Are you planning a trip to Rethymno and want to know where you can find delicious homemade food? Then this article with the best places to eat in Rethymno is for you, my friend.
If you tell me you go to Greece only for the beaches, I don’t believe you. Even if you aren’t a big foodie, like me, I think we can agree that Greece has some of the best recipes and food in Europe. And Rethymno is no exception.
Of course, there is so much more to Rethymno than food and beaches, which is an amazing combination on its own. But if you want a complete list of all the cool things to do and see, where to stay, when to visit, and what to do with your kids in Rethymno, then check out these articles: Best Things to do in Rethymno and Rethymno Travel Guide.
This article, however, is all about food—more specifically, delicious, extraordinarily satisfying food—so let’s get back to the best places to eat in Rethymno. I never leave for a trip without doing some research about places that offer great food or what recipes I need to try.
One thing that is almost always true, no matter the destination, is that the chances of finding delicious food in a small restaurant are higher than in the more luxurious ones. Especially in Greece, if you take one important piece of information from this article, it’s that if you want to eat well, go to the small, family-owned places.
Table of Contents
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In this article, you will find a list of restaurants or places with traditional homemade recipes, breakfast options, and desserts. The restaurants vary from budget-friendly to more expensive. You will find places to eat in Rethymno’s Old Town or facing the beaches.
I’m sure that in this list of the best places to eat in Rethymno, you will find something to your liking. Of course, if you want to expand this list, I recommend you do your own research using Pinterest and Google Maps. I feel like this is the best combination if you want to find authentic places or hidden gems that you can’t find using a basic Google search.
If you want to see the location of every place I’m mentioning in this article, please check out the map below, created in Wanderlog.
Travel Tool
If you are looking for a great app to help you plan your trips, then I highly recommend using Wanderlog. The app is free to use, and even though there is a Pro version, in my opinion, you have everything you need in the free version.
Wanderlog is one of my trusted tools that I use to plan and organize my trips. You can create different lists targeting your interests, such as the best places to see, places to eat, categories, and more. You can also write lists for things to pack or other details about your trip.
Another feature I love about Wanderlog is the budget section, where you can track your travel expenses or set a budget for everything during your trip, like tickets for museums, art galleries, churches, and more. I appreciate how fun and interactive the map is, making it incredibly useful to have on hand during your trip.
If you’re looking for a good travel planning app, definitely check out Wanderlog.
Best places to eat in Rethymno
If you are traveling on a budget but want to enjoy delicious and homemade food, then this is the place to be. This is one of the best places to eat in Rethymno, especially if you are traveling with kids.
When traveling with David, I always try as much as possible to find places that offer healthy options for kids. If you are a parent, I think you understand the struggle of finding restaurants that have good food for kids that doesn’t involve fried chicken or French fries. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong if your kid eats fried food—mine does too. But I try to limit it or incorporate healthy options even when we are traveling.
This is why Maria’s Home Cooking is perfect for the whole family. They cook something different every day. If you want to “read” the menu on that day, the owner will walk you through their kitchen to see all the dishes in their pots or in the oven.
The food tastes just like you expect—like home, like your grandma’s classic cooking. You can find traditional foods like moussaka, stuffed peppers, or simpler dishes like baked chicken with plain rice, which was perfect for our picky toddler.
Maria’s Home Cooking is a small family-owned business, and the owners are so nice and welcoming. Their food is cheap but delicious. So if you are traveling on a budget but still want to eat great homemade dishes, forget about fast foods and go to Maria’s Home Cooking.
Kandavlos
If there is just one thing you have to eat every day in Greece, which dish would you choose? For me and my husband, gyros is the winner. I mean, what’s not to like—French fries, tzatziki, roasted meat, and feta. Hmm, I’m craving it right now, if I’m being honest, and at this moment, I’m not remotely close to Rethymno or Greece.
That being said, if you want to eat the best and most delicious gyros in all of Rethymno, then you need to check out Kandavlos. We stayed in Rethymno for a whole week and ate at Kandavlos at least three times.
Besides the deliciousness of the gyros that you need to eat here, Kandavlos also has affordable prices. So, if you are on a budget and want to eat amazing gyros, then you need to go to Kandavlos.
They have a spacious terrace, and the service is pretty good. Savoring a traditional beer with your gyros will be perfect after a day at the beach or a day of exploring.
Kandavlos is close to Theartemis Palace, a beautiful hotel very close to the beach, so it’s a great place to eat if you don’t want to walk too much.
