Nice and historical place, with a great view of the sea and town. You can spend around one hour there walking along the old walls and admiring picturesque views. The cost of the entrance is 5 euros per person. Unfortunately, ruins seem to be not well maintained and preserved, so you have to be careful during the sightseeing.

Fortezza – A Worthwhile Visit with Room for Improvement. Historically, Fortezza is a fascinating site and absolutely worth a visit while in Rethymno. The entrance fee is €5 for a single adult, and you can explore the grounds in about 40 minutes to an hour—assuming you can handle the intense July heat and direct sun. The panoramic views of the sea and the city are stunning, offering plenty of breathtaking photo opportunities for those into photography or scenic walks. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. There is no guided tour or detailed signage throughout the site, so those interested in learning the historical context may want to research in advance. Some areas appear to be accessible for children, but I would strongly caution parents—there are several open drops with only a small chain as a barrier and no warning signs. Supervision is absolutely necessary. Maintenance could be improved. We noticed visible garbage in a few of the indoor areas that were otherwise open to visitors. There is a stand-style café inside selling coffee and cold drinks, which seemed popular, though I did not purchase anything myself. Washrooms are available near the entrance, along with a small gift shop offering some interesting items. Overall, the Fortezza is a memorable and culturally rich stop, but it would benefit from better upkeep, clearer safety measures, and more historical information for visitors.

€5 per person. No wait time. It's a nice city view point and you need around 30minutes to stroll around the Fortezza. Not much to see within the area though. Visited in early September at around 12:00 and it was warm and a bit windy, still manageable to walk around for 30minutes.

Nice place to visit. We payed 12 euros for one kid and 2 adults. The view is amazing, but there is no guide and nothing written about the history of this place. Feels like they don’t invest much of taking care of it. Worth visiting bit could definitely be improved.

€5 per person. Nice to walk around on a sunny day. Wish there was more information around to explain more about the forts history. I assume this would be available in the museum but the entry wasn’t included in the price of the ticket.

Fortezza is certainly worth a look. The streets up to the Fort when on foot are stunning and then the views from the Fort of the old town are fantastic. I would avoid the midday as there is very little cover or shelter form the sun and it was very hot. The entrance fee was not bad and i would say does reflect the lack of places to see inside.

We visited this after walking past it numerous times and I think it would've been best to keep how it looks inside in our imagination. The ticket is €5 per adult and even that felt a bit much. The only thing worth seeing here is the view of the city from the fortress. Other than that, the place is just dirt, rocks and some rundown buildings. There is no tour guide or even plaques explaining what you're looking at. This place has so much potential, but it's so badly maintained... Too bad it's being managed by incompetent / uninterested people.

Came here for dinner and the restaurant is beautiful, the service was great and the cocktails were ok, although the old fashioned was extremely sweet. Sadly the food was a bit disappointing. The prices here are quite a bit higher than at other restaurants in the area and it's trying very hard to be fancy fine dining with very small portions using things like foams etc., which is fine, and I don't mind paying for fine dining if the food is good, but for us the food here just wasn't very good. The shrimp entree was pretty good and was the best dish we had. The ravioli was quite bland with a foamy sauce that didn't have much flavor. The mussels and octopus dish was served completely cold and the combination of flavors and the green sauce just didn't work together and it wasn't enjoyable. Overall the ambience here is great and it's a really nice little courtyard to have a meal, but sadly the quality of the food just doesn't match the high prices at all.

My second best restaurant in Rethymno is Avli, more Cretan cuisine with zest of contemporary methods. Very fresh and will not disappoint savvy foodies and those who are looking for a super dinner in the centre of Rethymno town. Very romantic, sat in a traditional courtyard with trees and flowers surrounding ancient authentic walls. Wine list is great and also the sommelier knows how to help you decide with goes best with your order. Not very economical but portions are quite generous. The staff is lovely and here too we came twice! Many restaurants in Rethymno looks like a tourist trap, this one definitely not and yet you have a romantic instgrammable backdrop to please everyone.

Quite high standard of the dishes, both in creativity and plating for a resort town like Rethymno. It actually measures up to fine dining, including service and staff being knowledgeable of vines and oils. Good flavours and balanced wine pairings. Very nice to find a tasting menu with smaller portions so that we can experience more flavours at dinner. I am giving 4 stars for food because some of the dishes could really use some salt to take the dish to an even higher level. Otherwise very nice, probably the nicest place to eat in Rethymno.

