Introduction
In Athens City Guide, I praised the abundance and quality of restaurant and bar options in Athens. I want to support these praises with great recommendations in my Athens food and drink guide.
In this article, I’ve written about the places in Athens where I’ve enjoyed the food and drinks under various categories. I hope and believe that you’ll find recommendations that suit your taste and expectations. Without further ado, here is the Athens food and drink guide.
Local Greek Restaurants
The essential elements of traditional Greek restaurants include wooden tables and chairs, paper tablecloths, and an authentic atmosphere.
Nikitas Psiri
On our first visit to Athens, we stumbled upon this place in the streets of Psiri while escaping from the rain with friends for a last lunch. It has both local charm and delicious food, which we discovered on our own, making it even more special to me. My choice includes the Cretan delight Dakos salad as an appetizer, with a side of French fries. For the main course, a delicious meatball dish with tomato sauce (I don’t know the exact name of this dish, but you can describe it as meatballs in tomato sauce.) For a drink, I recommend the Thessaloniki beer Nimfi, which I discovered during my last visit to Nikitas and found its taste quite pleasant. Writing this while full was definitely the right decision.
Kostas Souvlaki
This place is the most famous spot in Athens for souvlaki, also known as kalamaki, which is skewered meat. It’s made from either beef or pork. You can order it served or wrapped in pita with French fries, onions, tomatoes, and sauce. The pita is a thick flatbread similar to naan. This place closes around 6 PM, so you need to go during the day for a meal. When you search on the map, there are a few Kostas locations. I’m leaving the location below to ensure you find the correct one.
Ariston Lompotesi
This place is an old bakery, and sometimes when they bake fresh goods, the aroma wafts out even onto the street. You can find a variety of pastries here, and my favorites are the leek and feta cheese borek and kourou, which is similar to a cheese-filled pastry. Whether for breakfast or a quick snack, you can enjoy them on the go in the streets. The portions are satisfying, and I must say, their taste is addictive. As a pastry lover, this is one of the places in Athens that I enjoy visiting the most.
Bougatsadiko Psirri
Another boutique bakery that I enjoy visiting. You can try various types of borek and bougatsa, which can be described as a sweet pastry filled with custard-like filling.
Diporto
This restaurant, with a history of more than 130 years, gets its name from having “two doors.” Descending stairs from the street-facing door leads underground to this traditional restaurant, which embodies all the characteristics of a classic Greek restaurant as mentioned earlier. They don’t take reservations and close early, so it’s best for lunch. I opted for oven-baked anchovies and chickpea stew, which were quite tasty. The service may not be as polished as in other restaurants. Over time, it has become somewhat less local due to being discovered by tourists. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-visit, but if you’re looking for a different experience, you can give it a try.
O Thanasis
To be honest, I’ve heard a lot about this place but haven’t had the chance to go yet. It’s a very famous restaurant where you can find traditional Greek meat dishes like gyro (Greek kebab) and souvlaki (skewers). It’s located very close to Monastiraki Square in a central area of Athens. If I go to Athens again, I definitely want to try it. If you’ve been there, I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations.
Tavern Klimataria
A traditional Greek tavern operating since the 1920s, known for its pleasant atmosphere accompanied by live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. While I wasn’t entirely impressed with the food here, I wanted to mention it because I enjoyed the ambiance and the live music. If you want to immerse yourself in Greek culture with live music, this could be a suitable option for you. It can get very crowded on Fridays and Saturdays, so it advise you to make a reservation in advance.
Karamanlidika
A restaurant named after and inspired by the city of Karaman in Turkey, featuring a menu with many familiar Turkish dishes. It also doubles as a delicatessen, offering high-quality meat and dairy products. I recommend dedicating an evening for dinner here in Athens. During the summer months, I highly recommend sitting on the terrace upstairs. It suggest to make a reservation in advance. Since it’s centrally located, we usually stop by in the morning to make a reservation for the evening.
Breakfast in Athens
I’ve listed cafes in the center that offer delicious breakfasts. All of them are good and on a similar level, so you can comfortably sit at any of them. During peak season, you may sometimes need to wait in line at popular places. Additionally, the bakeries I mentioned earlier can also be a nice option for breakfast.
- The Makers (The photo is from the “Waffle toast” dish that we enjoy eating here.)
- Overoll Croissanterie
- The Brunchers
- Minu
- ERGON House
- The Brunch Factory
Coffee Break in Athens
Here are some cafes I recommend for a pleasant coffee break. Depending on your location, you can choose any of these.
- Little Tree Books and Coffee
- Ubuntu
- Dope Roasting Co
- GARBES Coffee Delivery Services
- Anana Coffee & Food
- THIRD PLACE.
Frappé
While we’re on the topic of coffee, I couldn’t pass without mentioning two popular types of coffee widely consumed in Greece. The first one is frappé. Etymologically, the word comes from a French culinary technique meaning to cool quickly by mixing or shaking with ice. It became famous in Greece because it was found here and later spread worldwide. Its origin story is interesting. In 1957, at the Thessaloniki International Fair, a Nescafé employee, unable to find hot water to make instant coffee, mixed granulated coffee with cold water and ice in a shaker, creating the frappé. It started gaining popularity from that date onwards. Today, it’s typically served in a tall glass with a straw and often topped with whipped cream. It can be enjoyed with added sugar and milk according to preference. I hope the Nescafé employee who discovered this creative recipe received the recognition and promotion they deserved.
