Elpís — Restaurant in Municipality of Apokoronas

We came to Crete as a party of six after many years adoring the region. Of course, it’s essential in a foreign country to have confidence in the place where your party is dining, and upon our first visit last year, we were immediately filled with confidence by the caring, attentive staff at Elpis.

We returned this year to find the same impeccable service and wonderful food. The restaurant has an idyllic alfresco setting and promotes a family atmosphere, whilst being ideal for revelry and maybe a few tall drinks. The food is simply delectable. Everything I’ve tried on the menu is impeccably cooked, with good portions and winning combinations of interesting flavours. I must admit I got hooked on the massively substantial pork pepper steak, which rivals any dish I’ve had in my many years eating around London’s trendiest joints. Each meal comes served with baking hit home made bread and some delicious salsa, which adds such a personal touch.

The staff (who are genuinely a family) are delightful. They can’t do enough to help you, and rest assured that even on a busy night, we’ve experienced the best of service. A true holiday highlight is the weekly Greek dancing evenings, at the end of which we were delighted to see the kids of the owners get involved and perform a dance for the audience. I’d hasten to add, me and my father are the grumpiest and most cantankerous men you’ve ever had the displeasure to have met and we were totally converted to the fun and truly entertaining evening.

What else is there to say? Fantastic food, fantastic setting and spot on service. It’s a winning combination, and you can bet that upon our return next year we’ll be heading straight...

This was hands down our favourite restaurant in Plaka! Extensive menu with a great range of pasta and pizza dishes as well as traditional Cretan fayre. The pizza was the best I found in Crete (and I'm picky about pizza!) and the pasta was spot on al dente and full of fresh ingredients. The traditional dishes were amazing too and portions mroe than generous- especially after the delicious treat of "Mamas bread" fresh from the oven. The atmosphere was consistently pleasant with lots of family groups and couples with a chilled vibe- we accidentally ended up there 3 times after none of the other local tavernas were quite as good!! But the best bit was the fantastic staff: we arrived after a delayed flight gone midnight and they were still open and still served us beautiful food with a smile and were genuinely welcoming and friendly. After when I lost a hat the lady that runs it made sure I got it back and every time we passed we were greeted with a smile, with no pressure to go in. We very much look forward to visiting again in the future and are sure we will be welcomed like...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) A Truly Unforgettable Experience at Elpís

We cannot thank the wonderful team at Elpís enough for the amazing memories they helped create for our family of nine! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth, genuine hospitality, and smiles that made us feel like part of the family.

The food was simply fantastic—each dish bursting with flavour, beautifully presented, and clearly made with love and care. From the fresh, local ingredients to the thoughtful vegan options and the delicious cocktails, every meal we had was a highlight of our trip.

But what made our evenings at Elpís truly unforgettable was the incredible staff. Every single member of the team went above and beyond to make us feel special, relaxed, and completely at home. Their kindness, professionalism, and attention to detail turned each dinner into a wonderful experience we’ll always treasure.

Thank you, Elpís, for giving our family such joyful and delicious nights—we can’t wait...