The counters in Heraklion worth queuing for: bread, pastry, and the morning ritual.
Bakery counters in Heraklion worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
Phyllosophies is the bougatsa house on Lions Square in Heraklion, opening its phyllo by hand every morning since 1922 and across three generations.
OrderBougatsa with myzithra, honey and walnuts
TipAlso bakes chortopites, tyropites, baklava and loukoumades, all from the same hand-opened phyllo.
Kirkor has baked bougatsa on Lions Square in Heraklion for generations, and is still the first place locals name when you ask them about breakfast.
OrderBougatsa with custard, cinnamon and icing sugar
TipA bougatsa counter rather than a cafe, so expect to eat standing or take it away.
Savoidakis bakes right across Heraklion, and its kalitsounia are the ones food tours stop for, alongside a long counter of sweets and gelato.
OrderKalitsounia, the Cretan cheese pie
TipA Heraklion chain with several city branches. The Dikaiosinis counter is the handiest one from the Agora.
Artopoiio Christoforos Veneris bakes bread, pies and tsoureki on Evans in central Heraklion, with the oven working directly beneath the shop.
OrderTsoureki, plain or with chocolate
TipThe bakery works below the shop, so the pastries come up warm. At Christmas it bakes a chocolate panettone.
Veneris Bakery & Coffee is the neighbourhood bakery on Meandrou in Heraklion, where the owner still makes the breads and the pastries himself.
OrderA savoury pastry straight off the tray
TipFamily-run and far enough from the tourist streets that the queue is almost entirely local rather than visiting.
Kritikos Fournos runs bakeries across Heraklion, and the Ikarou branch is the easy stop for ekmek kataifi and a box of cakes to carry back home.
OrderEkmek kataifi, the syrup and cream classic
TipA Heraklion chain with several branches, useful because the Ikarou shop opens early on the airport road.
Queen Boulangerie is the late-opening patisserie on Agiou Titou in Heraklion, baking through the day and still selling pastries at eleven at night.
OrderA pastry from the late-night counter
TipThe counter runs late into the evening, so it covers the gap after the tavernas stop serving.
Costis Patisserie bakes on the Knossos road out of Heraklion, selling cakes, sweets and coffee to take away from morning through to late evening.
OrderA slice from the cabinet with a Greek coffee
TipOn the Knossos road, so it works as a stop coming back from the palace rather than a city-centre errand.
Crumb Healthy Living Lab is the Heraklion bakery to know if you avoid gluten or sugar, with clear labelling and a plant-leaning brunch menu.
OrderA gluten-free cake with specialty coffee
TipOne of very few Heraklion bakeries that labels gluten-free and sugar-free clearly on every item in the cabinet.
Day trip · 5 hours
Discover the vineyards and ancient architecture of Knossos, on a private full-day Crete journey, with a light lunch and wine.
3 hours
Watch the sun come up over the Lasithi Plateau from a hot air balloon, then celebrate back on the ground with sparkling wine and a real Greek breakfast. One of the bes...
Day trip · 9 hours
Experience the cultural fusion of Rethimno's historic charm and Margarites' artisanal mastery. Delight in a sensory journey of oil and honey tasting, a blend of tradition,