Freddo Espresso
I discovered Freddo espresso during my last visit to Athens at GARBES Coffee, recommended by the waiter, and I really liked it. Upon researching, I found that it has been spreading in the Greek coffee market in recent years and is challenging frappé’s popularity. If we look at the recipe, it’s essentially the same as frappé in preparation method, except it uses two shots (60 ml) of espresso instead of instant coffee. After brewing two shots of espresso, you mix and froth it with ice in a shaker until it cools down. Then, you pour it into a glass with ice to cool off during the hot summer months. If you add milk before shaking it, it becomes a Freddo cappuccino.
When I researched the history of this drink, I found that it started being made in Greece in the 1990s with the introduction of espresso. I believe its increasing popularity in recent years and its preference over frappé can be attributed to the growing consumption of espresso-based products alongside the third wave coffee movement.
As seen, the Athens food guide was written not only for venue recommendations but also to share general cultural information.
Bars in Athens
In Athens, nightlife is lively, and there are many bars in the city center to spend time in. I’ve tried to categorize the bars that I’ve been based on types of drinks. This way, you can review the list depending on which type of bar concept or drink you prefer. I’ve also included some places that others have positively reviewed but that I haven’t personally visited yet. Cheers!
For cocktail enthusiasts
The city has managed to place five bars on the list of the world’s top 100 bars. While I’m not familiar with the evaluation criteria used for this list, I enjoy checking if there’s a bar from this list whenever I visit a city. This ranking is compiled annually on a continental and global scale by the British media company William Reed. A similar list is also created for the world’s best restaurants and hotels.
I’ve tried three of the five bars from Athens that made it to the list of the world’s best bars. How good are these bars, is today’s trend of populism still in effect, and which other bars should be visited—all the details are below.
Baba au Rum
This place, as the name suggests, focuses heavily on rum. Hosting dozens of rum varieties from every region of the Caribbean, this bar also offers a wide selection of cocktails. We tried the most recommended cocktail – unfortunately, I can’t recall its name – based on the waiter’s suggestion, but I found its taste quite ordinary. Additionally, it was very crowded due to its popularity; there was hardly any room to move inside the bar. The overcrowding issue seems to be a common theme in other popular bars as well. Unfortunately, it can affect the customer experience and service quality. In summary, this place fell slightly below my expectations.
The Clumsies
Recognized among the world’s best bars as well. I liked the cocktails here more than at Baba au Rum. However, the music can be a bit loud at night, making it challenging to chat with friends. The front area of the bar sometimes turns into a small dance floor with the music playing on certain nights. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy great cocktails and dance, this might be more appealing. However, if you’re seeking a quieter spot to sit and chat with friends, you may get upset. As an alternative, you could visit earlier in the day when it’s quieter and enjoy a few cocktails and snacks in a more relaxed atmosphere.
The Bar In Front of The Bar
It’s a bar consisting only of the bar section where drinks are prepared, with a unique concept where you sip your drink at street-side tables or bistros. The menu changes daily, offering different cocktails each day. The cocktails we tried on the day we visited were quite delicious. I recommend trying this place. Since the concept involves standing or sitting outside, you don’t have to worry much about seating. Additionally, next to the bar, you can enter another bar with a different concept called The Rumble In the Jungle through a nearby door.
For beer enthusiasts
Barley Cargo
A bar with a beer menu spanning dozens of pages. If you’re a beer enthusiast, I highly recommend stopping by here.
Strange Brew
If you have an interest in local beers and enjoy trying the beers of micro breweries in the country you visit, then this place is perfect for you. Strange Brew has a small and modest shop, offering beers local beers, but it can still be quite busy. It’s located slightly south of the city center, in the Koukaki neighborhood.
For wine enthusiasts
Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to visit a wine bar in Athens. However, I’ve heard good reviews about the following places. Feel free to check out their websites and social media.
- Wine is fine
- Tanini Agapi Mou
- Line Athens
My Favorite Bar in Athens
Brettos
This place was founded in 1909 and is the oldest distillery in Athens. It has an interesting story. A gentleman named Michael Brettos began producing distilled spirits such as ouzo, brandy, and liqueurs in Athens using old recipes from his family in Izmir, Turkiye. As demand exceeded expectations, he relocated the distillery to a larger location. He also opened a shop that functions as both a bar and a store to sell and let people taste his products. The shop still operates today, and when you step inside, you feel like you’re entering an old and historic place. It’s also quite boutique.
Here, you can enjoy and purchase their own-produced liqueurs in dozens of different flavors, available in various bottle sizes including 100 ml bottles suitable for carrying in cabin luggage on flights. The cherry liqueur is particularly famous and highly recommended. I tried the mastic and lemon liqueurs myself. I liked the mastic liqueur, but I absolutely loved the lemon liqueur and ended up buying two small bottles of it. The next day, I returned to try their cocktails, but I didn’t find them particularly impressive. I suggest sticking with their liqueurs—they’re the highlight. Even if you’re not a fan of liqueurs, I highly recommend stopping by and trying them out. A special recommendation from the Athens dining guide.
Rooftop Bars
With a structure like the Acropolis visible from many points of the city center, rooftop bars offering this view have become quite common in Athens. I have to admit that I went to a rooftop bar only once in Athens, which I visited three times. Thea Terrace located at the top of the Central Hotel. I’m sure there are many other nice rooftop bars in this bar paradise city. Enjoy it while you’re here.
I think I’ve made too many suggestions. Athens food guide is also available as a Google Maps list to help you when you need it. So, when you can’t decide about where to eat or drink something, the guide is just a click away. I hope you enjoy the places you go, the food you taste, and the drinks you drink, as much as I do.
If you want to see photos and images of the places we visited and the food we ate in Athens, be sure to visit our Instagram page. While you’re at it, don’t forget to follow our page. :)
I recommend you to take a look at Athens City Guide article if you missed it.
