<The village of Plaka in the Apokoronas on the island of Crete
Plaka is a village in the Apokoronas, a little bit east of Chania, just above Kalives and Almirida. The village is developing rapidly and many new houses are being build and offered for sale to tourists. In Plaka there is still an old village center with a large square, taverns and a church. On the way from Plaka to to coastal villages below there is a magnificent view of Souda Bay and the islands in it.
Down the road lies the beach of Almirida and a little bit further you can find the beaches of Kalives.
The village of Plaka has many old houses and there is a large square where you can sit under the shelter of large trees in one of the taverns, and behind that you will find a supermarket which is surprisingly good (better and cheaper than the supermarkets in the coastal village Almyrida, in 2014 we found out that there was another good mini market just off the square). For example you can buy fresh meat and various vegetables that are hard to find in other typical Greek supermarkets in Crete. They also have fresh bread, cigarettes and batteries and many more things. There is a really good selection and the staff is very friendly.
The village and the beach of Almyrida are about 1 to 1,5 kilometers from Plaka. Here are the ATM machines, souvenir shops, a bakery, a number of small supermarkets, bars and plenty of very good tavernas and restaurants where you can eat. Almyrida is a cosy and friendly little town with a couple of beaches (also suitable for people with small children because the sea is shallow).
Plaka is a quiet village with narrow side streets leading off the main road that mostly go to beautiful villas. There are also some pieces of agricultural land and farms. There are many flowers in the village. You can walk from Plaka to the beach of Almyrida (2 km). In the village itself there are a number of tavernas and down in the village there is a pub. if you walk a little further from the square towards Kokkini Chorio than after a few hundred meters there are two other pubs close to each other, on both sides of the road. They are called Joshuas and Totem and it's also possible to eat something here.
Plaka is a favourite destination for a large number of people, including me, because it is a cosy yet quiet village with all amenities, such as two good supermarkets and some excellent restaurants. In Plaka there is sufficient choice in accommodations for people that want to spend here their holidays here.
Studios Koukouros is located at the beautiful island of Crete, with 14 rooms and we are ready to welcome you and to offer to you the most pleasant family holidays, in a stunning and quiet environment. 20 km from the city of Chania, 17 Km from Souda port and at a distance of 800 metres from the sea, in a altitude of 90 meters from sea level, with magnificent views of Souda Bay, the Cretan Sea, Malaxa's mountain, the White Mountains and the surrounding plains and fields of Apokoronou,.
The rooms are built on a hill, placed at the border of Plaka village, Chania. It is the most suitable base for you to make the most out of the natural beauty spots of the surrounding areas (and also of the island in total), such as the deep-blue waters of Almyrida gulf.
Check availability and prices & book Studios Koukouros in Plaka - click here.
Villa Azure can accommodate up to 10 people and it is probably one of the most private villas in the whole of the Apokoronas area. You have no immediate neighbours and it is very quiet: no people, no dogs barking and no traffic. Because of its location on the hill and the trees that are in front of the villa there is a lot of privacy, so it is also suitable for people who prefer to go into the pool without swimwear. Villa Azure is a beautiful large villa of approximately 250m2 where you can relax, listen to the birds, watch the passing boats in Souda Bay and enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine in your hand.
Send an e-mail to Villa Azure in Kera Beach.
More information and pictures you can find on - this page
In 2015 we spent a few days in this villa. It is near the small quiet sandy beaches of Kera and within walking distance of the village of Almirida with all its shops, mini-markets and many taverns. The villa has a lovely pool, which is pretty private. Behind Villa Nina is another villa, but this one has the pool on the other side so there is a lot privacy. We took our dips without swimwear. From the street side the villa is not overlooked at all. There are lovely terraces and places where you can sit down to read a book or stare out over the sea. THE WIFI was absolutely great worked everywhere.
Send an e-mail to Villa Nina in Kera Beach.
- Tel: Frankie Miles 0030 6945 785673
More information and pictures you can find on - this page
Maybe this is our favourite villa where we have stayed so far. Not because of its size or its flashy interior, but because of its tranquility, its fantastic views, the outdoor spaces and the privacy that the villa offers. Villa Maria has three bedrooms and it is on quite a large territory which is fenced and not overlooked by other houses. The distance to the village square with all the restaurants and the supermarkets is around one kilometer.
Send an e-mail to Villa Maria in Plaka.
- Tel: Frankie Miles 0030 6945 785673
More information and pictures you can find on this page.
There is plenty of choice in Plaka for people that want to eat out. Most restaurants are situated around the large village square. We have not tried all of them yet, but did find significant differences. There were a few bad ones also a couple of really good which, with Elpis being the absolute best of the village (and actually one of the best restaurants we have been to in the whole of Crete).
