Where to eat in Athens: my 32 favourite restaurants
Where to eat in Athens, sorted by budget — from legendary souvlaki joints and ouzo tavernas in the backstreets to modern Greek tables worth dressing up for. The spots locals rate, not the tourist traps under the Acropolis.
Book a Table"MiraMe Athens" Rooftop RestaurantMediterranean (rooftop)A chic rooftop restaurant and bar with a head-on Acropolis view: polished Mediterranean plates and cocktails in a glamorous setting. Directions
Book a TableArsenisGreek (taverna)A friendly Plaka taverna with a big spread of classic Greek dishes, moussaka, grilled fish, dips and house wine, and live music some nights. Directions
Book a TableBirdman€€€€ · ~€45–60pp · Japanese (robatayaki)A sleek, dimly-lit Japanese robatayaki and yakitori spot that's become one of Athens's trendiest tables: skewers grilled over binchotan, sashimi and inventive small plates with a serious cocktail list. Directions
Book a TableBougatsadiko I Thessaloniki€ · Bakery / bougatsaThe place for bougatsa: flaky phyllo pastry filled with sweet semolina custard (dusted with sugar and cinnamon) or savoury cheese, cut up with scissors. Directions
Book a TableCTC Urban GastronomyModern (Michelin star)A Michelin-starred, intimate restaurant in Kolonaki serving a creative, surprise-led tasting menu from chef Alexandros Tsiotinis. Directions
Book a TableDiporto Agoras€12-18 · Greek (cellar taverna)A legendary, unmarked basement taverna in the market district: no sign, no menu, no frills, just a handful of dishes (chickpeas, fish, greens) served from huge pots and wine straight from the barrel. Directions
Book a TableERGON House AthensGreek (deli / modern)A beautiful all-day deli-restaurant (and boutique hotel) showcasing top Greek produce: house breads and cheeses, modern Greek plates and an in-house agora to shop. Directions
Feedel AthensModern GreekA bright contemporary bistro reinventing Greek home cooking with seasonal ingredients and a relaxed vibe: a favourite for a creative, good-value modern Greek meal. Directions
Book a TableFunky Gourmet€120+ pp · Greek (fine dining)One of Athens's most celebrated fine-dining experiences: a creative, multi-course tasting menu reinventing Greek flavours with avant-garde technique, in an intimate neoclassical setting. Directions
Book a TableHytra Restaurant & BarGreek (Michelin star)A Michelin-starred restaurant on the rooftop of the Onassis Cultural Centre: refined, inventive modern Greek tasting menus with sweeping city views. Directions
Book a TableKaramanlidika tou Fani€20-30 · Greek (meze / deli)A modern deli-taverna where you eat surrounded by hanging cured meats and cheeses. Directions
Book a TableKlimataria€20-30 · Greek (taverna with music)A warm traditional taverna near Psyrri with live rebetiko music some nights: generous plates of classic Greek dishes, house wine from the barrel, and the kind of long, joyful dinner Athens does best. Directions
Kostas€ · SouvlakiA tiny 1950s hole-in-the-wall on a quiet square near Agia Irini, beloved for one thing done perfectly: charcoal-grilled pork souvlaki on pita with a punchy homemade tomato-and-paprika sauce. Directions
Book a TableKuzina€€€ · ~€40pp · Modern Greek (Acropolis view)A stylish modern-Greek restaurant on pedestrian Adrianou in Thissio, with art-filled rooms and a rooftop terrace looking up at the Acropolis. Directions
Book a TableLefteris O PolitisGreek (souvlaki / kebab)An old-school souvlaki and Politiko-kebab joint going strong since 1951: Constantinopolitan-style spiced kebabs, smoky and cheap, served to a devoted local following. Directions
Book a TableMakris Athens Fine Dining RestaurantGreek (fine dining)Chef Asterios Koustoudis's elegant fine-dining room delivering refined, contemporary Greek tasting menus with impeccable service. Directions
Book a TableMani Mani€25-35 · Greek (Peloponnese)An elegant first-floor dining room in Koukaki showcasing the cuisine of the Mani region, handmade pasta, citrus-cured meats, regional cheeses, refined but rooted, with warm service. Directions
Book a TableNolan€25-40 · Greek-Asian fusionA stylish modern bistro near Syntagma where a Greek-Japanese chef blends Greek ingredients with Asian technique: think dumplings, miso, and Greek greens in inventive small plates. Directions
Book a TableO Thanasis€8-14 · Greek (kebab)A Monastiraki institution since 1964, famous across Athens for its juicy kebab on pita: spiced minced-meat skewers with onion, tomato and yogurt, served fast and cheap in a permanently buzzing room. Directions
OineasGreek (modern taverna)A fun, colourful modern taverna in Psyri famous for huge portions, a playful menu and creative twists on Greek classics: stuffed peppers, giant salads, inventive mezedes. Directions
Onos TavernaGreek (taverna)A warm neighbourhood taverna serving honest, home-style Greek cooking, slow-cooked stews, grilled meats and fresh mezedes, to a mostly local crowd. Directions
Book a TableOVIOModern bistro / wine barA relaxed, design-forward bistro and natural-wine bar in Koukaki: small modern plates, great wine and a buzzy local crowd. Directions
Ristorante AtlantikosSeafoodA lively little seafood spot near Monastiraki serving fresh fish and shellfish, simply grilled, at fair prices, popular with locals and a great change from meat-heavy tavernas. Directions
Book a TableSavvasGreek (souvlaki)A Monastiraki landmark serving souvlaki, gyros and grilled meats since the early 1900s: sit on the terrace under the Acropolis or grab a wrap to go. Directions
Book a TableSpondi€100+ pp · French-MediterraneanA long-standing two-Michelin-star institution in Pangrati: polished French-Mediterranean cooking, an encyclopedic wine list and a romantic courtyard. Directions
Book a TableStrofi€€€ · ~€40pp · Greek (upscale, Acropolis view)A refined take on the Greek taverna in a 1930s townhouse below the Acropolis, and its rooftop terrace has one of the best head-on Acropolis views in the city. Directions
Book a TableThe Zillers Roof Garden€€€€ · ~€45pp · Mediterranean (rooftop, Acropolis view)The rooftop of the boutique Zillers hotel on Mitropoleos, with a picture-perfect view straight to the Acropolis over the cathedral. Directions
Book a TableTo Kati Allo€12-18 · Greek (taverna)A no-frills family taverna tucked under the Acropolis Museum, serving honest home-style Greek cooking, moussaka, stuffed tomatoes, grilled fish, at fair prices to a mix of locals and clued-in visitors. Directions
Book a TableTo steki tou IliaGreek (grill)A cult Thiseio grill-house worshipped for one thing: charcoal-grilled lamb chops (paidakia), ordered by the kilo, with fried potatoes and a cold beer. Directions
Book a TableTomas KebabGreek (kebab)A beloved no-frills kebab spot (est. 1983) turning out juicy, spiced minced-meat skewers on warm pita with all the trimmings: fast, filling and a few euros. Late-night favourite. Directions
Book a TableTylixto | MonastirakiGreek (gyros)A modern gyros-and-wrap spot in Monastiraki doing fresh, generous souvlaki «tylixto» (wrapped) with quality meat and good sauces: a notch above the average tourist grill. Directions
Book a TableTzitzikas & MermigasGreek (meze)A hugely popular meze restaurant near Syntagma: a buzzy, grocery-store-styled room serving creative Greek small plates (cheese saganaki, dolmades, salads) designed for sharing. Directions
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