Parisian elegance (and prices) define this patisserie and café, adorned with marble countertops and brass accents. Signature items like buttery croissants, artisanal sandwiches, and specialty coffees are crafted with high-quality ingredients, elevating it within the city’s café scene.
Patriarchou Ioakeim 45
Da Capo
A minimalist Italian cafe in central Athens, Da Capo has a sophisticated ambiance with polished lines and neutral tones. They serve expertly brewed espresso, fresh panini, and delicate pastries, making it a favorite for people-watching in the square.
Tsakalof 1
Me Cafe
Me Cafe makes an inviting stop from breakfast through dinner, with colorful brunch bowls and desserts worth lingering over. Morning and brunch menus include coconut yogurt with seasonal fruit, chia pudding, banana toast and acai bowls alongside coffees and smoothies. Maple pumpkin cheesecake and gluten-free lemon tart offer reasons to stay for another coffee, while fresh juices and wine by the glass carry the day into evening. Later, salmon, sea bass, chicken dishes and a small pasta selection make for an easy, unfussy dinner.
Kapsali 10
Wild Souls
Known for its nut butters, clean snacks and plant-forward bowls, Wild Souls attracts a steady stream of locals throughout the day. The menu revolves around quality raw materials, from tahini and handmade spreads to granola, energy bars and simple toasts. It works well for a quick breakfast, a light midday stop or takeaway items made with minimal processing and clear flavors.
Irodotou 14
Classic GreekTo Kafeneio 1987
To Kafeneio 1987 returned in 2025 with a full renovation and a fresh approach from chef Kyriaki Fotopoulou. The menu celebrates classic urban Greek cooking: daily soups, oven dishes, meatballs, lemon chicken, beef giouvetsi and meze made for afternoons over wine. The renewed space retains its familiar neighborhood character, giving regulars and newcomers good reason to settle in.
Loukianou 26
Oikeio
Oikeio is inviting year-round, with a cozy, rustic dining room for winter and sidewalk tables for warmer days. Moussaka, sardines and octopus in vinegar keep traditional Greek flavors at the heart of the menu, with a light contemporary touch.
Ploutarchou 15
Filippou
Known for its deliciously cooked traditional Greek food, this historic spot emphasizes homey simplicity in its decor and cuisine. Signature dishes include lamb kleftiko, pork in lemon sauce, and the shrimp salad, complemented by Greek wines. In summer, book a table across the street to experience the place as locals do.
Xenokratous 19
Dexameni
Dexameni brings neighborhood life to the tables lining a cobblestone street beside its leafy namesake square. Once favored by Greek poets and intellectuals, the café still draws a lively mix of Athenians. Meze such as sausage with mustard, fried calamari and lentil salad arrive alongside chilled local beers and house wine, an appealing invitation to linger outdoors. Nearby are the open-air Cine Dexameni and the Roman reservoir, part of Hadrian’s aqueduct, that gives the square its name.
Dexameni Square
Athénée
Athénée carries the glamour of the former Zonars into the present, pairing the charm of a historic Athens meeting place with a contemporary menu. The refined dining room invites a leisurely winter meal, while outdoor tables put summer lunches and evening drinks in the midst of the city. Seafood, sushi and elaborate pastries give the all-day address an appeal that extends well beyond coffee.
Voukourestiou 9
Simul
Modern Greek cuisine takes center stage here, with an open kitchen showcasing creative dishes like deconstructed moussaka, crayfish with black lentils, and lamb tataki with XO sauce. The sleek, contemporary design complements the focus on boutique Greek wines.
Ypsilantou 63
Nice N Easy
After 18 years as a Hollywood-inspired all-day bistro, this address relaunched this year as a modern Greek gastrotaverna under chef Dimitris Vlachos. The new menu draws on raw materials from across Greece and leans into regional home cooking, balanced against a more contemporary hand. The redesigned interior favors warmer, earthier tones over the old cinematic styling, while keeping the same easygoing, all-day rhythm.
Omirou 60 & Skoufa
Le Rosé
Le Rosé makes rosé the occasion, pairing an extensive selection with a French-Japanese menu of sushi, ceviche, carpaccio, tartare, poke bowls and caviar, plus a daily pastry. Weekend evenings bring live guitar and double bass, threading soul and smooth jazz through the intimate room. Blue tones, marble and wood give this small corner bistro a quietly elegant setting for a glass and a few plates.
Kapsali 3
Ratka
Mediterranean flavors and sophisticated ingredients like oysters, escargot, pesto spaghetti and fresh salads, accompanied by top-quality wines are served at little tables on the sidewalk. This is one of Kolonaki’s top haunts for those who like to see and be seen.
Charitos 30-32
Diva
Diva pairs seasonal cooking with a lively bar in a playful, intimate gastrobar setting. The open kitchen brings the food into the room’s social rhythm, while the bar is as much a draw as the dining tables. It is an appealing address for an evening that begins with dinner and continues over drinks.
Patriarchou Ioakeim 38
Chez Michel
Chez Michel brings easygoing bistro charm to Irodotou, with European and Mediterranean dishes served from breakfast through dinner. Coffee, pastries and lighter plates suit a daytime pause; fuller mains and wine invite a more leisurely evening. Its neighborhood following adds to the appeal of an address that fits comfortably into almost any part of the day.