Wandering through the streets of Old Town we were in search of a place to have some unique cocktails and maybe something to eat. We ordered the Mastic Mist and another cocktail I can't remember the name of (starts with an E). They were by far the BEST drinks we have ever had. Well balanced, unique in taste and surprising, not what you would expect from a traditional blend of extracts, spices and spirits. Hope to be back to Rethymnon and experience Avli like it deserves.

We had a wonderful tasting-menu dinner at Avli in Rethymno. The six-course menu was creative and consistently refined — every dish felt thoughtful and beautifully executed. A particularly memorable feature was the olive-oil pairing served with each course: it was a clever, distinctive idea and truly shone at dessert, where the olive oil was an unexpected highlight. The wine pairing was exceptional and matched the food beautifully; the sommelier clearly knows his craft. We sat in the courtyard, which provided a lovely, relaxed setting for the meal. Service was professional overall — very friendly and knowledgeable — though the staff member who cleared the plates was a bit less attentive than the rest, but it did not detract from the evening. Pricing felt fair for the quality: the six-course menu came in at around €80–90 (fish course extra) and the wine pairing was about €34, which we thought was very reasonable given the selection and pairing quality. All in all, Avli delivered an elegant, memorable dining experience — highly recommended for anyone looking for creative, well-paired tasting menus in Rethymno.

A Hidden Culinary Gem in the Heart of Rethymno 🌿🍷 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dining at Avli is like stepping into a romantic Cretan courtyard from another time. Nestled in the old town of Rethymno, the rustic charm of the space, surrounded by flowers, vines, and historic stone walls, creates an atmosphere that is both intimate and enchanting. The menu stands out from the typical tourist spots – it’s Greek cuisine with a creative twist. Every dish surprises you with unique combinations, beautiful presentation, and bold flavors. It’s a place for those who enjoy exploring new tastes and high-quality local ingredients. Whether it’s a refreshing cocktail under the bougainvillaea or a perfectly grilled octopus with sweet potato purée, Avli delights all senses. The staff is knowledgeable and welcoming, which adds even more to the experience. 💡 If you love food and aesthetics, this is a must-visit. It’s perfect for a romantic lunch, a peaceful escape from the busy streets, or a memorable dinner. Pro tip: Be open to flavor – this is not your average taverna. Come ready to explore.

Absolutely stunning restaurant, staff Michalis , Eva and Stalios were very nice and knowledgeable. Every dish we had looked and tasted amazing and the local wine was very complementary. Will definitely go back again and highly recommend.

We heard really good things about the restaurant and we were excited to try, but ended up pretty disappointed. We ordered « a puff pastry » with feta cheese, lemon, rose, and fig. However, it was three different pastries with fig, rose jam, and lemon jam. It wasn’t quite our taste. For main dishes, we ordered the lamb/pork burger and rigatoni with pesto and pork tenderloin. The burger was delicious, but the accompanied fries were a bit hard to eat. The pesto dish was quite oily and not as flavorful. We didn’t finish the dish. We were given complementary cake and raki which was nice and tasted great though. The servers were friendly and everything was given within a good time. Unfortunately, we didn’t enjoy the rest of the food much.

Another good restaurant in Rethymno Old Town. Food, atmosphere and service were top notch. Especially starter (greek meze platter) and deserts were delicious. Location is perfect and you definitely can feel the authentic greek taverna. Yes, they don't have usual greek food, but is more like fusion between greek and modern cuisines. Definitely worth a visit when you're in Rethymno.

This restaurant is truly excellent — everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere is top-notch. The staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, and the setting is beautiful both inside and out. The interior, built within an old stone structure, gives it a charming, authentic feel, while the outdoor seating area is cozy and full of character. The menu is rich and varied, with many well-crafted Cretan dishes. We ordered several plates, all delicious and nicely presented. The traditional Cretan salad was great, the cheese bites with different toppings were amazing (especially the fig one), and the stuffed vine leaves were excellent — and I say that as someone who grew up eating them at home. We also tried the sea bream carpaccio, which was fresh and interesting, though the fruits on top slightly overpowered the fish. Still tasty, but the balance could be improved. The only drawback is the price — it’s quite expensive. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but it’s worth mentioning. Everything else, from the food to the service, was truly outstanding. After dinner, the staff even helped us find a table at the bar just behind the restaurant, which added to the overall experience. A beautiful place tucked between the alleys — definitely worth a visit if you don’t mind the higher prices.

