Deciding which Athens restaurants to eat at can be overwhelming. So, to help you out, I’ve teamed up with a few blogger friends to share our picks for the Best Restaurants in Athens, Greece.
Whether you’re hoping to find the most delicious breakfast or restaurants with authentic Greek dishes (or even a Greek/Indian fusion suggestion), this guide has you covered!
While in Athens don’t miss out on activities that will help immerse yourself with the city (hurry while they’re hot!):
- Athens: Acropolis Guided Tour with Entry Ticket
- Athens: Delphi Guided Day Trip with Pickup & Optional Lunch
- From Athens: Full-Day Meteora Trip by Train
- Athens: 4-Hour Cooking Class with Market Visit
- Athens: Sunset Trip to Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon
Visiting other destinations in Greece? Or maybe traveling through Europe? Check out our other delicious guides:
- The 10 Best Chania Restaurants
- The Best Walking Food Tour Of Athens
- The Top 12 Best Greek Dishes
- 10 Amazing Things To Do In Greece
- The 10 Best Michelin Star Restaurants In Paris
The Best Athens Restaurants-
Spiti Mas
Navarchou Apostoli 10 // +30 21 0331 4751
Suggested by Elizabeth of Compass & Fork
If you are looking for a great place for a traditional Greek breakfast, try Spiti Mas, a casual, eclectic café in Athen’s Psiri neighborhood.
Our waitress recommended the strapatsada, a creamy Greek version of scrambled eggs with roasted tomatoes and feta cheese.
You could also try the “pie”– a large piece of toasted flatbread with your choice of toppings. We had one with prosciutto and truffle oil. The menu also has a variety of fresh squeezed juices, and you can even make your own combination.
The service was a bit slow, but friendly. The restaurant is very popular, and you may have to wait on a table. But the food was delicious!
If you plan to check out the Sunday morning flea market in Monastiraki, this is a great stop for a bit to eat either before or after.
Orizontes
Aristippou 1 // +30 21 0722 7065
When my friends found out I was planning to visit Athens, more than one suggested Orizontes, more for their view than their menu.
Sitting on the hill of Lycabettus, the highest peak in Athens, Orizontes has impressive panoramic views of the capital city. You’ll enjoy your dinner seated outdoors on their cliff side terrace.
The menu features Mediterranean cuisine and is best known for its seafood dishes.
The wine list features both Greek and international labels.
To reach the restaurant, you’ll have to ride a cable car that departs every thirty minutes from the corner of Ploutarhiou and Aristippou streets in Kolonaki.
Seychelles
Keramikou 49, Athina 104 36 // +30 21 1183 4789
High end food in a laid back setting with prices that seem more than reasonable — all these factors pulled me back to dine at Seychelles more than once during my time in Athens.
Don’t let the name fool you — this isn’t some exotic eatery. The cozy restaurant serves classic Greek dishes, and serves them well. Be sure not to fill up on the delicious homemade bread they bring to the table — the portions here are large. You’ll want to keep your appetite!
The menu changes often according to what’s seasonal, but I loved the beef tongue dish I had on my first visit and also the freshly grilled fish I had when I returned. If the summer salad with cheese is on the menu when you visit, be sure to order that as your starter!
This popular eatery can fill up fast, so be sure to make reservations. Or, if you’re dining alone, ask for a seat at the bar.
Mirch
Ermou 109 // +30 21 0323 9759
Suggested by Teresa from Brogan Abroad
Normally when I travel somewhere new, I love to try the local food. When I visited Athens recently, my intention was to make the most of my time and indulge in delicious traditional Greek food.
As I said, this was my intention… but then I kept hearing about Mirch, an Indian restaurant that specializes in Indian souvlaki. For the purists out there, this would be a big no-no, but I just had to try it for myself. And I’m so glad I did!
Mirch offers a number of traditional Indian dishes, but most people come here for one thing — their Indian souvlaki. It’s listed in the menu as a starter, and it’s only €4 ($4.9 USD)! It has become so popular that if you’d like a table to eat at, you need to be prepared to wait. Most people just buy it as a take away.
I do love a good traditional Greek souvlaki, but Mirch’s Indian version could easily be the best I have ever tried.
To Kafeneio
Epicharmou 1 // +30 21 0324 6916
This was one of my favorite stops on my walking food tour of Athens. We sampled several small dishes, and the food was so good I knew I had to return.
The restaurant is small and feels like you’re enjoying a meal in a Greek grandmother’s dining room. The service is friendly, and the homemade wine was both affordable and generously poured.
My favorite dishes include the simple yet perfect salad in an edible bread bowl — juicy tomatoes, feta cheese, onions and capers soaked into the crusty bread, which you use to scoop up the salad before eating the bowl itself.
And then there’s the restaurant’s signature dish: meatballs in a red sauce so famous it’s simply known as THE sauce.
