A Guide for Our Favourite People
You're coming a long way to be with us, and we hope you'll stay a few days — so we made you this guide. The places in it are close to our hearts, somewhere we actually go, and we'd love for you to see and experience them too. We think it will make your stay all the more worth it.
August 7, 2027 · Heraklion & Beyond
Welcome
Most of you have never been to Crete — which means you get to taste it for the first time. Ten summers of trips, dinners and slow afternoons have taught us a thing or two, and this little guide is the sum of it. Eat lazily, drink locally, and let the villages do the rest.
01 · Where to eat
Start with tavernas in the villages and work your way up — Cretan food is simple, seasonal and unhurried. These are the tables we return to, trip after trip.
Peskesi
Cretan classics in a 19th-century courtyard — one of the island's top, premium tables. Stay for the end-of-meal ritual: a flower potion that is pure wonder.
I Avli
Cozy, warm and the real thing — proper Cretan cuisine in a lovely courtyard. You cannot go wrong here; a super great choice any night.
Pratsinis
The real deal, a stone's throw from Nirou Terra — old-school meze, grilled everything and house wine by the carafe. Swim, walk over, order for the table and don't ask questions.
Gloria Patisserie
The home of the galatompoyreko Anastasia measures every other sweet in the world against. She has tried them everywhere — this is the one.
Kirkor
Mpougatsa at Kirkor is a ritual: the New Year's first sunrise doesn't count without a warm slice, custard dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar.
Taverna tis Ntinas
Up in Achlada above Agia Pelagia — an amazing view of the whole coast, and you get to visit a basically empty, abandoned village where whole houses have been left to the time and weather. Worth the detour for both.
02 · Where to drink
Crete drinks its own wine — and you're marrying into a wine region. The Peza route is minutes from the estate, and the venues below pour their hearts out.
Domaine Lyrarakis
Try the Dafni — a grape you'll find almost nowhere else. Tastings in the estate cellar.
HUGS
A sweet chapter of our own history: for a few months we lived just around the corner, and HUGS was our living room — coffee and pastries in the morning, cocktails and hugs at night.
Think Tank
One of our favourite spots for coffee by day and late-night drinks after. Right in the middle of everything, so it can feel crowded — but it's still lovely.
03 · What to visit
You have a day or two — here is what earns the time. Everything below is within an easy drive of Alagni.
01
Knossos
The Minoan palace, twenty minutes from the estate. Go early, beat the heat and the coaches.
02
Heraklion
Venetian walls, the harbour and the Archaeological Museum — the best on the island.
03
Archanes
Coffee in the square, a slow walk, bakeries that open at dawn.
04
The Coast
Agia Pelagia to swim, Matala for caves and sunset. Bring an umbrella.
04 · Where to swim
Crete's water deserves its own chapter — bring an umbrella, go before the wind picks up, and stay in until your fingers wrinkle.
Agia Pelagia
The closest proper beach — a horseshoe bay sheltered from the wind. Go early for calm water, and tavernas right on the sand for lunch.
Ammoudara
Kilometres of golden sand just west of town — sunbeds when you want them, space when you don't. Our lazy-afternoon default.
Nirou Terra
A proper beach club on Vatheianos Kambos, east of town — sunbeds on the sand, cold drinks from the bar and calm, shallow water. Our "we're not moving today" pick.
Lygaria
Perfect with the whole family — calm, shallow water on a sandy shelf. Parking is weird-to-bad (sorry), but the place is super accommodating, with two or three good spots to eat or have a coffee right next to the beach.
Tsimento
Considered one of the great swims around Heraklion — rock platforms, ladders into deep blue water, and a super nice beach bar waiting when you climb out. A little adventure, a lot of reward.
Paleokastro
The family benchmark — Anastasia's mother's favourite place to swim, and she has opinions on the matter. One warning only: watch out for the road getting in and out. The rest of the experience is great in any case.
05 · Before you go
A couple of things worth knowing before you land — learn these and you'll travel like a local.
Rent a car
The villages don't come to you — a small car is worth more than a taxi budget.
Book ahead
Knossos tickets online, and our dinner tables too — August is when Crete fills up.