41 Best Restaurants in Attica and Delphi, Greece

Sit among the pines, take in the view of the sea, and snack on the traditional pites (homemade pastry pies, typically stuffed with cheese and spinach) before indulging in the best fresh seafood in the area. The scent of grilled fish wafts in the air, whetting the appetite. Sample mussels infused with saffron; crispy, salty fried anchovies; tender octopus in a wine sauce; and tomato-slathered shrimp and orzo, then sit back and contentedly stare over the water.

Some tasteful antique decorative touches lend this portside house a quaint feeling, and the terrace is the place to be as you watch the world pass by while enjoying a wide-ranging menu. It attracts a fair few cruise passengers, as do the bulk of the eateries lining the waterfront, and it does a solid job. Aside from a good choice of grilled meats and fish, there are some good seafood and vegetarian pastas, along with a nice selection of salads.

Part of the appeal of this family-run taverna, tucked away at the side of the stairs that cut from the upper to the lower main streets, is its location. It feels like a find. All the classics are here: pork tigania, rabbit stifado, great shanks of lamb; there's even some handy set menus, which lean toward the touristy but offer incredibly good value for what you get. A reliable spot that rarely lets you down. 

In the winter you can warm yourself at your choice of several fireplaces in this old stone house that's been deemed a historic building by the state, and look out at the excellent views of the mountains. Tirokafteri, a piquant cheese spread, is the perfect accompaniment to the stone-ground country bread to start. Follow with a sampling of the large purplish Amfissa olives, fava (mashed yellow split peas, lemon, and raw onions), or the potent skordalia (garlic-mashed potato spread). Meat dominates the mains: rooster with hylopites (tiny pasta squares) in tomato sauce, stuffed lamb shank, and even excellent burgers.

The Theorodakis family keeps a watchful eye on the kitchen and on the happiness of their customers, who can choose between the spacious dining room or the large sheltered veranda with a stunning valley view. The menu is heavy on meat dishes, either grilled or simmered in the oven, but vegetarians can put together a small feast from boiled greens and other homemade meatless Greek classics, like sweet peas in tomato sauce and stuffed cabbage leaves.

It doesn't take an oracle to divine the reasoning behind the name of this café; two large telescopes decorate the terrace looming over the valley below. The menu is littered with tidbits to tempt visitors, including the usual array of Greek cakes and juices, but the views are the real lure here.

Meat is what Marathon does well. The city isn't a gastronomic gem, but it has some decent grillhouses. This beautiful stone-built mansion, its wood-beamed ceiling illuminated by dangling chandeliers, is the setting for a popular family-run taverna. The menu is predictably heavy on the animals: pork-neck steaks, fresh-cut ribs, lamb on the spit, and giant skewers all arrive succulent, slightly charred on the edges, and glistening in droplets of fat and oil—as they should. Spare room for the handmade tiganopsomo (stuffed fried bread) though. Service is friendly, and as long as you're not vegetarian, this is a really solid choice for a post-museum feed.

A longtime local favorite that never fails to impress. The terrace outside gets no "pretty points" for running alongside the road, but inside, its open kitchen, glass walls stuffed with ingredients, and black-and-white press cuttings from days gone by always provide something interesting to look at. The food is down-the-line classic grillhouse fare, yet done with elan and no little skill. Rustic-style village sausages arrive in baskets filled with greaseproof paper and great hunks of grill-seared meat are tender to the touch. Classics from tigania (pan-fried pork) to potato skins topped with sheep's butter delight, and there are a few veggie mezes (its particularly good on mushrooms) to balance out the meat sweats. Great value. 

This old kaffeneio is the perfect place to sit and watch the yachts while the clack of the tavli (backgammon) boards rattle around you. Come the evening—like all the cafés along the dockside—it switches from coffees to cocktails, but the easy atmosphere remains the same, and in winter the fireplace makes a welcome spot to gather around.

The name is something of a giveaway. This local chain is beloved by families and grown-ups with a sweet tooth or a love of sorbet-based cocktails. Spare a thought for its "waffins," a kind of donut-waffle hybrid that is either a crime against humanity or the best thing ever. We're not sure. It also does alcoholic drinks.