Venue Detail
Take Five
About this venue
Take Five is Heraklion’s effortlessly charming, soul-infused all-day jazz and neighborhood refuge. Tucked cleanly into a buzzing central street corner, this long-running jewel ditches rigid mainstream pretense in favor of a laid-back, community-centered living room aesthetic. While it operates as a sunny morning terrace for premium iced Freddos and local vegetarian-friendly snacks, the venue truly shines as night falls. It is heavily celebrated across global networks as an exceptionally warm, open-minded, and LGBTQ+-friendly anchor spot in eastern Crete, where the music selections glide smoothly into smooth jazz, vinyl grooves, and indie bangers.
Practical details
Address: Korai 24-26, 712 02 Heraklion, Greece
Hours: Monday and Sunday from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM; Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM; Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM.
Canonical: https://www.queeratlas.app/crete/venues/take-five--1463
Venue intelligence
Know before you go
Typical wait
Zero formal door checks or ticket queues due to a relaxed, open-door philosophy. However, on busy weekend nights when they host special live music showcases, expect a 10 to 15-minute wait to snag an open outdoor table.
Best time to visit
Head over at 8:30 PM on a Friday evening. This allows you to claim an outdoor street-side table, take advantage of the early cocktail happy hours, and watch the local mixology scene heat up.
Locals vs visitors
Heraklion locals, students, travellers and mixed-age friends share the room. Queer visitors are welcome and visible, but this is gay-friendly rather than a dedicated LGBTQ+ bar. The balance leans local around coffee and after-work hours, then becomes more visitor-mixed later.
What people wear
Effortlessly casual and relaxed.
Staff inclusion
Heavily praised in travel circles for its exceptionally safe, zero-judgment atmosphere. The venue owner, Vivi, is legendary among international globetrotters for her hands-on hospitality, routinely checking on solo travelers to make them feel instantly included and protected.
Reviews
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