21 mid-range rooms in Athens, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good rooms in Athens — no surprise on the bill, real cooking. All Athens food.
Mavro Provato ★ 4.5
pangrati · Arrianou 31-33, Pangrati
Mavro Provato in Pangrati is the daily Athens mezedopoleio favourite for small-plate Greek cooking with regulars on the pavement from 14:00.
Tip: Book three days ahead for dinner; lunch tables on the pavement are walk-up only from 14:00 onwards.
Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani ★ 4.5
psyrri · Sokratous & Evripidou 1, 10552, Athina
Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani on Sokratous is the Athens deli-mezedopoleio for Asia Minor cured meats: Karamanli pastourma, sausages and small plates.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The deli counter runs 08:00 to 21:00 if you want to take meats home with you.
Mavro Provato ★ 4.5
pangrati · Arrianou 31-33, Pangrati
Mavro Provato in Pangrati Athens is the daily mezedopoleio favourite for small-plate Greek cooking, Greek wine by the glass and a sidewalk of regulars after 14:00.
Tip: Book three days ahead for dinner; lunch tables on the pavement are walk-up after 14:00.
Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani ★ 4.5
psyrri · Sokratous & Evripidou 1, 10552, Athina
Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani on Sokratous is the Athens deli-mezedopoleio for Asia Minor cured meats: Karamanli pastourma, sausages and small plates with tsipouro.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The deli counter runs 08:00 to 21:00 if you want to take meats home with you.
Atlantikos ★ 4.4
psyrri · Avliton 7, Psiri, Athina 10563, Greece
Atlantikos in Psyrri is the central Athens seafood pick: Avliton 7 fires the daily catch on the grill from lunch through to past midnight every day.
Tip: The annex across the lane opens at 18:00 weekdays and 13:00 weekends; book the original room.
Manimani ★ 4.4
koukaki · Falirou 10, Koukaki, 117 42
Manimani in Koukaki cooks the food of the Mani peninsula in a neoclassical building near the Acropolis Museum: cured pork siglino and handmade pasta.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Sunday lunch from 14:00 is the easiest service for booking a window seat.
Manimani ★ 4.4
koukaki · Falirou 10, Koukaki, 117 42
Manimani in Koukaki cooks the food of the Mani peninsula in a neoclassical building near the Acropolis Museum in Athens: cured pork siglino and handmade pasta.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Sunday lunch from 14:00 is the easiest service to find a window seat.
Atlantikos ★ 4.4
psyrri · Avliton 7, Psiri, Athina 10563, Greece
Atlantikos in Psyrri Athens is the central seafood pick: Avliton 7 fires the daily catch on the grill from lunch through to past midnight every day of the week.
Tip: The annex across the lane opens at 18:00 weekdays and 13:00 weekends; book the original room.
Tzitzikas kai Mermigas ★ 4.3
syntagma-historic-centre · Mitropoleos 12, Athina
Tzitzikas kai Mermigas on Mitropoleos has cooked Greek small plates with seasonal ingredients off Syntagma Square in Athens for three decades.
Tip: Lunch from 13:00 is the easier seating; book three days ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner.
Klimataria ★ 4.3
psyrri · Theatrou Square 2, Athina 105 52 Greece
Klimataria on Theatre Square has poured Athens taverna food since 1927, a Psyrri institution where rebetiko plays live on most evenings from around 22:00.
Tip: Live music runs most evenings from around 22:00; book a fortnight ahead for the weekend.
Athinaikon ★ 4.3
exarchia · Themistokleous 2, Athina 106 78
Athinaikon on Themistokleous is the Exarchia ouzeri of record in Athens, opened in 1932 and moved to its current corner in 1989 with vintage decor intact.
Tip: The Mitropoleos sister room is the modern outpost; the Themistokleous original is the destination.
Taverna Saita ★ 4.3
plaka · Kydathineon 21, Plaka, Athina
Taverna Saita on Kydathineon is the rare Plaka room in Athens cooking for locals. The Zacharopoulou family has fried bakaliaros skordalia here since 1970.
Tip: Pavement tables face the quiet end of Kydathineon, away from souvenir shops; book a fortnight ahead.
Kostarelos Kolonaki ★ 4.3
kolonaki · Patriarchou Ioakim 30-32, Athina 106 75
Kostarelos on Patriarchou Ioakeim is the Kolonaki dine-in cheese deli of three generations of cheesemakers, with 14 cheeses, sandwiches and a short wine list.
Tip: Lunch on the pavement bench faces Kolonaki Square; deli counter open until 22:00 Mon-Sat.
Klimataria ★ 4.3
psyrri · Theatrou Square 2, Athina 105 52 Greece
Klimataria on Theatre Square in Athens has poured taverna food since 1927, the Psyrri institution where giant barrels line the wall and rebetiko plays most evenings.
Tip: Live music runs most evenings from around 22:00; book a fortnight ahead for the weekend.
Athinaikon ★ 4.3
exarchia · Themistokleous 2, Athina 106 78
Athinaikon on Themistokleous is the Exarchia ouzeri of record in Athens, an institution opened in 1932 that moved to its current corner in 1989 with vintage decor.
Tip: The Mitropoleos sister room is the modern outpost; the Themistokleous original is the destination.
Taverna Saita ★ 4.3
plaka · Kydathineon 21, Plaka, Athina
Taverna Saita on Kydathineon is the rare Plaka room in Athens cooking for locals. The Zacharopoulou family has fried bakaliaros skordalia since 1970.
Tip: Pavement tables face the quiet end of Kydathineon, away from souvenir shops; book ahead.
Tzitzikas kai Mermigas ★ 4.3
syntagma-historic-centre · Mitropoleos 12, Athina
Tzitzikas kai Mermigas on Mitropoleos in Athens has cooked Greek small plates with seasonal ingredients off Syntagma Square for three decades, a long-running lunch room.
Tip: Lunch from 13:00 is the easier seating; book three days ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner.
Taverna Platanos ★ 4.2
plaka · Diogenous 4, Plaka
Taverna Platanos under the plane tree on Diogenous has fed Plaka in Athens since 1932, a courtyard room where slow-cooked lamb in lemon sauce is the order.
Tip: The courtyard opens late spring; book ten days ahead for the Friday and Saturday warm-weather seatings.
Taverna Platanos ★ 4.2
plaka · Diogenous 4, Plaka
Taverna Platanos under the plane tree on Diogenous in Plaka Athens has fed the quarter since 1932, a courtyard room where slow-cooked lamb in lemon sauce is the order.
Tip: The courtyard opens late spring; book ten days ahead for the Friday or Saturday seatings.
Mama Roux ★ 4.1
monastiraki · Aiolou 48, Athina 105 60
Mama Roux on pedestrianised Aiolou is the long-running multi-ethnic Athens room near Monastiraki, an all-day brunch and dinner spot popular for the Sunday plate.
Tip: Brunch is bookings only on Saturday and Sunday; weekday dinners are walk-in friendly through 22:30.
Bairaktaris ★ 3.8
monastiraki · Pl. Monastirakiou 5, 10555, Athina
Bairaktaris on Monastiraki Square is the tourist-targeted Athens institution. The family has run the souvlaki and taverna room here since the late 19th century.
Tip: The square seating is the experience; the rooms behind serve a longer menu and live guitar music.