We stayed at Theartemis Palace, and it was very convenient. If you are interested in finding out more about this accommodation or other useful information before visiting Rethymno, then check out my Rethymno Travel Guide.
It goes without saying that Kandavlos is one of the best places to eat in Rethymno.
Nostos is a lovely place to enjoy dinner or lunch. I suggest going here because this place is facing the sea, so the view is serene and romantic. The atmosphere and design of the restaurant are beautiful, and the staff is welcoming and very kind.
If you are traveling with a toddler, they have special chairs for kids, and what I loved about the place was that the staff was so nice to our son—they even gave him a big truck toy.
The food is delicious. We tried many dishes, but my favorite was the fried cheese. I think you already know that fried cheese is one of the most desired foods in Greece. And if you are like me and love French fries and cheese, then you should try this combination at Nostos.
The reviews and ratings on Google Maps are very good, which is why this place is full every day. If you want to make sure you have a great table, then definitely book in advance.
This restaurant is located in Plakias and has an amazing location, facing the beach. To be honest, on Plakias beach, there are several great taverns to choose from, but we chose this one based on the reviews on Google Maps. And our trusty Google Maps didn’t disappoint.
Kyma is located in Plakias, facing the beach. We booked a guided tour that took us here (more about it in the day trips chapter). The food was delicious and fresh.
They had proper chairs for kids, and we found nice and healthy options for David on the menu, which is always a plus. The prices are pretty affordable, and the dishes were delicious.
The location of Kyma is very convenient due to its closeness to the beach and the beautiful view that it offers.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth and a soft spot for crepes, this spot is an absolute must-visit. Trust me, when it comes to foodie adventures in Rethymno, indulging in one of their mouthwatering crepes is hands down one of the top picks! 🥞
This is one of the best places to eat in Rethymno if you want to savor out-of-this-world crepes. There are several options to choose from, and for us, it was very hard to pick the right combinations.
A word of warning: the portions are HUGE, so you need to take that into consideration. I feel like two people can easily split a portion. But if you want to taste more variations, go all in and order one for each person.
We discovered this place at the end of our trip. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing because we would’ve come here more than once if we had known about it from the beginning.
Oh my gosh, just by looking at my photos, I’ve got a huuge craving! Where can I find a crepe in Bucharest at 11:00 pm? SOS, send some amazing crepes, or I will start crying :)).
This place is great for coffee and breakfast. I love the fact that Noble is facing the beach. Starting your day with an amazing coffee, a delicious breakfast, and a great view is the best recipe for having the best day ever.
We really spoiled ourselves—we got a cheese omelet, hot dogs, and French fries, and everything was delicious.
If you want to start your day slowly and enjoy the beautiful moments of your holiday mornings, then you need to go to Noble.
This restaurant falls into the pricier category, but let me tell you, it’s worth every penny.
It’s pretty popular (and for good reason!), so I’d recommend booking ahead to snag a spot. We lucked out and managed to get a table fairly quickly (just had to wait a little), and boy, were we glad we did—the dishes were absolutely fantastic! 🍽️👌
To Pigadi is located on a lovely and very Instagrammable street in Rethymno’s Old Town. It goes without saying that this is one of the best places to eat in Rethymno, not only because of the delicious and perfect food but also due to its beautiful location.
The Old Town is so charming during the evening, so let me suggest how you can plan a relaxing and memorable day in Rethymno: Reserve a table at To Pigadi, enjoy a delicious dinner, and afterward, stroll through the insta-worthy streets of the Old Town. If you travel with your partner, a romantic date is guaranteed.
Cow’s Milk
There are many ice cream places in Rethymno, but you absolutely need to try Cow’s Milk. Their ice cream is incredibly creamy and satisfying. If you’re an ice cream fan, Cow’s Milk is one of the best places to eat in Rethymno.
They offer a wide variety of flavors to choose from. Strolling through Rethymno’s beautiful streets and hidden corners while snacking on their delicious ice cream is the perfect way to refresh and energize yourself. Don’t you agree?
I hope this article has made you excited about food and inspired you to add these locations to your list of the best places to eat in Rethymno.
If you’re wondering why I dedicated an entire article to food in Rethymno, it’s because I’m the kind of person who always searches for the best places to eat whenever I travel. For me, food is an essential part of the travel experience and always features prominently on my list of things to do in any location.
If you’re like me, or just looking for some food inspiration in Rethymno, then I’m sure this article is for you.
Happy eating and enjoy your amazing holiday in Rethymno!