Mediterranean€€Old Town
Granary is the all-day eatery and espresso bar in central Heraklion, pouring Taf Roastery coffee alongside Mediterranean plates and Greek wine.
Signature: Specialty coffee, Mediterranean plates, Greek wines
Order: Specialty filter coffee and whatever is on the day plate
Tip: Named for the Venetian grain store that once stood opposite the Ducal Palace, and it keeps a wide Greek wine list.
Greek€€Old Town
Alla ki Alla is the Kagiampi kitchen in Heraklion that locals fall back on, sending out stuffed mushrooms, fried zucchini balls and meat platters.
Signature: Stuffed mushrooms, Fried zucchini balls, Mixed meat platter
Order: Stuffed mushrooms, with the fried zucchini balls
Tip: On Kagiampi a minute from Peskesi, with stuffed mushrooms and fried zucchini balls among the plates worth ordering.
Greek€Old Town
Hovoli works the charcoal on Daskalogianni square in Heraklion, an unfussy grill house with Cretan salads and prices that stay entirely reasonable.
Signature: Grilled meats, Cretan plates, Salads
Order: Grilled meats off the charcoal with a Cretan salad
Tip: On Daskalogianni square, which is a useful place to eat when the Lions Square terraces are all full.
Caf退Old Town
The Whistler Espresso Bar sits on Agiou Titou in Heraklion, pulling specialty espresso through the day and mixing cocktails deep into the night.
Signature: Espresso, Cocktails, Small plates
Order: An espresso by day, a cocktail after dark
Tip: On Agiou Titou, so it doubles as a coffee stop between the church and the Venetian Loggia.
Greek taverna€€Old Town
Erganos is the taverna Heraklion locals default to, a 1986 dining room beside Kazantzakis park with goat, keftedes and honeyed sfakianopites.
Signature: Sfakianopita, Goat, Keftedes
Order: Bite-sized sfakianopites with cheese and honey
Tip: The taverna sits beside Kazantzakis park, a short walk uphill from the Archaeological Museum.
Seafood€€Venetian HarbourDaily 12:00-23:00
Kastella puts the day's fish on the Heraklion seafront at taverna prices, sold by the kilo and cooked simply with a Cretan salad alongside it.
Signature: Fresh fish, Seafood mezedes, Cretan salad
Order: Fresh fish by the kilo with a Cretan salad
Tip: Ask for a table on the sea side; the road side gets the traffic off Sofokli Venizelou.