From budget-friendly tavernas to dirt-cheap souvlaki joints where some of the tastiest meat you’ll ever eat is wrapped in greaseproof paper, Athens is a city where you can eat well without spending a fortune (although some of the newest, hottest restaurant openings in Athens do have ambitious pricing). Locals eat late and never alone; they linger for hours over tiny tables heaped with mezze. Eating out is as much about sharing dishes, clinking glasses, and people-watching as it is about seasonal ingredients served with minimal fuss. As Athens absorbs more multi-cultural communities, the food scene is becoming more exciting — you’ll find Thai noodles, Middle Eastern flatbreads and Japanese ramen, as well as the ultimate Greek salad.
All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best restaurants in Athens. Find out more below, or for further Athens inspiration, see our guides to the city’s best hotels, nightlife and things to do.
Find a restaurant by type:
- Best all-rounders
- Best for families
- Best for cheap eats
- Best for fine dining
- Best for walk-ins
- Best for views
Best all-rounders
Pharaoh
There’s an undeniable buzz at this influential game-changer on the Athens dining scene. The location on a dark and seedy Exarchia backstreet is daring; the décor is original and unexpected: a raw concrete and zinc bar, neon strip lights on exposed stone walls, stacks of firewood among the wall of vinyl. Chef Manolis Papoutsakis’ wood-fired Cretan cuisine – prepared in an open kitchen that does not use any electricty or gas – is both hearty and accomplished. The simplest dishes are the standouts: roasted greens with a blob of white anthotyro cheese, whipped tarama with shavings of bottarga, sweet-and-sour chestnut stifado. And the grand finale: galaktoboureko, Greece’s version of the custard tart. Served warm, it’s a wobbly, syrupy delight. Pharaoh doesn’t quite know whether it’s a bar or a restaurant (the acoustics aren’t great and the fun, genre-bending records, selected by a DJ behind the bar, can sometimes drown out conversation). But as the night wears on, and more natural wines and expertly poured cocktails are downed, it feels like you’re at the coolest house party in town.
Area: Exarchia
Website: pharaoh.gr
Prices: ££
Reservations: Essential; book well in advance
Manari
Though the menu and music are emphatically, traditionally Greek, the atmosphere at this carnivorous joint is cosmopolitan and contemporary. Well-versed, charming wait staff glide between the tables set with simple white tablecloths inside the warmly lit arcade or out on the pretty, cobblestoned square. For a real buzz, there are a dozen seats at the stainless steel counter overlooking the open fire grill, where liver, lamb chops and giant steaks are sizzled to smoky perfection. The short wine list is full of affordable surprises and the generous sharing plates are honestly priced. Although ethically reared meat is the star at this modern take on a hasapotaverna (butcher-tavern), vegetable dishes are outstanding – a simple salad of sliced Cretan tomatoes with purslane and salted olives is as unforgettable as the spaghetti in bone broth.
Area: Historic Centre
Website: manaritaverna.com
Prices: ££
Reservations: Essential, though a few spots at the open kitchen counter are usually reserved for walk-ins
Annie Fine Cooking
A narrow, warmly lit dining room on a narrow, warmly lit pavement, this neighbourhood restaurant doesn’t look especially remarkable. But the short, seasonally inspired menu is bursting with clean, fresh flavours – scorpionfish and citrus ceviche, a pretty, precisely dressed arrangement of salad leaves with crumbled cheese from Tinos, ray cheeks ‘sofrito’. From the home-baked sourdough with peppery Peloponnesian olive oil to the Cretan cheese served with carob rusk and blueberry preserve, every dish conjures complexity from simple Greek ingredients and techniques. The laser-focused chefs sorting fragrant piles of greens at the open kitchen counter add a lively atmosphere to the evening chatter. Service is polished and well-informed (not a given in Athens, even at high-end restaurants), and wine pairing suggestions are spot on. Prices are a little audacious, but there’s no quibbling with the quality of the cooking.
Area: Neos Kosmos
Contact: anniefinecooking.gr
Price: £££
Reservations: Essential
Nolan
With an idiosyncratic menu that defies culinary borders, this small corner restaurant has been making culinary waves since 2016. The informal atmosphere belies the highly accomplished cooking: seasonal menu highlights might include green beans with sesame, ponzu and horseradish parfait, cod tempura with green apple, fennel and handmade nduja, or glutinous beef cheeks with mushrooms, anchovy mayo and truffle. It’s comfort food for well-travelled gourmands, best paired with one of bar manager Poppy Sevastou’s smooth yet surprising cocktails (like the 50-50 Martini with tsipouro infused with Greek herbs and spices). For dessert, hit up Sweet Nolan next door for pistachio-matcha truffles or a mandarin and bergamot baba au rum.