THIS TAVERNA NOW HAS NEW OWNERS / MENU / WAITERS, SO THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED!!
Below the old review.
Taverna Grill House Plaka Souvlaki is situated on the large village square of Plaka. They have quite an extensive menu with lots of salads, appetizers and Greek specialties. There are lots of meat on the list like chicken, turkey, pork, lamb and meatballs, but also fish. Not everything on the menu is available though (which is quite common in Crete at the end of the season).
We wanted an avocado salad, a rocket salad with parmezan cheese, mousaka, a grilled giros plate and half a liter of white wine: nothing fancy and easy to prepare you would think.
We waited and waited for somebody to take our order, but it took a long, long, long time before somebody noticed us. Then we found out that there was no avocado salad because "they were out of season" (we just bought some in the supermarket next door the day before) so we skipped that. The white wine came after about 15 minutes and it was not cold but luke warm and it tasted like some awful village retsina (or I could say: paint stripper).
Then about 30 minutes later, while we were still waiting, they brought a second caraf of white wine (which we did not order, so I brought it back and inquired when the food was finally coming). In the meantime the waiters and the cooks are all shouting at eachother and walking around as if they have no clue of what to do. We see the cook a couple of times, but only as she comes outside to smoke a cigarette.
After been sitting at our table for AN HOUR somebody brings us a piece of mousaka (this is usually already prepared and it takes a minute to heat up in the microwave). We wait but nothing else is brought to the table. The bread is partly in one piece (so maybe hasn't been on another table before) and it has separate pieces underneath (which other people before us probably have had in their hands).
When I ask again what is keeping them from bringing the rest of our food and that I am not eating alone, a waiter shows up with a bowl of what looks like chopped grass. So I ask him what it is, and he says it is rocket salad and I should taste it. When I ask him where the parmezan cheese is he brings it back with some cheap sprinkle cheese (the kind you buy in the supermarket to put over your macaroni - nothing to do with parmezan) and a couple of pieces of tomato. There is still no giros plate with French fries.
Than one and a half hour after sitting down he brings us a pita giros (a small take away version of my plate with giros and French fries). The mousaka is cold by now so I ask him to heat it up.
We must be really stupid to have stayed seated here and wait for our food and you must think we are a couple of idiots, but at least we are smart enough to never come back to Taverna - Grill House Souvlaki of Plaka.
Our verdict: we have to go back to give a new verdict since the taverna changed owners. We did try it again in 2010 and we arrived at 12.30 in the afternoon, sat down and waited for 10 minutes, than found out there was nobody there.
The place is nice, the chairs are comfortable and the coffee is good here on the square in the village of Plaka, but it takes endless waiting (French girl) and the club sandwich (usually 3 or 4 sandwiches together with bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, ham etcetera) is simply a sandwich ham and cheese with toothpicks through it and doesn't even taste good. The French fries that come with the "club sandwich" are so fat and flabby that I left most of them on the plate. No success.
Our verdict: a 5 out of 10
This Italian restaurant in Plaka is a real asset to the village. The restaurant is run by Italians and the wines also come from the country. Una Faccia Una Razza sits next to the supermarket of Plaka and is not open every day of the week, so check in advance if you want to go and eat there. If possible reserve, because it can get busy. The lovers of pizza and pastas have come to the right place here. The food is very tasty and the service is excellent en very friendly.
Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10
This fantastic restaurant is located in the large village square of Plaka. The restaurant itself is quite large and there is a garden in which you can see a banana tree. The friendly owner is called Michalis. There is a wide choice on the menu with lots of different salads, fish, chicken and meat dishes. I order the chicken with onions, sun dried tomatoes and walnuts in a cream sauce: I haven't had such delicious chicken in a long, long time! After dinner we get a big plate of Greek yoghurt with grapes and apples with cinnamon. Highly recommended!
Our verdict: a 9,5 out of 10
Emerald is a rather fancy (or should I say "posh") restaurant situated in Plaka. You can't beat the views here. You can find it if you take the left hand road at the old school of Plaka, as you drive up from Almyrida. Emerald is run by professionals and they serve special dishes like sushi, or they take an ordinary Greek dish and turn it into something special. The perfect place to spoil yourself.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10
Cafe Tavern Harokopos is situated on the main square of Plaka village. It is run by a friendly lady called Fotini, and we order a few of the suggestions she makes, like the fava (a puree of split peas with herbs, onion, vinegar and olive oil), the anthoesa (stuffed zucchini flowers) and a fish fillet with vegetables and fried potatoes. All the food tastes great and the prices at Harokopos are really low.
Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10