31 Cool Bars & Great Restaurants in Athens, Greece

Looking for some great restaurants in Athens, Greece? You've come to the right place!

Visiting a capital city can be hard, from avoiding tourist traps to searching for authentic flavors without sacrificing on quality. Greece is known for its incredible cuisine, and we're here to make sure you experience it to its fullest potential!

From local tavernas to trendy bars, we're pulling the curtain back on some of the best places to eat and drink in Greece's capital.

An Intro to Finding Great Bars & Restaurants in Athens, Greece

Before diving into all of the great restaurants in Athens, let's go over a bit about what the dining scene is like.

Where are the Best Restaurants in Athens?

Typically we advise against sticking to the city center, but Athens has great restaurants in pretty much every neighborhood!

Plaka is full of cute eateries along the steps, while Monastiriki has rooftops with stunning panoramas. Syntagma has some really trendy bars and Psiri has some truly Instagrammable cafes worth checking out.

You can't go wrong with any neighborhood in Athens, and in this guide you'll have plenty of great restaurants in Athens to add to your map so you can easily hop around to the ones that pique your interest.

Is it Customary to Tip in Athens?

Tipping isn't really customary in Greece, and you'll find that locals may just round up to the nearest euro or simply leave a couple of euros on the table for a nicer meal. Greece is known for their hospitality, without having an ulterior motive for getting big financial compensations.

The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Athens, Greece

Now that you know a bit the dining scene in the city, let's start checking out some of the great restaurants in Athens, Greece to add to your itinerary!

Great Restaurants in Athens, Greece: Local Eats

Whenever visiting a capital city, it can be hard to find the places that serve good, local food and to avoid the tourist traps. Here are some of great restaurants in Athens, Greece that were recommended to us by locals, or that we stumbled upon and seriously fell in love with.

Avli

If you're looking for great restaurants in Athens, Greece that both tourists and locals alike love, then Avli needs to be at the top of your list.

Hidden in a tiny alley full of bright blue shades, this is a true gem of the city. Despite its discreet location, Avli gets PACKED, and with good reason. The food is delicious, the vibe is local, and it's tucked away from the chaos of the city center making it one of the best restaurants in Athens.

Fata Morgana

As soon as we got to Greece, we were looking for some great restaurants in Athens for just some simple, good old, Greek food. We walked around and something about this tiny restaurant with food in the window called our name.

We got some orzo and were absolutely blown away by the taste, and we ended up sitting there for probably a half hour chatting with everyone working there. They were seriously the epitome of a friendly local-owned restaurant with some seriously delicious food.

Voltiotiko Tsipouradiko

We typically don't get dragged into restaurants that have people trying to lure you in right in the city center, but we gave this one a try for a little snack, and it truly did not disappoint!

Voltiotiko Tsipouradiko has a couple of different locations and is covered in lights, flowers, and greenery. They have live music, local food, and not-so-insane prices. Grab a beer and some zucchini fritters and enjoy the performers taking you into a little slice of Greek paradise.

Filema Restaurant

It was our last night in Athens, and we were on a true hunt to find a hidden gem. We spoke with various locals, and decided on the one that looked the least flashy - Filema Restaurant. It's a no-frills small restaurants that has some seriously delicious dishes, and quickly became one of our favorite restaurants in Greece's capital.

Great Restaurants in Athens, Greece for Your Sweet Tooth

Now that you know some great restaurants in Athens for local eats, let's fix those sweet tooth cravings!

Loukoumadaki

Loukmades are Athen's famous donuts, and Loukoumadaki is a small bake shop that takes these to the next level. Stuffed with cream or topped with fresh honey, there are endless options of craving your sweet tooth with this adorable spot.

Sugar Killer

Sugar Killer was an absolute gem we stumbled upon. They have the coolest ice cream creations like Baklava or Mastika flavors with the desserts chopped up and mixed right in. They're vegan-friendly and low-sugar - but you'd never know it! It's seriously delicious, and a not-so-sinful place for a sweet treat.

Bougatsadiko Psirri

Right in the heart of Athens is one of the best bakeries in the city. Whether you're seeking savory Spanakopita or sweet Baklava, this is a must for anyone looking for delicious pastries and local treats.

Great Restaurants in Athens, Greece: Instagrammable Eateries

There are some GREAT restaurants in Athens, Greece for the Instagram-lovers out there. From colorful cafes to picturesque terraces, here are a few of our favorite eateries in Athens for the influencer in you.

Ellyz Cafe Athens

I love a pink cafe, and Ellyz Cafe certainly did not disappoint. Covered in pink velvet and flowers, it's not only one of the most aesthetically pleasing eateries in Athens, but it offer great coffee, extremely delicious brunch dishes, and the cutest desserts.

Service is excellent, and they even have a rooftop upstairs, as well as a second corner location for the busier times.

