See Also
• Suggested areas to stay in Athens
• Top Lodging in Athens
• Top Family Accommodations in Athens
• Top Attractions in Athens
Table of Contents
Dining in Athens
- Meal times in Athens: Greeks typically dine late. Lunch is served between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. and dinner is usually around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. Of course, restaurants in areas geared towards tourists will offer lunch as early as 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. and start dinner at 7:00 p.m., but the eateries will have mostly empty seats with fewer local diners. Breakfast is not a significant meal in Greece.
- Reservations in Athens: Pre-bookings are unnecessary for most eateries in Athens, a city renowned for casual taverns and exceptional street cuisine, and the majority of restaurants here don’t accept them. However, for fine dining or dining with scenic views at the premier rooftop restaurants and bars, it’s advisable to reserve a table in advance.
- Eating with Hands: There is a misconception that Greeks eat nearly everything by hand. While this is surely correct for on-the-go snacks and meals like gyros and cheese pies or pork and lamb chops at very casual eateries, diners at nicer restaurants use cutlery for most dishes. Even for dipping bread, it is typical to cut a small portion and employ a fork to dip and eat it.
- Water sourced directly from the taps in Athens is completely risk-free for drinking. When ordering beverages, request tap water from your server as bottled water may be offered first but adds some needless euros to your bill.
- Wine: The wines of Greece are undeservedly overlooked. The country has a history of winemaking stretching back millennia and offers some truly outstanding varietals, particularly dry whites. Among the top wine growing areas in Greece are the Cyclades islands, the Peloponnese region, and Macedonia. Grapes worth trying include the distinctive Assyrtiko and floral Moschofilero (both whites), the aromatic Agiorgitiko (for rosé and red styles), the bold Xinomavro (red), and the dessert wine Vinsanto, which is made from white grapes yet matures to an deep amber hue.
- Tipping in Athens: It is customary to tip in Athens. For a casual meal at a taverna, tipping around €2 to €5 or rounding the bill up to the nearest number ending in a “0” or “5” is common. As an example, if your bill is €27, leaving a total of €30. For higher-end restaurants, tipping 5 to 10% of the bill is standard, while 15% is considered very generous. When ordering at a bar or café counter, rounding up to the nearest euro is appropriate, but for table service tip around 5 to 10%.
Best Places to Eat in Athens
- Best Athens Culinary Expedition: Athens Gourmet Food Tour is a fantastic walking tour including tastings at cafes, markets, street stalls, and more, offering Greek wine and coffee. Highly recommended.
- Top Fine Dining Restaurant: Aleria Restaurant in Metaxourgeio.
- The best romantic restaurant is The Old Tavern of Psarras located in Plaka.
- Best Gyros and Souvlaki: O Thanasis and Kostas, both in Monastiraki.
- Best Refreshments:Little Tree Books and Coffee in Koukaki is a peaceful little bookshop and cafe with a tree-shaded outdoor space and relaxed environment.
- Top Bakeries: Ariston Bakery in the City Center and Takis Bakery in Koukaki.
- Best Gelato: Le Greche in Syntagma and Coco’s in Plaka.
- Top Hotel Restaurant in Athens: Winter Garden inside Hotel Grande Bretagne in Syntagma Square offers excellent fine dining in an elegant setting.
- Top Restaurant with a Panoramic View: 360° Cocktail Bar in Monastiraki features amazing views of the Acropolis from its rooftop locale.
- Best Restaurants with Indoor Seating & A/C: Geros Tou Moria • Karamanlidika • Kuzina • Pame Tsipouro Pame Kafeneio • School Pizza Bar • Avocado
Near Airport: A hotel near the airport called Steigenberger
28 Best Restaurants in Athens
1. Aleria Restaurant – Metaxourgeio • $$$$
Website link – Phone: +30 21052 22633 – Closest Metro: Metaxourgeio
The premier dining establishment in Athens for fine cuisine. Aleria serves innovative dishes highlighting seasonal local ingredients and regional specialties in a contemporary Mediterranean style. Their extensive wine list presents artisanal selections from notable Greek and international producers. Diners can enjoy meals year-round in the refurbished neoclassical building or al fresco in the garden during summer months.
