Athens is famed for being a serious foodie destination, but I wasn’t prepared for just how well we were going to eat there!
The Greek capital has it all covered, from hole-in-the-wall souvlaki spots and bakeries groaning with trays of bougatsa to cosmopolitan terrace cafes and hip restaurants by notable chefs. After all, you’ll need plenty of nourishment to climb up to the Acropolis and ponder those existential questions posed by the ancient Greek philosophers.
Here are a few top addresses to add to your Athens ‘to do’ list…
Il Baretto
Start the day like you’re on holiday with an indulgent breakfast at Il Baretto, the chic Italian restaurant at the five star Perianth Hotel in Monastiraki. As hotel guests we enjoyed a memorable breakfast each morning as part of our room rate and could order anything we wanted from a generous set menu.
The scrambled eggs with cream and olive oil were so incredibly decadent and we loved the freshly-baked mini pastries, Greek yoghurt with luxury granola and slice of milk pie.
If you have plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast, or need to fuel up for a day of exploring ancient monuments, definitely book at table at Il Baretto.
Ermina’s Home-Made Souvlaki
Souvlaki is a must when visiting Athens, whether it’s part of a feast in a traditional taverna or a quick and easy street food wrap.
We loved Ermina’s Home-Made Souvlaki, a tiny grill restaurant with outdoor seats on lively Aiolou, the main street that runs through Plaka towards the Acropolis. The high quality meat comes from farms in northern Greece and is grilled to order, served with chips, salad and sauces or in delicious pita wraps with tomato and spices.
The pita wraps are ridiculously cheap at just 2 Euros each (although this is apparently the regular price in Athens) and we couldn’t resist ordering another, as they were so tasty and moreish.
Hoocut
Another great souvlaki spot nearby is Hoocut, a fast-casual restaurant devised by five noted Athenian chefs. It’s a modern spin on the Greek classic and everything is made in-house in the slick open kitchen with its own bakery, butcher’s shop and grill.
We both went for Hoocut specials, which are like fluffy pita club sandwiches packed full of finely-cut grilled meat, salad and sauces. The pork pita was simple and authentic with tzatziki, tomato and onion while the beef pita had a sweet and smoky (almost Tex-Mex) taste with spicy sauce, BBQ, yoghurt, spring onion and coriander. The chips weren’t as special as I’d hoped, but the pita sandwiches were flavourful, satisfying and a decent size.
Pax Burgers
As if that wasn’t enough grilled meat, you can get a top notch burger fix at Pax Burgers just opposite Ermina’s. It’s an upscale fast-casual restaurant (a bit like Shake Shack) that turned out to be a saviour when arriving in the evening after a long day of travelling.
The substantial Cheese & bacon burger was definitely Greek-style rather than American with well-seasoned, flame-grilled meat, tomato jam, mayo and fresh salad. The fries and giant onion rings were pretty great too – and all at a decent price.
Lukumades
On this foodie trip, I was really excited to try traditional Greek loukoumades – bite-size fried doughnuts that are typically doused in honey and cinnamon. They’re mostly served for dessert at restaurants, but you can get them within minutes and jazzed up with all kinds of toppings or fillings at Lukumades, a tiny cafe and take-away counter in Monastiraki.
We went for the most traditional flavour and they were just as yummy as I’d imagined – light, hot and crispy with a very generous drizzle of sticky honey and cinnamon.
There’s more than enough in each portion to share, however you might like to order the typical honey and cinnamon loukoumades alongside a more creative topping like bougatsa cream or praline.
Cherchez La Femme
Cherchez La Femme, an atmospheric corner bistro in Monastiraki, is a favourite among locals and is the perfect spot for lunch after shopping. It’s chic and buzzing, but not too flashy, and there’s a lovely terrace for dining in the sun.
It’s all about the small plates, so you can take a tour through all of your favourite classic Greek dishes. We really enjoyed the thick and velvety Houmous, indulgent Moussaka, charred Lemon and herb grilled chicken and sweet and tangy Grilled talagani cheese with tomato jam.
On weekends you might have to wait a while for a table, but it’s worth it for such a delightful meal.
Nolan
The highlight of our trip was dinner at Nolan, a small urban bistro on a stylish corner of Syntagma that holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Head Chef Sotiris Contizas draws on his Greek-Asian heritage, offering creative yet unpretentious dishes inspired by each culture.
The concept is all about sharing and Nolan recommends two dishes per person, which are brought out one after the other. Burned cabbage and cauliflower with blue cheese was packed with harmonious flavours. The wilted cabbage was smoky and charred with an umami-rich jus that complemented the creamy, punchy cheese while the sliced apple and pickled carrots cut through with tanginess.
NFC (Nolan Fried Chicken) – the restaurant’s signature dish – was a little heavier than I’d expected with a popcorn-like texture but it was succulent, well-marinated and crisp.
We just missed the last dish of tempting Short ribs, so we went for the Sirloin with charred leeks instead and it didn’t disappoint. The lean, tender strips of medium-rare steak just melted in the mouth and the buttery, flavourful charred leeks were the ideal match for the meat. Steamed rice seemed like it might be simple but it surprised us with its fluffy texture and lovely crunchy bit on top, elevating it from a mere accompaniment.
We had other plans for dessert, but the wonderful manager brought us a shot of local liqueur on the house to finish the meal, which was a really nice touch.
Nolan is the kind of memorable place you always hope to find on a city break, with plenty of soul, great food and warm hospitality. Make sure you book a table in advance, as you don’t want to miss this innovative restaurant.
Have you been to any of these foodie spots in Athens? What is your favourite Greek food?
All photos by Chérie City
