When it comes to deciding what to eat in Athens though, you need a plan. Greek cuisine is special and great food is everywhere! So, where can you find the best places to eat in Athens Greece?

Our list covers where to eat in Athens for the most delicious meals and most importantly, what to eat in Athens. This list is focused on eating in and around the historical centre.

Our list of the best restaurants to eat in Athens is easily accessible by walking or using the great metro system. It works ideally with our itinerary of the best things to see in Athens in one day.

Of course, if you have more time, don’t miss our Greece in two weeks for any budget guide.

Where to eat in Athens

One thing is for certain in this city, the cuisine is fantastic. It’s challenging to be served a bad meal. The thing to look out for, like in any city around the world is the touristy restaurants. You may easily get stuck sitting down in a restaurant that only really caters to tourists and you will probably be served an average tasting meal and pay twice as much for it.

I’m not sure about you, but I really hate when that happens. I even wrote a blog on 7 Tips: How to Find the Best Food when Travelling.

This is easily avoided with my guide on the best places to eat in Athens. Although my suggestions of the best restaurants to eat in Athens are centred around the historic heart of Athens, they’re not tourist traps.

The majority of my suggestions are in Greek Tavernas, otherwise known as small Greek restaurants or eateries. These restaurants have also been chosen for offering the best value for money, authentic Greek dishes and flavours and an overall memorable food experience.

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I’ve suggested them because they will maximise your time spent in the city. They’re well located and an easy walk or metro ride away between this recommended guided tour of the Acropolis or the sites in included in your multi-ticket entry.

There’s also a Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus that stops at most of the major city attractions. Buy your ticket here to avoid missing out on your selected travel dates.

Ok, let’s get to it.

Best Places to Eat in Athens Greece

Please use this price guide below to plan your itinerary of where to eat in Athens.

Prices per person (excluding drinks)

  • $ = Less than 10 Euro ($12 USD)
  • $$ = Between 14 to 32 Euro ($14 to $35 USD)
  • $$$ = Between 32 to 52 Euro ($35 to $58 USD)

8 Best Restaurants to Eat in Athens Greece

1. Kafeneio $$ 

Tucked away in an alleyway in the busy, tourist hub of Plaka, this unpretentious little Greek Taverna is the place to experience fantastic Greek food and warm hospitality. My favourite dishes are the home-made dolmades and grilled saganaki cheese. Try the delicious meze on offer here and the oinomelo (warmed honey wine).

Staff are very friendly and down to earth, always a bonus when deciding on which restaurants should be on our list of the best places to eat in Athens Greece.

Address: Epicharmou 1

Closest metro station: Syntagma

2. Seychelles $-$$

This is my personal favourites of all the best places to eat in Athens, so don’t miss it. Situated in Metaxourgio, this restaurant was recommended to us by many locals. It was an easy 5 min walk from our very affordable and comfortable hotel, so we spent a fantastic evening dining here. Wow, the food is wonderful.

seychelles braised beef best places to eat in athens
Seychelles restaurant – Dish of red wine braised beef with orzo. One of the best places to eat in Athens.

They have tables inside (great to watch Chefs cooking in the open kitchen) and outside too. Seychelles offers an ever-changing creative menu of braised and slow-cooked meats and seafood, deliciously fresh meze and innovative Greek flavours. My dish of red wine braised beef with orzo pasta and the most delicately shaved cheese over the top was divine. 

I highly recommend this place for a memorable experience, great vibes and great wine to match!

Address: Keramikou 49

Closest metro station: Omonia

3. Opos Palia $

Located only a 2-minute walk from the Acropolis Museum, this restaurant is as authentic as it gets, the interior is nothing fancy, as soon as you walk in, you know it’s local. In my opinion, this is one of the best places to eat in Athens. The prices are very reasonable here and the food is fantastic!

They offer a good choice of classic Greek dishes, particularly fresh fish, octopus and a great range of salads. Leave the tourist restaurant behind and stop by this place for a real Greek food experience.

Address: Veikou 2

Closest metro station: Acropoli

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4. Filema $$-$$$

This place is known for its large choice of meze plates including fried cod with skordalia, grilled sardines, and mouthwatering saganaki cheese, grilled and then drizzled with honey. Talk about a great location, it’s between Agias Irinis Square & Syntagma. This is one of the best places to eat in Athens for sure.

If you’re still not convinced that this is one of the best restaurants to eat in Athens Greece, once you see the crowds of locals frequently dining here will change your mind. Service is friendly and quick, so you’ll be served great food in good time so you can get back out there to explore (and eat) more of Athens.

Address: 16 Romvis

Closest metro station: Syntagma

5. Avli $

Take a break from exploring the historical centre of Athens and pop into this small tavern. The name ‘Avli’ means courtyard or backyard in Greek, and it’s fitting because the setting is exactly that. Traditional wooden tables and chairs, checkered tablecloths, old photographs line the walls creating a feeling that you’ve been transported back to Greece in the 70s. It feels like you’re dining at a friend’s place.

Avli best places to eat in athens
Avli – One of the best restaurants to eat in Athens Greece. Credit: booking.com

The friendly owner is welcoming and the food is wonderful. Think flavour-packed meatballs, pan-fried pork, and a select list of regional dishes.

I remember the beer being super cold at Avli, just perfect to cool down on a blistering hot summer day in Athens.

