklion, we wouldn't find anything in that area. I was so surprised though, how can you have a whole area of a big city with no restaurants open for lunch? Well, it's not that they weren't open. They were just not there! We did see a sort of fancy looking restaurant, totally empty at lunch time with an impatient waitress walking up and down. We checked the prices on the menu and decided that this was certainly not a place we wanted to go. Enormous prices combined with an empty place... you don't fall for that, do you? ;-)

OK, we didn't have any power left to walk all the way down to the center, so we just went back to the car, thinking that we might find a place in some nearby village... and then we noticed where we had parked: almost in front of McDonalds! I promised my friend, Christina, that I would never ever tell her sons... and then we went in for some burgers and McChickens! ;-)))

On a later occasion where the parking took place on the big square close to the center I noticed there were lots of restaurants of any kind in the small streets close to the square. I am sure they don't close before 22 hrs in the season, since the Greeks only start to have dinner around 21 hrs... so if that's your part of Heraklion, you should have no problem finding a decent place to eat.

Sorry I can't be more specific, I don't really know the names of the places in Heraklion! Meaning: I don't even know in which area your hotel is located!

Good luck! :-)
Dinny

[Kritsa Yvonne]

You will be spoilt for choice for places to eat and as Dinny says, Greek people eat out late often not arriving in a restaurant or Taverna until 10.30/11.00 p.m. and then there is no rush to leave.

If you want to walk from your hotel just ask the receptionist where they would go to eat locally or trust a taxi driver - they are almost bound to have a relative with interest in a "good" place to eat.

Walking through the centre of Iraklio is safe, well lit and pedestrianised and right in the centre by the Lion fountain there are many places selling souflkia and gyros so if you don't want posh but local you might like to try some see this link for more info http://www.explorecr...e/souvlaki.html

we have always been impresessed with their low cost, speed and tastyness and more tradition than a McDonalds

Kali orexi (bon appetite)

[Dinny]

Besides.... I am sure Yanni knows exactly where to go, but he hasn't got much time for the forum lately, so why don't you just send him a PM?

[yannis_s]

Hi Julie,
Dinny is right. I haven't got much free time lately, so I rarely check the forum posts. This is why I didn't see your question earlier.

There are fine restaurants in the centre of Heraklion, and many of them are open from noon until late at night.
If you like seafood, then you should try the restaurant next to the Agios Dimitrios church. It is a short distance from your hotel and it will be easy to find it.
There is another one at the roundabout opposite to Koules fortress.
However if you go there on Friday or Saturday night, you may find them full, especially if you go later than 9 pm.

[Ros21]

Hi Julie,

Whenever I eat in Heraklion I always eat at a taverna near to the market, just above lion square. I have taken many different freinds there with me, including my parents. It's off the market, 1866 street, from lion square cross the road & walk up the market & on your left you will come to a side turning which has 2 or 3 tavernas in it. I normally eat at the 1st one on the corner of market street, sorry, I can't remember it's name. I also spoke to people in the vilage that I stay in & that's one of the places they use when in Heraklion. As well as having a menu they also have a display cabinet with the day's specials in it.

Another favourite of mine is called Pitousis, in Amoudara, 5-10 minutes in a taxi. I know they are open until midnight & the food there is also good.

Ros.

[Julie]

Thanks very much, Dinny, Yvonne, Yanni and Ros. I'm definitely spoiled for choice now, and am looking forward to The Meal.

(And Dinny, I won't tell a soul about your trip to MacDonald's.)

[JayC]

We been there at that time that we have to find a place to eat a lunch. It was the time that could have a option where to go. However we look for a restaurant and we hard to find so restaurant. Only we eat a lunch into the house of my friend.

[chorianos]

http://www.nowherakl...estaurants.html