Historical Dining At Greece's Best Restaurants

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One of Athens’ oldest restaurants, Strofi is located just under the Acropolis, which according to UNESCO World Heritage is the most complete ancient Greek monument that still exists today. Strofi has become a landmark eatery in Athens, known for its fantastic traditional Mediterranean cuisine, pleasant ambiance, and extraordinary view. Guests have included celebrities coming in for a relaxing meal after a performance at the Theatre of Herodes Atticus. For an entrée, try the goat cooked with gruyère, fresh tomatoes, and potatoes; or the lamb wrapped in vine leaves stuffed with feta cheese and gruyère served with boiled vegetables and potatoes.

Go back in time with the vintage, art nouveau decor of Ideal. You’ll find authentic Greek cuisine with a French bistro feel. The restaurant’s long and vibrant history includes being the site where important meetings between politicians were held. The professional staff makes guests feel comfortable and relaxed in this classic, family-run restaurant. Enjoy any of the Greek specialties on the menu, and don’t forget to order a bottle of one of Greece’s finest wines.

This traditional tavern is conveniently located in the heart of Plaka, an ancient town of Athens historically known as the ‘Neighborhood of the Gods.’ Zorbas Tavern is located under the Acropolis, and it is internationally acclaimed for serving traditional Greek meals like veal casserole, stamnas, and lamb zorbas as well as fine wines. Enjoy live music performed on guitar and bouzouki at weekends.

This fish tavern is located in a small port east of the city center, among the ruins of Hania’s old tanneries. The impressive architecture of the abandoned tanning factories, which were built in the 19th century, gives a historical edge to this otherwise modern restaurant. Thalassino Ageri is one of Crete’s top dining spots, and guests are seated right on the shoreline. The menu is reliant on whatever the fishmongers bring in that day.

This contemporary restaurant is located in a historical, converted cottage. The creators of this venue claim to be on a mission to discover the secrets, and enjoy the benefits of, the Crete diet which is based primarily on the natural products of the land of Crete, like olive oil, honey, and local herbs. The restaurant’s masterminds have worked to record hundreds of traditional, authentic recipes from all over the island to rediscover lost flavors of Crete. The restaurant’s produce is sourced locally and collected by the chefs with care, and even the wine sold at Peskesi is exclusively Cretan.

Platatnos Taverna has a long and riveting history as one of Athens’ oldest restaurants. The tavern has been highly praised for its unique atmosphere and its mouth-watering authentic Greek cuisine. The pastel pink and blue building opened its doors in 1932 on a quiet pedestrian street lined with shady plane trees, and it was immediately a hit among artists, writers, and poets of the day. Enjoy fresh, authentic grilled meats or fresh fish on the scenic outdoor patio.

Enjoy the elegant air of refined dining in Athens’ Spondi, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant. This modern eatery is located next to a historical hotspot—the Panathenian marble stadium where the first modern Olympic games took place in 1896. The menu changes with the seasons to utilize the best fresh produce and the food not only tastes great but is stylishly presented on every plate. The stone walls give the bougainvillea-covered garden on the outdoor patio a cozy, rustic feel.

Rakadiko Stoa Kouvelou was created by Achilleas Kouvelos in 1890, and before it was used as a restaurant, used to be an inn. The upper floors were historically used as rented rooms, and on the ground floor guests could receive wine while their horses rested. The current building is still made of the original stone and old tiles from the 1900s. Today, the restaurant serves traditional meze plates (appetizers) and entrées made with local produce, and you can find the traditional Greek sweet loukouma, a pastry of deep-fried dough soaked in syrup, chocolate, or honey, in the loukouma shop.