Avli Malia Information:
? Address: Agiou Ioannou 2, 28is Oktovriou 7, Malia 700 07, Greece
? Price per Person: $10–$20
???? Kid-Friendly: Yes
♿ Accessibility: Easy walk from anywhere in Malia
Ratings:
Overall: 5/5
Food: 5/5
Cleanliness/Ambiance: 5/5
Kid Friendly: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5
Accessibility: 5/5
Why Avli Is One of the Best Restaurants in Malia
We spent nearly three weeks in Malia before stumbling upon Avli, and I still can’t believe we didn’t find it sooner. From the moment we got close, the scent of that wood-fired oven wrapped around us like a welcome mat. You smell this place before you see it—and that’s always a good sign.
Step inside and you’re met with a spacious, airy interior that manages to feel both rustic and modern. You can actually see the large open oven at work, surrounded by fresh produce ready to be transformed into something special.
We were lucky enough to be served by Eleni, who instantly made us feel at home. She gave us thoughtful recommendations, chatted with our daughter like they were old friends, and made the experience that much more memorable. Our little one even hugged her on the way out—and still talks about th coloring page Eleni gave her “to remember her time there.”
The Food
As a chef, I usually can’t help but nitpick—but Avli left me speechless. Every dish we tried hit the mark: great flavor, proper seasoning, attention to texture, and that wood-fired magic that just makes everything better. We ordered a little bit of everything, and not a single plate disappointed.
Standouts included:
- Wood-fired flatbreads with just the right amount of char
- Seasonal vegetables roasted to perfection
- Succulent meats cooked in the oven
- Feta rolls that make my mouth water just thinking about them
- The most surprisingly delicious house wine I’ve had in ages
- And the finale? A rose raki to send us off in true Cretan style
If you’re in Malia and craving a genuine local experience with exceptional food, Avli is a must.
The Stuffed Mushrooms are filled with pork apaki (a traditional Cretan delicacy of cured pork loin), Cretan gruyere and fresh basil. I am a sucker for stuffed mushrooms, and these blew me away. The filling had just the right amount and the perfectly seasoned. I could have munched on those all day long.
The Chicken Souvlaki is where it’s at! Our server recommended this dish and I’m so glad we took her up on it. Beautifully presented and perfectly seasoned. We had been eating a lot of this dish during our time on Crete, and here was the best version we had.
The Drinks
The house wine is the most delicious wine I’ve had in a long time, and the ending to the meal was unexpected and delicious. The rose raki was the perfect send off. Rose flavored anything is hard to do as it is very hard to find that balance. This raki had just the right amount of rose. You could smell it and taste it, but it wasn’t like you were sucking down the whole garden.
The drink menu was small, but just the right amount of options. We tried each cocktail they offered, and our daughter had the homemade lemonade which was the best! It is Avli’s own recipe, full of healthy nutrients, and sugar free! It’s made with Cretan wild mint and thyme honey, which sounds like complex flavors, especially for a kid, but our daughter loved it!
All of this for such a great price. We could not believe our eyes when we got our check. Our family likes to guess the amount of the bill before we look, and we were so off! We guessed much higher than it was! The atmosphere, the food, drinks, and service were so top notch. It almost didn’t feel right paying so little for such an amazing meal.
We cannot wait to come back for another memorable experience. Thank you so much for such a great meal!
Kid-Friendly and Welcoming:
Avli is surprisingly kid-friendly for such a high-quality restaurant. There’s a dedicated kids’ menu with all the classics, and the staff were incredibly accommodating. They brought out crayons and coloring pages, and made our daughter feel like royalty. It’s always a relief to find a spot that gets traveling families, without compromising on food quality.
Did you know this is one of our daughters favorite cities in the world?! Click here to read about more places you should definitely travel to with kids.
How to Get There
Avli is just a short walk from Malia’s Old Town, tucked away on a quieter street that’s easy to reach from anywhere in town. There’s no need to drive—just follow your nose. While reservations aren’t strictly necessary in shoulder seasons, we’d recommend calling ahead in July and August as it fills up fast with locals and in-the-know travelers.
Final Thoughts
Avli was hands down one of the best meals we had in all of Crete—maybe even in all of Greece. Between the incredible food, warm hospitality, and relaxed setting, this is one of those places you think about long after you’ve left.
We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in Crete. Thank you to the team at Avli for giving our family such a special memory.
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