Some Of The Best Restaurants In Athens | easyGuide
By: Easyguide
Tags: Travel Writing, Travel, Travel Blog, Tourism, Athens

Are you already planning your trip to Greece’s capital? Click here to find tickets to the best attractions, activities, experiences, and tours at the best prices. Done? Now it is time for you to find out the best restaurants in the city of Athens!

The capital of Greece, a hybrid of urban contemporary cool and ancient history, attracts millions of people every year. Anyone travelling to Athens wants to pay a visit to the city’s famous sights and taste the best dishes it has to offer. Cosmopolitan and multicultural as it is, the city of Athens has a vast amount of restaurants to satisfy every palate.

And while a visit to the Parthenon and to the Acropolis Museum is taken for granted, so is the hunger that follows. Are you a fan of Indian cuisine? Do you love the smell of barbeque food? Or do you prefer a traditional moussaka with a twist? Athens has the best of restaurants to satisfy your cravings and we are here to recommend some of them.

Labros Restaurant

Open since 1889, Labros Restaurant is located in the area of Vouliagmeni. If you are fans of nature or are looking for the most Instagrammable places in Athens, then you will definitely visit Vouliagmeni. After afternoon coffee and a walk around Lake Vouliagmeni, where the rocks and the pines harmoniously create a carte-postale scenery, head straight away to Labros.

Running the second century of his life, it is definitely one of the best restaurants in Athens. With a seaside view and a great selection of dishes, Labros Restaurant leaves no one disappointed.

You will probably want to order every single dish on the restaurant’s menu, but you don’t skip on ordering at least one type of fish. Their selection of fresh fish, charged per kilogram ordered, has nothing to envy from that in the Greek islands. And, of course, try the prawn saganaki… the dish will speak for itself!

Po’ Boys

Another restaurant you should visit if you are downtown in Athens is Po’Boys. For those of you who love a good taste of the American South, Po’Boys is a must. Even by strolling along the streets in Athens, the interior design of the restaurant and its great music will most probably catch your attention.

On a day that you have scheduled to visit the Acropolis Museum or the Parthenon, make sure to visit the restaurant, located in Psirri area. Their selection of slow-cooked barbeque dishes easily competes that of the American barbeque restaurants. Their appetizers are as good as their mains, while their burgers are to die for!

Many native Americans and meat lovers call it a “true American experience” and once you try it you will know why. Definitely try “The Pitmaster” burger, made with Greek beef patty, and the pulled pork. Don’t let their meat specialization bring you down though. There are a number of great options for vegetarians too. And with a list of around 40 beers to accompany your food, we guarantee you will want to go back as soon as possible.

Scala Vinoteca

The chances of not hearing about it being one of the best restaurants in Athens are slim. The reason behind that is the excellent service, the warm environment and, of course, the food. Scala Vinoteca, located in the area of Kolonaki, is undoubtedly a must on your restaurant list while in Athens.

The restaurant, with its modern wooden decoration, offers a huge variety of modern Mediterranean and European cuisine with artistic details. Prepare yourselves to be amazed by the menu. Every single one of the dishes has been created with the most delicious combinations of ingredients you could imagine. Do not think twice before ordering the ravioli filled with Williams pear, aged pecorino cheese, culatello ubriaco and cantharellus mushrooms. Another dish you would not regret trying is the homemade agnolotti pasta stuffed with sweet potato, Tom D’adrienne cheese and fresh truffle.

And if that is not enough to convince you, how about we offer you some wine? Following the advice of the sommelier experts, make sure to compliment your meal with a bottle from the huge wine cellar of the restaurant. There are numerous options for all tastes, and we are certain that you will end up with the best of recommendations!

Thes “Greek Creative Cuisine”

Being in the capital of Greece, you are definitely looking for some traditional Greek flavours. In Thes Greek Creative Cuisine Athens, you will get exactly what you’re asking for… with a twist! As its name suggests, Thes Greek serves you high-quality traditional food in creative dishes unlike any you’ve seen before.

In the heart of the lively Psirri neighbourhood, and not far away from Po’ Boys, this is another one of the best restaurants in Athens. After a shopping day in the centre of the city, or before your evening cocktails in the area, drop in for an unforgettable experience!

Starting from the appetizers, make sure you try the savoury feta cheese doughnuts. Yes, you read that right. Moving on to the main courses, feel free to taste any of the dishes according to your tastes. However, if you want to keep up with the “creative cuisine” philosophy, the Greek moussaka in rolls, with yoghurt bechamel and pecorino cheese from Amfilochia is a must. What is more, there is a separate vegetarian menu to cover all dietary requirements, while the triple-cooked potatoes served with goat cheese are unmissable.

Indian Haveli

If anything, Athens is also famous for its list of exceptional restaurants serving ethnic cuisine. Walking down Syggrou Avenue on a late afternoon, you will definitely get some food cravings. So why not stop by Indian Haveli for a short break from the ancient Greek vibes of the Parthenon? Needless to say, this is undisputedly the best restaurant for Indian food in downtown Athens.