Area: Historic Centre
Website: nolanverse.com
Prices: ££
Reservations: Essential in the evenings; you might get lucky at lunchtime without a reservation
Phita
Nothing beats a long, slow lunch on a sunny Athenian sidewalk. This contemporary Greek bistro in the up-and-coming district of Neos Kosmos, is perfect for weekend lunching and people-watching, especially when the Saturday food market nearby is in full swing. The well-priced daily menu is consistently excellent. Seafood is a strong point — crayfish stuffed vine leaves, spaghetti with bottarga, featherlight tarama — but there are outstanding vegetarian dishes too, not least the addictive round potato chips. With a conservatory for cooler months, and a counter for grazing by the open kitchen, it’s an equally great spot for a low-key dinner date.
Area: Neos Kosmos
Contact: instagram.com/phitathens
Price: ££
Reservations: Essential
Best for families
Raw Bata
Everything about this funky fusion restaurant has personality. Specifically, the twinkly, life-affirming personality of chef Polychronis Damalas and his wife Fotini Markoutsa, who keeps a calm but watchful eye on the colourful, glass-fronted dining room (and, in the spring and summer, the tables on the peaceful, tree-lined square). In the open kitchen, Damalas and his small team turn out unconventional dishes brimming with originality and verve. Combining raw seafood and robata grilled meat, the menu improvises surprising seasonal magic from Damalas’ Greek roots and Japanese restaurant experience. It sounds unlikely, but everything works together beautifully: a crunchy, punchy ceviche of mullet with cucumber, radish, and jalapenos, tender lamb meatballs wrapped in slivers of aubergine, and to finish, caramelised apple crumble, all served with a refreshing sense of fun.
Area: Ambelokipi
Nearest metro: Panormou
Contact: instagram.com/rawbata_athens; 00 30 21 0692 3796
Prices: ££
Reservations: Recommended
Ama Lachei
The Exarchia neighbourhood is known for its street art and anti-establishment streak. But it’s also full of glorious neoclassical, Bauhaus, and mid-century architecture. On Kallidromiou, the most handsome street of all, the local school has been turned into a relaxed Mediterranean restaurant. The vine-shaded tables in the former playground are made for late summer nights sharing plate after plate of mezze and carafe after carafe of wine with friends. The food isn’t the star here – it’s the laidback ambience and pretty setting. Order lots of little dishes, such as zucchini fritters, bite-sized feta cheese donuts, the excellent chips garnished with oregano, and an interesting selection of Greek cheeses. The classrooms make cosy dining rooms in cooler weather.
Area: Exarchia
Contact: facebook.com/amalaxeiresto; 00 30 21 0384 5978
Prices: ££
Reservations: Booking essential, especially in the evening
To Therapeutirio
The pretty Petralona neighbourhood has one of the liveliest food scenes in Athens. Every resident has their favourite local taverna or ouzeri. But Athenians come from far and wide for the perfectly grilled fish, creamiest taramasalata, and crunchiest calamari at this old-time taverna. Accompany the catch of the day with a platter of mixed vegetables, simply steamed and dressed in lemon and olive oil. Service is brisk and friendly, portions are generous, and the prices are fair. No wonder this place is packed night and day.
Area: Petralona
Contact: instagram.com/to_therapeuterio; 00 30 21 0341 2538
Prices: ££
Reservations: Recommended, especially on weekends
Best for cheap eats
Feyrouz
Whether you stumble upon it or seek it out in the tangled alleys of the historic centre, once you’ve discovered this street food joint you’ll keep coming back. Run by an utterly charming family from Antalya, a Turkish city close to Syria, their speciality is lahmaçun – hand-rolled pita topped with spiced beef, a dollop of yogurt, smoked aubergine, and crunchy salad. There are dozens of delicious vegan and vegetarian variations on this stuffed dough theme, along with restorative soups such as beetroot, spinach, apple, orange and ginger. Extra marks for the incredible value, good humoured welcome, and evocative soundtrack that reflects the family’s Middle Eastern roots. Afterwards, pop across the street to their sweet shop for a kunefe (milk pudding in a kataifi crust – just the right ratio of cream and crunch) and a restorative turmeric, verbena and orange tisane served in a dainty tea glass rimmed with sumac. The latest addition to the Feyrouz universe is Sema, a ‘transitional kitchen’ with a communal table where supper clubs, guest chefs, and live music sessions take place.
Area: Historic Centre
Website: feyrouz.gr
Prices: £
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Saita
A rare exception to the uninspired, overpriced restaurants that line the touristy alleys of Plaka, this classic koutouki (basement tavern) is a delicious slice of Athenian history. Wooden wine barrels line the cosy downstairs dining room, overlooking a tiny kitchen where cheery chefs whip up Greek classics such as soutzoukakia (meatballs in a cumin-scented tomato sauce), baked aubergines, and wilted greens doused in lemon and olive oil. The tables on the marble-paved street offer a colourful parade of passers-by, where diners are often serenaded by buskers on bouzoukis or a chanting priest in the Byzantine church next door.
