Best Restaurants in Athens You Should Try

May 6, 2026

While plenty of people head to Athens (and Greece in general) to explore the ancient ruins and soak up the sun, the city's delicious food scene is a solid reason alone to book a flight and a hotel room.

Whether you're building your Greece itinerary before you travel, or if you're simply keen to grab a few restaurant ideas once you reach the capital, we've put together a guide to the best restaurants in Athens based on the SIMOVO team's experiences and expert opinions from travelers across the web.

If you're looking for tavernas, modern cuisine, street food, or rooftop snacks, it's time to dig in and see what's on offer across Athens.

Athens food scene overview

Athens has a pretty unique food scene - while it certainly plays host to authentic, traditional Greek food, there's been an explosion in street food vendors and modern twists on classic cuisine over the past few years.

In fact, there's a really nice balance between modern, creative spins on Greek favorites and street food on-the-go - meaning if you're really expecting the same old moussaka and gyros everywhere you go, think again.

It's all the more reason to prepare ahead of time by looking up some of Athens' most popular restaurants and seeing what people have to say about them online. Generally, we recommend checking out TripAdvisor, though do take negative reviews with a pinch of salt (and make sure you read what they have to say - there's a lot of bias out there!).

Greece as a nation is very much all-in on dining being a social experience, so expect cozy tavernas and modern but super-social spaces where you can get together and enjoy meze. Of course, there are still plenty of romantic and private spots, too - but while exploring Athens, we implore you to go all-in on the local food scene and leave the temptation of fast food behind for a little while!

After all, if you've already saved money by looking at cheap destinations in Greece and have traveled to the capital, why not repurpose that money on some tasty treats?

Best restaurants in Athens

Based on our own personal experiences and reviews and ratings from experts across the web, we've put together a quick collection of the best restaurants in Athens we think you should check out as a priority. Even if you're not a big “foodie”, it's still worth sampling authentic Athenian cuisine and mixing things up a little. Why have the same thing for dinner every night?

To help keep things nice and easy to scan (so you can add these restaurant ideas to your itinerary or your own TripAdvisor lists), we give a short introduction to each of our Athens restaurant categories and then dive in with some quickfire recommendations. Who knows - you might even find a future, long-time favorite in our selections!

Traditional Greek tavernas

Athens is well-loved for its traditional tavernas. If you're new to the term, we're referring to family businesses that focus on shared meze - nice and cozy, super relaxed, and great for al fresco dining. It's the complete opposite of fast food or chain restaurants, meaning it's going to be a breath of fresh air for a lot of travelers.

Here are a few Greek tavernas in Athens that strike a chord with lots of visitors:

Modern Greek restaurants

The best modern Greek restaurants don't do away with the old for the sake of the new! The best restaurants in Athens with a modern slant tend to dip into traditional Greek flavors and popular dishes while adding curious new twists. That means, yes, you can still expect the delicious dishes you might have sampled at a street food vendor or two, but you have the added promise of a completely new viewpoint.

Here are just three modern Greek dining establishments in Athens that have picked up lots of fans at home and abroad:

Rooftop restaurants in Athens

Given that there are so many wonderful sights to see across the city, it really does make sense to combine dining and drinks with al fresco views in Athens. So, it's likely you'll come across a few establishments that go all-in on panoramic dining, and whether you choose to stay inside behind glass, or take your food on the verandah is up to you.

These three rooftop restaurants in Athens have picked up lots of great reviews over the years not just for the views, but also for the cuisine and service.

Street food spots in Athens

If you'd prefer to eat on the go or want to sample authentic food while sightseeing, Athens has you covered thanks to its street food scene. Given that vendors may come and go, we're more inclined to recommend specific areas in Athens where you can explore authentic goodies on the move.

Specifically, we recommend trying out traditional options across Plaka, or if you'd prefer something a little faster (but not the fast food you're used to!), check out Syntagma. Monastiraki, however, tends to be the place to be if you're a foodie in search of street food treats.

Of course, if you're cooking your meals, be sure to head to the central food market at the Varvakios Agora. Even if you don't buy a thing, it's worth it for the traditional scenes!

What food to try in Athens

With all of this in mind, we haven't even covered the types of food you should be digging into when you visit Athens! For an in-depth look at the absolute best in cuisine across the region, check out our Greek food guide - much of which you can enjoy the finest of right here in the capital.

Otherwise, we recommend keeping your eyes and taste buds peeled for the following dishes and delicacies while you tour Athens's menu.

Traditional gyros and souvlaki: Whether in pita or on skewers
Moussaka: A classic dish layering eggplant/aubergine with meat and bechamel
Spanakopita: Traditional spinach pies
Local seafood: Try the calamari, anchovies, and mussels (also known here as mydia)
Pastitsio: Delicious baked pasta and bechamel

And, you should of course sample the world-famous yogurt and coffee - if you have room, that is!

Tips for dining in Athens

While the best advice we can really give is to just get out and explore Athens' food scene as much as you can, here are some extra dining tips you'll want to keep in mind:

Download an eSIM for Greece so you can always research local restaurants and tavernas on the go (without worrying about extra data fees).
Be prepared to eat late - dinner time in Athens is usually as late in the day as around 10pm!
Expect social dining in tavernas - while there are plenty of private restaurant spots across the capital, be aware that meze is very much people-friendly.
You don't have to worry about tap water safety for the most part here, in fact, it's cheaper to ask for tap water at your table than to pay for the bottled variety!
Always reserve ahead of time, especially if you're traveling in a group - the places listed in our guide pack out fast during tourist season!