When you dream of eating in Athens, you probably picture a rickety table under a grapevine, a plastic plate of grilled octopus, and the Acropolis glowing in the distance. And guess what? That absolutely exists, and it’s magical. But that’s just the appetizer.
Athens is having a food moment so explosive it should come with its own soundtrack. We’re talking about a culinary revolution where age-old family recipes are getting a slick, modern makeover without losing their soul. Forget the tourist traps.
We’re going straight to the spots where Athenian foodies are spending their time and euros. Get ready to discover the best restaurants to visit in Athens, Greece.
1. Hytra: Fine Dining with a View That’ll Floor You
Let’s start with a showstopper. Hytra sits on the 6th floor of the Onassis Cultural Centre, and the view over the city is almost as breathtaking as the food. This isn’t just dinner; it’s an experience with a Michelin star.
They serve modern Greek cuisine that feels like an art project on a plate. Think deconstructed moussaka or lamb with foraged herbs. Every bite tells a story. The tasting menus are a journey, and they have fantastic vegan options that are just as creative as the main menu.
Service is smooth as silk. It’s fancy, sure, but in a cool, contemporary Athenian way, not a stuffy one. For a special occasion meal that captures the new, ambitious spirit of the city, this is a top-tier pick for Athens restaurants.
2. Seycheles: The Unpretentious Neighborhood Marvel
Tucked away in the quiet Pangrati neighborhood, Seycheles is the restaurant every local wishes was their secret.
It’s tiny, it’s always packed, and it doesn’t take reservations. Why the hype? The food is simply spectacular.
The menu is short, handwritten, and changes daily based on what’s freshest at the market. You might find the most tender grilled squid, a perfect beef stew, or a vegetable casserole that makes you rethink eggplant.
The vibe is noisy, warm, and totally real. You’ll be elbow-to-elbow with artists, students, and chefs on their night off. It’s a masterclass in how incredible simple, well-sourced Greek food can be. Be prepared to wait. It’s 100% worth it.
3. Nice n Easy: Where Healthy Feels Indulgent
Craving a meal that makes you feel amazing? Nice n Easy was a pioneer of the healthy, organic movement in Athens, and they’re still killing it. With a few locations, their Kolonaki spot is especially popular.
This is the place for a power breakfast, a towering colorful salad for lunch, or a wholesome dinner. Their menu is a global tour of good vibes—superfood bowls, gourmet burgers (both meat and plant-based), and fresh juices.
It’s bright, airy, and filled with stylish Athenians who know that eating clean doesn’t mean eating boring. It’s a fantastic Athens restaurant to visit when you need a reset from all the feta and olive oil (as wonderful as that is!).
4. Diporto Agoras: The Ultimate Athenian Time Capsule
This is as legendary and mysterious as it gets. Diporto has no sign, no menu, and no printed check. You find it by spotting the two doors (“di porto”) leading down to a basement in the middle of the central meat and fish market.
Inside, it’s all dusty wine barrels, shared wooden tables, and walls stained with decades of smoke. The owners will simply ask “meat or fish?” and bring you what they’ve cooked that day. It’s usually chickpea soup, grilled sardines, and rustic stew.
You drink wine from a metal beaker. It’s gritty, authentic, and unforgettable. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a trip back in time. For an authentic taste of old Athens, this iconic spot is a must.
5. Feedel Urban Gastronomy: A Creative Culinary Lab
For a taste of where modern Greek cuisine is headed, book a table at Feedel. Chef Yiannis Baxevanis is a wizard, treating traditional Greek ingredients with unexpected, global techniques.
The setting in Petralona is minimalist and cool. The tasting menus are an adventure—you might get a “Greek salad” reimagined as a frozen dessert or a slow-cooked lamb shoulder that melts on the tongue. Their vegetarian tasting is a standout.
It’s creative, playful, and deeply respectful of its ingredients. This is one of those best restaurants in Athens that food lovers pilgrimage for. It’s a thinking person’s feast that’s also ridiculously fun.
6. To Kati Allo: The Quintessential Psiri Taverna
In the heart of the buzzing Psiri district, To Kati Allo (“Something Else”) is the classic Athenian taverna you’ve been searching for. It’s got the checkered tablecloths, the friendly chaos, and the irresistible smells from the grill.
The menu is a greatest hits list: grilled meats, fried zucchini balls (kolokythokeftedes), creamy tzatziki, and horiatiki salad. Everything is fresh, generous, and full of flavor. It’s loud, it’s lively, and it feels like a party.
This is where you go with a group, order a bit of everything, and soak up the vibrant Athenian nightlife. For a no-fuss, incredibly satisfying taverna experience, this is a go-to restaurant in Athens, Greece.
7. Vegan Beat: The Plant-Based Paradise
Don’t let the casual, fast-food style fool you. Vegan Beat in Exarchia is serving some of the most delicious and inventive vegan food in the city. It’s a colorful, order-at-the-counter spot with a menu that’s entirely plant-based.
Think loaded vegan souvlaki in pita, incredible burgers, and heavenly “chicken” nuggets. Their vegan versions of Greek classics are so good they’ll impress any meat-eater. The sweet potato fries are a must.
It’s affordable, energetic, and proof that vegan food in Athens has moved far beyond a simple Greek salad. It’s a perfect lunch stop that will fuel hours of exploring.
8. Aleria: Elegant Dining in a Hidden Mansion
Tucked away in a restored neoclassical mansion in the Metaxourgeio area, Aleria offers an elegant escape. The dining rooms are beautiful, with high ceilings and a serene garden atmosphere.