2. Geros Tou Moria – Plaka • $$
Website Details • Phone: +30 21032 21753 • Closest Metro: Monastiraki
Granted, it’s somewhat touristy, but this quaint, 90-year-old eatery is considered the finest locale in Athens to sample traditional Greek dishes paired with reside Hellenic music and dancing every night. Order the moussaka, lamb, or bekris mezes (veal and eggplant in tomato sauce). Sit outdoors under the grape vines for perspectives of the Acropolis, or sit indoors to be closer to the music and dancing. Reservations recommended for late dinner service, when the music initiates.
3. Granada – City Center • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21032 50090 • Nearest Metro: Panepistimio
A delectable merging of Spanish and Greek flavors has made this casually trendy tapas spot a favorite among locals. Highlight dishes include octopus with fava bean and caper jam, Iberian pork cheeks, and ham croquettes. Most plates cost approximately €5 to €7, wonderfully reasonable and premium quality. The beer, wine, and local spirit selections are limited but good quality. It is open daily from 2:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.
4. The Old Tavern of Psarras – Plaka • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21032 18733 • Nearest Metro: Acropoli
Commonly referred to as Psaras Tavern, this charming eatery first welcomed patrons in 1898 and subsequently attracted notable creative figures such as Laurence Olivier, Vivian Lee and Graham Greene. The traditional Greek menu highlights fresh seafood selections as well as meat and plant-based options, with lamb a standout protein. Warm, casual vibes paired with quality house pours and weekend evening live music performances allow romantic and relaxed dining within an indoor or al fresco setting. Continuous lunchtime and evening service sees reservations suggested for evening meals.
5. 360° Cocktail Bar – Monastiraki • $$
Website link – Phone: +30 21032 10006 – Closest Metro: Monastiraki
An elegant rooftop dining establishment positioned atop the Acropolis provides breathtaking vistas of the Parthenon alongside superior mixed beverages and Greek appetizers. Popular with both locals and travelers, while reservations are encouraged but not required, securing a table with optimal views, especially for sundown cocktails or evening meals, is strongly advised. Open around the clock from 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 a.m.
6. estiatorio Milos – City Center • $$$$
Website – Phone: +30 21660 03320 – Nearest Metro: Syntagma
The lone Greek outpost of this worldwide, fine-dining seafood brand can be found in the high-end, boutique hotel, xenodocheio Milos. Fish and other seafood are caught daily in the Aegean Sea just offshore and paired with fresh, seasonal, local ingredients. Open almost the entire day, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and again from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Reservations strongly advised for dinner).
7. To Mavro Provato – Pangrati • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21072 23466 • Nearest Metro: Evangelismos
This Greek restaurant in the heart of the nation showcases top-quality, regionally-inspired dishes utilizing native ingredients and preparations. Notable selections incorporate cheeses from Crete, smoked sausage from Macedonia, and wines from the Peloponnese peninsula. Diners can choose indoor or outdoor tables alongside helpful staff in a contemporary design from 1:00 p.m. until late most nights, closing earlier on Sundays.
8. Ta Karamanlidika Tou Fani – Monastiraki and Psirri • $$
Yumoto Station Hotel MIRAHAKONE • Phone for the hotel: +81 460-83-8108 A glimpse into the past, these two dining establishments and one shop revive the Byzantine pastomageireio, a mixture of tavern and provisions store concentrating on the preserved meats of central, coastal Anatolia. Cold cuts, cured seafood, warm appetizers, and an impressive assortment of Greek wines, beers, and spirits are on offer at both restaurants, while the shop markets cured meats and matured cheeses, ideal as souvenirs. The spicysudjuk sausage remains a favorite, together with aged kavurma, pastirma, and their signature, complimentary dessert of buffalo yogurt topped with carrot marmalade. The Meze restaurant and adjacent shop exist in Psirri, while the Food Artistry restaurant (depicted above) lies in Monastiraki).
