
Chrisostomos
An award-winning gem serving authentic Sfakia mountain cuisine, cooked with love in a traditional wood oven. Experience true Cretan flavors.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Chrisostomos

Highlights
Must-see attractions
An award-winning gem serving authentic Sfakia mountain cuisine, cooked with love in a traditional wood oven. Experience true Cretan flavors.
"Probably the best restaurant in Chania, great food, excellent service, lovely atmosphere, attentive service and reasonable prices."
Book Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended as this popular spot fills up quickly.
Portion Control
Consider sharing appetizers and main courses due to the generous portion sizes.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Cretan
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+30 2821 057035
Address
Δευκαλίωνος, Ikarou και, Chania 731 32, Greece
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Cretan Cuisine
Savor traditional Sfakia mountain dishes, slow-cooked in a wood oven with local ingredients.

Generous Portions & Value
Enjoy ample servings perfect for sharing, offering excellent value for high-quality food.

Complimentary Loukoumades & Raki
End your meal with a delightful traditional treat of sweet loukoumades and a shot of raki.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended as this popular spot fills up quickly.
Portion Control
Consider sharing appetizers and main courses due to the generous portion sizes.
Pacing Your Meal
Ask for a slower pace if needed, as service can be quite quick.
Local Specialties
Try traditional dishes like dakos, tzatziki, or lamb tsigariasto.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended as this popular spot fills up quickly.
Portion Control
Consider sharing appetizers and main courses due to the generous portion sizes.
Pacing Your Meal
Ask for a slower pace if needed, as service can be quite quick.
Local Specialties
Try traditional dishes like dakos, tzatziki, or lamb tsigariasto.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Chrisostomos is celebrated for its authentic Cretan cuisine, generous portions, and reasonable prices, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. While the food is consistently praised for its flavor and traditional preparation, some diners have noted feeling rushed during peak hours. Despite a less-than-ideal view of a parking lot, the warm atmosphere and delicious complimentary desserts make it a highly recommended dining experience.
"Fabulous meat focused restaurant, recommended by several locals for a reason! Mix of Greeks & foreigners, all relaxed enjoying their tasty food. We focused on snails for entree (so good) & lamb for mains (lamb should & ribs baked plus lamb & feta pie). House wine was great & service was friendly & attentive. Simple & enjoyable dinner!"
Matt Savage
"The dinners and salad my wife and I had were excellent. The rocket salad had figs, cheese, and was dressed perfectly. We both ordered from the daily specials menu both had different types of lamb dishes, and again those were really well prepared. However, this was our first experience in Greece of feeling rushed to finish. We had very little time to eat the salad before the entrees were delivered. The tables were extremely close together - nearly back to back. Finally, we really appreciate the small dessert and raki tradition of Greece. The raki was sharper than others we have had, but the loukamades were quite good."
Timothy Spettel
"We were advised by our hotel for a good restaurant for locals with reasonable prices.
Food was perfect.
Service was even better.
Atmosphere within the restaurant is good but you are facing the auto park.
I don’t think that prices are low. Moderately high indeed but I don’t mean it doesn’t worth it. We were perfectly happy."
Nihal Etula
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, reservations are highly recommended as the restaurant is very popular and often fully booked.
Popular choices include lamb tsigariasto, snails, dakos, moussaka, and boureki. Many recommend trying the traditional Sfakia dishes.
Yes, the portions are known to be generous, often recommended for sharing, especially between couples.
Yes, it's a tradition to receive complimentary loukoumades (a sweet fried dough) and raki after your meal.
The restaurant has a rustic, warm, and authentic taverna feel, with a cozy interior and a brick oven.
The restaurant is located away from the harbor and does not have a sea view; the view is of a car park.
There is no strict dress code mentioned; it's a casual dining experience suitable for most attire.
Yes, there are good vegetarian options available, including dishes like Dakos and Greek salad.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
Restaurants in Chania
High in the White Mountains, lambs and goats roam free on the family farm, while on lesser pastures in Sfakia, vegetables are tended to. These top-notch ingredients are transformed in the wood oven that dominates the dining room in this backstreet beauty. Moussaka is as fat as an airport paperback but with more action, Mizithra cheese comes with home-baked bread, and those lamb and goats are cooked tsigariasto—slowly in a clay pot.
Where to Eat in Crete, Greece, According to an Olive Oil Expert
I never knew how many delicious ways one could cook a lamb until visiting here— Chrisostomos does it all. My favorite preparation is the lamb tsigariasto which is a traditional dish from the south of Crete where tender pieces of lamb are slowly cooked in their own juices in a clay pot. Other notable dishes are goat with local mizithra cheese and grilled lamb chops.
Family Friendly Restaurants in Crete
Finally, this award winning restaurant is a must visit if you’re staying in the Venetian city of Chania. It receives consistently excellent reviews for its truly authentic cuisine, homemade by the owner and chef using the very best locally sourced produce. Located a little way back from the busy old port, there is no sea view (the view is actually of a car park!) but this renowned place still gets very busy so we recommend booking in advance.
Top 10 Restaurants to Try in Crete |
Rating: ★★★★★Chrisostomos in Chania is famed for its authentic Cretan barbecue and wood-fired dishes, offering a rustic, down-to-earth dining experience. The restaurant’s focus on traditional cooking methods, like using wood-fired ovens and grills, brings out the deep, smoky flavors of their meats. The interior is warm and inviting, featuring wooden furniture and a cozy fireplace that adds to the homey atmosphere.
