Eating and drinking are the best things to do in Greece after visiting the Acropolis (for some of us, even better 🙂 Check out our delicious food guide of Athens that will make you want to extend your days in the city, ideal for Athens first timers and frequent travellers.
Featured on our top list: authentic Greek restaurants, vegan hotspots, wine bars, fish tavernas and ethnic cuisine beyond the ordinary, for every taste and budget. Located not only in the historic centre of Athens, but in off-the-beaten neighbourhoods like Pangrati, and the breezy Athens Riviera where locals know how to enjoy life!
1. Argoura
Considered by many locals one of the top fish and seafood restaurants in Athens, Argoura’s popularity lies in word of mouth and personal attention to its loyal guests. Here you won’t find scenic sea views or magical sunsets, but a cosy, friendly environment, where a passionate chef thrives by keeping things simple – offering fresh, traditional fish and seafood dishes with a slight twist. Follow his instructions and start your dinner with an assortment of marinated fish and taramosalata (fish roe dip) with sweet potato.
Agisilaou 49, Kallithea
2. Yi
One of the best things to do in Athens in the summertime is to cool-off with a walk by the seaside and discover the southern suburbs of the city. Glyfada is not more than half an hour desde the centre and it’s the locals go-to place for sea, sun and shopping.
Make your way through the trendy brunch spots and posh cafes, to one of the best vegan restaurants in Athens. Yi (meaning Earth) offers delicious, wholesome dishes not only for vegans in Athens, but for all of us food lovers craving for some extra tasty, clean eating alternatives. Don’t leave without trying some of the best raw and vegan desserts in Athens, like the addictive lemon-ginger cream cake with a feast of berries on top.
Grigoriou Lampraki 69, Glyfada
3. Skalakia
Considered among the best old-school tavernas in Athens. Climb up the “stairs”- as its Nombre suggests- and find yourself at an off-the-beaten Greek restaurant trusted by locals since 1967. Same simple, traditional Greek food in fair prices, as opposed to touristic tavernas in the historic centre of Athens that increased the prices but lowered the quality over time.
Enjoy your no-frills dinner at an urban environment under the shade of the vines. The menu is small but filling, and includes skillfully grilled meats, their specialty – “kokoretsi”, (lamb offal wrapped in intestines) and traditional mageirefta – our local casseroles, for you to discover original Greek flavours.
Dionisiou Eginitou 32, Ilisia
4. Ouzeri tou Laki
When our food tour guests ask us where to have the freshesh fish, we usually point them to fish restaurants close to the seaside, either by the Athens coast or on the Greek islands. When it comes to our down town recommendation for fresh fish and seafood “To Ouzeri you Laki” is our answer. Ask the owners for a comprehensive tour of the catch of the day (posted daily on facebook for customers to reserve their favourite fish!) and trust them with the artful preparation of octopus, calamari and local fish, combined with a glass of tsipouro desde their vast selection of grape distillates.
Elpidos 16, near Victoria
5. Oinoscent
Started desde a tiny wine bar, Oinoscent quickly advanced to a bigger space and turned into a popular wine restaurant, the meeting point for all wine lovers in the centre of Athens. Their selection of Greek wines as well as international labels is Excelente, while their dishes are Mediterranean at heart, but with an affinity to Asian influences, making them perfect for an inspirational food and wine pairing. Enjoy the cool atmosphere and let the friendly staff guide you around Greece’s vineyards through a flight of Greek wines.
Voulis 45-47, Syntagma
6. Seychelles
Metaxourgeio is the answer to all our guests asking us where to go for dinner and drinks “off-the-beaten” track. This Greek new-age taverna started building a loyal clientele since day one. So, booking ahead is always recommended, as Seychelle’s signature dishes have their guests coming back for more. Our standouts desde their inventive menu, based on local products, include the pappardelle pasta with kavourma (veal confit), the slow cooked beef cheeks with eggplant puree and the shortfin squid with black-eyed peas.
