7 Best Restaurants in The Acropolis, Athens

This place transforms Greek culinary essence with a creative Balkan fusion cuisine that is unique to Greece. Albanian-origin, Michelin-starred chef Elvi Zyba's avant-garde plates, served in a modern, tranquil ambience, awaken the senses with bright, fresh, flavorful yet delicate touches. Dishes like marinated or crispy seafood are enhanced with herbs, citrus fruit and flowers. Here, comforting, as well as tantalizing takes on classics from Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria, take center stage. Don't miss out on the mouthwatering dolma stuffed with beef tartare and the feel-good giaourtotavas, lamb sweetbreads served with rice and yogurt.

At this chic, hip, sparkling, and artfully designed wine-lover's paradise, you can try food influenced from Greek and Scandinavian cooking, with starters like fresh, succulent oysters with champagne sauce and mains like venison on charcoal, Wagyu beef with shrimp tartare, and Ossetra caviar and lobster pasta.

In-the-know locals will patiently queue here to get their fill of a fantastic, freshly made sandwich stuffed with deli ingredients of their choice. This small, family-run 1980s place is both vintage and progressive, and despite its huge fan base remains completely unpretentious. Choose among ingredients like cheeses, chutneys, cold cuts, pickled or marinated vegetables, and seafood to create the sandwich of your dreams, made with fresh artisanal bread. You can also buy fresh salads and freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juices.

This famous, historic restaurant has often been featured in movies due to its astounding location, looking out onto exquisite views of the Acropolis, and it has been a favored dining spot for the world's glitterati for decades. Today's plush establishment serves confident Modern Greek dishes with classic snacks and brunch dishes available during the day, while in the evening the restaurant offers beautifully presented plates that riff on traditional Greek ingredients allied to bold contemporary techniques. A far-reaching wine card and attentive service make this a must visit for those in search of quality cooking allied to an unforgettable view.

On a tiny street, across from Takis Bakery, one of Athens's best, is a small spot with outside seats that serves coffee and fresh juices in the morning and turns into something quite different from noon. As the clock strikes noon, you'll hear bubbles and the chatter intensify as drinks (especially Spudorato and other Buglioni wines from Italy, Aperol spritzes, and craft beer from Tinos island) are poured into glasses. These are happily paired with premium cold cuts and cheeses from Greece and around the world. The charcuterie and spritzes are served until midnight.

Not just for bookish types, but certainly ideal if you are one, this cozy café is ideal for indoor work sessions on your laptop as much as afternoon cocktails (virgin or not). It regularly hosts literature events in the evenings but throughout the day is abuzz with tourists resting after the sights or locals who enjoy waking up in a pretty and tree-shaded environment.

Created by a theater designer with plenty of playful vision and gusto, this cozy, friendly, and decidedly pretty café serves good coffee and some homemade refreshments accompanied by tasty bites like pies and salads throughout the day.