Article #62
Best Restaurants in Athens, Greece: A Local’s Guide
If you’re thinking about visiting Athens (The Greek Capital), Greece, you might be wondering which restaurants are the best. Whether you’re traveling solo or with friends and family, these five restaurants in Athens will impress even the pickiest of eaters. The city offers plenty of casual dining options as well as high-end places to wine and dine, so whether you’re on a budget or not, there’s something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. Enjoy!
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An Introduction to Greek Cuisine
It is no surprise that the Greek diet is one of the healthiest and best in the world. You will find everything from fresh fish to organic fruits and vegetables here. In fact, meat doesn’t make a regular appearance on menus around the country. Seafood is a staple on every menu and there are many interesting preparations of octopus (but beware of plastic food coloring), squid, sardines, and more that you won’t see anywhere else.
The cuisine is predominantly Mediterranean with an Italian-like influence from two hundred years of Ottoman rule. The first dishes Greeks ate were those they grew themselves, like loaves of bread and cheeses. Their main sources of protein were lamb, goat, or poultry as they had not yet discovered dairy cows or shepherding.
For centuries these ingredients were also incorporated into their religious ceremonies and festivals, which often lasted days at a time. Consequently, they became associated with abundance and plenty, so their flavors have been passed down through generations through these rituals. There is even evidence of this history among some traditional recipes like koliva – which has been offered as part of Easter celebrations for centuries in the form of grain mixed with honey, sugar, or nuts – representing nourishment to help usher in springtime for Greeks living away from home during winter months.
The 10 Most Famous Dishes
These are some traditional dishes & Deserts that are part of the traditional Greek cuisine and part of a healthy Mediterranean cuisine. You can get them at traditional taverns, at any fine dining restaurant, any small restaurant, any popular restaurant or at top restaurants. Also, ice cream is another desert you need to try especial during the summer months.
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Greek salad
This refreshing dish can be made with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and feta cheese or all these ingredients and more depending on preference. It is popularly served as a side dish alongside other appetizers or main courses such as Souvlaki or pork chops.
Vegetarian Moussaka
The most popular vegetable to use for this dish is eggplant but spinach and onions are also used to create this savory dish. There are many variations but the most common form is potatoes topped with ground beef or lamb meat topped with a creamy eggplant or tomato sauce; sometimes yogurt is added as well.
Gyros
These wraps consist of layers of thinly sliced, seasoned pork that is roasted vertically on a spit so that it stays juicy and moist while rotating. They are usually wrapped in pita bread with tzatziki (yogurt-cucumber dip), tomatoes, onion, fries, ketchup, or mustard.
Kolokithokeftedes
Kolokithokeftedes is an olive oil-based dish that typically consists of small pieces of zucchini fried to golden brown and dipped into lemon juice before serving.
Tzatziki
It is a type of garlic-yogurt dip or sauce that originated in Turkey. When preparing this dish, thick plain yogurt is mixed with garlic, salt, and pepper which are then left to ferment overnight. Tzatziki traditionally accompanies souvlaki kebabs but it can also be eaten by itself or mixed with raw vegetables like carrot sticks and parsley.
Loukoumades
These are deep-fried dough balls covered in honey syrup sprinkled with cinnamon powder for flavor.
Grilled Octopus
Octopuses are cephalopods found primarily in the Mediterranean Sea and around Japan that have eight arms, two tentacles, and a head with a sharp beak at one end.
Pastitsio
Pastitsio is one of Greece’s national dishes originating from Ottoman rule when pasta was incorporated into traditional Greek recipes because wheat was being imported from Italy at the time due to poverty issues during Ottoman rule. Today’s pastitsio can vary but it always includes ground beef, macaroni noodles, crushed tomatoes, white wine, and béchamel sauce among other ingredients which often include parmesan cheese as well.
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Moussaka
This is a family of baked and stewed dishes made with layered ground beef, spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper, and covered with a layer of eggplant puree. It is known as Moussaka ıtalyan (Italian moussaka) in Turkish cuisine.
