Chagiati

Chagiati is a Cretan meze restaurant at Erotokritou 12 in the Old Town of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, set in the lanes between Kydonias and Chandakos streets. It is a budget-friendly place, with a typical spend of EUR 10-20 (USD 11.50-23) per person, and it is popular for grilled sardines served with raki. The cuisine is built around meze, the small shared plates that define casual eating on the island. Signature dishes include the grilled sardines, Cretan meze platters that let a table sample several local specialities at once, and snails cooked in the traditional boubouristi style, a Cretan dish where snails are fried in olive oil and finished with vinegar. Ordering a few plates and sharing them is the usual way to eat here, and the format suits groups. The atmosphere is informal and sociable, closer to an everyday Cretan meze place than a formal restaurant, with no dress code and a noise level that rises as the evening fills up. Raki, the local grape spirit, is the natural drink and is often paired with the meze; local wine is also available. Chagiati opens in the evening only, Monday to Saturday from 6:00PM to midnight, and is closed on Sundays, which is worth remembering when planning a visit. Tablejourney lists a rating of 4.2. The phone number for reservations is +30 281 110 3378. Booking ahead is wise on Friday and Saturday nights and in summer, although the relaxed format means walk-in tables are often possible earlier in the evening. The Old Town location is easy to combine with an evening stroll toward the Venetian harbour or Lions Square. Visitors who want a quieter experience can arrive soon after opening, while those who enjoy a livelier room can come later.