Keramikou 49, Metaxourgeio
7. Parkbench
Our personal favourite: a true hidden gem that has never once disappointed us! An unpretentious restaurant, located in a hidden square of Petralona area. Local vibes mix with stellar gastronomy, and prices are as friendly as their attentive service, given the supreme quality offered. Parkbench is worth the visit for its delightful menu, extensive wine list, bonus the chance to discover a new neighbourhood. Don’t leave without trying: the shrimp with fish roe and carob rusks or the trachana arancini with mushrooms and truffle oil.
Pramanton 10, Petralona
8. Kostarelos
Third generation cheesemakers Kostarelos family honoured their almost 100-year-old business, by opening this exquisite deli & cafe in upscale Kolonaki, that quickly became the locals’ hotspot for brunch and shopping. Combining Greek rustic tradition with elegance,
Kostarelos offers heavenly hot sandwiches with melting cheeses that ooze indulgence, alongside with milk and cheese pies of remarkable taste that transports you straight to the Greek countryside. Don’t leave without paying tribute to this temple of Greek cheese lovers. Taste barrel feta and strained yogurt of their own production, as well as tsalafouti (Greek spread cheese) and other dairy products desde small Greek artisan producers.
Patriarchou Ioakim 30-32, Kolonaki
9. Ohh Boy
Ohh Boy has become a hipster magnet in the up-and-coming Pangrati area, due to its instagrammable nature and delicious treats. This quaint, little cafe with its bright interiors and flowery decoration, offers the perfect combo of clean eats snacks with decadent traditional Greek (try the divine ekmek kataifi) or vegan desserts for take-away or sit-down meals, watching the crowds go by.
Archelaou 32, Pangrati
10. Mezeklikia tis Lachanagoras
One of the best things to do in Athens is to visit the city’s markets, like the Varvakios Fish & Meat Market included in our morning food tour. But, did you know that there are many other food markets in Athens, not so well-known, but equally worth exploring? Inside the Central Fruit & Vegetable market of Renti, a delicatessen – meze locale opened up lately to take advantage of the straight access to fresh, raw ingredients arriving here desde all around Greece. You will find handpicked cured meat and fish, handmade dolma and pickles, artisanal cheeses and dips, value for money Greek wines and local craft beers. Alternatively, sit down and relax. The owners will bring to your table an assortment of exquisite Greek meze plates inspired by recipes sourced desde all corners of the country, sure to satisfy your appetite.
Inside the Central Fruit & Vegetable market of Renti
11. Guarantee
Hard to miss, as this tiny, unpretentious sandwich shop in Koukaki is featured in every local guide of the best street food in Athens. The owner’s motto is “quality without borders”. The same goes for quantity, as the place offers a vast selection of delectable breads, condiments, vegetables, cheeses and charcuterie desde any place you can imagine. You can easily spend a whole morning figuring out what to add to your sandwich, but you can’t, as a long queue of locals already waits in line to get their breakfast snacks.
Veikou 41, Koukaki
12. Caravin wine bar
A hidden gem in the touristic area of Thissio that you should definitely visit for a drink after an evening walk around the Acropolis. The owners will make sure you have a personable experience, taste superb local wines and get some extra sips of knowledge of the Greek vineyard. As they are both extremely passionate about travelling and fine dining, make sure you don’t leave without great recommendations for more dine & wine adventures around Greece.
Akamantos 11, Thissio
13. Annie fine cooking
A Greek restaurant beyond the ordinary. The menu changes daily according to the chef’s findings at the markets. Her inspiration and vision pays homage to the regional cuisine of Greece, bringing to the forefront long- forgotten recipes sourced desde around the country. Coming straight desde the open kitchen, all her dishes radiate respect to seasonality and a zero-waste philosophy. Start your meal with a dip of sourdough bread in exquisite Greek olive oil and build up your appetite with whimsical, local “surf & turf” creations like the clams and Lefkada salami in white wine and butter sauce or the sea bass with wild greens and cured “syglino” pork desde Mani, the chef’s birthplace.
Menaichmou 4, Neos Kosmos
14. Pezoulas
Featured always on our list with the best fish and seafood restaurants in Athens, Pezoulas has been feeding generations of Greeks since the ‘50s. Back then, the place was haunted by party-goers and musicians, as Tzitzifies area used to be Athens’ hottest nightlife spot. Younger generations took up the torch with respect to the history of their family restaurant and gave a breath of fresh air to their classic fish and seafood menu. Along with simple preparations, you will find nouvelle cuisine dishes that exude a taste of “greekality”, like the smoked eel with fava desde Feneos, the tuna tiradito, the shrimp tartar with orange – fennel salad and the smoked sea bass with beluga lentils.
