Food & Drink

I thought this section would be easy; just add the places that we like. The reality is that, as a local, you become familiar with a place and go back to it because you know what to expect, or became friendly with the staff and … feel at home. More importantly, the food scene in Athens is undergoing a huge transformation. New places are opening constantly. Some offer excellent food, or drinks, or desserts, etc. Some become trendy social hubs where people want to hang out and food is of secondary importance.

Below is a list of places we like. But I strongly recommend you check the following sites:

• Google: Athens restaurants
• Google: Athens restaurants with Acropolis view
  
• Michelin local guide. Beware, prices can range from very reasonable to extremely expensive at least by Greek standards. Of those I have visted, I like Oikeio and Nolan (reasonably priced) and Soil, Spondi and Varoulko for a gourmet experience.

There are numerous other sites with restaurant reviews. Of these, I used to look at TripAdvisor and TimeOut but don’t anymore.

How to view the listings: Click the title or the photo and a separate tab will open with the relevant site (if one exists). Click the Address button below each listing for directions and further information. Actually, the Address button opens the venue’s Google listing. There you will find more info and pictures than on most venues’ websites! You will also find telephone numbers for reservations and delivery information, where available.

To assist with your navigation through the listings, I have included a list sorted by area with a “title” categorization that serves as a link to the listing.

 (Piggypopoulo

This is a souvlaki taverna offering take away. Great food! We visit or -mostly- take delivery regularly (trhough the Wolt App nowdays). I’m afraid their site is in Greek, but when you visit they have an English menu.

Vyrinis

Vyrinis is my favorite Greek taverna in the area. It has excellent Greek food including enough options to cater for vegans. I like their spacious outdoor seating in their elegantly decorated courtyard. 

You will find more information through the address link than on their Facebook listing (their site).

Rizzari 22

A spacious all-day Restaurant/café. I like this place and choose it particularly when I want to have a quiet discussion. The food is good and reasonably priced.

Ohh Boy

Trendy coffee shop offering brunch and desserts. Mostly pavement seating. Waiters have a bit of an attitude for my taste, but I suppose that is expected in a trendy place. People queue for a table. I don’t. But if you can put up with it, the food is great.

Karavitis

Traditional Greek taverna established in 1926. Mostly a meat place. In the summer it has an inviting outdoor courtyard. Good food, a tad overpriced. But it does evoke the atmosphere of what was a typical Greek restaurant some 30 years ago. One of the few remaining.

Fatsio

Fatsio is an old-style Greek restaurant established in 1969!  It offers good-quality traditional Greek food. Open only for lunch. Think of it as the equivalent of a diner.

Babaghanoush (Check: it seems they are closed for renovation)

Vegan street food. Pavement seating as well as limited indoor seating. Excellent quality. Don’t miss the lemonade with ginger. I find it very refreshing.

Clò (ex Facce Strane)  

An all-day café and Italian restaurant. Owned and operated by an Italian. Great pizza and pasta. They have the best tiramisu even compared to what you get in most places in Italy.

Diporto

You will go to Diporto (two doors) for both the experience and the food. This is a diner. There is no sign outside. You can hardly notice it until you come to the steep steps of one of the two entrances. Although it is below street level, the openings are wide and its well ventilated and not in the slightest claustrophobic. There are fewer than 10 tables. If your group does not fill a table, it is likely that another group will join you (not done elsewhere in Greece).

There is no menu here. Just the food of the day. Maybe a choice of 3-4 things. Shortly after you finish eating, you will be asked to move on (not a custom in Greece). The setting is simple and looks uninviting from the outside.

I think it’s open only during the day.

I’ve chosen a photo of the facade of the building. This is not to scare you. Rather, to make sure that you find it. It is popular among Greeks and foreigners. You can’t reserve, but you won’t wait for long because table turnover is quick.

I came across this review of Diporto that I found informative. Just in case you need some more convincing.

Falafellas

Street food, no seating. A tiny place with great and juicy falafel (vegan food).

No site, but a menu in English is available on the Address tab.

Feyrouz

Street food with bar type seating. A middle eastern joint, mostly pastry based. Well worth a must stop if you are interested in discovering new tastes. Check their site. They have an English menu.

Avocado

A simple downtown vegan restaurant with great pizzas and refreshing juices. Their site has a menu in English.

Nolan

Nolan’s creators describe its food as comfort food. I think it’s borderline fusion food and recognized in the Michelin Guide as Bib Gourmand (one step below 1 Star). It’s one of my favorite places. Delicate, well-balanced flavors. Take it easy, at the end of the day, one dish at a time accompanied by wine.

Mind you, Nolan is closed in the summer. Actually until mid-October. The operation is transferred to Mykonos island.

Prasini Tenta

Prasini Tenta is on Lycabettus Hill about halfway to/from the top. It offers great views of central Athens including the Acropolis Hill as well as the south side of Athens ranging from the southeastern suburbs to southwestern ones. At the far right you will see Piraeus (the port city adjoining Athens).

The location and setting are great. It has decent food and drinks. Mostly, you will stop for a drink and maybe a bite to enjoy the view. In the hot summer months, it is best to visit before 11:00 am or, better still, at or just after sunset.

DaCapo

DaCapo probably has the best espresso coffee in Athens. In the summer try the freddo espresso (black iced coffee with foam) or the freddo cappuccino (same, with milk). If you take sugar, you need to ask for it beforehand. You don’t add it after as you would with hot coffee. The way it is produced is: make an espresso coffee, add sugar, add ice cubes, and whip it in a mixer. It turns cold and foam is created. Some places, like DaCapo, add sugar in liquid form (made separately) after the whipping so that you can “play” with sweet coffee vs unsweetened coffee foam. A little detail that most don’t even notice!

In addition, they have excellent hot chocolate and super fresh sandwiches. What you see on display is probably made within the past 30 minutes.

We are regular customers of DaCapo. So are our kids. It’s always takeaway coffee and frequently sandwiches. We have probably been there several thousand times over the past 25 years, but have sat down fewer than twenty times. Chairs are not the most comfortable. It is self-service and some customers (of a certain type, not us) do get special service (i.e., are served for a good tip!). The owners, particularly the wife, are arrogant. So, what you read on Google reviews is correct! But make no mistake: the coffee and snacks are great! So is the location! And the owner is the one who introduced espresso and freddo espresso coffee to Greece.

Freddo espresso (iced black coffee) and the freddo cappuccino (with milk) are Greek concepts. This is shaken iced coffee. Do not confuse it with the Italian espresso freddo shakerato which is more of a coffee dessert (too much sugar). Freddo espresso derived from the Greek frappé coffee. That is instant coffee shaken with ice cubes to create the foam. Click here if you are interested in the history of frappé coffee.

Kostarelos

Kostarelos is an upmarket dairy producer with several branches in Athens and abroad. In the Kolonaki branch there is a seating area offering snacks and salads. It’s a great place for a light lunch, a glass of wine, or a coffee if you are in the area.

If you like dairy products and are heading back to the apartment, buy some of their cheeses, yogurt, or rice pudding. They also carry some excellent ham choices.

Oikeio

Oikeio used to be one of our favorite bistros in the area, but not anymore. The quality of the food has become mediocre, though the setting and service remain very good. I may give it one more chance; then I will remove from my list.

You need to reserve in advance to get a table. Personally, I prefer sitting inside rather than on the hilly, uneven pavement outside. Also, it has more of a winter vibe.

Maraboo

Takeaway ice cream corner joint. Handmade ice cream, made fresh each day, with seasonal flavors. By the end of the day most flavors are gone! Popular with locals and tourists.

Lukumades

This is a takeaway dessert shop serving dough balls and ice cream. I prefer the traditional ones: unfilled, topped with honey, nuts and vanilla ice cream (or Kaimaki ice cream if available). Maybe a black iced coffee with no sugar (freddo espresso) to balance the taste.

Choureal

If you like profiterole, don’t miss this takeaway dessert only shop. They make the desserts on site, almost to order.