15 restaurants worth the trip across Greece, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Greece guides.
Mavro Provato ★ 4.5 · Athens
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 · Athens
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.
Diporto ★ 4.5 · Athens
psyrri · Sokratous 9, Athina 105 52
Diporto on Sokratous and Theatrou has poured Attic retsina from barrels in Athens since 1887, a basement koutouki with no sign and a handful of daily dishes.
Tip: Lunch only from late morning until the pans empty, often by 17:00; no menu, no English spoken.
Atlantikos ★ 4.4 · Athens
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 · Athens
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.
Karavitis Tavern ★ 4.4 · Athens
pangrati · Pausaniou 4 Pangrati, Athina 11635, Greece
Karavitis in Pangrati has cooked the Athens taverna canon since 1926, a rustic room with a courtyard, barrels of house wine and the bekri-meze stew.
Tip: No reservations are taken; arrive before 21:00 weeknights and before 20:30 on Friday and Saturday.
Taverna tou Oikonomou ★ 4.4 · Athens
petralona · Kydantidon 32 & Troon 41, Athina 118 51, Greece
Taverna tou Oikonomou in Ano Petralona is the Athens mageirio that has cooked home-style food since 1930, with 15 to 20 daily dishes from the pan.
Tip: No microwave and no menu; you point at the trays. Closes when pans empty out, often by 22:00.
Tzitzikas kai Mermigas ★ 4.3 · Athens
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 · Athens
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 · Athens
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 · Athens
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 · Athens
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.
Taverna Platanos ★ 4.2 · Athens
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.
Mama Roux ★ 4.1 · Athens
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 · Athens
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.