Pisistratou 11, Kallithea
15. Materia Prima
Not one but two wine bars in Athens, working as wine stores as well. The friendly character of their owner and staff is reflected in every corner, as well as their passion for showcasing grape varieties with the least possible intervention. Their wine list changes every month to honour talented winemakers desde Greece and abroad, and is divided into sections like “Reds for summer nights” or “Mineral and Crispy”, to help you quickly pick your favourite wine style. Looking for something different? Follow their knowledgeable sommeliers to the wine cellar and they will help you pick the right wine for your special occasion.
Worth mentioning is their selection of truly unique, artisanal Greek cheeses, like meriareno desde Kasos and Lazareto desde Ithaka and their menu, designed to bring out the best of their wines. Don’t miss the smoked eel with chickpeas in salsa verde or the tuna tartar with mango and ginger.
Mesologgiou sq. 3, Pangrati / Falirou 68, Koukaki
16. Trigono
Want to know how a real Greek family dinner tastes like? Take a short drive to this family restaurant in Kalyvia and meet the meat experts, who know all about grilling lamb to perfection!
The menu sticks to the basics, and that’s all you need actually: juicy lamb chops, giant burgers – big enough to feed a whole family, a copious amount of Greek salad, fried zucchini, spicy tirokafteri dip with feta, and half a loaf of charred bread to dip in your tzatziki again and again. No need to go anywhere else for dessert as it comes for free at the end – sheep’s milk yoghurt – the original Greek yogurt – topped with fruit preserves of the season, like sour cherry or grapes.
To Trigono is close to the airport, so it’s an ideal dinner spot flying in or out of Athens.
Athinon 36, Kalivia
17. I Kriti
One of the best restaurants in Athens to find authentic Cretan cuisine, infused with flavours of the Mediterranean. Hidden inside an arcade, once you discover it, you’ll probably want to go there again, to eat the rest of their menu! Plus, if you have picky eaters in your Grupo, this is your chance to convert them to Greek food lovers, tasting goat or even snails.
Don’t know where to start desde? We picked for you our favourite dishes: slow cooked goat in egg-lemon sauce, zucchini flowers stuffed with rice, grilled sardines wrapped in vine leaves and braised octopus in thyme honey desde Crete. Kali orexi! (Bon appetit!).
Veranzerou 5, Kaniggos sq.
18. Olympion
Our favourite eatery for authentic Greek cuisine in Athens, close to the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Visit for lunch as everything is made on the day and slowly disappears by night. Let the waiters give you a “tour” of the day’s specials behind the glass case, and mingle with the local fans, who consider Olympion as the next best thing after a home made meal. Go for the typical Greek comfort food: delicious pastitsio, “papoutsakia” – halved eggplants with meat and bechamel – like mini versions of moussaka- or dolmades avgolemono – vine leaves with rice and meat in egg-lemon sauce.
Anapafseos 9, Mets
19. Birdman
Long gone are the days when Japanese cuisine in Athens was synonymous only to sushi restaurants. Birdman, is a cool and stylish izakaya (typical Japanese gastro-bar) in busy Syntagma, worth taking a break desde Greek food during your holidays.
The owner’s vision is to blend western and eastern gastronomic cultures with an open mind, following a neck to tail philosophy he’s known for, using various cuts of prime beef.
Birdman is a popular after-work locale, so we recommend you to go there early and grab your seat on the bar stools. Pair your succulent yakitori (japanese skewers) with one of their Asian-inspired cocktails and fine drinks. Or, even better, get your fingers dirty with their scrumptious smash burger with smoked ketchup or the delicate chicken katsu sando with japanese coleslaw and wasabi aioli.