With real Indian tastes and an excellent staff service, Indian Haveli is an Indian oasis in the middle of a Greek urban landscape. Serving traditional Indian cuisine, the restaurant’s menu is full of flavours and classic Indian dishes. You simply can’t go wrong with choices like chana masala and dal tadka or with a vindaloo dish for those of you who like to spice things up. Don’t forget to accompany your food with some rice or nan bread to have a proper Indian food experience, along with a glass of mango lassi.

You will definitely be overwhelmed by the large portions, so make sure to leave some room for dessert. Before leaving the restaurant, order your Gulab Jamun; a light pastry dessert, made with milk, cheese balls and topped with sugar thick syrup. It is exactly what you need after the Indian spices palatal explosion you’ve just had.

Pera

Walking around Monastiraki and on Aiolou street, you will literally be drawn to the restaurant by its smells. Seeing its beautiful decoration, you will not be able to resist the urge to sit, and why should you? Pera offers fresh, healthy and, most importantly, delicious food and it is the perfect food break after your visit to Plaka.

The restaurant Pera is definitely one of the best restaurants in Athens, with its street tables allowing you to enjoy the urban city vibes. Its oriental, middle-Eastern dishes are mouth-watering and their hummus tastes like heaven. All dishes are worth the try and their affordable prices leave you with no excuse but to try them all.

The restaurant’s specialty is definitely the Lachmacun pie, available in a normal, medium or hot level of spiciness. Strong competitor is the peinirli, made with thin dough and filled with soutzouki, egg, feta and tomato sauce. To add that the store also offers handmade sweets for dessert and to emphasize the profiteroles that they make themselves and it is wonderful. Visit it and it will be unforgettable!

Pera also gets some extra points for being one of the few halal-certified restaurants in Athens. In addition to that, they offer many vegetarian choices and the best homemade desserts. Go for the kunefe with some fresh ice cream or for the homemade profiterole and you will definitely arrange for a second visit… probably on the very same day!

Bandiera

You can tell by now that the area of Psirri has some hidden gems that cannot be missed. Right across the narrow street near Thes Greek you will find Bandiera. It is yet another addition to the best restaurants in Athens and one that you should add to your list.

The staff is superb and lovely, and the food is oh so comforting! Greek food in large portions that will leave you full for hours is only one way to describe what this restaurant has to offer you. Therefore, it is the ideal option after a day of visiting the museums where you’ve skipped having your midday snacks.

For starters, definitely try the aubergine saganaki with the complimentary bread that they will bring to your table. As for the mains, you can choose between the sea bass, the charcoal grilled squid, the slow-cooked pork shank and many other delicious options. At the end, you will get some ice-cream for dessert, which is on the house, alongside with a shot of ouzo. It can’t get more Greek than that!

Ventiri

It is the ideal place for meat lovers and one of the best restaurants in Athens. Near the Hilton hotel, Ventiri is a grill house that serves eclectic and wholesome dishes. Please trust us when we say that… they know their meat!

The team behind Ventiri specializes at roasting and their respect for their ingredients is evident from your very first bite. The interior is elegant and the staff is very helpful and always willing to recommend you the best of dishes. Ventiri is the perfect place to enjoy a lunch or meal with friends, always accompanied with their affordable yet high-quality selection of wines. However, do also have a look at the list with ouzo made from traditional distills to have another taste of Greece.

With some people admitting to having the best pan sauteed lamb liver dish at Ventiri, you now know where you need to start from. The slow cooked Cretan young goat with handmade Cretan pasta, seared goat butter and sprinkled with Cretan dried white cheese is another great option before choosing your main meat. As for that, both barbequed and charcoal grilled options are available, and both of them are a jackpot.

If you are vegetarian, there are grilled seafood options too. Either way, make sure you try a salad or two from their menu, like the Burratina served with basil pesto and rusk from Kythira island. And if those dishes have not excited you yet, then prepare yourselves for the best of homemade desserts. Go for the homemade chocolate profiterole with whipped cream and caramelized almonds and you won’t regret it!

Salingaros

Within walking distance of the National Archaeological museum, Salingaros is an unexpected food h(e)aven. Juxtaposing the urban, underground environment of Exarchia, this restaurant arguably offers the best of Cretan flavours in Athens.

From the moment you walk in, you will immediately notice an extremely friendly atmosphere. Once sat, get ready for a shot of raki. Salingaros, translated as “snail” keeps the Cretan traditions alive, so go with the flow for the ultimate experience. Don’t get the name wrong: the service is not slow at all!

You do not also have to order only snails; the options are plenty and all of them are worth your try. The chef owns a garden of his own and most of the ingredients he uses are his. Salingaros is a hangout for many locals, so try and book a table to make sure you eat and drink…Greek!

As for the prices, they are affordable and a value for money when related to the quality and freshness of the food. You will most probably get to enjoy some live music as well, so do order some more raki and…bottoms-up!

Do set your expectations high for these restaurants in Athens; they will easily be met. The plan is easy: book your tours in Athens and then choose one of these restaurants to enjoy your meal. One thing for sure is that you will not go home feeling hungry!