The capital of Greece, Athens has allured travelers and tourists to its sun-soaked streets throughout millennia of human history. Utterly saturated in Grecian culture and world heritage, the ancient city also offers some of the finest culinary experiences within the continent, with restaurants taking advantage of the fresh and locally sourced food of the region to highlight not only the very best of Mediterranean cuisine, but also food offerings from across the world.
Cooked by passionate and highly skilled hands, in an array of vibrant dining establishments, Athens has menus and meals worthy of Mount Olympus itself. These are our favorites of the best restaurants of Athens.
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Spondi
Thanks to its Michelin star, Spondi has become a point of reference not only for Athenian gastronomes but for those throughout Europe.
Located close to the first venue of the modern Olympics, the Panathinaiko Stadium, Spondi has streaked ahead in terms of taste and presentation. The head chef serves a menu that changes according to the seasons and his creative imagination. The food is artful and packed with exquisite flavors, and touched by a hint of exoticism.
Upon request, Spondi offers private dining on its immaculately decorated first floor. As one of top restaurants in Athens, Spondi was voted to a spot on the Elite Traveler list of Top 100 Restaurants in the World 2017.
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spondi.gr
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Papadakis
Papadakis may not be among the handful of Athenian eateries to boast a Michelin star, but it is arguably one of the best places to experience authentic Greek cuisine. Sitting on the foothills of Mount Lucabettus in the upmarket area of Kolonaki, it offers respite from the hustle and bustle of Athens and boasts views of the stunning Acropolis from its shaded dining terrace.
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The restaurant is the brainchild of Argiro Barbarigou and first opened its doors in 2005 when she moved a restaurant of the same name from its original site on the island of Paros. It has since become a culinary pillar of the community and is regularly filled with well-heeled locals who come to experience some of the finest seafood available in the city.
Only serving the best and freshest seafood available, the menu changes as often as the sun sets. The daily specials are usually exquisite while the Paros Island Chickpeas – slow-cooked for 15 hours – are a must for any diner.
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Estiatorio Milos Athens
Twenty years after Costas Spiliadis opened the first Estiatorio Milos in Montreal and almost a decade after opening in New York City, in January 2004 Estiatorio Milos finally returned home to Athens.
Despite the intervening decades, the restaurant’s mission has remained the same: simplicity, elegance and exquisite organic food. The fish served to diners is line-caught by a group of local fishermen, delivered daily and seasoned with authentic, clean and simple ingredients.
The beautiful green veranda offers a wonderful summer oasis from the bustling city. For the discerning traveler, Milos offers a beautifully decorated private dining area, or for a true Milos culinary delight, a chef’s table can be booked for that perfect dining experience. Celebrities who have dined at Milos include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
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GB Roof Garden
Situated on the most famous square in Greece, Hotel Grand Bretagne is one of the city’s great dining destinations with the scenic rooftop proving to be particularly enticing. The Michelin starred GB Roof Garden serves the capital’s most sophisticated crowd new Mediterranean cuisine in an elegant setting, which is especially captivating with a view over the city.
And with executive chef Asterios Koustoudis at the helm, the elegant yet buzzingly vibrant restaurant serves dishes such as lamb chop and steamed sole served with minestrone sauce and traditional ‘skioufichta’.
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