10 Great Restaurants in Athens

Cookoovaya is a top Greek restaurant in Athens located opposite the Hilton Hotel in the city centre. Five chef friends joined talents to establish the restaurant in 2014. They prepare their simple yet tasty homemade Greek cuisine using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.

If you’re planning an evening with friends and family, this is a fantastic place to be as most of the dishes on the menu are for sharing. Cookoovaya’s famous for its fish collar that serves 2. The grilled beef fillet with porcini risotto is also highly recommended. An extensive wine and cocktail list accompanies the food menu.

Varoulko Seaside Restaurant is a top restaurant with gorgeous views of the sailboats docked at the picturesque Mikrolimano marina in Piraeus. Fresh Greek and Mediterranean seafood dishes are the main focus here. You can choose a la carte or from the day’s specials.

Must-try dishes include crabmeat with apple, basil, cauliflower and tangerine foam. There are also a couple of vegetarian dishes available, including a vegetable risotto. The wine list is lengthy and worth exploring. The restaurant is open for lunch. But for a more romantic experience, arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy the sunset before dinner.

CTC Urban Gastronomy is a relaxed and unpretentious eatery in a central residential district of Athens . That’s despite its Michelin star and fine-dining status. The ever-changing menu features well-prepared and plated Greek food made with the best market-fresh ingredients and inspired by different culinary techniques.

For an extra-special experience of modern Greek gastronomy, order the 11-course blind-tasting menu. As its name suggests, each dish will be a surprise. If you have any special dietary requests, let the restaurant know 48 hours before your reservation. The restaurant doesn’t only boast delicious food but also a stunning dining space – the outdoor courtyard is particularly popular in summer.

Hytra Restaurant & Bar is a Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant where you expect innovative Greek fare and a stylish ambience. Hytra’s menu includes a la carte selections as well as a multi-course tasting option with wine pairing available. Most of Chef Tassos Mantis’ creations are made using local, sustainable and sometimes foraged ingredients.

Hytra boasts a prime location, on the 7th floor of the Onassis arts centre. So while you tuck into modern Greek recipes, you can take in stunning views of Athen’s ancient Acropolis. The rooftop terrace is a hit in summer. Bookings are highly recommended.

Basegrill Athens is a popular restaurant in the Greek capital that’s become synonymous with great food, good wine, and superb service. Grilled meat dishes are the star attraction here. You’ll find a variety of stellar cuts, including rib-eye fillet, porterhouse, thinly cut picanha steak, black pork meat, and Naxos lamb chops.

The restaurant’s welcoming and relaxed vibe makes it a top choice for dinner with friends and family. However, as a steakhouse, it has limited options for non-meat eaters, save for a couple of salads and starters. Be sure to make a reservation – this place is popular among locals and visitors.

Orizontes Lycabettus serves Greek fare from its perch at the top of Lycabettus, the highest peak in Athens. The restaurant’s lofty position means you get to enjoy panoramic views, which extend from the Acropolis to the port of Piraeus.

When you’re finally able to turn your eyes from the breathtaking view to the menu, you’ll find a range of gourmet Mediterranean and modernised classic Greek dishes. Prices are reasonable, considering the location and high-quality presentations. You can only reach the restaurant by foot or funicular.

Strofi Athenian Restaurant has drawn locals, visitors, and celebrities to its taverna dishes since opening in 1975. On the menu, you’ll find a standard selection such as tzatziki, grilled aubergine, Greek salad, risotto with seafood, grilled meats and fish dishes.

Ideally located near the Acropolis, people often head over to Strofi after watching a summertime show at the open-air Herodus Atticus theatre built in 161 AD. When making a reservation, ask for a table on the terrace that offers a magnificent view of the Parthenon.

Aleria is an upscale fine-dining restaurant housed in a beautiful mid-19th-century villa in the centre of Athens. Here, an elegant yet homely atmosphere meets a sophisticated and unique gastronomical experience, resulting in traditional Greek dishes with a twist.

The restaurant offers 2 set menus – ‘Earth & Sea’ and ‘Garden & Nature’ – and you can opt for 4, 5, or 6 courses. You’ll find seafood and meat dishes on Earth & Sea like crab and giouvarlaki (Greek meatballs), while Garden & Nature is more focused on vegetable dishes such as pumpkin mousse and moussaka. Wine pairing is available.

Geros tou Moria has been serving traditional Greek tavern food in the quaint hillside Plaka neighbourhood for almost a century. On the menu, you’ll find a variety of local meat, seafood, and vegetarian options. The atmosphere here is friendly and casual, and there is a live Greek music performance every evening.

If you want to soak up the local vibe and enjoy some people-watching, ask for a table out on the pedestrian path. Alternatively, the charming upstairs terrace offers dazzling views of the Acropolis looming above. Reservations are recommended.

Spondi Restaurant draws foodies and fans of French cuisine to its exclusively French menu of inventive and exquisitely prepared and plated dishes. The restaurant is right down a pathway from the Varnava Square of Pangrati in Athens.

You can either order from the a la carte menu or, if you’re feeling adventurous, go for the ‘discovery menu’. The discovery menu is a multi-course culinary experience with Jerusalem artichoke, foie gras, red mullet and beef tenderloin, as well as a cheese platter and dessert among its items. Bookings are essential, especially if you want one of the coveted tables in the small, tranquil courtyard.