5 Best Bars in Crete, Greece

Close to the Lions Fountain, you will find this Prohibition-inspired bar. With a huge selection of spirits and handmade bitters and marmalades, it serves inventive cocktails to a soundtrack of swing and jazz. A DJ pumps things up on weekends and the crowd spills out onto the pavement in this modern-day speakeasy.

Since 1995 partygoers have danced until sunrise at this bar in the ruins of a former synagogue. Within the fortifications of the Old Town, the open roof and crumbling walls really give the sense that you are sitting in a historic site; the excellent cocktails, modern art, and happening DJ sets pull you back to the present day.

The name means seascape, a poetic notion for this romantic gathering spot that spreads across a series of terraces wedged between the Fortezza and the azure waters below. Small plates are the order in this easygoing and relaxed place, with a strong selection of local wines and beers, and the best cocktails in town—the ideal spot for watching the sunset over the castle walls on a balmy summer evening.

A coffee and brunch stop by day, serving up indulgent pancakes and healthy bowls, the action moves up from the trendy tiled interior to the rooftop above. The young, cool crowd sip spritzes and savor craft beers on the leafy terrace to the sound of chilled beats. There is an impressive Greek wine selection that the staff are eager to share their knowledge of.

An Agios Nikolaos institution since 1983, this no-nonsense bar does exactly what it says it does. A wide range of rock is played to suit all tastes, and they take requests, too. Open at 9 pm, a lively atmosphere carries on until the small hours. With friendly staff and chatty customers, the sign on the door says it all: "No Wi-Fi —Talk to Each Other."