Restaurants in Athens
Epicurian Athens is a foodie's delight, from the old-fashioned tavernas to the trendiest gourmet eateries; world cuisines are nicely represented as well. The plethora of dining options is dizzying and the settings range from city sidewalks, quiet courtyards and gardens, verandas with breathtaking Acropolis and city views to dining on the beach. A meal in Athens, particularly dinner, is to be relished, never rushed and preferably enjoyed alfresco.
Dining in Athens will rarely come cheap at the quality restaurants and reservations are highly recommended, particularly on weekends. If you wish to dine with the locals, remember that most Athenians do not dine before 10pm. Your tip should be 10% to 15% of the bill (check to see if service is included). Menus can be found in both Greek and English (if not, the waiter will help you with suggestions.) The current E.U. nonsmoking law that went into effect in 2009 did not have a major effect on the city's countless warm season al fresco dining and drinking establishments.
A Note on Credit Cards (or Bring Cash) -- Many Athenian restaurants still do not accept credit cards, especially tavernas and "lower brow" places.
Price Categories
Very Expensive 100€ and up
Expensive 40€-100€
Moderate 20€-40€
Inexpensive Under 20€
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19 Results
- Greek
Avissinia (Abyssinia) Cafe
This looks like the sort of place Lord Byron might have enjoyed: a small cafe with louche locals lounging over their coffee in a ramshackle building near the entrance to the Ancient Agora. The walls have old black and white photographs, some tobacco smoke-stained oil…$$Monastiraki - Greek/Organic
Bliss
Ah, Greece. Popular for organic, largely vegetarian fare, Bliss is where young Greeks congregate and smoke lots of cigarettes. The activity starts in the morning for coffee and breakfast and continues until late at night, and on some days and evenings, it offers yoga…$Monastiraki - Greek
Damigos (The Bakaliarakia)
This cozy family-owned and -operated basement taverna off Adrianou Street is just about my favorite place for a relaxed meal, especially when it's a bit chilly, when I can sit by the pot-bellied wood stove. Don't miss the ancient column that supports the roof in the front room or the…$Syntagma Square - Greek
Daphne's
For many years, Daphne's has won rave reviews from almost every food critic. Its setting—an 1830s former residence with frescoes on the walls and a blissful garden—is one of the nicest in town. Just about everyone famous has eaten here, including Hillary, who first…$$$Acropolis - Greek
Dioskouri
On busy Adrianou, ideal for its view of the Acropolis, Agora, and Temple of Hephaestus (not to mention its excellent people-watching), Dioskouri has been serving tasty mezedes at affordable prices for many years. The place is crowded day and night with lots of locals.…$Monastiraki - Traditional Greek
Filippou
An Athenian favorite since 1923, Filippou almost never disappoints. The traditional dishes such as stuffed cabbage, stuffed vine leaves, vegetable stews, and fresh salads are consistently good. In the heart of Kolonaki, this is a place to go for quality home cooking in…$$Kolonaki - Traditional Greek
Giouvetsakia
Despite its location at the busy tourist-thronged intersection of Adrianou and Thespidos, this family-run taverna packs in as many locals as tourists. Since 1959 customers have wolfed down the house specialty and namesake, a hearty lamb stew Giouvetsi with orzo in a red…$Acropolis - Traditional Greek
Ideal
The oldest restaurant—90 years and counting—in the heart of Athens, today's Ideal retains its original magnificent Art Deco décor. It also has the best waiters in town (sometimes brisk, never brusque), the best wiener schnitzel, and both magnificent egg-lemon soup and…$$Omonia - Contemporary Greek
Mani Mani
Who would think that a restaurant in Athens near the Acropolis would advertise specialties of the Mani, the most remote and poorest district of the Peloponnese? Mani Mani does its down-home cuisine beautifully: rooster bardouniotikos (rooster stewed with feta,…$$Koukaki & Makrigianni - Traditional Greek
Platanos Taverna
Indoors, the walls are decorated with great old black and white photos and outside, tables spread beneath a shady plane tree (platanos means plane tree). On the plates, the food has been consistently good spitiko fageto (home cooking) since 1932. If artichokes are in…$Syntagma Square - Traditional Greek
Rhodia
Archaeologists from the nearby British and American Schools of Classical Studies, who are accustomed to steep walks to mountaintop ancient sites, think nothing of the climb up to Rhodia, on Aristipou, which is about as high up as streets go on Kolonaki. The exertion is worth…$$Syntagma Square - International
Spondi
Many foodies consider Spondi to be the best restaurant in Greece. It won its first Michelin star in 2002 and a second in 2008. Those people must feel happier than I do with a menu that lists "The Tomato" or "The Potato" as a starter option for €30. What's more, I am not…$$$Koukaki & Makrigianni - Greek
Taverna Sigalas
This longtime Plaka taverna, housed in an 1879 building with a newer outdoor pavilion, looks wildly kitsch. Considerable atmosphere is provided by lots of big, dark wood Retsina barrels and countless black-and-white photos of Greek movie stars—and, every evening, the air is…$$Walk across from the metro station to Thanasis. - Greek
Thanasis
The only time Thanasis is not crowded is when it's closed. Just across from Taverna Sigalas, Thanasis serves superlative kebabs and pita. The kebabs, made of a secret mixture of ground lamb and beef, are unusually tender and juicy for a souvlakia joint. There's both…$$Plaka - Greek/International
To Kafeneio
If you're on your own, perhaps especially if you are a woman, join the ladies who lunch. The name ("coffee shop") is meant tongue-in-cheek: This is one chic restaurant. The menu changes, but I always hope that leeks in crème fraiche or onion pie will be on it, and I always…$$From the Evangelismos metro station, walk along Vas. Sofias (a.k.a. Venizelou) toward Syntagma. Take Loukianou (one main street after Ploutarchou) uphill to the Kafeneio, which will be on the right. - Greek
To Ouzadiko
Tucked away in the rather grim arcaded Lemos Shopping Center, set slightly back from the street and often not well-lit at night, this lively bar offers more than 50 kinds of ouzo. There are at least as many mezedes (appetizers), including fluffy keftedes (meatballs) that a…$$Syntagma Square - Greek/International
To Prytaneion
The Prytaneion proclaims that all the shellfish that it serves is caught daily by its own deep sea diver. Found in a narrow pedestrian street just off Kolonaki Square, it manages to be trendy (stone walls and baby spotlights) but still have the cozy atmosphere of a…$$$Kolonaki Square - Seafood
Varoulko
If there is a better seafood kitchen in Athens, I have not found it. The restaurant, which won a Michelin star in 2002, could be called elegant and unfussy, which also describes the cuisine here. There are no bizarre combinations of ingredients, there…$$$Around town - Traditional Greek
Vlassis
What a great place! All the good down- home dishes are delivered with up-to-date-tweaks (the egg lemon sauce is fantastic) and top-notch presentation. Nothing is fussy, but everything looks as good as it tastes—and you can usually choose your appetizers from a large platter…$$Koukaki & Makrigianni
