6 Great Places to Eat in Athens, Greece (Selected by a Local)
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Athens is famous for being the home of the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the ancient Olympic games. But what about the Athens food scene? We’ve asked a local expert to share her picks for the best places to eat in Athens, Greece. She spills the beans on how to eat like a local in the exciting Greek capital city.
Traditional Greek food is popular all over the world, especially classic dishes like souvlaki (grilled meat skewers), moussaka (similar to lasagna), spanakopita (spinach pie) and horiatiki salata (Greek salad). Any visitor to Athens, Greece would surely be excited to try these famous Greek dishes plus local delights like olives, pistachios and feta cheese.
Even if you don’t plan to spend your entire holiday in Athens, you will surely pass through the ancient city at the beginning or end of your Greek vacation. When you do, you will want to eat at great Athens restaurants when you’re not learning facts about the Parthenon and exploring the Acropolis.
🇬🇷 Athens To Do’s
Athens is a popular destination, so you should book your tours, hotel and rental car ASAP. These are our top picks:
📸 Tours and Activities
1. Athens Food Experiences with Locals (a great way to taste the city)
2. Our Big, Fat, Greek Food Tour (Eating Europe)
3. Food Tour with 10+ Tastings of Greek Traditional Dishes (Secret Food Tours)
4. Greek Cooking Class (includes Rooftop Dinner with Acropolis View)
🏨 Accommodations
1. Hotel (rooms at all price points)
2. Airbnb (Athens apartments with kitchens)
🚗 Rent a car to explore the island.
A Local’s Picks for the Best Places to Eat in Athens, Greece
Are you wondering where to eat in Athens? We’ve asked local expert Chrysoula Manika of Travel Passionate to provide her insider tips for the best food in Athens. These are her recommendations:
Favorite Local Athens Restaurant
One of my favorite downtown restaurants is called Tzitzikas kai Mermigas. It is centrally located near Syntagma Square and is an extremely popular place to eat both for locals and tourists.
It has a lovely décor that looks like a traditional market. Shelves filled with canned food and spices cover the walls and when weather permits, guests can sit outside and watch people and cars passing by.
In addition to serving traditional Greek recipes with modern flair, the restaurant serves a number of beers from Greece’s fledgling craft brew scene. Portions are filling, service is quick and prices are good.
Tzitzikas kai Mermigas is located at Mitropoleos 12, Athina 105 63, Greece.
Iconic Athens Food
My favorite traditional Greek dish is moussaka. Moussaka is a casserole with layers of baked potatoes, eggplant, Greek-style meat sauce topped with béchamel (flour, milk and butter).
Filippou in Athens’ Kolonaki neighborhood has been a moussaka destination since 1923. Apart from the tasty moussaka, Filippou also serves additional traditional Greek favorites like pastitsio and gemista.
Filippou is located at Xenokratous 19, Athina 106 75, Greece.
Favorite Athens Cafe
Greeks enjoy spending time with friends and drinking coffee in Athens’ abundant cafe culture. One of my favorite spots for both coffee and cocktails is Couleur Locale.
Hidden in a side street in Monastiraki, Couleur Locale is an all-day rooftop café with a striking view of the Acropolis. The welcoming vibe and relaxed atmosphere make Couleur Locale popular with locals.
The other rooftop cafes in Monastiraki square are touristic and lacking personality. Skip those and head to Couleur Locale for a genuine Greek experience.
Couleur Locale is located at Normanou 3, Athina 105 55, Greece.
Special Occasion Meal
Important Update: Galaxy Restaurant and Bar has permanently closed.
If you want to celebrate a special occasion in Athens, I recommend Galaxy Restaurant and Bar. Located on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel, Galaxy offers one of the best views of the city and the Acropolis.
During the summer, you can sit at one of the tables on the balcony and dine under the stars. It is also a great spot to enjoy a breathtaking sunset.
Apart from the lovely view, the restaurant has an ever-changing menu with great cocktails and an excellent wine list. On my last visit, I enjoyed a Black Angus flat iron steak tagliata served with grilled vegetables. This Athens restaurant also serves the best sushi in town along with mouthwatering desserts.
Pro Tip
The service at Galaxy Restaurant and Bar is top notch and the ambiance very relaxed.
Galaxy Restaurant and Bar is located at Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athina 115 28, Greece.
Favorite Athens Desserts
The best desserts in the city can be found at Nancy’s Sweet Home, also known Serbetospito, located in the Psyrri neighborhood close to the Monastiraki metro station. Nancy makes all the desserts herself, and they’re all amazing.
If you are into chocolate, try the Love Dessert. It’s a juicy chocolate cake with praline and chocolate sauce. Non-chocolate fans can try the Kiounefe, a pastry filled with cheese and soaked in sugar syrup. Nancy’s Sweet Home serves all of its desserts with homemade kaimaki ice cream.
Pro Tip
Go with a big appetite. The portions are huge.
Nancy’s Sweet Home is located at Pl. Iroon 1, Athina 105 54, Greece.
Hidden Athens Gem
One of my favorite restaurants and a favorite among locals is ThaMa (Θα Μα). Here you will taste food based on Messinian cuisine (an area in the Peloponnese).
The chefs use traditional recipes from villages in the area using local ingredients. On weekends, the restaurant serves gourounopoula, special roasted pork that is slow-cooked for hours until mouthwateringly tender.
Θα Μα is a popular spot so reservations are suggested. Despite its suburban location, the restaurant is easy to access by public transportation. Take the metro from Monastiraki or Syntagma station towards Doukissis Plakentias or the airport and stop at Holargos station (10 minutes on the metro). The restaurant is located less than 100 meters from the metro station.
Fun Fact
The Red Hot Chili Peppers dined at Θα Μα when they visited Athens.
ThaMa is located at Leof. Mesogeion 242, Cholargos 155 61, Greece.
Meet the Athens Local Expert
Chrysoula Manika is a travel blogger and tourism professional based in Athens, Greece. Chrissy has traveled extensively throughout Europe for the past 25 years and has no intention of slowing down. She loves to explore local culture and gastronomy in the places she visits.
🇬🇷 Athens Travel Checklist
