Practical information : Eating out Crete
Timetable
In season, most of the restaurants, taverns and mezzedopoleia are open from 9am until midnight, and even until the last customers, without interruption: they also serve breakfast, snacks, and brunches. In general, lunch service is from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm and dinner service from 7:00 pm to midnight.
Budget & Tips
On average, a good meal in Crete costs around €20 per person. Prices rise very quickly when ordering fresh fish or shellfish. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it's always advisable to find out the price of fish per kilo.
What costs extra
Remember to leave a small tip of about 10% of the bill, because in Greece it is not included in the price.
The local way
Don't hesitate to order several dishes instead of one main course for each: it allows you to taste several local specialties at once! If you accompany your meals with raki, drink in moderation! It is almost customary, anyway, that after a meal, the establishment offers you a glass of raki accompanied by some seasonal fruits or Cretan pastries.
To be avoided
Avoid establishments where prices are not clearly displayed on the menu card and especially avoid establishments that are not frequented by locals.
Kids
Cretans love children! You will never have the impression in restaurants that your children are disturbing the general atmosphere. On the contrary! They often become little kings for the locals, especially in the villages.
Smokers
In Greece, the law against smoking in public places has been in place since 2008, but it has never been respected in bars, clubs and open-air cinemas: for more than 10 years, people smoked everywhere, without restriction, despite the law. The conservative Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis, elected in July 2019, promised that the law would be enforced from now on. Since his election, fines have been put in place to charge both establishments and customers who would not respect the law. It remains to be seen whether this will materialize in practice.
Tourist traps
In the big cities and tourist places, you will sometimes be solicited by many people in front of their restaurants: they will do everything to convince you that this is the best address! Only agree to follow them if you are sure of your choice, especially when it comes to restaurants on very touristy streets.