7 Thalasses is the garden fish restaurant in Nea Alikarnassos, east of Heraklion, known for lobster spaghetti, paella and a bright courtyard room.
OrderLobster spaghetti, the reason people drive out here
TipIt sits by the municipal park in Nea Alikarnassos near the airport, so it works as a last dinner before an early flight.
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.
Souvlaki Point grills skewers on Menelaou Parlama in Heraklion until one in the morning, a takeaway counter rather than a sit-down taverna room.
OrderTwo pork skewers with pita and chips
TipOpen until one in the morning most nights, and set up for takeaway rather than a sit-down meal.
Spiros Psitopoleio is the neighbourhood grill house on Christomichali Xilouri in Heraklion, selling meat by the portion to a mostly local queue.
OrderA mixed grill portion to take away
TipA neighbourhood psitopoleio on Christomichali Xilouri, which means grilled meat by the portion rather than by the plate.
Gyrogonia works the gyros spit on Christomichali Xilouri in Heraklion until midnight, a plain takeaway counter with prices that match the setting.
OrderA chicken gyros pita, wrapped to go
TipTwo doors from Spiros on the same street, which makes the corner a useful late-night detour east of the centre.
Mavrokostas sells homemade Greek food on 62 Martiron in Heraklion through the small hours, long after every other kitchen in town has shut down.
OrderWhatever tray of homemade food is still hot
TipOpen until six in the morning on weekdays and eight at weekends, which makes it the last kitchen standing in Heraklion.
Solo Cretan Craft Brewery brews unfiltered, unpasteurised beer on the edge of Heraklion, and walks visitors through the brewhouse and a tasting by booking.
OrderA tasting flight of the unfiltered Solo beers
TipVisits run daily between 11:00 and 16:00 and have to be booked ahead. Saturdays and Sundays are by appointment only.
Souvlaki Point is the takeaway skewer counter on Menelaou Parlama in Heraklion, Crete, where a full pita meal still lands under nine euros a head.
OrderTwo pork skewers with pita, chips and tzatziki
TipSet up for takeaway rather than sitting down, and it keeps serving until one in the morning most nights.
Spiros Psitopoleio sells grilled meat by the portion on Christomichali Xilouri in Heraklion, a neighbourhood grill with local prices to match.
OrderA portion of mixed grilled meat to share
TipA neighbourhood psitopoleio east of the centre, which means grilled meat by weight rather than a composed plate.
Gyrogonia is the plain gyros counter on Christomichali Xilouri in Heraklion, open until midnight and priced for the neighbourhood rather than tourists.
OrderA chicken gyros pita, wrapped to take away
TipTwo doors from Spiros on the same street, so the corner works as a single cheap-eating detour east of the centre.
Mavrokostas sells homemade Greek food on 62 Martiron in Heraklion at neighbourhood prices, and keeps selling it long into the following morning.
OrderWhichever tray of homemade food is still hot
TipOpen until six in the morning on weekdays and eight at weekends, which makes it the last cheap kitchen standing.
Mavrokostas keeps cooking homemade Greek food on 62 Martiron in Heraklion until six in the morning, and until eight in the morning at weekends.
OrderWhichever tray of homemade food is still hot
TipThe last kitchen standing in Heraklion. Weekend service runs until eight in the morning, which is not a typo.
Mavrokostas is the 62 Martiron kitchen in Heraklion, Crete that stays open until six in the morning, and until eight on Friday and Saturday.
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