Chalali is a cretan meze restaurant in Old Town, Heraklion.
Editorially verified August 1, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Cretan mezedes, Grilled meats, Raki
Must order: A mezes spread with a carafe of raki
Tip: Closed Mondays, and prices sit well under the old-town average, so the room stays local rather than filling with cruise traffic.
Address: Strofadon 4, Iraklio 712 02, Heraklion
Pagopoieion is the all-day room on Agios Titos square in Heraklion, an old ice factory pouring coffee from nine and serving through to dinner.
Signature: Mushroom risotto, Beef tartare, Cretan wines
Order: Mushroom risotto, with a glass off the Cretan list
Tip: The old ice factory on Agios Titos square works as breakfast room, lunch stop and wine bar, so time your visit to the mood you want.
Krasas is the Ikarou grill house that Heraklion falls back on, running gyros and skewers until three in the morning at prices well under a tenner.
Signature: Gyros, Grilled meats, Chips
Order: A pita gyros with everything, eaten standing
Tip: Open until 03:00, which makes it the default stop after a long evening on Ikarou.
Chagiati is the backstreet Heraklion mezedopoleio on Erotokritou, grilling sardines and pouring raki for a room that stays stubbornly local.
Signature: Grilled sardines, Dolmades, Mixed grill
Order: Grilled sardines with a carafe of raki
Tip: Dinner only, and closed Sundays. The room is small enough that a walk-in after 21:00 usually means waiting outside.
Dish Bar has worked its corner of Agios Titos square in Heraklion since 2007, running Mediterranean plates early and a busy cocktail room late into the night.
Signature: Beef carpaccio, Cocktails, Mediterranean plates
Order: Beef carpaccio with truffle mayonnaise
Tip: It sits a few metres from Agios Titos church, and the room turns from restaurant into a cocktail bar later in the evening.
El Sur brings Mexican food and sushi to Arkoleon in central Heraklion, a loud multicultural room pouring margaritas and mojitos to Latin music.
Signature: Tacos, Sushi, Margaritas
Order: Tacos and a margarita, or the sushi for a change
Tip: One of the few kitchens in Heraklion doing Mexican and sushi under one roof, a short walk from Lions Square.
Ligo Krasi Ligo Thalassa is the Heraklion harbour table for a long seafood lunch, with mezedes, lobster spaghetti and the Venetian fortress in view.
Signature: Lobster spaghetti, Seafood mezedes, Stuffed courgette flowers
Order: Seafood mezedes, then lobster spaghetti to share
Tip: The terrace looks over the harbour to the fortress, which is worth waiting for an outside table in summer.
Pagopoieion is the all-day room on Agios Titos square in Heraklion, an old ice factory pouring coffee from nine and serving through to dinner.
Signature: Mushroom risotto, Beef tartare, Cretan wines
Order: Mushroom risotto, with a glass off the Cretan list
Tip: The old ice factory on Agios Titos square works as breakfast room, lunch stop and wine bar, so time your visit to the mood you want.
Krasas is the Ikarou grill house that Heraklion falls back on, running gyros and skewers until three in the morning at prices well under a tenner.
Signature: Gyros, Grilled meats, Chips
Order: A pita gyros with everything, eaten standing
Tip: Open until 03:00, which makes it the default stop after a long evening on Ikarou.
Chagiati is the backstreet Heraklion mezedopoleio on Erotokritou, grilling sardines and pouring raki for a room that stays stubbornly local.
Signature: Grilled sardines, Dolmades, Mixed grill
Order: Grilled sardines with a carafe of raki
Tip: Dinner only, and closed Sundays. The room is small enough that a walk-in after 21:00 usually means waiting outside.
Dish Bar has worked its corner of Agios Titos square in Heraklion since 2007, running Mediterranean plates early and a busy cocktail room late into the night.
Signature: Beef carpaccio, Cocktails, Mediterranean plates
Order: Beef carpaccio with truffle mayonnaise
Tip: It sits a few metres from Agios Titos church, and the room turns from restaurant into a cocktail bar later in the evening.
El Sur brings Mexican food and sushi to Arkoleon in central Heraklion, a loud multicultural room pouring margaritas and mojitos to Latin music.
Signature: Tacos, Sushi, Margaritas
Order: Tacos and a margarita, or the sushi for a change
Tip: One of the few kitchens in Heraklion doing Mexican and sushi under one roof, a short walk from Lions Square.
