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MediterraneanVenetian Harbour
Mare Coffee Bar & Food works the Heraklion seafront from breakfast through to late drinks, with juices, sandwiches and a terrace facing the water.
OrderYogurt with nuts and honey, or a sandwich by the sea
TipRight on the Sofokli Venizelou seafront, which makes it a better daytime stop than an evening one.
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BrunchOld Town
626 All Day runs a garden lounge off Idomeneos in Heraklion, serving brunch plates and comfort food from nine in the morning until midnight.
OrderA brunch plate, eaten out in the city garden
TipIt sits on the corner of Meramvelou and Idomeneos beside the Olive Green Hotel, with a garden that stays cool in August.
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MediterraneanOld Town
Granary is the all-day eatery and espresso bar in central Heraklion, pouring Taf Roastery coffee alongside Mediterranean plates and Greek wine.
OrderSpecialty filter coffee and whatever is on the day plate
TipNamed for the Venetian grain store that once stood opposite the Ducal Palace, and it keeps a wide Greek wine list.
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GreekOld 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.
OrderStuffed mushrooms, with the fried zucchini balls
TipOn Kagiampi a minute from Peskesi, with stuffed mushrooms and fried zucchini balls among the plates worth ordering.
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GreekOld Town
Hovoli works the charcoal on Daskalogianni square in Heraklion, an unfussy grill house with Cretan salads and prices that stay entirely reasonable.
OrderGrilled meats off the charcoal with a Cretan salad
TipOn Daskalogianni square, which is a useful place to eat when the Lions Square terraces are all full.
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CaféOld Town
The Whistler Espresso Bar sits on Agiou Titou in Heraklion, pulling specialty espresso through the day and mixing cocktails deep into the night.
OrderAn espresso by day, a cocktail after dark
TipOn Agiou Titou, so it doubles as a coffee stop between the church and the Venetian Loggia.