Greek Islands
Greek Islands
I haven’t been to Athens, but I definitely want to go. Not just to see the Parthenon and history and blah blah blah, but because from what I’ve learned, some of the best coffee shops in Greece are located there. Lucky for me, I was able to find a few good ones on the islands. I’ve had time to properly explore Crete and Rhodes so far. Freddo espressos are big on the islands.
Best Coffees in Crete
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Monogram (Chania City Center)
Perfectly located in the old town and probably the best coffee shop of the island.
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Kross (Chania City Center - 3 locations)
A solid coffee shop perfect for pairing coffee with some delicious baked goods.
Best Coffees in Rhodes
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Monk (City Center) & Ara:zo (near Historical Center)
Simply the best coffee on the island. Find it also at their brunch place to eat and drink coffee among locals.
Monogram (Chania City Center)
Pros: Good selection of high quality single origin coffees
Cons: Pastry selection is lacking
This I was not expecting. To find amazing coffee in the middle of some small island (Crete is actually the biggest Greek island). Well color me surprised that it does exist. Monogram sources and roasts coffee from all the big name growing regions. They have about four coffee beans you can choose from if you want to do a single origin. I tried them all in espressos, V60s, even a few cappuccinos. My favorite was the V60, but there is no wrong choice.
Monogram has a few seats inside, but a large outdoor section, which was good for people watching. They have a nice yogurt and a few small cakes, but nothing to write home about. The appeal here is all about the coffee and I don’t mind one bit. If you’re in Crete, this is the spot you need to try.
Monogram, Daskalogianni 5 Chania
Kross (Chania - 3 locations)
Having been to all three of their locations, I can say they are all nice, but you should go to the one on Nearchou. The outdoor seating section is surrounded by palm trees and jungle leaves with an overall vibe that’s reminiscent of a cocktail bar in Miami. One of the best cafes to just sit, work, and chill, with enough space for everyone.
The pastries are definitely worth trying here, both savory and sweet. One of the best spinach pies I’ve tried came from here. And the variety of cakes will please anyone with a sweet tooth. This is a place that will please all third wave coffee lovers.
Kross, our favorite location: 1 Nearchou Str., Chania
Pros: Very cool outdoor setting, excellent food
Cons: Only a house blend available by the cup
Monk (City Center) & Ara:zo (near Historical Center)
Pros: Fun single origin choices, cool staff
Cons: None!
If you happen to be on holiday in Rhodes, congratulations, the island is beautiful! If you’re looking for a good cup of coffee, Monk & Ara:zo are the only ones who do third-wave coffee. Lucky for us, they do a great job. Both are owned by the same team, so I will include them both here.
Monk was a savior for me and my coffee cravings. I went here every day except Sunday and only because they were closed. The coffee was excellent, with three single origin choices to choose from, sourced and roasted by Samba Coffee in Athens. The Ethiopian bean they were serving was good as espresso, filter, and cappuccino. So good in fact that I named it my coffee of the month in November 2022. The pastries were also good, with a nice croissant and a waffle that was better than I expected. The guys working here are great also and really make it a fun experience to visit.
On the Sundays they were closed I went to Ara:zo. It’s a full brunch place, with some of the best food on the island. They serve the same coffee here and you might even see some of the Monk guys here. A really great experience.
If you’re on Rhodes, you don’t have any other options. That’s not such a bad thing when the coffee is this good.
Monk Coffee: Ethnarchou Makariou 14, Rodos 851 00
Ara:zo: Agiou Ioanni 156, Rodos 851 00