Area: Plaka
Nearest Metro: Syntagma or Acropolis
Contact: facebook.com/saitataverna; 00 30 21 0322 6671
Prices: £
Reservations: Recommended
Lontza tis Geitonias
An ideal pitstop for solo dining or a quick bite, this neighbourhood canteen has a loyal following among locals. Everything on the short but perfectly executed menu of traditional Greek comfort food is cooked in the open kitchen. Diners perch on wooden benches inside and out on the pavement, exchanging recipes and pleasantries. Some regulars return several times a week for the meatballs and chips, covered in grated feta, and the balik ekmek, a huge sandwich stuffed with grilled bream, lettuce, spring onions, and estragon mayo. There are a few daily specials too: usually pies, soups, or stews inspired by the home cooking of Greek grandmas. Prices are reasonable, portions are generous, the quality consistent. From the woodstove in the corner to the friendly staff always willing to chat, there’s a homespun honesty to the place that is wholly endearing. You can taste the warmth and passion in every bite.
Area: Exarchia
Contact: facebook.com/lontza.tis.geitonias; 00 30 21 0361 2334
Prices: £
Reservations: Walk-ins only, takeaway also available
Lefteris O Politis
Trendy pretenders have tried to jazz up the souvlaki, but it’s the traditional barbecue joints that have perfected this humble, hugely satisfying snack. It’s worth venturing into the grubby backstreets around Omonia Square for the juicy beef patties in pitta bread that Lefteris o Politis (literally, Lefteris from Istanbul) has been grilling and filling since 1951. You don’t come here for the basic décor. And you won’t find pork or chicken skewers, tzatziki or chips (only thinly sliced tomato, onion, parsley, and a dousing of red-hot pepper that gives these babies a kick). You don’t mess with the best.
Area: Omonia
Nearest Metro: Omonia
Contact: facebook.com/lefterisopolitis; 00 30 210 522 5676
Prices: £
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Ouzeri Lesvos
With a jukebox in one corner and a piano in another, this old-time ouzeri has nourished Exarchia’s residents with good food and good vibes for over sixty years. Lesvos, a large isand in the northeastern Aegean, is the capital of ouzo; here, you’ll find dozens of ouzo varieties to accompany an assortment of meze - grilled sardines, cured anchovies, stewed cuttlefish, red mullet piled with tomatoes and parsley, as well as fried slivers of aubergine and courgette to dunk in the definitive tzatziki. Go with a crowd so you can share as many dishes as you can fit onto the little table. A local institution that never loses its lustre.
Area: Exarchia
Contact: instagram.com/ouzeri_lesvos; 00 30 21 0381 4525
Prices: £
Reservations: Recommended
Best for fine dining
Vezené
Ari Vezene’s insatiable appetite for the good things in life has powered some of the most influential restaurants in Athens over the last fifteen years – starting right here at this modern Greek restaurant that deserves a Michelin star. This smoothly-run establishment was the pioneer of the Greek bistronomy movement that has since become so fashionable. Ethically reared meat, sustainable seafood, and prime seasonal greens form the basis of gutsy yet delicate dishes designed to be shared. Served raw or wood-fired in the Josper oven, each dish presents a wholly original take on familiar Greek ingredients: burnt cabbage dolmades with lemon confit, a deconstructed pastitsio with dry-aged beef tartare and potato espuma, clams fricasseed in Assyrtiko wine. Prices are steep, but the quality of the food, service, and wine are unimpeachable. Be sure to order a pre-dinner cocktail, but beware of Ari’s Deal Closer – an ode to over-indulgence and his upbringing in American diners.
Area: Ilissia
Website: vezene.gr
Prices: £££
Reservations: Essential on weekends; you might get lucky midweek.
Makris Athens
For fine dining with Acropolis views, one Michelin star Makris is the place to pick. The small, softly lit roof terrace is an oasis in the touristy clamour of Monastiraki; but the illuminated Parthenon overhead does not distract from the playful, delicate dishes presented by an unfailingly charming and well-versed team. Choose from three strictly seasonal set menus (including a vegan option), which can be paired with wines, zero-waste cocktails, or botanical infusions. Vegetables are the highlight, all harvested from chef patron Petros Dimas’ organic farm near Corinth. There’s wit and originality in every finely tuned dish — from the selection of thirty different olive oils poured into a nest of olive leaves, to the red mullet ganished with a fish skeleton fashioned from celeriac and cuttlefish ink, and the chocolate and kumquat mignardises disguised as a chess board.
