Father Daughter Trip: Crete Edition
Here are the best places my dad and I found during our two weeks in Crete
Crete wrap up! My dad and I spent two weeks together in Crete and had the best time relaxing at the beach, cooking, and eating a ton of lamb lol.
Crete is a Greek island that’s a must visit if you love chill vibes and gorgeous beaches. Here are the best places we found while there. There are other places we tried but were not impressed by, and I chose to omit those from this list rather than write something negative. Just know that if you go to any of THESE places it’s a safe bet and Julie-approved :)
Hope you make it to Crete someday!
Chania
Where to eat in Chania
Mesostrato. Beautiful outdoor restaurant in a pink old building with no ceiling and tall trees. The food is simple but perfectly seasoned and cooked, which we found to be rare on the island, unfortunately. My dad loved the lamb chops and sausage.
Sinagogi Cafe Bar. One of the coolest bars I’ve been to in Greece. Such amazing vibes at night because they keep it dark and candlelit. Tasty cocktails. Super cool and romantic. Great spot for a date night.
Ginger Concept. My favorite place to grab breakfast if I was craving a more traditional healthy American meal like an acai bowl.
Old Chania Market. A must visit for adventurous eaters. Look for the food stand that sells stewed intestines and stomach. They’re not open on Sundays.
Periplous. Just outside of the old village area is this fine dining restaurant literally feet away from the water. One of the most delicious meals I’ve had in Greece in a very sexy well designed modern setting. Very creative takes on local Greek ingredients and dishes. The sommelier was incredibly warm and had excellent wine recommendations. A great place for a date night.
Dounia Taverne. If you’re up for a little field trip into the mountains, try to come here when there’s live music and make sure to make a reservation. It’s a daytime spot, not a dinner place. They close at around 7 PM. Our favorite dish there was the slow cooked lamb.
Beaches by Chania
Loutraki Beach. We loved it so much we went there twice. Clear water, food service, bathrooms, a short walk from the parking lot. All musts from my dad’s point of view. Bring a towel as there is no towel service, just food. Come early to get a good spot. Around 10 or 11 AM. Bring aqua shoes if you have them because there are coral and uni by the shore. Though you don’t NEED aqua shoes. Technically my dad and I were the only ones wearing them lol.
Balos Beach. To be clear, I did not go here because my dad refused to go anywhere far that would involve a long walk to get to the beach lol. But I met several other people who went here and raved about it as a must visit.
Elafonissi Beach. Another gorgeous beach we did not go to because my dad didn’t want to go far to get to a beach. This is the beach famous for its pink sands and crystal clear water.
Rethymno
Where to eat in Rethymno
Raki Ba Raki. One of the best restaurants in the area. I loved the tuna steak over greens I had there. So flavorful and light and the tuna was perfectly cooked a nice medium rare. Very stylish and the outdoor seating under the pergola is heavenly.
Avli. I ate here several times for lunch because the food is delicious and they had fast wifi and the most gorgeous courtyard setting. I recommend staying at their hotel as well.
Handmade Traditional Philo Workshop. This is the cute bakery with the 90+ year old man and son who have been making philo the traditional way here for decades. Come at 10 AM when they put on their little show.
Koo Koo Brunch Cafe. Creative healthy brunch menu and a nice place to work during the daytime.
Stuff to do in Rethymno
Swan Beauty Spa. Loved the massage I got here so much I booked one for my dad as well.
Afterlife gym. This is the gym I worked out in while here. Kind of far from where I was staying but the best gym in the area.
Agios Nikolaos
Minos Beach Art Hotel. We pretty much just holed up in this hotel and didn’t leave to eat elsewhere because the pool and beach here were so nice and the nearby restaurants didn’t look tantalizing to me. The poolside beds are amazing. There’s an app you download for the hotel where you can order room service or poolside service from the app.