Where to eat in Athens?
Visiting Athens, Greece and exploring what the city has to offer? Well, there are many great ancient sites to see, but there are so many amazing places to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Here are first 15 recommendations for where and what to eat in Athens in the following categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Lunch, Instagrammable Cafes and Italian Food. And the next 15 will come in a little while!
Bakeries in Athens
BOUGATSA SAVVAS
Address: Tzortz 10, Athens 106 77
What to eat?: Greek breakfast - bougatsa! Bougatsa is a layered phyllo dough filled with semolina cream. It is super tasty and fills the stomach very well! This is a must try in Greece - and of all the bougatsa I've tried in Greece, Bougatsa Savvas bougatsa is the best in my opinion.
Overoll Croissanterie
Address: Praxitelous 27, Athens 105 60
What to eat?: Croissants! As the name suggests, their main specialty is croissants, as well as other baked goods. And I have to say go earlier because in the late afternoon there wasn't a huge selection, but there was enough to grab a croissant with a fresh and delicious filling.
BAKERY STORES
Address: Char. Trikoupi 84, Athens 106 80
What to eat?: Sweet and savory pastries. They serve local sweets but also have sandwiches which are highly recommended. A perfect place to stop for breakfast or a quick snack during the day. They are not far from the National Archaeological Museum and Lycabettus Hill.
Alchemist Cafe Patisserie
Address: Chatzichristou 8, Athens 117 42
What to eat?: Sweets, cakes, cookies, sweet and savory local pies, etc. This is a cute little perfect local bakery near the Acropolis museum. You can eat on site, there are a few tables.
Instagrammable cafes in Athens
Fairytale Athens
Address: Leokoriou 16, Athens 105 54
What to eat?: Well, it's the most Instagrammable cafe in the area. The food is also great, but the look is even more amazing. They have colorful drinks, stacked desserts, etc. They have spent a lot of time and focused on the details of the cafe interior. In addition, the service is excellent and friendly. It's an experience and I recommend going to explore this place and have a fun, colorful lunch there!
Cat Cafe Athens
Address: Nileos 54, Athens 118 51
What to eat?: Well, it's a cat cafe, but cats are companions - eat cakes and drink coffee. You have to reserve a table in advance through their website. And food/drinks must be purchased at a minimum of €7 per person (to keep the place running sustainably). They have a long drink menu, but you can also eat sandwiches, ice cream, yogurt and vegan desserts, regular cakes and breakfast cereals. Check out their menu HERE. Besides the food, their main attraction is the cute interior and interaction with the cats.
Desserts in Athens
Solo Gelato
Address: Adrianou 120, Athens 105 58
What to eat?: Ice cream because Solo Gelato is a cute little ice cream parlor in the Plaka district (under the Acropolis Hill). They have many flavors to choose from. Oh, and they've also won 1st place in the European Gelato Championship in 2012 (it turns out that such competitions do exist... :) ) and the award for the best Greek food competition in 2018. So go try one of the best gelatos in Europe.
Baklavas
Address: Nikis 10, Athens 105 63
What to eat?: They have a huge range of baklavas - probably more than you can dream of, as well as other desserts. If you haven't had enough baklavas in Greece, this is your cue to fill up on these Greek delicacies.
Lukumades
Address: Eolou 21, & Aghias Irinis Str, Athens 105 51
What to eat?: A modernized version of the Greek dessert loukoumades – best described as fried doughnuts. They are traditionally eaten with honey, but at this cafe you can choose from several fillings, toppings and ice creams. (Vegan options are also available.) Athens is definitely worth a try.
Fresko Yogurt Bar Acropoli
Address: Dionysiou Areopagitou 3, Athens 117 42
What to eat?: Greek yogurt! A small shop near the Temple of Olympian Zeus. You can choose a Greek yogurt base and then choose the toppings according to your preferences. They also have another branch on the other side of the Acropolis.
Zuccherino
Address: Mitropoleos 80, Athens 105 63
What to eat?: A lovely and quite busy cafe on the main street of the town leading to the main attractions. You can eat ice cream and local sweets there. I especially liked their portokalopita (Greek orange pie) - it's very syrupy and sweet, but delicious!
Lunch spots in Athens
Street Souvlaki
Address: Kolokotroni 30, Athina 105 62
What to eat?: Superb Greek street food place and one of the best pitas in Greece! They also have vegetarian and vegan pita options. The lady who runs and serves this place is extremely sweet and friendly! Not quite a restaurant vibe, but a perfect place to eat in or take out. This place is definitely in my top three recommendations for Athens.
Mama Tierra
Address: Akadimias 84, Athens 106 78
What to eat?: Vegan food in Athens. They are focused on healthy, fresh vegan food. There is a wide range of local dishes that have been transformed into vegan variations, as well as typical international dishes such as burgers. Oh, and they even have vegan baklava!
Italian food in Athens
Frankie
Address: Skoufa 42, Athens 106 72
What to eat?: Italian food near Lycabettus Hill. They are open all day from early morning to late evening. So, if you're craving Italian food after hiking up and down Lycabettus Hill, you've got the perfect place to stop and enjoy a delicious meal. Also, an important note for celiac travelers - they also offer gluten-free options.
Burrattino
Address: Mitropoleos 36, Athens 105 63
What to eat?: Another Italian food restaurant. But this time it's pretty much in the center of the main attractions. The beautifully decorated place offers Italian food as well as breakfast with pleasant service.