Manas Kouzina-Kouzina
Aiolou 27 // +30 21 0325 2335
Suggested by Megsy of Food Fun Travel
If you’re looking for a traditional home cooked meal in the heart of Athens, look no further than Mana’s Kouzina. Mana’s Kouzina, which means mother’s kitchen, is all about recreating the owners’ childhood favorite foods.
The menu, which uses traditional cooking techniques and locally sourced produce, can change depending on what is available at that time of year. This restaurant sources recipes from all over Greece, so you can expect homemade delicacies from the islands to the cities and mountain villages — the very best of Greece’s culinary heritage all in one funky restaurant.
Our recommendations for must-try dishes are the dolmades (vine leaves wrapped into little rolls and stuffed with rice and fresh herbs)
and their homemade mousakka (a greek version of lasagna often with eggplant).
Feel free to wash it down with some locally sourced wine, or even some raki or ouzo for more adventurous drinkers.
O Thanasis
Mitropoleos 69 // +30 21 0324 4705
Suggested by David from The Whole World is a Playground
After working up an appetite exploring the Plaka and Acropolis of Athens, O Thanasis just off Monastiraki Square can be a great place for a quick snack or lazy lunch. We chanced upon this fantastic restaurant that specializes in Greek souvlaki, gyros and kebabs.
Despite its central location, O Thanasis is popular with tourists and locals alike. With their mouth watering Greek souvlaki plates and delicious kebabs at very reasonable prices, its guaranteed to be busy no matter the time of day.
Our favourite dishes were the lamb souvlaki and Greek salads with side plates of tzasiki and hot chillies. We returned here a number of times during out time in Athens, as the food was that good. We loved the lively atmosphere while sitting in the outdoor area in front of the kitchen as crowds pass by on their way through the Plaka. Make sure to wash down your meal with some local ouzo, but be warned…..it packs quite a kick!
Galaxy Bar & Restaurant
Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46 // +30 21 0728 1402
Suggested by Chrisoula of Travel Passionate
The Galaxy Bar & Restaurant at the Hilton Hotel is one of Athens’s best restaurants for tourists and locals alike.
Located in the city center on the top floor of the five-star Athenian Hotel, the Galaxy Bar and Restaurant offers incredible views of the city, Lycabettus Hill, and the Acropolis. It is also one of the best spots in town to watch the sunset.
In the summer, you can dine beneath the stars in the restaurant’s big veranda while enjoying the great views of Athens. During the winter, you can eat indoors and enjoy the same view through the floor to ceiling windows.
Which of these Athens restaurants looked the best to you? Let me know in the comments section below!
If you enjoyed this post please consider pinning it using the image found below!
Travel writer and owner of the blog. My work has been featured on Fodors, Eater.com, International Living, and Great Escape Publishing, among many others. My story? Nearly six years ago, I left my job at an Oklahoma City law firm and embarked on a journey around the world. At the time, I thought I would only be gone for 6 months, but the more I traveled, the longer my bucket list became. Flashpacker describes how I travel. Rather than traveling as the normal world wise backpacker and staying in hostel dorms, I prefer a more comfortable experience, and typically stay in private rooms, take Ubers instead of taxis, and now use a suitcase instead of a backpack. Foodie, on the other hand, describes one of the key reasons why I travel. I love to pick a central “base camp” and then explore the surrounding area, really immersing myself in the culture and interacting with the people, and enjoying and exploring the food of an area is an essential part of this experience.
Dean
Wednesday 23rd of November 2022
Grilled octopus and roasted goat were my favorite dishes while in the kalamata region of Greece. Topping it all off was talagani cheese which was lightly grilled and topped with fig jam. Can't wait to go back.
Sandra
Thursday 29th of July 2021
O THANASIS…..been there, done that, many times! EXCELLENT food and atmosphere!
Tracy
Wednesday 4th of December 2019
Mirch is amazing and I also found a restaurant called acropolis that was amazing below the acropolis
Lisa
Tuesday 19th of March 2019
We leave in a couple weeks for Athens. I'm definitely saving this pin and plan to visit several on your list.
Nathan
Tuesday 19th of March 2019
I hope you enjoy my suggestions! Be sure to go to Seychelles- it's my favorite! Let me know what you think after your visit. Safe travels!
ven
Tuesday 19th of February 2019
Very good choice and this praise comes from a local! Around the corner from the Hilton Hotel there is a gem restaurant that I am afraid you missed (but, then again, there are so many good options in Athens!). It is Vassilenas, Probably the oldest restaurant in town offering modern Greek cuisine in an amazing environement and a do-not-miss tasting menu for which it has been awarded many culinary prizes!
Nathan
Monday 25th of February 2019
Thank you for that suggestion- I'll have to check it out next time I'm in Athens- hopefully this summer!