Baklava
Baklava is generally a triangular pastry sweetened with honey or sugar and filled with chopped nuts; most notably walnuts and pistachios.
Best Restaurants in Athens, Greece
“The best restaurants in Athens are not the places you would expect. They are not fancy, or special, or expensive. They are where you go to have a good time with your friends.
The best restaurants in Athens are where people go to drink wine and eat great food, without worrying about being judged or having to be elsewhere.
You can go there for dinner, lunch or breakfast, but it’s more likely that you’ll go there for drinks first. The Greek people love their wine!
And when it comes down to it, why wouldn’t they? Athens has some of the most incredible wines in the world!
So take a trip around Greece and find out what makes these wonderful places so popular.”
Hill Athens
Hill Athens is a restaurant and bar that serves Greek-inspired dishes but also offers a menu of burgers, sandwiches, and salads. The menu changes every few weeks, so you can expect an interesting variety of fare.
It’s one of the best restaurants in Athens for its food quality, presentation, and value for money. The best time to visit is at lunchtime when it’s quiet, but I recommend going at night when there’s live music or DJs playing their music in the background.
The food is served in generous portions so you can share dishes with other people at your table or take some home with you. The drinks are reasonably priced and available by the pitcher if you want to try more than one before deciding which one to buy.
The Hill Athens is an institution for tourists and locals alike. It is known for its variety of dishes, including fish and seafood dishes, as well as for its excellent wine list. Its interior design is also remarkable: It features an orange tree in its courtyard as well as a unique art collection that includes works by Picasso, Chagall, and Kandinsky.
The restaurant’s menu changes daily according to the availability of fresh ingredients from the sea or from other parts of Greece. It also offers special dishes such as stuffed zucchini flowers with lobster sauce or roast beef served with potatoes and green beans accompanied by sweet red wine sauce (fava beans).
Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro
Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro offers both a diverse wine selection and Mediterranean-style foods. The atmosphere is warm and inviting with an open kitchen for viewing the chefs at work. Customers can dine al fresco on the restaurant’s scenic patio.
Each menu item is enticing and original with influences from French cuisine to South American dishes. Traditional staples like steak, chicken, and pasta are matched with less common dishes like octopus carpaccio or seared scallops over saffron risotto. Weekend brunch entrees include breakfast burritos and waffles made to order alongside delectable salad options. No matter what your taste may be, Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro has a dish that is sure to satisfy you! With its welcoming ambiance and exceptional food, this is one of the best restaurants in Athens, Greece.
Orizontes Licubittus
Orizontes Licubittus is a Greek restaurant in the heart of Syntagma Square, Athens. It’s a great place for a casual meal with friends or family. The owner, Sofia, is a fantastic chef who takes pride in her cooking and provides excellent service.
The menu consists of traditional Greek food prepared well with fresh ingredients that are locally sourced when possible. The prices are very reasonable considering the quality of food served and the ambiance created by a friendly staff that works hard to make your visit pleasurable.
The restaurant offers several choices for appetizers including stuffed grape leaves, calamari, hummus, and baba ganoush, to name just a few options; salads include mixed greens with feta cheese and vinaigrette dressing or moussaka (a rich eggplant dish); soups include chicken soup with potato dumplings as well as fish soup with dorade (sea bass) or octopus; entrees include grilled lamb chops or beef tenderloin tip roast; desserts include baklava (Greek pastry), cheesecake and various pastries and sweet loaves of bread.
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Byzantino Restaurant
If you’re looking for a great place to eat in Athens, then the Byzantino restaurant is a great choice. This restaurant has been around for over 20 years and has built up a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Athens. The food is traditional Greek with some modern influences thrown in.
The first time I went to this restaurant was about 10 years ago. I had heard about it from my friends and decided to check it out for myself. It was amazing! My first visit was with my friend Maria who lives in Athens and loves this place as much as I do!
