THEN
Bakaliko Crete was conceived and founded in early 2013 by Agnes and Susanna – 2 pioneering Hungarian women who had come to Crete over the years, fell in love… with the island and decided to stay.
“We harbored an innate passion about the beauty and bounty of Crete, the way of life and of course the Cretan foods & wines. Our aim was to increase awareness of the superior quality and diversity of Cretan and Greek products. Having lived here for so many years and having travelled to every corner, we had discovered amazing foods and ingredients which we wanted to share with those who visited Crete and for those who would like to savor the tastes they’d discovered and recreate them back home. This was our fundamental mission.”
“From the beginning, we have taken pride in carefully selecting and promoting the best small companies and cottage industries for the shop and offering guests interesting ways to use both the traditional and the innovatively new products. Visitors to Bakaliko can taste, buy and even have products shipped home to them via our e-shop, which has been operating since 2015.”
“In the shop and restaurant we created a stylish, casual-chic space that seamlessly blends traditional with contemporary in all aspects. Our philosophy has always been to use the simple, fresh Cretan ingredients in unique taste combinations and in unconventional ways, using many of the carefully selected products from our shelves.”
NOW
From the second year of operation, Susanna’s husband George, a native Cretan, has been an integral part of the Bakaliko team. George brings with him a lifetime of front-of-the-house experience in the restaurant business and a passion and knowledge for the wines of Crete and Greece. Our expertise in wines and our reputation for our wine cellar and wine tastings has grown exponentially over the years, thanks to George.
Bakaliko has truly grown into a Meeting Point where you can come any time of the day for a quick beer or to enjoy a full meal with your family; where friends can share a bottle of wine and cheese platter or enjoy one of our famous desserts with a coffee or tea.
In 2017, Agnes returned to her native Budapest to pursue other interests. Bakaliko Crete is now run solely by Susanna and George.