The food is refined Greek cuisine with a creative twist. They focus on premium, often organic, local produce. The presentation is stunning, and the flavors are clean and sophisticated. Their tasting menu is a fantastic way to experience their skill.
It’s upscale but not intimidating, a place for a romantic dinner or a special business meal. For a polished, modern Greek dining experience, Aleria is a standout choice among Athens restaurants.
9. Kostas: The Legendary Souvlaki Spot
Sometimes the best things come in small, paper-wrapped packages. Kostas, just off Syntagma Square, has been serving arguably the best souvlaki in Athens since 1946. It’s a tiny hole-in-the-wall with a line that’s always down the street.
They do one thing: pork souvlaki in pita. And they do it perfectly. The meat is juicy and seasoned just right, the tomatoes are sweet, the onion is sharp, and the tangy tomato sauce is legendary. They also offer a fantastic beef option.
Grab one (or two), eat it on the street, and join the happy crowd of people having a perfect, messy, five-minute meal. This is Athenian street food royalty.
10. Soil: A Philosophy on a Plate
If you’re a true gastronomy geek, Soil is your pilgrimage site. This Michelin-starred restaurant in Kolonaki is the brainchild of chef Tasos Mantis, who is obsessed with terroir—the taste of the Greek earth itself.
The tasting menu is a minimalist, profound exploration of native seeds, rare herbs, and forgotten grains. Dishes are often presented as natural landscapes. It’s intellectual, challenging in the best way, and unlike any other meal you’ll have.
It’s not just dinner; it’s a statement. For a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience that redefines Greek cuisine, this is arguably the most avant-garde restaurant to visit in Athens.
11. Mani Mani: A Taste of the Peloponnese in the City
Brought to you by the talented Diane Kochilas, Mani Mani celebrates the robust, flavorful cuisine of the Mani peninsula. Housed in a charming old mansion near the Acropolis Museum, it feels welcoming and homey.
The menu is a love letter to this specific region, with dishes like siglino (smoked pork), handmade pasta, and incredible pies. The flavors are bold, rustic, and deeply satisfying. They also have wonderful vegetarian meze options.
It’s a fantastic way to travel with your taste buds without leaving the city. The service is knowledgeable and warm, making it a comforting and delicious Athens restaurant choice.
12. Feyrouz: The Unforgettable Street Food Discovery
For something wildly different, seek out Feyrouz. This small chain specializes in lahmajoun, a kind of Armenian/Turkish minced meat flatbread that Athenians have fully embraced. It’s a flavor explosion.
They bake the thin, soft bread fresh, top it with a spiced meat or lentil mixture, and roll it up with herbs, lettuce, and a squeeze of lemon. It’s the ultimate handheld meal. The lentil option is a vegan home-run.
It’s cheap, incredibly tasty, and a beloved part of the city’s modern street food scene. Grabbing a Feyrouz lahmajoun is a must-do Athens food experience.
13. Birdman: Japanese Pub Grub, Athenian Style
Need a break from Greek food? Birdman in the up-and-coming area near Omonia offers a brilliant, izakaya-style (Japanese pub) experience. The vibe is dark, hip, and buzzing.
They are famous for their yakitori—skewers of grilled chicken in every possible cut, all perfectly seasoned. But the menu goes far beyond, with stunning small plates like chicken meatball dumplings and Japanese-style salads.
It’s a fantastic spot for a lively dinner with friends. The quality is top-notch, and the energy is electric. It’s a favorite haunt for local chefs after their shifts, which is always a good sign.
14. Klimataria: The Live Music Taverna Experience
Founded in 1927, Klimataria is an institution. Located in a historic building in the meat market district, it’s famous for its hearty, traditional food and its nightly live laiko (Greek folk) music.
The atmosphere is pure, unadulterated joy. People share massive platters of slow-cooked lamb, grilled fish, and stews, while musicians play and the room often erupts into singing and dancing.
It’s not a quiet dinner; it’s an event. For a truly immersive, celebratory, and authentically Greek night out, this is one of the best restaurants in Athens to visit for pure, unforgettable vibes.
15. Fresh Point: The Salad & Juice Bar Oasis
Sometimes, you just need a giant, crisp, healthy salad. Fresh Point is the answer. With several locations, their spot in Kolonaki is a lifesaver. They build your salad right in front of you from a massive bar of fresh ingredients.
Choose from dozens of toppings, proteins (grilled chicken, tuna, falafel), and homemade dressings. Their smoothies and fresh juices are also fantastic. It’s fast, it’s healthy, and it tastes great.
It’s the perfect lunch spot when you want something light, nutritious, and energizing. A true gem for health-conscious travelers exploring Athens.
16. Spondi: The Grand Fine Dining Benchmark
For over two decades, Spondi in Pangrati has been the gold standard for haute cuisine in Athens. Housed in a 19th-century mansion with a dreamy, twinkly-lit garden, the setting is pure romance.
Their two-Michelin-starred cuisine is French-Mediterranean with a graceful Greek accent. The tasting menus are meticulously crafted journeys of luxury and flavor. Service is formal, polished, and flawless.
It’s an investment, but for a landmark fine-dining experience that has stood the test of time, Spondi remains one of the very best restaurants to visit in Athens, Greece for a night you’ll remember forever.
Conclusion
And that’s your map to the delicious, diverse, and downright exciting food scene in Athens. This city feeds you more than just amazing food; it feeds your soul with history, passion, and crazy-good flavor.
From sizzling street souvlaki to mind-bending tasting menus, every bite tells the story of a city that honors its past while boldly creating its future. Your table in the shadow of the gods is ready.
Don’t just plan your sightseeing. Plan your eating. Book those reservations, bring your appetite, and get ready to fall in love with Athens, one incredible meal at a time.