Restaurants in Athens
Below the Acropolis, Plaka is packed with traditional tavernas serving classic Greek dishes like meat and aubergine moussaka. For something more contemporary opt for a modern taverna – Mamacas in Gazi is currently in vogue. Visit upmarket Kolonaki, where cosmopolitan restaurants include multi-ethnic Altamira. Matsuhisa Athens is one of several waterside fish restaurants at Vouliagmeni. Locals dine late and most restaurants stay open until after midnight.
Top-end
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1. Varoulko - Top-end: (More than €45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
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At Athens' finest seafood restaurant, Varoulko, chef-owner Lefteris Lazarou conjures up delectable dishes such as red snapper with black truffle and aubergine mousse. Located in Gazi, there's a sleek, wood-and-glass dining room with crisp, white table linens and blue Perspex details. In summer, diners move up to the unforgettable, Acropolis-view roof terrace.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Mon-Sat 8.30pm-1am
Address
80, Pireos, Gazi, Athens, 10435
Telephone
+30 210 522 8400
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2. Daphne's - Top-end: (More than €45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
Show moreVisited by such world figureheads as Bill and Hilary Clinton, Daphne's in Plaka serves gourmet Greek cuisine. Classic starters are given a creative Mediterranean twist and the menu offers a good choice of meat and fish dishes. Inside the neoclassical 1830s building, frescoes and terracotta and ochre tones create a warm and inviting dining experience.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 8pm-12am
Address
4, Lysikratous, Athens 10558
Telephone
+30 210 3227971
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3. Orizontes - Top-end: (More than €45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
Show morePerched upon Mount Lykavittos, Athens' highest point, the tables at Orizontes have stunning city views. Crayfish risotto with asparagus and black-eyed beans, and lamb shank with artichokes and goats cheese are served to couples and visitors. If the hike up looks too steep, take the funicular from Kolonaki.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 10am-2am
Address
Lycavittos, Kolonaki, Athens, 10676
Telephone
+30 210 722 7065
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4. Matsuhisa Athens - Top-end: (More than €45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
Show moreDine on melt-in-your-mouth sushi at Matsuhisa Athens, a sleek restaurant in the city's seaside suburb of Vouliagmeni. Chefs deftly prepare signature dishes of renowned Japanese restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa, like black codfish with sweet miso, and Wagyu beef with spicy Peruvian sauce. The windows look out on far-reaching views of the azure sea. Reservations recommended.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Mon-Thu 7.30pm-1am; Fri & Sat 7.30pm-1.30am; Sun 1.30pm-6pm
Address
Astir Palace, 40 Apollonos, Vouliagmeni, Athens, 16671
Telephone
+30 210 896 0510
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5. Spondi - Top-end: (More than €45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
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Tucked away near Pagrati's Ancient Olympic Stadium, Spondi earned its second Michelin star in 2008 and boasts a well-stocked cellar. Arnaud Bignon's French-inspired gourmet creations look almost too good to eat. Dine on candied fois-gras with quince and dried plum paste, surrounded by rustic-looking stone walls, or take a table in the leafy outdoor courtyard.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 8pm-12am
Address
5, Pyronos, off Varnava Square, Athens 11636
Telephone
+30 2107 564 021
Mid-range
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6. Istioploikos - Mid-range: (€25-€45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
Show moreIstioploikos, meaning sailing, is a modern white building with a rooftop café and a ground floor seafood restaurant. It's set inside the yachting marina, overlooking Microlimano Bay. Tasty dishes such as spaghetti with lobster, or grilled tuna with green beans and crispy prosciutto are on the menu, popular with the smart set.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 12pm-12.30am
Address
Akti Mikrolimanou, Piraeus, 18533
Telephone
+30 210 413 4084
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7. Psarras - Mid-range: (€25-€45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
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Dating back to 1898, Psarras lies hidden away in a quaint corner of Plaka. Outdoor tables and pots of geraniums are arranged on the steps leading up to the Acropolis. Serving classic Greek meat and seafood dishes, it's a popular choice for romance. Former customers include Laurence Olivier and Brigitte Bardot.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 11am-12.30am
