Best Athens Restaurants

Boasting an abundance of restaurant options on every corner, the vast city of Athens has all the flavors anyone could hope for! Offering a wide range of options, the main types of restaurants are taverns, fine dining, and street food, with souvlaki wraps being the most common food throughout the country.

Most restaurants, regardless of their style, are spotted near the city center since this is where most people go out to enjoy a dinner, a couple of drinks, or a lively night out! Suburbs have their fair share of dining areas, albeit many of them tend to be small family-run businesses that focus on making food from simple ingredients. On the contrary, posh and upscale neighborhoods can also host large dining places with all comforts due to the area’s budget and ample spaces!

Classic dishes of Greek cuisine besides the classic souvlaki include gyros (rotisserie pork, chicken, or döner), moussaka, pastitsio, horiatiki salad, dakos salad, and appetizers such as tzatziki and grilled cheese, also known as saganaki!

Furthermore, the people of Athens have mild seasonal preferences depending on the month and weather. For example, locals lean towards open-air and seaside establishments during the summer months (in areas such as Piraeus, Drapetsona, Flisvos, Nea Makri, and Porto Rafti) due to the season’s bright sun and pleasant sea breeze, whereas on the other hand, their wintertime preferences include cozy inner-city spots with a home-like environment, as well as lots of hot drinks to keep themselves warm! However, some spots feature gorgeous views all year round, like direct views over the waters of the Saronic Gulf or the stunning Acropolis!

It is also important to note that Athens Restaurants have distinct differences between new and old-style cuisines, given that the capital has undergone a gradual cultural shift throughout the past decades, now incorporating more flavors from around the world! Still, Athens is fit for all kinds of cuisines and styles, as well as all budgets, ranging from quality, inexpensive meals to upscale dining experiences!

Taverns

Taverns are the main type of eateries in Athens, given that they have been an integral part of the city’s everyday life for countless years! Featuring simple dishes made from easy-to-find, fresh ingredients, a classic tavern has plenty of appetizing choices based on meat and a handful of seafood selections! Mediterranean dishes with local ingredients are the focal point of most taverns in Athens, and they are usually combined with a local spirit, some tap wine, or a cold beer!

A small tavern with a warm atmosphere and a cozy environment may often be called a koutouki (or ouzeri). Koutouki spots (once hosted in the backyard or basement of the host’s home) combine homemade food with local tap wine and spirits, lots of fantastic small dishes, and a sense of relaxation! On the other hand, ouzeri spots are known for combining simple ingredients and making small, tasteful dishes (also called mezedes) while serving plentiful domestic ouzo drinks and varieties, hence their name. Plus, lots of taverns in Athens host live traditional or entekhno-style music on the regular!

Some of the finest taverns and koutouki spots in Athens are the contemporary excellence of Piroliki in Kerameikos, the fantastic ouzeri Lesvos and the warm Rozalia in Exarchia, as well as the traditional Klimataria in Omonia!

Meat-based taverns focus on creating small or family-sized servings of grilled, cooked, and rotisserie meat, most notably pork, chicken, lamb, and veal. Along with your dish of preference, these taverns have the perfect side dishes for every occasion, including french fries, dips, fresh salads, and more!

Some taverns that make delicious meat servings include the famous Arsenis in Paleo Faliro, the homemade cooking of Oi Nostimies Tis Mairys in Kipseli, and Paradosiako in Plaka!

On the other hand, fish taverns are also quite common around Athens, given that their dishes are an important part of the Greek and Mediterranean diet! These taverns offer a plethora of fresh fish and a variety of seafood choices, while most of them can be spotted along the shores of the Athenian Riviera and the suburbs of Piraeus in places such as Pasalimani, Mikrolimano, Piraiki, and Paleo Faliro!

Examples of fish and seafood taverns are Ammos and Margaro in Piraeus, the tasteful Mikres Kyklades in Ilioupoli, and the seafood of Trata in the central districts of Omonia!

Note: The most famous districts of Athens (i.e. Monastiraki, Plaka, Syntagma) have a plethora of tourist traps, most of which boast about their high-quality food while serving sub-par dishes. They can usually be spotted by their over-the-top usage of classic Greek phrases, stereotypical white-and-blue design, and pitchmen promoting common, yet widely known Greek dishes, including moussaka, souvlaki, and pastitsio.

Fine Dining Restaurants

Visitors of Athens looking for a unique dining experience will be delighted to discover some of the city’s most innovative establishments! Offering intriguing flavors made from common ingredients or unorthodox food combinations, the fine dining restaurants of Athens are aplenty. Most of them can be spotted in the center of Athens or one of its upscale neighborhoods.

High-end dining selections in Athens consist of meals cooked to perfection, whereas many varieties of premium-quality wine usually accompany the menu and your evening. Also, it is a common occurrence that guests need to follow a dress code, so it is recommended that you come well-prepared!

Some examples of fine dining in Athens are the elegant Merceri in Thissio, the meat-focused Brutus in the posh Kolonaki neighborhood, and the beautiful Balthazar in Ampelokipi!

In addition, Athens has a handful of top-tier, Michelin-awarded restaurants guaranteed to provide their visitors with the utmost culinary experience! All Greek restaurants that have received the prestigious award are located in Athens, so if avant-garde, premium cooking is up your alley, then a visit to any of these dining spots is a must!

A few Michelin restaurants in Athens are the prestigious CTC in Kerameikos, the seaside Varoulko (of Lefteris Lazarou fame) in Piraeus, Pagrati’s course-based Soil, the rooftop Hytra in Onassis Stegi, and the exquisite Botrini's in Halandri!

Street Food

The premier street food of Athens Restaurants is, of course, the souvlaki wrap! Filled with your meat of choice (like pork, chicken, and gyros varieties, as well as some vegetarian and vegan-friendly options throughout the years), a pita bread wrap with tomato, onions, and tzatziki sauce are this food’s necessary ingredients! Since the souvlaki is Athens’ first option for a quick, fulfilling bite, it can be found on every corner, with most Athenian neighborhoods having at least a couple of spots dedicated to souvlaki making! Plus, souvlaki can also be spotted on the menus of a multitude of meat-based taverns.

Some of the most famous souvlaki spots around Athens are the famous Thanassis Kebab in Monastiraki and the traditional Kostas in Syntagma!

Furthermore, street food restaurants in Athens are a large part of the capital’s everyday life, while they share a close connection with the younger generation and the center’s upbeat nightlife! With a wide variety of styles to choose from and lots of options for vegans, there is a spot for every hungry individual, though keep in mind that sometimes street food establishments do not equip a designated space for dining, so you might as well snack on a street bench or eat while having a walk around the city! The laid-back, relaxed style and culture of the capital’s street food spots make them a fantastic, budget-friendly option and ideal for anyone who prefers a quick, delicious snack over a deluxe meal. Plus, they can be spotted in populated towns outside the city center, such as Piraeus, Korydallos, Kallithea, and Halandri!

A handful of the most revered street food options in Athens are the fantastic Guarantee in Koukaki, Crust Pizza in Psiri, Etnico in Syntagma, Nakama Sushi Bar in Kolonaki, and the expertly-made falafel of Baba Ghanoush in Pagrati!

Find everything you may want to know about Greek food, eating habits, mealtimes, and more in our guide about eating in Greece!