Area: Monastiraki
Website: makrisathens.com
Prices: £££
Reservations: Essential
Papadakis
In Athens, some of the best seafood isn’t by the seaside. This upscale local institution draws the cigar-chomping denizens of Kolonaki for business lunches, but the intimate, art-filled space is just right for date night or a family treat too. Chef Argyro Barbarigou sources many of her ideas and ingredients from her native island of Paros – like her slow-cooked chickpeas served with taramasalata or smooth fish soup that slips down as easily as her spicy prawn linguine. For dessert, try Barbarigou’s Greek spin on millefeuille, flaky pastry layered with yogurt, honey, and walnuts.
Area: Kolonaki
Website: papadakisrestaurant.com
Prices: £££
Reservations: Recommended
Best for walk-ins
The Black Salami
Excellent artisan bakeries (including Kora, Tromero Paidi, 72H) have popped up all over Athens recently. But none has such a cult following as this punk rock corner spot in the heart of Exarchia. Stuffed flatbread “pies” and sourdough sandwiches piled high with pastrami, pulled pork, brisket, or roast veg are big enough for two, and come loaded with house made relishes, mayo and pickles. The extravagant egg combos — from oozing eggs Florentine to Greek strapatsada, scrambled with feta and tomato — are phenomenal, even though you’ll have to wolf them out of a take-out box standing on the kerb. Everything sells out by early afternoon. If you miss out, the Black Salami bakers have opened a serious sourdough pizza joint, Valtezziana 2.0, a couple of blocks away.
Area: Exarchia
Website: theblacksalami.com
Prices: £
Reservations: Be prepared to queue at peak times
Tuk Tuk
In the last few years, Koukaki has morphed from a working-class, inner-city neighbourhood into a trendy area rife with Airbnb apartments and wine bars. But you’ll find more adventurous locals than backpackers queuing outside this colourfully kitsch hole-in-the-wall, decked out like a Bangkok market stall with paper lanterns, B-movie posters and cocktail parasols. Owner Babis Askeridis and his team of Thai chefs turn out authentically fiery curries, sweet and sour soups and stir fries in the open kitchen behind the counter. The crispy pork dumplings and pad Thai are especially addictive; but always ask about the daily specials.
Area: Koukaki
Website: tuktukthaifood.net
Prices: £
Reservations: Walk-ins only; be prepared for a wait
Margaro
On Sunday afternoons, Athenians migrate to the port of Piraeus for lunch. The locals skip the expensive restaurants clustered around Mikrolimano marina and hit the backstreets of the Hatzikyriakeio neighbourhood for more authentic, affordable seafood. There’s no view at Margaro, a typical, paper-tablecloth taverna tucked away beside the Naval Academy. And there’s no menu either. All you get is shallow-fried red mullet, sea bream, shrimps, and langoustines, accompanied by the quintessential Greek salad made with Cretan tomatoes, feta cheese from Argos, and soft white bread to dip in the extra virgin olive oil. It’s the essence of Greece on a plain white plate.
Area: Piraeus
Website: margaro-restaurant.com
Prices: ££
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Best for views
Bungalow 7
Like its seaside setting in the moneyed suburb of Glyfada, Bungalow 7 is unabashedly bling-bling. A series of highly staged, well-lit seating areas open onto a beachfront deck that’s almost indecently pretty — especially at sunset. Chef Ntinos Fotinakis, an established culinary star in Greece, has designed a menu of Med-Asian comfort food to please every Athenian power couple, Russian exile, and globe-trotting expat. They all come together for the weekend brunch scene, fuelled by flawless Bellinis and Bloody Marys. King crab Caesar salad, Dubai-style sushi, tataki, tacos, and steaks galore can also be served by the pool — a good place to escape the helter-skelter of Athens city centre on a sweltering summer afternoon.
Area: Glyfada
Website: bungalow7.gr
Prices: £££
Reservations: Advised, especially for the weekend brunch
Panorama
While tourists throng the pricey waterfront restaurants along Mikrolimano marina, the locals head up to Kastella hill for Sunday lunch with sky-wide vistas all the way across the outstretched city to the Argo-Saronic isles. With a skinny balcony and glass-fronted dining room dangling high above the sea, Panorama doesn’t just trade on its setting. Family-run since the 1950s, this seafood specialist has diehard devotees who come for the silken fish soup, steamed prawns with mustard and caper sauce, and simply grilled, strictly seasonal fish.
Area: Kastella, Piraeus
Website: panorama-seafood.gr
Prices: ££
Reservations: Essential on weekends
How we choose
Every restaurant in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood favourites to Michelin-starred restaurants – to best suit every type of traveller’s taste – and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Rachel Howard
I have lived in Athens on and off since I was six, but this chaotic, historic city still gives me a thrill. Favourite Athenian pastimes include: iced coffee overlooking sun-dappled ruins, fried whitebait by the seaside and late nights in squares that smell of jasmine and cigarettes.