Xalavro is a wine bar in Old Town, Heraklion.
Editorially verified August 1, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Food program: Open kitchen
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Day trip · 8 hours
Explore the landscapes, villages & eateries of the Lassithi Plateau on a day trip from Heraklion or Hersonissos. Source your own ingredients on a Cretan black truffle hunt.
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Address: Milatou 10, Iraklio 712 02, Heraklion
Think Tank is the wine bar Heraklion drinkers name first, a neoclassical room on Idaiou Androu pouring Cretan and Greek bottles by the glass.
OrderA Vidiano by the glass, with whatever snack is out
PourA glass of Cretan Vidiano
WineCretan and Greek growers by the glass
FoodBrunch plates and snacks
TipA sommelier picks the list and the room hosts tastings, so ask what has just been opened.
Pagopoieion keeps one of the widest Greek wine lists in Heraklion, poured under the beams of a converted ice factory beside Agios Titos church.
OrderA Cretan red, with the mushroom risotto to match
PourA Cretan red with the mushroom risotto
WineWide Greek list, strong on Crete
FoodAll-day kitchen
TipThe ice-factory room is large enough to find a quiet corner even when Agios Titos square is full.
Manjar Wise Food, Coffee & Wine Bar pours a long list on Dimokratias in Heraklion, with staff who explain every glass and send out bites with it.
OrderA glass off the Cretan list with the small bites
PourA Cretan white with small bites
WineHealth-minded Greek and Cretan labels
FoodWise food plates and small bites
TipStaff talk you through each pour and send out nibbles, which makes it a good first stop for Cretan grapes.
Granary turns from espresso bar into wine room as the evening arrives, pouring Greek bottles with Mediterranean plates in central Heraklion.
OrderA glass of Cretan white with a mezze plate
PourA Cretan white with a mezze plate
WineGreek wines by the glass and bottle
FoodMediterranean all-day menu
TipWine service runs from late afternoon, once the coffee crowd thins out and the kitchen switches to the evening menu.
Merastri keeps a serious Cretan wine list behind its wood oven in Heraklion, and the reds it pours are built to stand up to three-hour roast lamb.
OrderA Liatiko red alongside the wood-oven lamb
PourA Liatiko red with the wood-oven lamb
WineCretan list built around the wood oven
FoodFull Cretan menu
TipThe Cretan list is the reason to linger. Ask what is open by the glass before committing to a bottle.
Parasties runs a Cretan-leaning wine list beside its open fire in Heraklion, with floor staff who match bottles to whatever the oven is cooking.
OrderA Cretan red poured to match the smoked steak
PourA Cretan red with the smoked steak
WineMostly Cretan producers
FoodLive-fire Cretan menu
TipThe floor staff will steer the list if you tell them what is coming off the fire.
Think Tank is the wine bar Heraklion drinkers name first, a neoclassical room on Idaiou Androu pouring Cretan and Greek bottles by the glass.
OrderA Vidiano by the glass, with whatever snack is out
PourA glass of Cretan Vidiano
WineCretan and Greek growers by the glass
FoodBrunch plates and snacks
TipA sommelier picks the list and the room hosts tastings, so ask what has just been opened.
Pagopoieion keeps one of the widest Greek wine lists in Heraklion, poured under the beams of a converted ice factory beside Agios Titos church.
OrderA Cretan red, with the mushroom risotto to match
PourA Cretan red with the mushroom risotto
WineWide Greek list, strong on Crete
FoodAll-day kitchen
TipThe ice-factory room is large enough to find a quiet corner even when Agios Titos square is full.
Manjar Wise Food, Coffee & Wine Bar pours a long list on Dimokratias in Heraklion, with staff who explain every glass and send out bites with it.
OrderA glass off the Cretan list with the small bites
PourA Cretan white with small bites
WineHealth-minded Greek and Cretan labels
FoodWise food plates and small bites
TipStaff talk you through each pour and send out nibbles, which makes it a good first stop for Cretan grapes.
Granary turns from espresso bar into wine room as the evening arrives, pouring Greek bottles with Mediterranean plates in central Heraklion.
OrderA glass of Cretan white with a mezze plate
PourA Cretan white with a mezze plate
WineGreek wines by the glass and bottle
FoodMediterranean all-day menu
TipWine service runs from late afternoon, once the coffee crowd thins out and the kitchen switches to the evening menu.
Merastri keeps a serious Cretan wine list behind its wood oven in Heraklion, and the reds it pours are built to stand up to three-hour roast lamb.
OrderA Liatiko red alongside the wood-oven lamb
PourA Liatiko red with the wood-oven lamb
WineCretan list built around the wood oven
FoodFull Cretan menu
TipThe Cretan list is the reason to linger. Ask what is open by the glass before committing to a bottle.
Parasties runs a Cretan-leaning wine list beside its open fire in Heraklion, with floor staff who match bottles to whatever the oven is cooking.
OrderA Cretan red poured to match the smoked steak
PourA Cretan red with the smoked steak
WineMostly Cretan producers
FoodLive-fire Cretan menu
TipThe floor staff will steer the list if you tell them what is coming off the fire.
