Famous throughout Greece, Kri Kri is a Cretan ice cream brand from Serres — but this Heraklion parlour serves their full range plus local Cretan flavours including thyme honey, Cretan olive oil, and carob. The best ice cream stop in central Heraklion, open all day.
Kri Kri Ice Cream at Dedalou 3 in central Heraklion is a dedicated ice cream parlour associated with the Kri Kri brand — one of Greece's most respected dairy and ice cream producers, founded in northern Greece but with deep associations with Crete through its use of Cretan dairy ingredients. This Heraklion parlour serves the full Kri Kri range alongside a selection of flavours developed specifically for the Cretan market using the island's most prized local products. Cretan thyme honey ice cream is the standout flavour: made with the intensely aromatic honey that Cretan bees produce from the island's dense wild thyme hillsides, it carries a flavour complexity that sets it clearly apart from generic honey ice cream found elsewhere. Cretan olive oil gelato is more unusual — extra-virgin olive oil from Cretan producers incorporated into a smooth gelato that is subtly grassy, peppery, and unlike any other flavour. Carob and almond, using the carob (keratia) that grows wild across Crete, is another flavour specific to the island's pantry. The parlour is on Dedalou — the pedestrian shopping street running through central Heraklion — making it a natural stop between the Archaeological Museum to the north and the 1866 Market to the south. Open all day from 10:00 to 23:00, Kri Kri serves a continuous stream of families, tourists, and locals through the warm months. The format is simple: choose one to three flavours, receive the cone or cup, eat immediately. Prices are among the most affordable in central Heraklion for the quality offered: a double cone costs around €3–4.
Good to know
- Reservations
- No booking
Location
Dedalou 3, Heraklion 71202
35.3382, 25.1298 View on map
Highlights
- Cretan thyme honey ice cream — the most distinctively Cretan flavour available, made with mountain honey
- Cretan extra-virgin olive oil gelato — an unusual and memorable flavour specific to the island's pantry
- Carob and almond — another Cretan-specific flavour using the keratia carob found across the island
- On Dedalou pedestrian street — the perfect mid-afternoon refreshment between sightseeing stops
- Very affordable (€3–4 for a double cone) for genuinely quality Cretan-sourced ice cream
Tips for visiting
- Order the thyme honey as one of the scoops regardless of what else is chosen — it is the definitive Cretan flavour.
- The olive oil gelato is a conversation piece worth trying even if unusual; pair it with thyme honey for contrast.
- Open all day until 23:00 — works as an after-dinner dessert stop as well as a midday treat.
- Dedalou street between the Archaeological Museum and the 1866 Market is the natural afternoon sightseeing route that passes the parlour.
- A mixed cone combining honey, olive oil, and carob flavours gives a condensed Cretan product education in one sitting.
Accessibility
Dedalou is a flat pedestrian street in central Heraklion with good pavement access. The ice cream parlour is at ground level with counter service. Fully accessible for wheelchair users.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kri Kri as a brand?
Kri Kri is a Greek dairy and ice cream company founded in Serres in northern Greece. Its products are widely distributed across Greece and the name is well-known throughout the country. The Cretan parlour adds island-specific flavours using local ingredients.
Why is Cretan thyme honey special?
Cretan thyme honey is produced by bees that forage on the dense wild thyme covering Crete's mountain plateaux and hillsides. The result is a darker, more intensely aromatic honey than most European varieties, with a distinctive bitterness and floral complexity.
What is carob (keratia)?
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) is a Mediterranean tree that grows widely across Crete. Its sweet, pod-like fruit produces a flavour reminiscent of chocolate and can be processed into syrup, powder, or used in confectionery. Carob products are a traditional part of the Cretan food economy.
Is the ice cream made on-site?
The parlour serves Kri Kri branded ice cream; whether specific Cretan flavours are produced locally or centrally may vary. The focus is on the quality and distinctiveness of the Cretan-ingredient flavours.