Hasika — Restaurant in Municipality of Rethymnon

Location: In the heart of the old town of Rethymno, near the Cathedral. It is easily and quickly accessible on foot from anywhere in Rethymno.

Ambience, comfort, decor: The restaurant is based in an old building and has an open kitchen and a small seating area. The place has a warm and cozy ambience and combines traditional with modern elements in its decor. As the seating area is small, it would not be very comfortable for small children.

Food, quality, quantity: The restaurant raises the culinary standards of the city. It offers small dishes that are easily shared which are based on Cretan local products. The outcome is creative Cretan cuisine of very high standard. The selection comprises pickled products (e.g., artichokes, capers, edible bulbs), local cheeses, great salads as well as meat and seafood based dishes (that are larger in quantity). The smoked pork with chickpeas and the beef liver were exceptional. One downside was the not so fresh bread that was offered. The portions are fairly small for the Cretan standards. Furthermore there is an exceptional selection of bottled Cretan wines but no house wine served in a carafe.

Service: Fast, friendly and attentive.

Treats at no extra charge: A small dessert (really nice) and raki.

Price: Prepare to pay more than average but not excessively more. The price is reasonable for the offered standard, as this is a truly gourmet restaurant.

The restaurant is really recommended. Reservation is advised, as there are not...

Edit: we came back after two years, I was really looking forward to it. And I was largely disappointed… :( the octopus moussaka has been changed and not great, the cuttlefish in its own ink wasn’t great either and anchovies were ok but we had better in Rethymno … also the staff was less attentive than the last time…

Amazing food & service! We were recommended this place by two sources and it was top dining experience we had in Crete. From the start, the service was very attentive, we chose our startes and had help with wine pairing for the meal. We had raw fish (carpaccio) and mackrel pita - both delicious. After that, we ordered mains: lamb and moussaka with octopus. For us, the lamb had a bit too much cheese in it but to be fair, the waiter did explain this. Moussaka was an explosion for my taste buds, octopus was super tender! We also had bread with olive - again, not your everyday bread or olive :) In the middle of the meal we ordered one shot of ouzo, and it was complimentary - nice touch. At the end, we got nice little desserts, very yummy too! All this for EUR 66, when the wine was 19 (totally worth it, wine was excellent). I...

There are meals that satisfy, meals that impress, and then—rarely—meals that change something in you.

This is not just a restaurant—it is a space that feels sacred to its purpose. At the center of this reverence is the chef, Hasika, whose name graces the door and whose soul inhabits every plate.

Each dish felt like a story, whispered across generations and infused with emotion. The ingredients weren’t just fresh or locally sourced—they felt chosen, almost fated. There was no excess, no pretension—only purity and intention. Every element had a reason to be on the plate, and every bite felt like a revelation. Hasika doesn’t cook in front of you. She shares something with you. This was not just a dinner. It was an offering—one I hadn’t known to ask for, but one I accepted with every sense awake. To dine here is to be inspired, not only by flavor but by the courage it takes to create so personally, so unguardedly.

If you find yourself in Rethymno, do not miss this. Come hungry, but come open. You will be fed in ways you...