There are plenty of travellers who prefer eating at the same places as locals. I do exactly the same when I travel, and I think it’s one of the best ways to find good food.
If you’re looking for brunch in Chania Town, the list below is a good place to start. These are six spots that locals also enjoy for brunch, serving good-quality dishes made with local ingredients and influences by both Cretan and international cuisine.
1. Feidias
📍 Eleftherias Square 2 (Dikastiria)
Feidias is one of the locals’ favourite spots for coffee and brunch. It is housed in a building in the Dikastiria area that also has offices and medical practices, so this part of town tends to stay busy throughout the day.
Feidias serves coffee, brunch, drinks and food throughout the day, but here I’m focusing only on its breakfast and brunch options. The menu is quite extensive, with eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, club sandwiches, sweet and savoury pancakes, omelettes and plenty of other options.
My personal favourite is the crispy eggs: poached eggs served on toasted bread with bacon, graviera cheese and hollandaise sauce.
2. Phyllo
📍 Kondylaki 35
Phyllo is located on a beautiful little street in Chania Old Town. It is very popular with visitors, but you’ll also see plenty of locals eating here.
What makes Phyllo a little different is that its menu includes local dishes with a more modern approach, and the food is served on beautifully designed plates and tableware. It also has an open kitchen, so you can watch the chefs prepare your meal.
The menu includes scrambled eggs with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, omelette with potatoes, avocado toast, Sfakian pie and several other dishes, with gluten-free and lactose-free options available as well. Along with coffee, you can order fresh juices and smoothies.
Phyllo gets very busy and there are relatively few tables, so try to arrive early and be prepared to wait a little before finding a table.
3. The Jar
📍 Andrea Papandreou 70
The Jar is a particularly good choice for brunch if you’re travelling with children. It is located inside the Park of Peace and Friendship and has plenty of space for children to move around freely. This is also one of the reasons you’ll often see local families enjoying brunch or coffee here.
The menu includes several types of omelettes and egg dishes, as well as sweet and savoury open toasts, pancakes and butter croissants.
4. Bohème
📍 Chalidon 26–28
Bohème is set in a lovely courtyard in Chania Old Town that feels a little like the garden of a house somewhere in Italy. It stays open from morning until night, with the menu and atmosphere changing depending on the time of day.
From 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., it serves a small selection of brunch dishes, including sourdough bread with poached egg and apaki, a bagel with smoked salmon, and pancakes with praline and banana. The dishes are a little different from the usual brunch options you’ll find around town.
5. ēstro
📍 Tsouderon 33 / Chatzimichali Daliani 57 (two entrances)
The ēstro is in a very central part of Chania Old Town, right by the back entrance of the Municipal Market. It has two entrances, each leading to a different seating area.
The brunch menu has a good variety of both savoury and sweet options, including yogurt bowls, avocado toast, omelettes, pancakes and cinnamon rolls.
6. REC Chania
📍 Stratigou Tzanakaki 19
REC is housed in a neoclassical building on one of Chania’s main shopping streets. It is a popular local spot for coffee and brunch, especially for people taking a break while running errands or shopping.
The brunch menu ranges from simple dishes to more unusual combinations, such as poached eggs with avocado or eggs with courgette and feta. You can also create your own omelette by choosing your preferred ingredients.
Note: All of these places change their menus fairly often, so it’s a good idea to check the latest menu before you visit.
If you’re looking for recommendations for every meal, check out my in-depth food guide, featuring the best spots for breakfast, lunch, street food, seafood, and traditional tavernas: Where to eat in Chania: A local guide to the best food spots.
