Santorini Secrets · Athens · restaurants
Compare top-rated restaurants in Athens with verified ratings, neighborhood tips, and practical booking advice.
For Santorini specifically: Metaxi Mas (Exo Gonia) is the locals' #1 — book 4 weeks ahead. Selene in Pyrgos is the island's most celebrated fine-dining tasting menu. Lauda at Andronis (Oia) has the best sunset dinner. For €15 souvlaki, Lucky's in Fira beats every tourist-strip restaurant in Oia.
Greek restaurants fall into 8 broad categories: traditional taverna, seafood (psarotaverna), modern Greek, fine dining, wine bars, and street-food souvlaki shops.
Reservations are essential at fine-dining venues (Selene, Lauda) and famous local favorites like Metaxi Mas — typically 2–4 weeks ahead in shoulder season.
Stick to inland villages (Pyrgos, Megalochori, Finikia) and back-from-the-caldera streets for the best authentic value.
Compare · sample listings
Per-person dinner price excluding drinks; Google ratings are verified aggregates.
Verified · On-Site Menu Checks & Verified Google Maps Aggregates · · Seasonal
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Town | Price | Famous for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metaxi Mas | Greek · Med | Exo Gonia, Santorini | €€€ | Beef carpaccio, truffle oil | 4.7 |
| Selene | Fine dining · Modern Greek | Pyrgos, Santorini | €€€€ | Fava with smoked eel | 4.6 |
| Lauda at Andronis | Modern Greek · Tasting | Oia, Santorini | €€€€ | Cliffside 7-course sunset | 4.7 |
| Argo | Seafood · Greek | Fira, Santorini | €€€ | Caldera-view seafood | 4.6 |
| Lucky’s Souvlakis | Souvlaki · Gyros | Fira, Santorini | € | Best souvlaki on the island | 4.6 |
| Funky Kitchen | Modern · Fusion | Mykonos Town | €€€€ | Michelin-quality fusion | 4.7 |
Athens restaurant in Gazi blending Middle Eastern culinary traditions with Greek produce and warm neighborhood hospitality.
Lively Psyrri restaurant featuring fragrant Constantinople-inspired Greek dishes, yogurt kebabs, and mezze sharing platters.
Metaxourgeio taverna serving traditional Greek stews and grilled meats with live acoustic music performances.
Central Athens restaurant near Syntagma Square offering grilled calamari, traditional moussaka, and local Greek craft beers.
Bustling Athens eatery on Aiolou Street serving handmade pita gyros, grilled souvlaki skewers, and quick Greek street fare.
Acclaimed deli and restaurant on historic Athens spice street serving Karamanli cured meats, aged cheeses, and traditional warm mezedes.
Central Athens workshop and boutique tasting bar offering rare Greek charcuterie, farmhouse cheeses, and artisanal regional deli items.
Rustic wine taverna in Athens' Psyrri district known for rooster in wine sauce, traditional appetizers, and barrel-aged wines.
Central Athens bistro offering refined Mediterranean mains, artisan breakfast options, and creative mixology in a stylish setting.
Reliable Athens restaurant near the National Gallery serving handmade pasta, stone-baked pizza, and contemporary Greek favorites.
Central Athens eatery and specialty deli near Syntagma serving market-fresh Greek recipes made with regional farmhouse produce.
Authentic Pangrati neighborhood taverna acclaimed by locals for succulent lamb chops, grilled meats, and classic taverna atmosphere.
Family-run neighborhood taverna near the Acropolis Museum offering home-cooked casseroles, oven bakes, and daily Greek specials.
Garden courtyard taverna in Plaka on Adrianou Street offering traditional Greek home cooking, grilled meats, and local barrel wine.
Traditional Greek kafeneio serving sand-brewed coffee, afternoon ouzo plates, and regional Cycladic appetizers.
Historic mansion restaurant on Adrianou Street in Thisio pairing modern Greek gastronomy with rooftop views of the Acropolis.
Michelin Bib Gourmand dining room near Syntagma Square serving inventive Greek-Asian small plates and street food creations.
Classic Athens taverna preserving century-old Greek culinary recipes, oven-baked casseroles, and seasonal vegetable dishes.
Renowned Athens restaurant founded by five Greek chefs, celebrated for wood-roasted whole fish, dry-aged steaks, and communal dining.
Longstanding Athenian restaurant founded in 1975, celebrated for rooftop views of the Acropolis and classic Greek recipes.
Athens food marketplace and restaurant on Mitropoleos Street featuring artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and modern Greek cooking.
Decision framework
A 4-step ordering ritual that gets you the best meal at any taverna.
Order fava (yellow split-pea puree), tzatziki, and a horiatiki (Greek salad) to share.
Tomatokeftedes (Santorini tomato fritters) or saganaki (pan-fried cheese).
Whole grilled fish is sold per kilo. Ask to see the catch of the day before ordering.
Most traditional tavernas bring a complimentary sweet and small carafe of raki or tsipouro with the bill.
Common questions
Locals point to Metaxi Mas in Exo Gonia for traditional Cretan-Cycladic dishes and Selene in Pyrgos for fine dining.
Yes for any caldera-view dinner or famous taverna (Metaxi Mas, Selene, Lauda) — book 2–4 weeks ahead.
Yes. Greek cuisine is naturally rich in vegetarian dishes: fava, tomatokeftedes, gemista, briam, and Greek salad.