Address
16, Erechtheous & 12, Erotokritou, Plaka, Athens, 10558
Telephone
+30 210 321 8733
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8. Altamira - Mid-range: (€25-€45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
Show moreOccupying the first floor of a neo-classical mansion in an exclusive shopping street in up-market Kolonaki, Altamira is one of Athens' few multi-ethnic restaurants. The menu is divided into four sections: Asian, Lebanese, Indian and Mexican. Young diners order chicken couscous and shrimp fajitas in the rustic chic dining room.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Mon-Sat 1pm-1am
Address
36, Tsakolof, Kolonaki, Athens, 10673
Telephone
+30 210 361 4695
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9. Athinaikon - Mid-range: (€25-€45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
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Since 1932, Athinaikon has been welcoming a devoted clientele. Its wood-panelled dining room has marble-top tables and bentwood chairs, set in a pedestrian side street near Omonia Square. Locals order tasty mezedes such as midia spesial saganaki (mussels baked with feta cheese), loukanika (sausages) and keftedes (meatballs), plus Greek wine or ouzo.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Mon-Sat 11.30am-12.30am
Address
2, Themistokleous, Omonia, Athens, 10677
Telephone
+30 210 383 8485
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10. Mamacas - Mid-range: (€25-€45 for a three-course meal without drinks)
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When it opened in 1998, Mamacas brought Mykonos-style sophistication to the formerly run-down district of Gazi. With a shabby-chic, whitewashed dining room decorated with fairy lights, and outdoor tables backed by the towering chimneys of Techopolis, it serves a modern take on classic Greek dishes, and is now considered one of Athens' hippest tavernas.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 2pm-2am
Address
41, Persefonis, Gazi, Athens, 11854
Telephone
+30 210 346 4984
Budget
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11. Sardelles - Budget: (Less than €25 for a three-course meal without drinks)
Show moreIn Gazi, Sardelles (which means sardines) specialises in inexpensive seafood, simply prepared. The fish on offer changes daily, depending on what the owner finds in the market that morning. Charcoal-grilled sardines or fried cod, served with garlic sauce, are favourites. A trendy spot, and popular with both locals and visitors.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 12pm-1.30am
Address
15, Persefonis, Gazi, Athens, 11854
Telephone
+30 210 347 8050
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12. O Platanos - Budget: (Less than €25 for a three-course meal without drinks)
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In a peaceful corner of Plaka, near the Roman Forum, Platanos is an old-fashioned taverna dating back to 1932. Regulars order hearty casseroles, such as lamb cooked with spinach, and carafes of the excellent house wine, a barrel retsina. In summer, diners eat outdoors on a pretty bougainvillea-covered terrace.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Mon-Sat 12pm-5pm & 7.30pm-12am
Address
4, Diogenous, Plaka, Athens, 10556
Telephone
+30 210 322 0666
Transport
Monastiraki metro station
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13. Thanasis - Budget: (Less than €25 for a three-course meal without drinks)
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One of Athens' top souvlaki spots, Thanasis in Monastiraki serves delicious kebabs - charcoal grilled pork or chicken wrapped in pitta bread with fresh tomatoes and garlicky tzatziki. Known for its nutritious fast food, it is popular with locals and visitors alike, with busy tables both indoors and out. Take-away is also available.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 9am-2am
Address
69, Mitropoleos, Monastiraki, Athens, 10555
Telephone
+30 210 324 4705
Transport
Monastiraki metro station
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14. Klimataria - Budget: (Less than €25 for a three-course meal without drinks)
Show moreIn Psirri, Klimataria (which means vine arbour) is a homely eatery with a colourful and bohemian interior. Large pots of stews bubble over the stove in the open-plan kitchen, draped with climbing vines. It gets particularly crowded on Sunday afternoons, when crowds come to hear the live Greek music.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 1pm-1am (Fri-Sun close 2am)
Address
2, Platia Theatrou, Psirri, Athens, 10552
Telephone
+30 210 321 6629
