Hersonissos: Alar Dinner-Show
Alar Dinner Show runs a purpose-built theatre on the north-coast road near Hersonissos, staging two productions with a four-course meal served through the performance. The venue was created by Virginia Carbone and built specifically for the format, with a 24-square-metre LED screen and laser lighting integrated into the room rather than added to it. Two shows run: ALAR Spectacular, aimed at ages 12 and up, and TROY, a family production built around Greek mythology.
What an evening at Alar involves
The evening runs to a fixed programme from doors to exit. Five stages fill it.
First, doors open at 19:00 and the performances start as soon as you walk in, around the room rather than only on the stage. Second, dinner is served at 19:30 alongside a pre-show, for TROY this is “Meet the Gods and Heroes”. Third, guests on the Drinks & Show ticket arrive at 20:00. Fourth, the main show starts at 20:30: dancing, acrobatics, comedy, a quick-change act, aerialists and live singers, carried by the laser and LED staging. Fifth, the night ends at 22:30, with an after-show party on the dance floor.
TROY adds an interactive layer. A QR code puts the show on your own phone, and the audience votes during the performance, Greeks or Trojans, Achilles or Hector, with the choice changing how the story runs.
Places this venue is near
The theatre sits on the main north-coast road in the Heraklion regional unit.
- Hersonissos, Alar is a short drive from the resort strip, so it fits into an evening among the things to do around Hersonissos without a long transfer.
What’s included and what isn’t
Two ticket types cover the same performance.
The dinner ticket includes:
- Four-course meal served through the pre-show
- Wine and drinks service at your table
- The full show and the after-show party
The Drinks & Show ticket includes:
- The full show and the after-show party, without the meal
Tickets start from €40. Tables can be chosen at booking, or left to the venue, which assigns the best available in your category.
Why we recommend this experience
We recommend Alar because it is not competing with anything else on this coast. Crete’s evening options are overwhelmingly folklore nights, a village, a lyra, a buffet, a dance troupe, and they are good at what they do. Alar is a staged production with acrobats, aerialists and a quick-change act in a room built for it, which is a different night out entirely. If you have already done a Cretan night, this is the one that does not repeat it.
Having two productions is the practical strength. ALAR Spectacular is suggested from age 12 up, while TROY is written for mixed ages with a menu to match, so a family with younger children has a real option rather than a compromise.
The venue itself is worth noting. A 24-square-metre LED screen, laser performances and pre-show acts working the room are production values you would expect in a city, not on a resort road.
Two practical points rather than criticisms.
Book on the venue’s own site. Alar states a lowest-price guarantee there, and booking directly lets you pick your table and flag a special occasion.
The rating we hold is based on a small sample. Our listing records 4.7 out of 5 across 20 ratings, which is positive but not a large base, check recent reviews yourself before committing a whole evening.
CreteLocals insider tips
Book direct, pick your show by who is coming, and arrange the taxi both ways.
- Choose your production first: take TROY if children are coming, and ALAR Spectacular if the group is 12 and over.
- Book on alardinnershow.com, where the venue guarantees the lowest price and you can select your table.
- Arrive for 19:00 doors rather than 19:30, since the performances start the moment you walk in.
- Take the Drinks & Show ticket if you have eaten, arriving at 20:00 for a 20:30 start.
- Flag wheelchair access in the booking form and leave the table unselected, so the venue assigns an accessible table with the best view.
- Book a return taxi in advance, because the theatre is on the highway rather than in a resort centre.
What to know before you go
The programme runs 19:00 doors, 19:30 dinner and pre-show, 20:00 arrival for Drinks & Show, 20:30 showtime and 22:30 exit, followed by the after-show party.
The venue is wheelchair accessible, state it in the booking form and do not choose a table, and an accessible table with the best available view is assigned. Booking ahead on the venue website is recommended.
Contact Alar directly: alardinnershow.com, info@alardinnershow.com, +30 694 712 4299.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the Alar dinner show start?
Doors open at 19:00, dinner and the pre-show begin at 19:30, and the main show starts at 20:30, finishing at 22:30.
Which show should you choose?
TROY suits families, with a menu for all ages and an interactive vote during the performance, while ALAR Spectacular is suggested from age 12 up.
Can you watch the show without dinner?
Yes, a Drinks & Show ticket covers the performance and the after-show party, with arrival at 20:00.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes. State it in the booking form and leave the table unselected, and an accessible table with the best available view is assigned.
How much does it cost?
Tickets start from €40, with the venue’s own website carrying a lowest-price guarantee.
Where is Alar?
Alar is on the main north-coast road near Hersonissos, a short drive from the resort strip.
Location
Alar Dinner-Show is located at Βόρειος Οδικός Άξονας Κρήτης, 700 14 Chersonesos Irakliou, Greece. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
