Good to know
Good to Know
- Malia Old Town offers authentic traditional tavernas with lower prices and quieter atmosphere, away from the louder beach road establishments.
- Beach Road (Dimokratias Street) has international chains, bars, and tourist-oriented restaurants with varied price points.
- Many restaurants offer complimentary raki and small desserts with the bill as is customary in traditional Greek tavernas.
- Supermarkets throughout Malia are well-stocked; local brands and Cretan products are excellent value.
- Reservations recommended during peak season (summer) for popular tavernas, especially dinner service.
- Most restaurants offer generous portions; sharing dishes is common practice.
- Greek wines, especially local Cretan varieties, pair well with Cretan cuisine and are reasonably priced.
Supermarkets
Chalkiadakis (Xalkiadakis) Supermarket
- Hours
- Mon-Sat: 7:45 AM - 11:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
- Location
- Megalo Ryaki Street / Matthaiou Zachariadi, Malia center
- Notes
- Largest supermarket chain in Malia with organic, vegan, and gluten-free products. Central location with parking.
Sol Supermarket
- Location
- Beach Road, Malia
- Notes
- Wide selection of food, drinks, gifts. Located near the beach entrance.
Barrels Supermarkets
- Location
- Two locations: near McDonald's crossroads and past Malia Port on Emm. Tsagaraki Street
- Notes
- Local supermarket options throughout Malia.
LIDL
- Location
- Malia (slightly out of center)
- Notes
- Budget supermarket option; best accessed by car or taxi.
Budget
Geitonia - Cretan Creative Cuisine
- Price Range
- €18
- Neighborhood
- Malia Old Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Cretan/Greek
Taverna Eva
- Price Range
- €16
- Neighborhood
- Near Malia Port
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Greek with vegan options
San Giorgio Restaurant
- Price Range
- €17
- Neighborhood
- Malia Old Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Cretan/Greek with lamb and moussaka
Petrino Garden
- Price Range
- €16
- Neighborhood
- Malia Center (0.24 km from center)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Mediterranean with Greek and Italian
High End
The Bull Steak House
- Price Range
- €35
- Neighborhood
- Malia Beach Road (center)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Premium steaks, lamb dishes, grilled specialties
Thalassa Beach Bar & Restaurant
- Price Range
- €32
- Neighborhood
- Malia Beach Road
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Seafood, Greek specialties, beachfront dining
Mid Range
Avli Restaurant
- Price Range
- €25
- Neighborhood
- Malia Old Town entrance
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Cretan mezes, lamb, fresh seafood
The Brasserie
- Price Range
- €22
- Neighborhood
- Malia Center (0.95 km from center)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Wood-fired pizza, pasta, grilled dishes
Taverna Kalispera
- Price Range
- €20
- Neighborhood
- Malia (1.1 km from center)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Grilled meats, fresh seafood, souvlaki, stifado
Stone House Restaurant
- Price Range
- €21
- Neighborhood
- Malia Old Town entrance
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Mediterranean mezes, traditional Greek
Delivery Services
Local Restaurant Delivery
- Notes
- Many traditional tavernas offer local deliveries to hotels and houses in Malia; inquire directly at restaurants.
International Apps
- Notes
- Limited coverage in Malia; major chains like McDonald's and fast food outlets available for pickup.
Gluten Free Dining
- Description
- Gluten-free dining is available at select restaurants in Malia, though not universally marked on menus.
Venues
Geitonia - Cretan Creative Cuisine
- Neighborhood
- Malia Old Town
- Description
- Known for awareness of coeliac needs and cross-contamination knowledge
Taverna Eva
- Neighborhood
- Near Malia Port
- Description
- Offers a wide selection of gluten-free dishes and accommodations
International Cuisine
Italian
- Description
- Pizza and pasta widely available; The Brasserie and Zorbas Pizzeria are popular for wood-fired pizzas
Mexican
- Description
- Gringos restaurant offers burritos, enchiladas, nachos, and homemade desserts
British/International
- Description
- The Red Lion and similar pubs serve English breakfasts, burgers, and international fare
Asian
- Description
- Wasabi offers oriental cuisine including sushi and Asian specialties
Local Must Try Dishes
Cretan Cheesecake
- Description
- Made with carob rusk base, local Mizithra cream cheese, topped with local honey and walnuts
Dakos
- Description
- Traditional Cretan barley rusk topped with tomatoes and local products
Lamb Kleftiko
- Description
- Slow-cooked lamb wrapped in parchment, traditional Cretan specialty
Grilled Octopus
- Description
- Fresh local octopus grilled simply with lemon and olive oil
Moussaka
- Description
- Layered eggplant, meat sauce, and béchamel - available at most traditional tavernas
Chicken Souvlaki
- Description
- Marinated free-range chicken breast skewered and grilled, served with tzatziki
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Description
- Malia has a growing vegan and vegetarian dining scene. Most traditional Greek tavernas offer vegetable-based mezze dishes, and several restaurants have dedicated vegan menus or significant vegetarian selections.
Venues
Taverna Eva
- Neighborhood
- Near Malia Port
- Description
- Features amazing vegan options including vegan bifteki, feta, spinach pies, fava bean dip, and choc chip vegan ice cream. Chef Ioannis is vegan and provides excellent recommendations.
Geitonia - Cretan Creative Cuisine
- Neighborhood
- Malia Old Town
- Description
- Greek restaurant offering several vegan and vegetarian dishes. Available vegan options include stuffed vine leaves, barley rusk with tomatoes, grilled vegetables, Greek salad, Cretan fava puree, stuffed tomatoes & peppers, fried zucchini, fasolada, and Napolitana pasta.
Stone House Restaurant
- Neighborhood
- Malia Old Town
- Description
- Offers vegan pies made with local Cretan vegetables. Specializes in Mediterranean mezze-style dishes with vegetable-forward options.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Malia
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.