Enjoyed my dining experience at Raki Ba Raki. Beautiful restaurant setting with seating out on the street. Nicely decorated restaurant. Service was good ,our waiter was really lovely ! Quite a big menu with vegetarian options at meat. Our food was really good and I enjoyed it but wasn’t outstanding. Highlight was the fried potatos (amazing). Complimentary orange cake and traditional liquor at the end. Good drink selection and wine list. Nice play to go out for dinner.

We came at around 8pm on a saturday night without reservation and were able to get a table directly inside. Food was served quickly but we felt a bit rushed (Waiter came for our order while we were still looking at the menu, the starter and main dish arrived before we could even finish our first drink and we noticed lots of looks from the waiters to see if the table needed to be cleared, although we weren’t even 15 minutes into the main dish). Food-wise, very good dolmas, and the octopus with fava bean puree was perfectly cooked. The homemade pasta was disappointing though. Pretty overcooked and overall felt heavy. The chocolate baklava had a good taste and texture.

This restaurant is a must visit place if you are in Crete. The food is very delicious, the portions are large and well prepared. The staff are very polite and welcoming and the restaurant is so well decorated. I suggest the lamb and the oxtail. Overall I strongly recommend it!

For the first time in my life, I’ve felt emotions during my diner. Everything was PERFECT, including the service. Made with local products, the food makes me understand the worldwide reputation of the island.

We went to Castello and had the oxtail with gnocchi and a fillet steak. The steak was pretty average (though beautifully presented), while the oxtail was really tasty. The location and ambiance were great, right in the heart of the old town with all the those old-town vibes. Service was as you’d expect. It’s definitely not a tourist trap, but I’d say they focus more on presentation and atmosphere than on standout food, especially given the price point. Still, we had a lovely evening and don’t regret it!

A good place to experience high end dining with reasonable prices. Recommend the veal chop and pork tenderloin for main course. Also a good list of high quality wines yo choose from. Owner is very friendly and hostipable. Despite going in rush hour, service was very fast

Castelo Restaurant offers a wonderful mix of traditional Greek cuisine with a modern twist. We tried several starters and main courses — all were absolutely delicious. The local white wine paired perfectly with every dish, and the dessert, an apple crumble, was outstanding. Be prepared — the portions are generous!

Went a couple of times, the second I reserved a seat inside of the Saturday night for a special night out. It was well worth it. The food, service and atmosphere was amazing. I was incredibly well looked after. A great place for a meal or something special.

This restaurant is located in the heart of old town,so if you are planning to pay them a visit just bare in mind that u need to park ur car in one of the old towns' parkings and walk to the restaurant (closest parking 5-7 minutes away) Make a reservation prior to ur arrival especially if u are visiting them on a weekend! Food is decent and representation is fancy, nice place for a special night perhaps! Inside is very pretty, I recommend you to sit inside! After we finished our dinner, we were given dessert and liquire on the house!

I recommend this restaurant to anyone in Rethymno. The food is delicious and extremely varied. A highlight are the various terraces, or rather floors, where you can eat. We were lucky and were able to eat right at the top, on the rooftop. The service was excellent, and the staff are all extremely friendly. We'll definitely go again.

Thank you for a wonderful dinner! We did not have a reservation, but they tried to find us a table and we had a delicious dinner, with a starter of falafel and octopus, followed by a main of fish and seafood saganaki. The service was 5 stars, with everyone very attentive and helpful. And the food was not only beautifully presented, but very delicious.

We had a very nice dinner here. Waitstaff is attentive. The food is simple with fresh local ingredients and perfectly prepared.

We eat for the second time here this year, and both was very good. Very good services and food: the first time I took the grilled shrimps that were just amazing; the second time I took the lamb in parcel foil (a greec's specialities) that was so good (actually everything in the menu that are part of the "greec's specialities, is amazing). I really recommend this place also for it location and nice terrace.

Although this restaurant looked empty at around 8pm, lots of the tables were reserved, so I'd recommend booking in advance. The restaurant itself is family-run, and is situated at the hilltop at the foot of the Fortezza. There are pretty good views! The staff here are all very friendly and professional, serving us quickly and with a personalised service. We ordered a Greek salad which was very nice, although I'd rather to be able to season it myself rather than them already put olive oil and vinegar in it. Nonetheless, it was nice! We also ordered bread, which had oil on it and was plentiful. I ordered the rabbit for the main, which was well-cooked, very flavoursome and presented very well. The meat itself was admittedly a bit tough, which was the only downside. It was lovely to received a free dessert made by the waiter's mother, which was very nice. Would definitely consider visiting again.