9. Kostas – Monastiraki • $
The contact number for the hotel is +30 21032 32971 and the nearest subway station is Monastiraki.
Providing the finest gyro and souvlaki dishes in central Athens featuring a selection of either pork or beef topped with French fries, fresh vegetables, and their signature tangy tomato-based sauce in place of the customary tzatziki. This no-frills eatery has scarce seating available, so taking your order to go is advisable. If the queue is excessively long (a common occurrence) or a more traditional gyro sandwich is preferred, the equally superb O Thanasis located a brief three-minute walk away is an excellent alternative option. Kostas is open for business Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
10. Mavros Gatos – Pangrati • $$
Website – Phone: +30 21072 36903 – Nearest Metro: Evangelismos
You may be the only traveler when you visit this no-frills, Greek tavern. Specializing in meat, they are best known for their grilled lamb chops with a splash of lemon and kontosouvli, spit roasted hunks of pork. Hidden away on a side street in Pangrati, away from the tourist swarms. The eatery is busiest after 8:00 or 9:00 p.m., when the locals stop by to dine.
11. Avocado – Syntagma • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21032 37878 • Nearest Metro: Syntagma
Situated near Syntagma Square, Avocado is a notably eco-conscious and vegetarian/vegan dining establishment. Their menu is crafted around local, seasonal, and sustainably-sourced ingredients prepared to bring out rich and nuanced flavors. Gluten-free and wheat-free options are available as well as an assortment of organic wine varietals. Open daily for lunch and evening meals until midnight except Sundays when closing is at 7:00pm.
12. O Thanasis – Monastiraki • $
WebsitePhone: +30 21032 44705Nearest Metro: Monastiraki
This decades-old Greek eatery near Monastiraki Square is ideal for families. While meat dishes dominate the menu, outstanding appetizers include saganaki, Greek salad, and a feta-based dip. Efficient waitstaff sees to it that short lines form even during peak hours. Open daily from early morning until the wee hours, with extended weekend provisions, it handles crowds well through prompt friendly service.
13. Feyrouz – City Center • $
The website lists the contact details as: Phone: +30 21303 18060 and nearest Metro station as Monastiraki.
Top-quality, family-operated, Lebanese-Greek roadside cuisine blending conventional tastes with modern strategies. Everything here is handcrafted, down to milling their own flour, and fresh, moving with the seasons and what is locally accessible. The lahmajoun, topped flatbread, wrapped around colorful salads, are particularly well-liked, along with theirpeynirli (Black Sea style pizza boats). The establishment is split into two buildings, with savory components in one and sweet treats (baklava, Eastern puddings, and truffles) in the other. Wide collection of vegan and vegetarian selections).
14. Tazza All-Day Bistro and Wine Bar – Syntagma • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21141 85517 • Nearest Transit: Syntagma
Tazza prides itself on eclectic Mediterranean fare, wines, and craft libations ideally enjoyed during breakfast or their festive Sunday brunch. Situated on a lively avenues near Syntagma Square, outdoor seating spills cheerfully onto the sidewalk beneath vibrant vintage furniture. Welcoming patrons most days from morning into evening aside from afternoon openings on Sundays, the bustling bistro breathes liveliness into this urban locale.
15. Ariston – City Center • $
• Phone: +30 21032 27626 • Nearest Metro: Syntagma
Run by the same family for over a century, Ariston is a well-known establishment in Athens recognized for its tasty kourou pies: feta-filled half-moons wrapped in a dairy-based, unleavened phyllo dough – hearty and filling, one of these makes for an easy, inexpensive handheld breakfast or lunch. Other savory and sweet pies worth trying here are the custard-filled bougatsa, the kotòpoulopita (chicken pie), and the pie with bacon, pepper, and cheese. Open all week long, usually from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 or 8:00 p.m. Space to sit inside is limited, so plan to take your food to go.
