Kotopoula Valsamakis
Just opposite Kolonaki’s main square, amid the elegant neighbourhood’s high-end boutiques, sleek galleries and upscale restaurants, you will find the gastronomic treasure that is Valsamakis’s chicken grill shop. Kotopoula Valsamakis serves as a popular meeting spot in Kolonaki and is something of an institution – it has been in operation since 1963 and has become famous among local residents for its signature dish: chicken roasted on a spit. “It is the oldest eatery on the square,” says the owner Mr Kostas proudly. “The quality of the food is still as good as it was back in the 1960s, with my ingredients always sourced from Metsovo,” he says, referring to the mountain town in northern Greece. Try the fried chicken with hand-cut potatoes or chicken skewers for a meal that is simple, tasty and affordable.