Irodotou 15
Iodio
Iodio gives seafood an inventive turn under acclaimed chef Georgianna Hiliadaki, known for her work at the two-Michelin-starred Funky Gourmet. Mediterranean traditions meet contemporary technique in dishes such as sea urchin orecchiette and grouper tartare inspired by giouvarlakia. The sleek, elegant dining room makes a fitting setting for cooking with this much imagination.
Loukianou 36
Barbounaki
This fish restaurant serves authentic seafood in a cozy, unpretentious setting that nonetheless draws politicians and other personalities looking for a relaxed taverna-style fish dinner. Menu highlights include grilled sardines in a red sauce, fried fresh mullet, and shrimp orzo, all showcasing fresh Greek ingredients. A carefully selected range of Greek wines complements the dishes.
Charitos 39
Papadakis
Traditional Greek dishes with a modern twist shine in this art-filled space. Guests can start with kakavia fish soup or sea bass ceviche, followed by grouper orzo and Greek millefeuille, while the curated wine list combines Greek and international labels to elevate the dining experience.
Fokilidou 15
Sea You Mezeri
Sea You Mezeri brings a fresh perspective to Aegean seafood meze inside the Lemos arcade. Oysters and house-cured fish share the menu with octopus, tuna cuts and shrimp couscous, while weekend specials invite diners to eat with their hands. The informal setting makes it an appealing place to gather over contemporary seafood plates.
Karneadou 25
Brutus Tavern
This upscale, underground steakhouse combines gastronomy with a cinematic ambiance featuring gold details and contrasting tones. Signature items include olive-fed Wagyu Tomahawk steak, American T-bone, and Armenian kebab, paired with an extensive wine selection.
Leventi 3
Cocona
On pedestrian Milioni, tiny Cocona makes a persuasive case for stopping for a handmade pie. Fillings range from spinach and cheese to creamy mushrooms and chicken curry, with Smyrna-inspired flavors adding to the selection’s character. Friendly service and carefully made pies turn this small address into a rewarding stop between neighborhood walks.
Milioni 10
Nosh
Nosh gives the lobster roll a starring role at a tiny street-food counter on Kapsali. Creator Linos Ieridis pairs brioche buns with a rotating selection of fillings and sauces, bringing a little indulgence to lunch on the go. Opened in December 2024, it quickly gathered a following. With only a few seats, it is especially suited to a delicious detour between stops in Kolonaki.
Kapsali 5
Kalamaki Kolonaki
Kalamaki Kolonaki makes a satisfying lunch of well-seasoned grilled skewers and warm pita. Pork, beef and chicken kalamaki lead the menu, joined by pita wraps, fries, mastelo saganaki, hummus and salads. Popular with people who work and shop nearby, it combines brisk service with familiar Greek flavors, an inviting stop when a day in the neighborhood calls for something quick and hearty.
Ploutarchou 32
Capanna
This cozy trattoria captures the essence of Italian dining with its rustic interior of exposed brick walls and wooden tables. Menu highlights include margherita pizza, tagliatelle al ragu, and panna cotta, paired with a curated selection of Italian wines and aperitifs.
Ploutarchou 38
Brunello
Rustic elegance defines this Italian eatery, where exposed brick walls and wooden furnishings create an inviting atmosphere. Signature dishes such as pappardelle with wild boar ragu, wood-fired margherita pizza, and creamy tiramisu are complemented by an extensive wine list featuring Italian and Greek labels.
Loukianou 21B
Malconi’s
Classic Italian flavors meet modern design in this chic restaurant adorned with contemporary art and sleek furnishings. Its Italian cooking and lively bar make it an inviting choice for a meal that stretches into drinks.
Patriarchou Ioakeim 43
NYX Rooftop Japanese Gastrobar
Atop the Academias Hotel, NYX pairs Japanese flavors with sweeping views of Athens. Minimalist glass and metal decor and floor-to-ceiling windows set the tone for creative dishes like tuna tataki, spicy tuna rolls, and miso-glazed black cod. The experience is elevated by a curated selection of sake and Japanese-inspired cocktails.
Omirou 19
Ronin
Ronin brings carefully composed sushi to an intimate setting near Dexameni Square. Restaurateur Manolis Koniotakis, of the original Freud Oriental, is behind the address, where chef Vitharana Chandana focuses on nigiri, sashimi and uramaki rolls, alongside tempura and seared beef. A red staircase leads to a quieter half-floor, while floor-to-ceiling windows connect the dim, understated room to the street.
Xanthippou 2
Kiku
Kiku brings an Italian accent to its longstanding Japanese identity, with sushi and sashimi at the center of the menu. Quality fish, caviar and precise technique define the kitchen’s approach, complemented by warm dishes such as grilled seafood and tempura. Low lighting and a polished, intimate room give dinner here a sense of occasion.
Xenokratous 21
Nakama
Tokyo’s izakaya culture comes alive in this contemporary space adorned with Japanese art and ambient lighting. Guests can savor sushi platters, ramen bowls, and tempura dishes, paired with Japanese whiskies and sake for an authentic experience.
Massalias 5
Dining and Cooking