16. Bougatsadiko Thessaloniki – Psirri • $
Website • Phone: +30 21032 22088 • Nearest Metro: Monastiraki
Excellent cafe in the funky Psirri neighborhood, widely renowned for superior coffee, pastries and notably their bougatsa (phyllo pastry filled with custard), a recipe passed down from the owner`s grandfather in Thessaloniki. Other highlights include spanakopita (spinach pie) and tiropita (cheese pie). A superb stop for breakfast, brunch or late night snack. Indoor and al fresco dining available. Open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. most days, and operating round the clock on Fridays and Saturdays.
17. Evgenia – Plaka • $
Website link – Phone: +30 21032 14121 – Closest Metro: Syntagma
Known locally as Paradosiako Cafeneon, this family-run Greek eatery in Plaka serves homemade dishes sourced from seasonal ingredients. With an ever-evolving menu featuring regional specialties, Evgenia attracts locals for its authentic flavors in a cozy setting. Open daily from 9am to midnight, the restaurant allows diners to sample rich cuisine in a welcoming ambience.
18. Restaurant Scholarhio – Plaka • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21032 47605 • Nearest Metro: Acropoli
Since 1935, this casual taverna has served traditional Greek favorites such as moussaka, meatballs, dolmades, and fried saganaki cheese to diners. While individual dishes can be ordered, the meze menu is curated for communal sharing and introduces guests to the cuisine. For instance, the “Suggested Menu for 2 People” includes 5 small plates, 2 desserts, 2 beverages (beer, wine, spirits or soda), and a 1.5 L bottle of water, all for a reasonable €33. Its central location on Tripodon, the main thoroughfare through Plaka, ensures accessibility, and reservations are advised especially for groups.
19. Atlantikos – Psirri • $$
Website Contact details: +30 21 3033 0850 Nearest Metro: Thiseio
A single restaurant operates two kitchens: the original kitchen specializing in ultra-fresh seafood and a new kitchen dedicated to traditional Greek fare. All recipes are authentic and delicious, but they are particularly renowned for their savoro (pan-fried white fish with black currents) and fava (chickpea dip) featuring marinated anchovies. Outdoor seating on the sidewalk and indoor seating on the main or upper floors. The original seafood kitchen is open daily from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.; the new Greek kitchen maintains the same hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and only serves dinner from Monday to Thursday).
20. Avli – Psirri • $
Website contact and Phone: +30 21032 17642 location Nearest Metro: Monastiraki Known for its straightforward simplicity, this small spot lies behind a narrow door between two larger shops, so it can easily be missed. The door leads to an old alley converted into a relaxed, outdoor restaurant. Standout dishes on their simple menu include keftedes (meatballs), kolokithokeftedes (zucchini balls), fava, and Greek salad. Generous portions of boxed wine. Open for lunch, dinner, and late night snacks from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily except Tuesdays. Avli does not accept reservations. Be prepared to wait – it’s completely worth it).
21. Pame Tsipouro Pame Kafeneio – City Center • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21032 50208 • Nearest Metro: Monastiraki
Lively café in Aiolou, Monastiraki, serving excellent coffee, spirits, and Greek appetizers (small, shareable dishes similar to tapas). The restaurant was inspired by the kafeneios of ancient Greece, central to a village’s social structure, serving as combination coffee shops, bars, mini markets, and gathering places. Relaxed atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating, open all day from 7:00 a.m. until midnight).
22. Falafellas – City Center • $
Site – Phone: +30 21032 39809 – Closest Metro: Monastiraki
Renowned among Athenians as furnishing the most delectable falafels, and representing one of scant establishments where diners can sample piquant cuisine. Falafellas runs a compact kitchen developing a simple menu centered around falafel or meatballs nestled in pita with fresh vegetables for garnishing (spicy sauce optionally available), plus light sides like hummus and tabbouleh for reviving taste buds. Dine-in seating is absent; customers partake on the go after ordering. Accessible daily from 11:00 a.m. until midnight for patrons` enjoyment.
