The best upscale restaurants in Athens (our top picks)
Heads up food lovers, get ready to discover the best upscale restaurants in Athens!
Well, it’s not a secret that Athens is the absolute culinary paradise in Greece. From local delicacies to ethnic cuisine, there’s something for everyone in the Greek capital.
Especially in Athens city center, you’ll find the biggest variety of restaurants, but there are also many restaurants in Athens suburbs. So, no matter where you’re staying in Athens, there’s plenty of choice!
If you want to discover the best restaurants in Athens, stick with us. (And get ready to drool!)
Athénée
Located between Kolonaki and Syntagma, in the heart of Athens, the legendary Athénée (ex Zonar’s) restaurant is a top luxurious choice in Athens city center. Visiting Athénée, you can combine shopping at the nearby high-end fashion boutiques with a brunch or an afternoon tea. Athénée’s menu includes a wide variety of delicacies, from sushi to traditional Greek recipes.
Athénée, 9 Voukourestiou and Panepistimiou Str, Syntagma,Tel +30 21 0325 1430
Cookoovaya
Cookoovaya was opened in 2014 by four well-known chefs: Spyros Liakos, Vangelis Liakos, Pericles Koskinas, and Manos Zournatzis. Combining traditional Greek cuisine with modern elements, this restaurant soon became a must place to eat in Athens! Cookoovaya uses only the freshest local ingredients to create drool-worthy dishes, like giouvetsi, minced beef, ravioli stuffed with beef, and slow-cooked veal ossobuco. Yum!
Cookoovaya, 2a Mexi Hatzigianni, Tel +30 210 723 5005
Varoulko Seaside
If you find yourself in the seaside Piraeus, don’t miss Varoulko Seaside, a Michelin-awarded restaurant famous for its seafood dishes. Varoulko is ideally located at Mikrolimano marina in Piraeus, boasting a breathtaking view of the sea. At Varoulko Seaside, the local superstar chef Lefteris Lazarou uses freshly caught fish and seafood to create drool-worthy traditional dishes with a modern twist. The gazpacho pea soup, the red mullet tartar, and, of course, the shrimps are some of the restaurant’s specialties you need to try.
Varoulko Seaside, 52 Akti Koumoundourou, Mikrolimano, Piraeus, Tel +30 210 522 8400
Orizontes
Perched on Lycabettus hill in Athens and boasting an all-encompassing view of the city, Orizontes is an amazing place to dine in Athens. Except for its perfect location, Orizontes offers a wide variety of delicious dishes from all over the country, such as fresh grilled lobster, sea bass fillet, braised lamb shank with mavrodafni, and pork slices with gnocchi.
Orizontes, Corner of Ploutarchou & Aristippus Streets, Kolonaki, Tel +30 210 72 27065
2 Mazi
2 Mazi restaurant in Syntagma is led by 2 very talented chefs: Giannis Vaxevanis and Ilias Gogos, who have created a delicious menu that caters to every taste and includes vegetarian options. Housed in a beautiful neoclassical building with a courtyard, 2 Mazi has an elegant and nostalgic atmosphere that will make you feel transported to another era!
2 Mazi, 48 Nikis Str, Plaka, Tel +30 210 322 2839
Papadakis
Papadakis restaurant in Kolonaki is arguably one of the most popular upscale restaurants in Athens. Greek celebrities and members of the international jet set come to this restaurant to enjoy a selection of delicious dishes created by the famous Greek chef Argiro Barbarigou. Argiro is known for its scrumptious sauces and traditional Greek recipes with a modern twist. The location of Papadakis is also perfect! Perched in the foothills of Mount Lycabettus, Papadakis offers a breathtaking view that will accompany your dinner beautifully.
Papadakis, 47 Voukourestiou & 15 Fokidou Streets, Kolonaki, Tel +30 210 360 8621
Spondi
This Michelin-starred restaurant is a top choice for dining out in the Pagrati area. Elegant and authentic, Spondi was created by Apostolos Trastelis in 1996 and stands out -until today- for its unique atmosphere and creative cuisine. Using only fresh and locally produced first ingredients, Spondi’s chef, Angelos Lantos, creates a variety of delicious dishes that change seasonally. Spondi is a member of “Les Grandes Tables du Monde”, and is considered one of the best restaurants worldwide.
Spondi, 5 Pironos, Pagrati, Tel +30 210 756 4021
Hytra
Hytra restaurant on Syngrou Avenue offers not only amazing dishes but also an excellent dining experience. Based on the elements of traditional Greek gastronomy, the restaurant’s chef pours his imagination into creating unique and beautifully presented dishes. At Hytra, you’ll find two different menus, the Hytra Gourmet menu and the Hytra Apla menu -each of them represents a different approach to Greek gastronomy, but they are both based on the freshest local ingredients.
Hytra, 107-109 Syngrou Avenue, Athens, Tel 21 0331 6767
Ithaki
If you’re dreaming of a romantic seaside dinner with an all-encompassing view of the Saronic Gulf, Ithaki is the place to go. This elegant and luxurious restaurant in Vouliagmeni boasts a magical atmosphere and has a well-curated Mediterranean menu with French and Japanese influences. This awarded restaurant specializes in seafood, offering a wide variety of fine gourmet dishes, such as salmon with seaweed and pesto, tuna with Korean spicy sauce, king crab with passion fruit, sautéed shi drum, and marinated red shrimp.
Ithaki, 28 Apollonos Str Vouliagmeni, Tel + 30 210 8963747
Strofi
Housed in a mid-war mansion in the heart of Athens city center and boasting a breathtaking view of the Acropolis, Strofi is hands down one of our all-time favorites. It started operating in 1975 and remains, until today, one of the classic restaurants in Athens. Strofi restaurant specializes in traditional Greek cuisine, offering simple yet delicious dishes, like fried feta cheese, meatballs, stuffed leaves, sofrito, and roasted lamb. This restaurant is a great choice for those who want to taste traditional Greek recipes in a luxurious environment.
Strofi, 25 Rovertou Galli, Athens, Tel +30 21 0921 4130
So, whatever your taste or your location might be, there is the perfect upscale restaurant in Athens for you.
Follow our guide and discover all these places one by one. We can’t wait to see which of them you liked the most in the comments!
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