The Ultimate Athens Food Guide

Greek cuisine might be one of my favorite cuisines. Athens is an attractive city not only for its historical monuments but also for its delicious cuisine. Of course, as a Turk, I must say that Greek food is very close to Turkish food. Sharing a common geography throughout history, the cuisines of the two civilizations have been influenced by each other and there are many common tastes. In this guide, I will try to explain what to eat and where to eat in Athens. Here is the Athens food and drink guide…

What to Eat and Drink in Athens?

First, I’ll introduce you to Greek cuisine, followed by my restaurant recommendations. I’ll cover both familiar spots from previous visits and exciting new discoveries from my most recent trip.

Traditional Greek Cuisine

Tzatziki: An appetizer made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic and olive oil.

Dolmades: Greek style stuffed leaves, with olive oil or minced meat.

Kolokithakia: Greek fried zucchini, this is one of my favorite appetizers.

Horiatiki (Greek Salad): A salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives and feta cheese. They usually put a big piece of cheese on top.

Kolokithokeftedes: Greek style zucchini fritters.

Moussaka: It is made with minced meat, eggplant and bechamel sauce.

Peinirli: Greek pita bread. The main ingredient is cheese, but there are varieties with different toppings.

Saganaki: A Greek appetizer that I can describe as fried cheese, crispy on the outside and melted on the inside.

Greek Street Food

Souvlaki: A street food dish of chicken, pork or lamb cut into cubes, cooked on skewers and served with sauce, vegetables and pita bread.

Gyros: A street food where grilled meat cut into thin slices is served between bread and topped with sauce, tomatoes, onions, etc.

Spanakopita: Spinach and cheese pie.

Koulouri: Greek-style bagel

Greek Desserts

Baklava: Greek style baklava.

Bougatsa: This is a kind of sweet pastry with crispy phyllo pastry and custardy cream.

Loukoumades: A doughnut dessert with honey and cinnamon.

Greek Drinks

Ouzo: Traditional Greek raki with anise flavor.

Frappe: Prepared with a mixture of Nescafe, water and ice, this drink is especially indispensable on hot summer days.

Athens Restaurant, Cafe and Bar Recommendations

You can find coffee shops, breakfast shops, dessert shops, taverns, and much more in this article. The list is crowded because I have been to Athens many times.

The Best Breakfast Spots in Athens

Kora: A bakery located in Kolonaki. Their croissants, sandwiches and coffee are very good. You can always see a small queue in front. There are only a few benches to sit on.

Philos: A nice cafe in Kolonaki, I loved the interior decoration and the variety of breakfast dishes.

Me Kolonaki: One of the best breakfast options in Athens in my opinion. When you’re in the Kolonaki neighborhood, this might be your first choice for a sit-down breakfast.

Overoll Croissanterie: It stands out with different types of croissants. The croissants are really good. There is no seating area with tables, you should eat in an area like a bar. Located in the center.

The Makers: One of the popular brunch places in the center. It’s usually hard to find a seat. They also sell their own products like bags, t-shirts, aprons, hats etc.

Minu: Botanical cafe located in Psyri. The ambiance is beautiful surrounded with plants and the breakfasts are also delicious.

Black Salami: A great sandwich shop in Exarchia, not for sitting but for eating on foot.

The Best Coffee Spots in Athens

ANANA Coffee: Located in an arcade, the atmosphere is nice and the coffee is not bad.

Third Place: A quiet and nice coffee shop where I had my morning coffee since it was right next to my hotel.

Foyer Espresso Bar: Very good coffee. It used to be in a more central location, now it has moved a bit further away.

Behold Theman: Probably the most popular place in Exarchia. Both the coffee and the atmosphere are nice. You can also shop for t-shirts etc.

Myller Coffee Shop: A sweet place in Psyri with very good coffee.

Thomas Speciality Coffee: This place is also located in Exarchia neighborhood, the coffee is really good.

Where to Eat Dessert in Athens?

Krinos Loukoumades: This is where you can eat the best honey doughnut desserts, , a favorite for years.

InLove Again: The desserts and cakes here are generally good.

Nancy’s Sweet Home: Their chocolate desserts were good.

