The port of Rafina isn't too far from the airport and there's an airport bus you can take.

Thanks brotherleelove2004 - I will check that out.

It is not exactly an airport bus going from the airport to Rafina, but a KTEL bus ( a big private company offering it's services all over Greece), i checked their website, but there is no timetable available atm, with the excuse of switching from winter to summerplan....(lol)
I am afraid that there won't be any bus back to back to the Airport when it will get dark...
The area near the Airport is a bit difficult, there are not too many restaurants there...
I would have 2 suggestions, one with taxi to the nearby village of Kalyvia ( there are some excellent tavernas there) or if you take the airport bus to Athens there are some good restaurants in Gerakas, which is the first stop after leaving the airport highway. ( busses run 24/7 - Gerakas is only 20 min away). If you are interested in one of these two options just ask me.
Other than that your only options would be the airport restaurants, or Sofitel....

Sofitel has an excellent restaurant on the 9th floor: http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-3167-sofitel-athens-airport/restaurant.shtml

However, if you want to go somewhere nearby the airport but overlooking the water, I agree with Lee that Rafina is the answer. The KTEL Attica bus stop is just outside Sofitel, and it drops you off at Rafina harbor. There are several good fish tavernas along the harbor.

oh, nearby IKEA has a restaurant too, they are open till 9 pm Sat till 8 pm and closed on Sun

Hi clausar,

I checked the ktelattikis website myself, and as you say there is no timetable at the moment. As I recall, buses run from Rafina back to the airport until about 10 pm or so, but I could be wrong on that.

Carol, my suggestion would be take the bus to Rafina, then a taxi back to the airport if you are staying later than 10 pm.

Rafina is a nice option, but don't you think it is a bit far away? I am living nearby... so we are talking about 25 km one way..... all together would be 50 km...

Athens is what, 45km away from the airport? And if the traffic is light it takes 45 minutes to reach Syntagma Square on the bus. That makes 25km seem like an easy ride, and there won't be any traffic jam.

The bus to Rafina takes about 30 minutes, taxis possibly a little less. Traffic is usually light between the airport and Rafina, especially in the evenings. Rafina is a small port, and the bus drops you off right at the harbor. Last time I went that way I caught the bus from the airport around 9:30 pm, and had a meal at a restaurant overlooking the harbor. It was a very nice way to start my visit to Greece, and I would imagine a nice way for Carol to end her trip.

Clausar, your suggestion of the restaurant in IKEA is an interesting one, although not everyone would like to end their trip to Greece by dining in a Swedish furniture store.

Carol, if you don't want to travel too far from the airport, recommend eating at the Karavi restaurant in Sofitel. The hotel also has a rooftop pool if you would like a swim before dinner.

Heimdall, the IKEA restaurant is of course not a gourmet option... i was just numbering the options that can be found in the immediate vicinity of the airport...

A friend of mine loves the IKEA restaurant & travels out there for a quick look around the store, but mainly as an excuse to eat there! I can't comment as I haven't tried it )

haha yiassas many of my friends do the same.... i just love IKEA's swedish köttbullar... ( meatballa)