Fairytale Athens

Another perfectly pink cafe is Fairytale Athens. But it doesn't just have a room full of of flowers and teddybears, it also has a rooftop for special events, as well as. a second room that is safari-themed.

Usurum Brunch & Cocktails

Looking for some great restaurants in Athens, Greece with outdoor seating? The terrace of Usurum is green, spacious, and has two different areas to choose from. It's a bit on the pricier side, but it's trendy and every plate is fresh and delicious, making it an ideal brunch or lunch option.

Folk

Folk is one of the best restaurants in Athens for brunch lovers. It's simple, classic, and has delicious options like Avocado toast and Eggs Benedict. Aside from their excellent brunch they also serve lunch and dinner, with savory and seasonal dishes. 

Little Kook

There are some really great restaurants in Athens, Greece if you're a photography-lover, but Little Kook certainly tops them all.

Known for their over-the-top decor, This outdoor restaurant features hundreds of carefully-curated pieces to make up it's unique style, and each season they change the theme.

When we visited it was a Snow White theme, but no matter what photo we have seen of Little Kook, one thing is for sure - we've always been blown away by the thought put in. They have everything from specialty drinks in high heels to cute souvenirs in their gift shop, making it an all-out experience all ages can enjoy.

King's Theater Wine Bar

Run by the same owners of Kook, the King's Theater Wine Bar is a seasonal venue opened during the holidays - an incredible place to add to your bucket list if you're visiting Athens in December!

Great Restaurants in Athens, Greece: Rooftop Bars

There are so many epic rooftops in Athens, that we've even dedicated an entire article to this part! 

From stunning views of the Acropolis to trendy terraces, don't miss out on exploring the incredible rooftop bars of Athens that we have in our previous article.

Bar at Gatsby Athens Hotel

If you're looking for a truly aesthetic bar in Athens, then don't miss out on popping by the Gatsby Hotel. The decor changes with the seasons/holidays and is always fun and vibrant. For Athens, it's quite pricey, but definitely a great place to stop in for a drink!

The 7 Jokers Cocktail Bar

Came here for the drinks, stayed for the vibe, and stayed even longer for the popcorn refills.

Rude Lord

We popped by Rude Lord during the day and were drawn in by the beautiful decor. They invited us to a live-music event on the weekend, and although we couldn't make it, we knew we had to make a trip back before leaving Athens. The bartenders were excellent, and the menu was to die for.

We got the truffle pizza and a couple of cocktails, each of which were so carefully curated and worth every penny.

Brettos Bar

This fantastically colorful bar is right in the heart of Plaka, and is known for their Ouzo and Mastika-based coktails. Head downstairs for their tastings, or sit upstairs for a quick drink at one of our favorite bars in Athens.

Juan Rodriguez Bar

We're obsessed with Juan Rodriguez - with it's vintage-style decor, checkered floors, and dimly lit interior, it's a true vibe. We stopped in for a cocktail during the day, but the bar truly comes to life at night with performers roaming and even swinging across the bar.

Noel

This adorable cocktail bar lured us in with its hanging plants, stunning chandeliers, and twinkling fairy lights. It feels like a fairytale, and the perfect place to grab a drink and get in the festive spirit.

Bless Me Father

Ready for a fun night out? Bless Me Father was one of our favorite bars in Athens for great music and dancing. It's moody, loud, and a fun place to party with locals.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

Amazing Bars & Great Restaurants in Athens, Greece: Final Thoughts & What's Next

There are so many great restaurants in Athens, Greece! From local tavernas to epic rooftop bars, there really is something for everyone to enjoy in this incredible city.

For the best local eats, we recommend looking at the small eateries with menus in Greek, and without people standing outside trying to lure you in. Roam the side streets, and look for "ταβέρνα" which is taverna in Greek.

Greece has one of the best cuisines in the world, so don't miss out on trying all of the great local dishes! 

What's Next?

Now that you know some cool bars and great restaurants in Athens, Greece, we're sure you're ready to explore more of what the city has to offer.

Other than our Athens Rooftop Guide, we also have some other Athens guides to look forward to like:

• The Best Things to Do in Athens
• How to Get to Athens
• Athens Food Guide
• Athens Complete Travel Guide

Here are some other Greece Guides we've posted that you can also check out:

• The Best Things to Do in Santorini
• Visiting the Blue Domes of Santorini
• The Best Photo Spots in Santorini
• The Best Time to Visit Santorini
• Santorini Complete Travel Guide
• Thessaloniki Travel Guide
• Chania, Crete Travel Guide

...and more coming each week!

So now that you know some amazing bars and great restaurants in Athens, Greece to check out, you're ready to plan more of your trip! There is so much to see and do in this iconic city, and we're excited to share more of it with you.

Want to learn more about traveling to Athens and other Greek destinations? We have a bunch of other Greece travel guides for you to explore, as well as more coming every week. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for all of our weekly article updates, as well as exclusive discounts on the Scratch Your Mapa shop.

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