Address: Methonis 43

Closest metro station: Metaxourgeio

6. Ama Laxei Stis Nefelis $$

What a gem this place is! Ama Lachei at Nefelis is a traditional greek mezedopoleio, meaning it’s a restaurant that serves meze. What is meze? A selection of small dishes, similar to tapas. They’re designed to be shared by your group of diners and served in no particular order. As soon as each meze is prepared, it’s sent to the table while it’s fresh or hot – and they keep coming. So essentially, you won’t order starters or main dishes here.

Everyone shares the same small dishes and you’ll notice that everyone will be smiling – because the food is so good! Order some wine, cold beers or ouzo (Greek spirits) to go with your meze here. Highly recommended.

Address: 69 Kallidromiou

Closest metro station: Panepistimio

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7. Geros tou Moria $$

This traditional taverna has sat in the same spot in the historic Plaka district for over 90 years now. With views of the Acropolis, it’s a winning combination matched with the food on offer. The tavern serves Greek classic dishes such as meatballs, grilled meats, moussaka, tzatziki and salads.

Geros tou Moria best places to eat in athens greece
One of the best places to eat in Athens Greece is here, Geros tou Moria

The atmosphere in this little place is wonderful. Enjoy live Greek music as you enjoy a plate of fantastic Greek food. An easy stop for lunch or dinner, I recommend you give it a shot.

Address: Mnisikleous 27

Closest metro station: Monastiraki

8. Avocado – For the Vegetarians out there! $$

This has to be one of the best vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Athens. These guys offer a creative menu and the food here is packed with flavour. They serve both Greek and International cuisine but expect to pay close to $20 for a meal here, however, the servings are very generous.

Address: Nikis 30

Closest metro station: Syntagma

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Where to stay in Athens

Your eating plans are now made for the best places to eat in Athens, so now we’ve got some suggestions for where to stay in the city. Athens has a great range of accommodations that will suit every budget. I have stayed in Athens a few times over the years, everything from Airbnb apartments, and nice hotels to the budget ones in different areas.

My hotel recommendations below are located in the historical centre of Athens.

Both the Plaka area and Syntagma Square would be the best places to stay for a few nights as you can walk or take a metro to all the best restaurants in Athens Greece as well as have easy access to all the best attractions.

Where to stay in Syntagma Square:

Luxury: Athens Mansion Luxury Suites – Perfect location in the centre of Athens City district; all rooms at this lovely property offer city views. The breakfast here is superb, don’t miss it!

Mid-Range: Enattica Suites – Located in the heart of Athens. Fantastic room facilities and generous size.

Budget: Hotel Byron– Prime location in Plaka very near Syntagma Square.

View All Accommodation Options in Syntagma, Athens

Athens in One Day - Taverna Plaka
The best restaurants in Athens Greece are sometimes found in the tourist hub of Plaka – Psaras is one of them.

Where to Stay in Plaka: 

Luxury: Electra Palace Athens – An excellent location in the heart of the Plaka district – the views of the Acropolis from this hotel are magnificent. A superb buffet breakfast is included in the rate, and an on-site restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine.

Mid-Range: Contemporary Apartments in Plaka – Spacious, clean and quiet rooms. Situated in the heart of Plaka and close to the best restaurants, bars and cafes – the location is unbeatable.

Budget: Metropolis Hotel – This small and friendly hotel is located in the Plaka district of Athens. Enjoy the rooftop terrace with fantastic views over the Acropolis.

View All Accommodation Options in Plaka, Athens

Best Food Tours in Athens

This part is for all the food lovers out there! One of the best ways to get to know a city after you’ve seen the highlights is to join a food tour.

Athens has some fantastic Food Tours available and I wanted to let you know of my favourite ones.

The Original Gourmet Food Tour of Athens is highly recommended. You will discover Athens through its food culture and taste superb Greek pastries, wine, cheese and salamis. An authentic Greek breakfast is included in the 4-hour tour.

I recommend this 3 hours long Street Food Tasting Tour of Athens.

Immerse yourself in Athenian cuisine, sample the best street food, explore Athens and hang out where the locals do. You have the choice of booking a private or small-group experience.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the best places to eat in Athens Greece. This is a very cool city with some trendy neighbourhoods to explore. I recommend you get this Ebook to help you navigate your way around. Some wonderful food can also be found in the surrounding districts, so if you have the time, be sure to check them out.

We really like the hip neighbourhood of Koukaki; if you’d like to know why it’s worth your visit, read this article by GREECE IS. 

Finally, if you can’t visit Greece right now, maybe these 5 delicious Greek recipes to cook at home will keep you satisfied until you can make it happen.

Travel Tips for Greece

Only got a brief time to spend in Athens? No problem, our Our Perfect Itinerary for One Day in Athens has everything covered.

Have you seen these Australia to Europe CHEAP FLIGHT deals? Book your trip to Athens now for summer 2024 and nab one of these great fares!

Want to create Greek food in your home? Start with these 5 Delicious Greek Dishes. While you’re in Greece, consider a side trip to North Macedonia.

This beautiful country is a neighbour to Greece, and we love it! Don’t miss a visit to the gem of this country, the stunning city of Ohrid. Here are the 7 Best Things to See and Do in Lake Ohrid.

North Macedonia also makes it to our list of the 10 Cheapest Countries in Europe to Visit. You must try the fabulous cuisine in North Macedonia too. We recommend you to try these 8 Popular & Delicious Macedonian Foods.