If you want to try something new for lunch or dinner, this is definitely the place to go. They have some great salads and appetizers, but also meat and fish options as well as vegetarian options so everyone will be happy! You can find out more information here:
Argoura
Argoura, a small village on the island of Santorini, has been described as the most beautiful place in Greece. It’s also home to one of the best restaurants in Athens.
It’s easy to see why, when you arrive at Argoura you’re greeted by a view of the Aegean Sea and Mount Psiloritis, which dominates the landscape. The restaurant itself is located in a traditional village house with white walls, wooden floors, and bright blue shutters.
The menu changes daily, so there are always new dishes to try. You can choose from a selection of local dishes such as grilled octopus or lamb with herbs, but if you prefer something more familiar they also offer burgers and fish tacos.
Skalakia
The Skalakia restaurant is a traditional Greek restaurant on the historic Kanigos Square. The interior is decked out with handmade dishes and silverware that have been passed down through generations. The location might be plain but the food isn’t. Dishes like fresh, grilled fish or salad bowls with roasted vegetables and feta cheese are often served on Kanigos Square to people looking for a cheap meal.
There are only ten tables so it can get crowded at times, but don’t let that deter you from trying some of the best food in town. There are two big patio areas that help give diners space when things get busy.
Ouzeri tou Laki
We took a stroll around the neighborhood and just so happened to pass by this adorable little shop. We quickly realized that it was an Ouzeria and from then on we knew we had to go inside. The walls were all a dark color which really helped us feel cozy despite how cold it was outside. There was a bar right in the middle of the room with Greek flags draped over the top.
One of the things that are immediately noticeable is that it doesn’t look like there are many restaurants, but rather a couple of tables where customers can eat while they drink and socialize. If you do happen to walk by Ouzeri tou Laki be sure to stop in for some delicious ouzo!
Seychelles
Culinary historians will probably tell you that Athens has had food at the center of its cultural identity since antiquity. In recent years, what was once a population subsisting mainly on olive oil and lentils is now home to gourmet restaurants and traditional cuisine. One of the best spots for contemporary Athenian fare is Seychelles located just a ten-minute walk from Syntagma Square.
Since its opening in 1993, this restaurant has been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to introducing new flavors and international influences into its menu without compromising quality or authenticity. The menu changes with the seasons so you can sample an assortment of dishes like foie gras with caramelized onion and tamarind juice or salt cod pastitsio drizzled with fresh dill cream sauce.
Parkbench
Parkbench is a restaurant that specializes in traditional Greek dishes. The restaurant is tucked away on Ermou Street and has two levels – the first is quite large and open with a wood-fired oven and bar, while the second floor is more intimate. Parkbench also has two patios where diners can enjoy their meal during warmer months.
Its menu includes various appetizers such as feta cheese, calamari, or goat cheese; soups like tomato or chicken; seafood like shrimp with tzatziki sauce or monkfish; and meat selections like pork loin stuffed with spinach and mushrooms or ribeye steak with garlic butter. For dessert, try the baklava pastry layered with nuts, honey syrup, and cinnamon sugar.
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Final Thoughts
There are many restaurants in the surrounding area of Acropolis and Acropolis museum, Most of them are in very narrow and small street areas and many are surrounded by archaeological sites with a panoramic view, especially the rooftop restaurants. You can always find a traditional taverna or traditional Greek taverna with great food and great prices with daily specials, fresh salads, pork tenderloin, gourmet dishes, souvlaki and white wines or red wines.
Before we go any further, it is necessary to set the expectations. Some of these restaurants can be expensive and that is because you are eating really well. In general, you can find something to suit your budget as long as you know what you are looking for. But always try to order at least one splurge dish or drink when you go out for dinner or order at a restaurant like this – it will make the night worthwhile and memorable.
Lastly, I have put together a list of the restaurants with my favorites. So that if this guide has intrigued and made you hungry then it’s easy enough to find more information about them online.
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