The Ten Best Restaurants in Crete, Greece
Based in Chania Old Town, just away from the popular harbour, Chrisostomos has traditional charm and a menu filled with Cretan flavours and ingredients. Offering a traditional taverna feel, Chrisostomos is a popular option for tourists and locals alike. From grilled octopus to boureki and moussaka, you'll find plenty of delicious dishes that highlight the best of Cretan cuisine on the menu here.
The Lesser-Known Side of Crete, Greece's Largest Island - Chania
Accessible only by boat or by foot, this taverna (also known by the name Dialiskari) sits on a thatched terrace above a turquoise cove. Waiters bring dish after delicious dish: lamb that falls off the bone, roast potatoes, and eggplant with a feta crust, all slow-cooked in a wood-fired oven. Finish with sfakiani pita, bubbly dough stuffed with cheese and drizzled with honey.
The 9 Best restaurants in Chania for the most Demanding Taste Buds
Crete and good food go together, so whether you are a visitor or a permanent resident Chrisostomos is the ideal choice. A purely traditional restaurant awaits you next to the old port of Chania to enjoy the delicious delicacies. The menu is full of traditional dishes such as chicken yiouvetsi, moussaka, and giant beans which are cooked in a traditional wood oven.
Where to Eat in Chania in 2024
Just a short walk north, near the old port warehouses, this multi-awarded place is the pinnacle of traditional Cretan cuisine. It specializes in dishes from the Sfakia region in Crete, many of them prepared in a wood-fired oven, which enhances flavors. The warm, genuine hospitality makes it a must-visit and reservations are recommended due to its popularity.
Best Places to Eat in Chania
Chrisostomos is the place to go for traditional cuisine from Sfakia, a remote mountainous region where the same methods of cooking have been followed for hundreds of years. The dishes here are simple and made exclusively with local products. Try the tsigariasto, with tender pieces of lamb slowly cooked in their own juices in a clay pot in a wood-fired oven.
Five Best Places To Eat In Crete
Chrisostomos is a charming eatery situated near the harbor of Chania. It takes great pride in serving old-style Cretan recipes passed down over generations. An award-winning, picture-perfect restaurant in Crete, Chrisostomos is particularly known for hand-kneading its bread and using a wood oven that gives the dishes an authentic rural flavor.
What to See, Do, and Eat in Crete
Chrisostomos is just off the water with another lovely patio to eat some local lamb. They cook it in many different ways from clay pots to grilled chops, and lots of slow cooking. An interesting note is that you’ll find many dishes in Crete come with “potatoes.” If you think these will be cubed, roasted potatoes, you’ll be wrong.
10 Best Restaurants in Crete and What they're Known for
Chrisostomos Restaurant is known for its oven heated with wood, hand-kneaded bread, and Cretan food located at Defkalionos Ikarou, Chania Town, Crete, Greece. They received the Greek Cuisine Restaurant Awards from 2014 to 2015 and 2017 to 2021. Mediterranean and Greek cuisines are available for lunch and dinner.
10 Best Things to Do in Chania Crete, Greece
A cozy, family-run taverna that has been dishing out mouthwatering Cretan cuisine for generations. As soon as you step inside, you’re greeted with warm smiles and a welcoming atmosphere. The aroma of sizzling lamb and simmering tomato sauce fills the air, making your stomach growl in anticipation.
The Full Digital Nomad Guide to Chania, Greece
Chrisostomos is the place to go if you want a taste of Cretan traditional cuisine, which is known for its plain, yet delicious dishes made entirely of local ingredients. Chrisostomos is the epitome of local gastronomy, serving authentic Cretan dishes cooked in a wood oven.
La Maison Ottomane - Where to eat
Chrisostomos – Old Town – Just beyond East end of harbor – Highly rated and awarded restaurant serving mainly meat cooked in traditional wood fired ovens. One of the best options for specifically Cretan food in the Old Town. Ingredients are traditional and of high quality.
Restaurants in Chania, Crete That You Will Love
A few hundred meters to the north, Chrisostomos is the epitome of traditional Cretan food. They specialize in local dishes from Sfakia, which are often cooked in their wood oven. Their goal is to show you the warmth and quality of genuine Cretan hospitality.
Top 10 best restaurants in Chania region Chania Experience Tours
Located in theeast side of the Old Town of Chania, Chrisostomos offers a mix of Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine. Their seafood platters and grilled local meats are highly recommended, and the restaurant’s cozy courtyard adds to the dining charm.
Restaurant Guide Crete, Greece
This tavern has received various acknowledgements and prices for the restaurant and it’s one of my favourites. A small but very charming tavern with traditional Cretan food. They had some delicious, Greek, vegetarian and vegan dishes too.
Vegetarian restaurants in Chania
This restaurant offers a variety of Cretan dishes with different vegan option. The stuffed vine leaves are particularly delicious. Chrisostomos is famous for its wood-fired oven, which gives their dishes a unique and authentic flavor.
20 Greek Foods You Must Try Before You Die: My Favorite Chania Restaurants
Loukoumades, or the Greek version of the donut, are one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth. They are drenched in syrup and have a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg. Again, Chrisostomos hit the nail on the head with their version.
Chania - Town with Disabled Access - Crete
I enjoyed: Chrisostomos (Defkalionos ke Ikarou) is a small traditional taverna which serves delicious Cretan food, including fish and vegetarian dishes. They serve delicious home made bread. Step into main restaurant.
Our Top 10 Restaurant Picks in Chania
Chrisostomos is the most delicious traditional Cretan restaurant in Chania town. This is how all of our Cretan grandmas used to cook. What we love about it: traditional Cretan food, well-priced, comfort food
Tavernas and Restaurants in the town of Chania, Crete
Chrisostomos is a traditional tavern with authentic Cretan cuisine. It is located at the east end of Chania old harbour (Defkaliana & Ikarou, tel: +30 2821057035).
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit