The Best Restaurants in Athens

Our favorite upscale dining destination in Athens is Herve. This restaurant manages to straddle the line between casual comfort and upscale sophistication perfectly. And the food is world-class and reasonably priced. Experience a 17-step tasting menu for under 100 euros. An experience that would cost you three to four times that in New York or Paris.

For throwing yourself fully throttle into a Greek culinary adventure, look no further than Karamanlidika. The original location is actually a Greek charcuterie shop specializing in Greek-style cured meats. But the location has morphed into a cute little restaurant offering their cured meat specialties and other traditional Greek mezze in a small-plate format. For a more traditional dining experience visit the Ermou location in the heart of Monastiraki.

Wanting to stop for lunch or dinner during your souvenir shopping on pedestrian shopping street, Adrianou? Your best bet is Kosmikon. One the city’s top pastry shops has broadened its horizon with one of Plaka’s top restaurant choices. A great spot for some traditional Greek fare.

Within a few paces of the entrance to the Acropolis, you’ll find Athina, a cute, slightly-upscale, taverna offering traditional Greek fare. They offer two restaurants, the Athina Bistrot and the Athina Taverna, both located in the same block. We prefer the newer “Bistrot” with outdoors sidewalk-seating and a slightly more sophisticated menu.

For a quick, casual lunch during your walking excursion through Monastiraki, stop at The Greco’s Project for a gyro or any of their traditional Greek dishes. Quick, inexpensive, and tasty.

Wanting a quick breakfast in Koukaki before you jaunt up to the Acropolis or Filopappou Hill? The small café cum gastropub, Neratzia, is the ideal choice. Pancakes or omelets. Sunny side up or yogurt, fruit and granola … choice is yours. Also a great spot for lunch, dinner or cocktails and to strike up a conversation with young locals that live in the neighborhood. [Photo by Claudia]

One choice for a hearty breakfast in the Pangrati neighborhood of Athens is Mama Says. They open at 7:30 a.m. and serve a full array of popular western breakfast favorites. Good sandwiches, salads, and pastries too.

Our hands-down favorite for mingling and cocktail or two is Hippy3 in Pangrati. But on top of being one of the city’s best nightlife destinations, it’s a great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Scrambled eggs on toast topped with crumbled cheese, sunny side up on buttered toast slathered with mashed avocado, or pancakes drenched in syrup make for the perfect breakfast. The dual burger platter is one of the best choices for a burger in Athens.

For a tasty breakfast or arguably the city’s most inviting casual dining experience, look no further than Zampano. Zampano is smart, chic, and sophisticated with a brunch menu that offers about anything you long for. For lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers a mix of both Greek and Italian favorites, executed near-flawlessly with friendly service. And Zampano doubles as perhaps the top spot for cocktails in Psyrri. [Photo by Tomas Grigas]