φάκα

From breakfast to the embers of the night

Archoleon 15, in the old town of Chania, a few steps from the Venetian harbour.

Cretan dishes cooked fresh each day, fish and seafood, and every evening one cut of meat roasted slowly over charcoal.

4,7 out of 5 from 2,378 Google reviews Daily 10:00–00:00 to be confirmed

A plate of mussels and a bottle of tsipouro on a white tablecloth, with the Venetian harbour behind.
Mussels and tsipouro at midday, with the harbour behind.
A white rush-seat chair in front of a stone Venetian arch.

Tables on the cobblestones

A family restaurant in a lane of the old town, just behind the Venetian harbour. The tables are laid outside, on the stone, in the shade of the trees.

Morning
Cretan breakfast
Midday
The dishes of the day
Evening
Fish, seafood and meat over charcoal
Tables laid with white cloths on the cobblestones, among pots of flowers.
Tables laid out in the lane.

From the pot to the sea

Three things meet on the menu: the Cretan dishes of the day, fish and seafood, and a few more modern plates.

A portion of moussaka served on a turquoise plate.
Moussaka, from the tray to the plate.

Dishes of the day

The cooked dishes have a card of their own. Next to each one is a box ticked by hand, depending on what was cooked that day. Ask what is on today.

Traditional dishes

  • Kakavia fish soup with Kozani saffron
  • Gemista with zucchini flowers
  • Boureki
  • Snails boubouristoi
  • Moussaka
  • Lamb meat pie
  • Lamb tsigariasto
  • Oven-baked goat
  • Rabbit stifado
  • Octopus stifado with fava

The kitchen ticks the boxes every day.

The sea

Grilled fish, mussels, orzo cooked in kakavia broth, and three raw plates to start.

  • Steamed musselsin white wine sauce with herbs
  • Seafood orzokakavia broth, herbs and Kozani saffron
  • Grilled sardineswith roasted potato and herb oil
  • Grilled sea breamwith buttered vegetables
Mussels with cherry tomatoes and peppers in a copper pan, from above.
Steamed mussels in the copper pan.

And something more modern

Tuna tartare with avocado and mango, sea bass ceviche with beetroot, chicken mille-feuille with smoked aubergine. And the salad that carries the name of the house: the Faka salad, with strawberries, grilled manouri and sesame brittle.

  • Fish tartare with pomegranate on a white plate with a gold rim.
    Tartare, on a white plate.
  • A hand holds a turquoise plate of small bites in front of a stone Venetian wall.
    In front of the Venetian wall.
  • A salad on a white plate beside the Faka sign and bougainvillea.
    A salad, beside the sign.
The full menu

In English and in Greek, with vegetarian dishes marked.

Shade by day, light by night

A wooden trellis with flowerpots, an arcade with laid tables, white linen. When the sun goes down, the lights come on in the lane.

An arcade with laid tables and a wooden trellis on the wall.
The arcade.
A table for two with a white cloth, bread and two glasses of white wine.
A table for two.

For friends, for families, for two.

For large tables, let us know in advance on 2821 042341.

On the fire

In the ceramic Monolith in the courtyard, each day of the week a different cut of meat is roasted slowly and smoked over charcoal, for hours. Low & slow, as the menu puts it.

  1. MondayPork shank with orange, garlic and rosemaryΚότσι χοιρινό με πορτοκάλι, σκόρδο και δενδρολίβανο€23.00
  2. TuesdayLamb shank with local cheese, peppers and onionΑρνί κότσι με κρητικά τυριά και λαχανικά€29.50
  3. WednesdayPork spare ribs with BBQ sauceΧοιρινά spare ribs με σάλτσα BBQ€23.00
  4. ThursdayLamb shank with local cheese, peppers and onionΑρνί κότσι με κρητικά τυριά και λαχανικά€29.50
  5. FridayPork neck marinated with sweet red peppers, yoghurt and herbsΧοιρινός λαιμός μαριναρισμένος με πιπεριά Φλωρίνης, γιαούρτι και μυρωδικά€23.00
  6. SaturdayLamb shank with local cheese, peppers and onionΑρνί κότσι με κρητικά τυριά και λαχανικά€29.50
  7. SundayPork spare ribs with BBQ sauceΧοιρινά spare ribs με σάλτσα BBQ€23.00

Prices and schedule to be confirmed

Save a portion for tonight

The cuts cook for hours and there are only a few. One phone call is enough.

From those who sat in the alley

Words from public reviews, as they were written, in their own language.

…δεν το πιάνει το μάτι. Αλλά το πιάνει η γεύση

Ε. Σ. August 2026 TripAdvisor
  • The daily BBQ specials are phenomenal.

    Jonathan D. August 2026 Google

  • The lamb was out of this world, really beautiful.

    D. R. September 2026 TripAdvisor

  • We recommend especially the eggplant roll as a starter.

    Martina K. August 2026 Google

  • Delightful restaurant a little away from the crowds along the wharf.

    Michael H. September 2026 TripAdvisor

  • …we were surprised with ouzo and panna cotta after our meal.

    Zoe V. September 2026 Google

Eaten at Faka? Tell us how it was.

Come to Archoleon

Address
Archoleon 15, Chania 731 32
Hours
Daily 10:00–00:00 to be confirmed
The lane at night, with lit balconies and tables on the cobblestones.
Archoleon in the evening.