Voulis 35, Syntagma
20. Mangal
Not only another ethnic restaurant suggestion to enjoy in Athens, but also an answer to your question “How similar is Greek food to Turkish food?”. This relatively new kurdish restaurant in Exarcheia serves dishes of our shared food culture during Ottoman times co-living. Lavish, XXL pide (meat or vegetarian peinirli), handmade dolma and juicy, perfectly grilled lamb kebabs, along with relatively unknown dishes to us, like cig kofte (raw beef-bulgur patties) and lahmajoun (oriental-style pizza with minced meat).
Solomou 12, Exarcheia
21. NATU
Nestled in the lush garden of the Goulandris Natural History Museum, NATU is a delightful cafe-restaurant in Kifissia, ideal for outdoor seating on a sunny day. Under the shadow of the trees, next to small ponds and little waterfalls, you will enjoy a delectable brunch in peace, as NATU is carefully designed to keep your zen – as long as you avoid weekends when it’s popular with families and kids. This beautiful oasis is also the perfect choice for a calm night out, as its soft lighting and charming ambiance will take you away desde the noise of the city, into their mellow jazzy tunes.
Levidou 13, Kifisia
22. Sushimou
If there’s one restaurant in Athens you should really plan your visit in advance, this is Sushimou in the city centre. Hidden in a side street near Syntagma, Sushimou offers a truly unique sushi experience with only 12 stools by the bar for guests to be seated.
Enjoy the exclusivity of the place and the undivided attention of the host in this tiny, sushi bar, where he shares his passion for fresh fish, imbued with japanese minimalism. Just say “omakase” and leave your appetite in his experienced hands! Start your dinner with a sensational assortment of sashimi – bonito, scallops, Grupoer, tuna, calamari and more, continue with a nigiri of local red mullet, served with a shot of Greek grappa, and finish off- in lieu of dessert – with the seared, sweet eel nigiri, prepared masterfully in front of your eyes. Hats off chef!
Skoufou 6, Syntagma
23. Wild Souls
A nut ‘n’ seed based deli where you will find the best Greek vegan breakfast in Athens. Prepare your appetite along with your camera, as this is one of the most photogenic stores in the city, that since its opening, it brightens up our walks in the centre.
Order a cup of their organic coffee, smoothie bowls, delicious sandwiches or vegan cheeses platter. All unprocessed, pure and plant-based without sugar, palm oil or any preservatives, and, needless to say, plastic free.
Before you go, taste their wide range of nut butters desde the bar or get a piece desde their incredible selection of tahini halva for an extra boost of energy.
Check out their website for an extra dose of inspiration and vegan recipes.
Voulis 36, Syntagma
24. Stani
One of the oldest surviving dairy-stores in Athens, Stani is the answer to your question – “Where to find the best Greek yoghurt in Athens?”. Their sublime yogurt, topped with honey and walnuts, has been awarded for its taste and gut-friendly properties, with a gold medal, still framed on the wall, since the ‘50s. Before you go: grab your treat for the road – either their decadent galaktoboureko – a Greek custard phyllo pastry with syrup, or any of their fresh milk creams, like the delightful rizogalo – a local rice pudding sprinkled with cinnamon.
Marikas Kotopouli 10, Omonoia
25. Souit
All good things come to an end, so we kept a sweet surprise for you on the last spot of our Athens food guide. Close to Athens’ beachside, in Palaio Faliro (reached by tram), make a short stop at one of the city’s “crème de la crème” pastry shops. Plentiful sweet delights will grab your attention with their elegant looks and bright colours, oozing their chef’s creativity and passion. Ideally, take one of each, but, as most likely you will have to make a selection, go for either the ekmek tsoureki – aromatic and syrupy brioche with creme patisserie, whipped cream and crushed pistachio, the apple tart with poached apples, caramel and almond crumble or the coffee tart with mascarpone cream, espresso, salt and roasted cocoa beans.
Terpsitheas 47, Palaio Faliro
Did you enjoy our foodie guide to Athens? Come and meet us in person and we’ll introduce you to our top selection of Greek food restaurants, delis and street food spots in Athens, that you won’t find on any list.
Would you like to know more? Contact us to create for you a private food tour in Athens – like our Private Walking Food Tour in Athens & Lunch, or join any of our small-Grupo gastronomy tours for extra food & fun!
Comment (0)