23. Smak – City Center • $
Website • Phone: +30 21140 97046 • Nearest Metro: Panepistimio
Esteemed roadside eatery for pizzas and their signature peynirli, crafted using a hybrid of Greek-Turkish and Neapolitan techniques for dough. Everything is cooked upon request in an exposed kitchen and topped with an assortment of cheeses, meats, veggies. Dine in or take out. Open for lunch, dinner, and late evening snacks).
24. Kuzina – Monastiraki • $$$
Website link – Phone: +30 21 0322 0133 – Closest Metro: Thiseio
An elegant Greek eatery situated in an elevated locale presents spectacular perspectives of the Acropolis and Temple of Hephaestus from its rooftop patio (accessible from April to October). The selection varies with the seasons though some staples endure, and vegetarian choices abound with partial portion possibilities for solo diners. Outstanding dishes include a blend of grilled beef and lamb and savory dumplings stuffed with cheese and tomatoes, polished with pistachios and pomegranate essence. Meals are offered daily from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. until midnight. Reservations are advisable.
25. Melina Mercouri Café – Plaka • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21032 46501 • Nearest Metro: Monastiraki
A cozy café in the heart of historic Plaka serves as a favored locale for locals and visitors alike to sample Hellenic small plates and traditional full meals, as well as sweet delights, whether beginning the day or winding down in the evenings. Based on the continuing strong following despite its downtown location, the café distinguishes itself through its mini-exhibition commemorating renowned actress Melina Merkouri and her groundbreaking film from 1960, “Never on Sunday,” credited with popularizing Greek table-smashing antics on a global scale.
26. School Pizza Bar – Monastiraki • $$
Website • Phone: +30 21032 51444 • Nearest Metro: Monastiraki
Nestled in a converted schoolhouse exuding nostalgia through worn desks and lockers, this bustling Italian eatery satisfies appetites with thin-crust pizzas, pastas, risottos and gnocchis paired with Greek and Italian varietals and inventive cocktails. Patrons flock from dawn until late at dusk to the cozy indoor and al fresco settings. Advance bookings prove prudent though not obligatory.
27. Agora – Syntagma • $$$
Website • Phone: +30 21001 09090 • Closest subway station: Syntagma
Fun restaurant located within Ergon House Hotel. Part of the hotel’s market, the restaurant tables wind amidst the greengrocer, deli, bakery, butcher, fishmonger, and in front of the Agora’s own vertical culinary garden. Mediterranean dishes here are prepared with top ingredients sourced from within Greece, with great focus paid to the regional wine varieties).
28. Little Kook – Psirri • $$
Website – Phone: +30 21032 14144 – Nearest Metro: Monastiraki
Little Kook prioritizes visual drama over culinary expertise. This imaginative dessert parlor serves beverages and sweet treats renowned for pancakes, pralines, and pastries amid decor periodically altered to match seasonal storybook motifs spread across its sprawling multi-structure complex (plus al fresco seating when weather permits). Open daily from 9:00 until 1:00, no reservations are accepted though waits can lengthen substantially during peak periods.
Best Area to Eat in Athens
One of the prime places to dine al fresco in Athens is found amidst the Plaka or Monastiraki neighborhoods. Tables spill generously into the squares and alleys as Greeks linger late into the evening conversing, laughing, shouting, and savoring meals. It’s loads of fun.
The region near Monastiraki square and the metro station that bears its name is recommended for dining. Just east of the transit hub, Mitropoleos Alley contains numerous lively eateries offering reasonably priced fare. Those in the Plaka area will likely be surrounded more so by other tourists, while in the Monastiraki vicinity one could dine alongside local residents to a greater degree. Traditional Greek dishes like gyro, souvlaki, hummus and Greek salads are ubiquitous on menus in this locale.
Certainly, this restaurant isn’t the absolute best cuisine you’ll find in Athens – it is somewhat touristy – but it’s still very good. It’s a brief walk for most travelers from their lodging, simple to find, and safe. Walk to the Monastiraki metro station and the eateries cannot be missed. They’re very easy to see and locate. Select the first one that has an open table – they’re all quality.
