After a few months living in Athens, I was able to discover many local restaurants and tavernas. After good and less good experiences, I give you here the list of my favorite addresses to mix with Greeks and taste their cuisine.
When you arrive in Athens, you better forget your old French habits. Here we eat between 2:00 and 4:00 and we don't dine until 10:00 in the evening. The way to eat also differs. Greeks never order a dish per person but prefers to share all the dishes between them.
With regard to restaurants, taverns, and bars avoid the most touristic places in Athens like Monastiraki where you will have more chance to fall on Europeanized and expensive restaurants where you will not have the opportunity to taste the authenticity of Greek taverns that make all the charm of this country.
What is the difference between a tavern and a restaurant?
A tavern is a rather friendly place where people find themselves to drink a drink or eat "mezzes" on the thumb with family or friends. It’s a bit the Greek equivalent of the Spanish tapas bar.
How to find good addresses in Athens?
In general, avoid large establishments that have gabled on the street. Even if there are some exceptions, you will be pleasantly surprised by the quality found in the small hidden places of the city. It is for most of the establishments of this style that are present in the list below.
In Athens, every neighborhood has its own taverns & quality restaurants, so I’m not going to tour all the neighborhoods but offer a non-exhaustive list of establishments that I’ve tried and that correspond to what I’m looking for: good local cuisine and a warm atmosphere .
When you are in Athens, the only real way to discover good addresses is to ask Greeks around you. Do not hesitate to ask the question, the Athenians are very open and will not hesitate to take the time to make you discover their favorite places.
7 addresses for good food in Athens
So here's a list of my favorite establishments. This list is likely to evolve over time according to my discoveries of the Greek capital so rich when it comes to gastronomy and drinks.
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Here's one of my favorite restaurants in Athens. Located in the district of Exarchia, it is essential for several reasons. First it has a great garden where it is very pleasant to eat when it is beautiful. Then, it’s a little different from the others because, even if they offer traditional Greek dishes, they are revisited for the most part in more “modern” and successful versions.
Eating at Ama Lachei will cost you between 8€ and 15€ per person drinks included and you have the choice of digestive at the end of the meal as often in Greece what is always appreciable.
Where to find him: Kallidromiou 69, Athina 106 83
Όacheο νοοοw (Oxo Nou)
Here is a second address to Exarchia, which is, with Metaxourgeio, the best neighborhoods to eat in Athens (if you prefer others, do not hesitate to tell me in comment, I will go for a tour...).
Oxo Nou is a good tavern where it is as nice to sit down to drink as to eat. Simple and copied dishes at a very good price like all tavernas presented here. A good step to spend a good time around a Greek salad and some specialties.
Where to find him: 106 81, Emmanouil Benaki 63, Athina 106 81
πεμπα (Bemba) Bar Restaurant
One of my first discoveries in Metaxourgeio. A very good discovery with classic but well presented dishes, really affordable cuisine, good wine and really good dishes. Note that it is also possible to eat fully vegan in this tavern (which I am not sure for other restaurants.
Where to find him: Akadimou 16, Athina 104 36
Seychelles
A very good address to Metaxourgeio. This tavern, often full is a very friendly place with young and attentive staff as often in Greece. Metaxourgeio and the surroundings of this tavern may seem a bit strange but it is a very pleasant area with many bars and places not to be missed in Athens (such as Louis coffee for example).
Where to find him: Keramikou 49, Athina 104 36
τλλαλαος (Ouzeri Lesvos)
A good tavern address where there is usually a very good atmosphere. Regularly animated by a bit of music, you can also go there to enjoy some mezzes as well as a good meal to share with friends.
Another address where the atmosphere alone makes you spend a good evening at a very modest price.
Where to find him: Emmanouil Benaki 38, Athina 106 78
(Agleouras)
One of my favorite addresses in Exarchia. Even if this tavern doesn’t pay a mine from the outside, don’t hesitate to take the lead: the kitchen is very good (try in particular the Dakos) and the atmosphere extremely warm. If you go there in winter, finish your meal with a good "Rakomelo" to digest. It is also one of the cheapest addresses in this list (count 10€/p drinks included) and the lady who keeps the tavern is always in small care with you.
Where to find him: Koletti 9, Athina 106 81
Thai Zab - A very good "Thaiverna"
It is a fairly special address in the list because it is not a traditional Greek restaurant but a “Thai tavern”. I'm not necessarily a fan of Asian cuisine but the Thai chef offers an exceptional menu where you can enjoy it for about 15-20€/p. If you have eaten a lot of souvlaki or Greek salads and other mezzes and want to make a small break in Greek specialties, it is an address not to be missed.
Thai cuisine mixed with Greek hospitality: a success.
The + of this tavern is also its beautiful decoration. Located in Kerameikos, the restaurant is located about a hundred meters from the subway, which also makes it easy to find compared to most of the taverns of this list that are far from traditional tourist routes and metro stops.
Where to find him: Dekeleon 22, Athina 118 54
To go further: in Athens there are many good addresses that ask only to be discovered and an article would not suffice to mention them all. If you want other more specific addresses, do not hesitate to ask me for comments . For those looking for a good souvlaki, try Kándaulos next to the metro stop of Kerameikos or Hoocut to Monastiraki (try the pita to the lamb, small but very good). If you're looking for something lighter to eat on your thumb, make a tour in Fallafellas that makes a delicious falafel for a very modest price!
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