Django: We can say it is the address of ice cream in Athens. Not mesmerizing but good.

Where to Eat Street Food in Athens?

Kostas: The souvlaki here is the most famous in the city, it still maintains the same quality for years and there is always a queue in front of it.

Tylixto: I think this is the best place for gyros. A few other touristy places are recommended, but this one gets my vote.

Ariston: This place is famous for its pastries.

Athens Local Spots and Taverns

I am listing local places where you can eat traditional Greek food and appetizers, don’t expect luxury from this list. I am writing all the places I have been to at different times and still serving.

Klimataria: There is live music in the evenings here, I can’t say that all the food is great, but it’s not bad.

Tis Theatrou to Steki: A very shabby place where you can eat delicious Greek appetizers.

The Kyklamino: A shabby Greek family restaurant in Psyri, the food was very good.

Avli: It is located in a small, cozy courtyard. When I went there were only Greeks, no tourists. The prices are very reasonable, I can’t say all the food was great, but it wasn’t bad either. You can go for an affordable local atmosphere.

Karamanlidika: It is the place of a family who immigrated from Karaman, Turkiye. If you are going for dinner, it is better to make a reservation. This place is also a delicatessen. You can shop for bacon, sausage, cheese and etc.

Kafeneio Ivis: A delicious local place where you can try a variety of Greek appetizers.

To Kafeneio: The food we had was very good. It is located in Plaka. When we went there, there was a tour group and we were the only individual table, so I can say it’s a touristic place, but the atmosphere is friendly and local.

Ama Lachei: A place in Exarchia where you can try traditional Greek appetizers.

Where to Eat Seafood in Athens?

Atlantikos: This is a budget-friendly and incredibly delicious seafood place in Psyri. Everything I ate was amazing.

Zisis: Located in the center, you can eat seafood in cones. You can consider it as street food.

Barbounaki Kolonaki: This is one of the popular seafood restaurants. The calamari and sea bass were good.

Argoura: A seafood restaurant recommended by Vedat Milör (a famous Turkish gourmet). Everything I ate was really good, but reservation is a must and it’s a bit far from the city.

Best Restaurants in Athens

In this section, I will share some restaurants where you can enjoy international cuisine when you get bored of Greek cuisine

Odori: The Neapolitan style pizzas here are great. It also has a bar so you can eat and have fun at the same time. One of my favorite places in Athens.

BirdMan: If you like Japanese cuisine, you should definitely go here.

Feyrouz: A Lebanese restaurant with an owner from Antakya, turkiye. The food is really good.

Wild Souls: A nice place for vegans.

Aleria: This is a fine dining restaurant for those looking for an elegant place.

There are also many Michelin starred restaurants in Athens, check them out on their website.

Athens Nightlife and Bars

The nightlife in Athens is one of my favorites in all of Europe, it is very satisfying for me.

A for Athens: I think this is the oldest of the terrace bars overlooking the Acropolis. It has been around since my first visit to Athens many years ago. Located in Monastiraki.

360: Another popular terrace bar in Monastiraki with a view of the Acropolis.

Brettos: One of the most famous and oldest bars in Athens, located in Plaka. The decor with colorful bottles of drinks is especially nice.

Wine is Fine: A wine house that wine lovers should definitely try. Both the wines and the food menu are delicious.

Baba au Rum: A popular place ranked among the 50 best bars in the world. The cocktails are really good.

The Clumsies: My favorite night spot in Athens. I’ve been there on weekdays and weekends and it was full every day. It consists of several lounges. It’s also on the list of the 50 best bars in the world.

Line: A bit far from the city center, this place is also among the 50 best bars in the world. I haven’t been there, but I’m writing this because it’s on the list.

The Bar in front of the Bar: This is also a popular place with a sweet atmosphere. It has a cocktail menu that changes every day.

Of course, there are many more restaurants in Athens that I have not yet experienced, please write your discoveries in the comments. I hope that my Athens Food Guide will be useful for you and you will have a nice trip to Athens where you can try some delicious dishes. If you have any other questions, please leave them in the comments. If you have any extra suggestions, I would also welcome them in the comments.

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