Food and drink
Raki, wine and the Cretan village table
The Cretan way of eating, the wine that comes with dinner, what raki is and when it appears, and what to do if you eat a restricted diet.
Book the Cretan night ↗Quick answer
A Cretan village table is built on plants, olive oil, wine taken with meals and a strong grape spirit, tsikoudia or raki, offered cold at the end. On the Pano Karouzanos night, dinner comes with local wine, and guests describe water too and a separate bar for extras. Dinner is a traditional meal cooked for a large room, so message the operator before booking if you eat a restricted diet.
How Crete eats
The core of Cretan cuisine is plant food, and olive oil was the main supply of fat, used in salads and in cooking. Poultry and fish were eaten weekly and red meat only a few times a month in the traditional pattern, and dairy came daily in low to moderate amounts. The municipality of Heraklion calls Cretan cuisine the most characteristic example of the Mediterranean diet, and describes it as one of the oldest and tastiest gastronomic traditions in the world. UNESCO added the Mediterranean diet to its list of intangible heritage in 2013, with Greece among seven countries named, and it stresses shared meals as the basis of community.
Wine with dinner
The Pano Karouzanos ticket includes local wine with dinner, and guests describe water on the table too. The Cretan pattern was moderate use of alcohol, mainly red wine taken with meals, and the evening follows it: wine arrives with the food rather than as a separate course. Anything beyond that, guests say, is bought at a separate bar. If you do not drink alcohol, water comes with the dinner, and you can buy other drinks at the bar. Either way, pace yourself: the evening includes a long bus ride and a dance floor, and both go better without a fourth glass.
What raki is
Tsikoudia is a fragrant grape-pomace brandy of Cretan origin, made by distilling what remains of the grapes after winemaking. In eastern Crete it is informally called raki. It is often produced at home in villages across the island, in a run of two to three weeks in late October and early November, and its strength varies by producer, with a stated range of 40 to 65 percent alcohol by volume. Treat a glass with respect: it is much stronger than wine, and a small measure goes a long way.
How raki is served
Tsikoudia is almost always served chilled from a freezer, and it is commonly provided as a complimentary digestif in Cretan restaurants, often with fruit and sweets. So if a glass arrives at the end of a village meal, it is common for it to be a courtesy, not an extra charge. Accept a small glass and sip it, or decline politely, and drink water alongside it. The other Kato Karouzanos night opens with a welcome shot of raki and homemade pies, so the drink may greet you at the start on some trips instead.
A set meal for a crowd
Dinner is a traditional meal cooked for a large room, so it is a set meal, not a menu you choose from. Guests who enjoy the night praise the dancing more than the food, and some describe the food as average because it is cooked in volume. If you eat a restricted diet, write to the operator via the booking page ahead of your trip and confirm what can be done. The Kato Karouzanos night is described with options for special dietary needs, which may suit you if your diet is limited. Do this before the day: a coach evening is not the place to discover that nothing on the table fits you.
Who this isn't for
If you want to choose a dish, eat slowly or sit at a small table, a village night is the wrong format. It is also a poor match for anyone who avoids alcohol entirely and wants a wider choice of drinks than water and a bar, or for guests with strict allergy needs who cannot confirm the meal in advance. In those cases, a dinner you arrange yourself in Heraklion gives you control over the table.
Frequently asked questions
Is wine included?
Yes. The Pano Karouzanos ticket includes local wine with dinner, and guests describe water on the table too. Extra drinks are bought at a separate bar.
What is raki?
Raki, or tsikoudia, is a grape-pomace brandy of Cretan origin. It is strong, often between 40 and 65 percent alcohol by volume, and is usually served chilled.
Can I eat a restricted diet?
Dinner is a traditional set meal cooked for a crowd. Write to the operator via the booking page ahead of your trip, and confirm what is possible.
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