We absolutely loved this restaurant! I had the special lamb, which was so amazingly tender and flavorful. The owner also served a delicious homemade cake his mother made. The service and food was out of this world! We had our 2 little kids with us, and as much as we would have enjoyed our dinner more just the two of us the staff was very accommodating with a baby chair and the overall Greek way of doting over children. Splendid night!!

Spent my last evening of our holiday with my SO here, best choice we made during our entire trip! The food was just incredibly tasty. If you want a great meditteranean dining experience to top of your trip to Rethymno you're at the right place. The lamb was succulent and thr dessert was great as well. You won't regret the climb up to the fortress if you dine here!

We had an excellent time at this restaurant on the first night of our holiday. Staff are very friendly and the atmosphere very relaxed in this pretty place. The food was super, followed by grandmas amazing cake. It was so light you could have floated away on it.

Tasty food, great service (we were even offered a smaller portion for the kid), quite location, fascinating scenery of night town to enjoy while dining. Thank to the cook and waiters who made this evening so special <3

We came here for the stunning view, which really is beautiful. The starter was served quickly and was very tasty. Unfortunately, the main dish – lobster pasta for two €60 – didn’t live up to expectations. The pasta was quite bland, and the lobster had a slightly bitter taste. What you see on top of the pasta was all the meat we got — the shell was empty. Overall, not really worth the price. The service also felt a bit distant, and we got the impression we were being judged for not ordering cocktails and taking photos while waiting.

Very nice location, right at the ocean front, the waves hit at the glasswall next to the tables. You feel like you are inside the ocean. We had to wait 30min until we were seated to a table which was already ready all the time.. Food and drinks are tasty but not extraordinary. I was expecting a better quality. Service was nice but sometimes a bit inattentive. We were not disappointed but expected a little bit more extravagance regarding the taste of the food. However the steamed mussels were very very tasty, that one was outstanding.

We enjoyed a beautiful dinner at 7 Thalasses. The food was delicious, staff very polite and very attentive. The only problem, was quite windy and waves were very agitated and they closed the place and we were unable to enjoy the view and sea sound (not restaurant fault). Overall we highly recommend this place

Had an early dinner. Arrived alone and was offered the best table (I didn't have reservation). All the waiters were attentive, quick and smiley. Had the Cretan salad- in which the anthogalo was heavenly-, grilled calamari, grilled octopus and the bread selection. Frankly, the calamari wasn't my favourite, because of the sauce's flavour and because I couldn't taste the smokey flavour of the grill. But that's just personal preference. The grilled octopus was really nice, and I loved the brown breads. I couldn't finish the plates since they were big. At the end I received a small portion of vanilla ice cream which was the perfect way to end my dinner. It's a pricey restaurant, but overall the price- value ratio is excellent.

I was expecting a better combination of flavors and it seemed to me that there was some "inconsistency" on the dishes. We got the guacamole with crispy shrimps but the panko on the shrimps didn't add anything on it. Though the shrimps without the panco were tasty guacamole wasn't quite matching the shrimps. The Cretan salad was nothing special. Gor some reason, at this restaurant I was expecting something different. Still talking about personal preference. The cheese rolls were too oily. Also the lobster pasta was good but again too much oil. Pasta perfectly cooked al dente, lobster was ok! Greek spritz was really good if you like mastic and the ice cream that was on the house was very good as well! The service, the staff was amazing!

This quickly became our favourite restaurant in Rethymnon. We ended up coming back for round two because the food is absolutely divine. The team working there are lovely, too. Highly recommend.

This incredible restaurant isn’t on Michelin guide yet due to some bureaucratic issues but I would definitely give it at least 2 Michelin Stars. It might not have 200 labels on the wine list but their wine list is very smart and perfect for the food paring. The food is great ( the “great” word isn’t really enough) The service is the best you can get with a very friendly touch. The place itself plus the decor is absolutely fantastic feels like you are dining on board of a super yacht. The prices are surprisingly low for the level of experience. It’s not just a restaurant- it’s a destination on its own!