462 Best Restaurants in Greece

As you are handed the menu, you'll find it nearly impossible to avert your eyes from the stunning view from the very top of verdant Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in Athens; the Acropolis glitters below, and beyond it, the metropolis unfolds like a map out to the Saronic Gulf. The restaurant centers on gourmet Mediterranean cuisine with bold French elements, but the chef also cooks up playful renditions of classic Greek dishes. The restaurant is reached by cable car or by foot only.

Hop onto the island's charmingly old-fashioned "taxi service"—a horse and carriage—at sunset and settle comfortably on the terrace of this award-winning restaurant, housed in a Neoclassical mansion from 1802 and overlooking a picturesque yacht and sailboat-filled marina. Order a cooling, spicy cocktail as you scan the menu and enjoy the relaxed yet sophisticated vibe. Like many of the other top restaurants on the island, fresh fish is the key ingredient here, and the chef at Orloff likes to include hints of Mediterranean and Asian tastes without overpowering the prime ingredient. Although the pasta and meat dishes (especially the sirloin steak) are of high quality, aim for the seafood and fish dishes like fresh tartare and ceviche dishes selection to get a real island feel, and don't miss out on the delicious fava (yellow split pea dip).

The restaurant faces the heart of the harbor's action, without feeling too exposed—tucked beneath a canopy and with cozy-feeling wooden furniture, it remains tranquil and intimate. Traditional Greek favorites are on the menu---beyond the usual seafood and grilled meats. Belly-busting portions of moussaka, lamb kleftiko, and meat balls are the more usual fare.

Low-key and extremely popular, this ouzeri in the art-grungy Bezesteni neighborhood has good food, great service, and a friendly atmosphere typified by Thessalonians relaxing over lunch or dinner. The fish soup is highly recommended, as is the braised monkfish and any of the hearty salads. Wash it all down with the distilled spirit made from grapes called tsipouro, and top it off with the dessert or fruit that is offered on the house.

It is well worth climbing the 263 steps leading from the main road up to the church of Agios Georgios, where the lovely smells wafting from the kitchen of this hilltop institution (dating from the 1930s) will prepare you for a tasty meal. Start with local specialty opsimotyri (a tart yogurt dip) and the house salad of shredded red cabbage, carrot, and grilled mushrooms. Then, dig into a plump bifteki (ground-meat patty) flavored with parsley, or dolmades (stuffed vine leaves) with a creamy lemon sauce. The lamb stewed on vine leaves is also a favorite with regular clients. Reservations are essential during winter weekends, when there is Greek live music and the impromptu party continues until the early morning hours.

Being one of the older restaurants in Kavala means that this establishment nets the freshest fish in town, so it comes as no suprise that most diners come for the ultra fresh seafood. Apart from the catch of the day why not try the seafood dishes like shrimp saganaki, lakerda (pickled fish), and sun-dried octopus grilled on charcoal. The seats out front are by far the most popular, with views of the water just across the street. Nevertheless, the authentic experience sometimes means achingly slow service, which frustrates many foreign tourists.

The fishing boats bobbing in the water only a few feet away supply the kitchen with a rich daily fish selection. Meats served at the simple taverna include homemade sausage, and lamb or beef on the spit. You can sit outside among the ivy and blossoms, where Limenas, Mesta's working harbor, unfolds before you. On colder days, enjoy the fireplace with the locals. The owner rents studio apartments within walking distance.

When a Greek cooks with meraki (good taste and mood), the world does indeed find paradissos (paradise). Owner Kyriakoula Fassoula serves meat dishes cooked tis oras (to order), such as grilled pork and lamb chops. Vegetarians can choose from delectable eggplant papoutsakia ("little shoes"), fried zucchini with garlic sauce, and various boiled greens. Complimentary fruit is served for the finale, but it would be a shame to pass up the flaky baklava.

Get past the silly name, and you will find surprisingly assured cooking at this stylish harbor-front trattoria. A cozy outdoor area is a romantic venue for handmade pizza, pasta, and risotto dishes to be shared with a glass or two. The open kitchen also does a good selection of grill dishes and salads—it makes a nice change from taverna style eating.

Sit on the waterside veranda or the garden across the taverna and savor seafood mezedes and fresh fish in one of the more affordable (although somewhat noisy) restaurants on this overall pricey island. The house specialties are the fish soup, astakomakaronada (lobster with spaghetti), shrimp saganaki (cooked with melty feta cheese), and crayfish. Magirefta (oven-baked dishes) include stuffed aubergines and oven-baked lamb. The chef makes a mean baked apple for dessert, but before you order, know that miniportions of baklava, karydopita (walnut cake), and spoon sweets with yogurt are on the house.

An enchanting courtyard garden and the high-ceilinged parlors of an elegant Neoclassical mansion are the setting for what many consider to be the best fish tavern in Agios Nikolaos. Simple is the keyword here: fresh catches from the fleet bobbing in the harbor just beyond are plainly grilled and accompanied by local vegetables and Cretan wines. Salads are a winner, often with unusual combinations, and the pasta is well presented, too, but really you are here for the daily seafood specials, handsomely displayed on ice in an old wooden boat at the front of house.

One of the oldest tavernas on the busy harbor strip of Aegina Town, Pelaisos is now in the capable hands of Vagelis, the third generation. His father still cooks in the morning, preparing such homey dishes of the day as stuffed zucchini, usually locally sourced, but fresh fish is the mainstay of this old-school establishment, from affordable grilled sardines to the more expensive sea bass or mullet priced by the kilo. Another thing to try (also by the kilo) is the very drinkable retsina wine that has long been enjoyed, along with the food, by the island's renowned artistic community.

Food fashions come and go in Mykonos, but one thing that never goes out of style is souvlaki. Get the cleanest and tastiest in town at Pepper—tiny, with just a few tables outside, this is the answer to all your street-food needs.

The setting is the star here. Three brothers have created a calm oasis a few streets in from the hustle and bustle of Kos Harbor. A 150-year-old stone house provides cozy dining in cool months, and in summer, tables pepper a garden full of private nooks, fountains, and gentle music. The enormous menu lists Greek staples, such as zucchini pancakes and seafood pasta side-by-side with more hearty steaks and grills.

Phàos, meaning "light" is a serene courtyard café where mornings begin with the best espresso and buttery brioches. Opened in 2023 by two childhood friends, it serves great brunch fare, too—like mascarpone waffles and classic Greek yogurt with fruit and nuts. By night, it's a swanky wine bar.

This delightful mother-and-daughter-run café-restaurant lies a couple of miles outside Fiskardo, on the road to Assos and Myrtos. It makes for a great breakfast and brunch spot, and even wraps up picnic lunches for those wanting to drop by and pick up a meal for the beach. Well worth passing by.

A Kamini staple since 1994, owner Theo charms guests with his warmth, humor, and impromptu music. The cozy, casual taverna attracts artists and tourists, serving market-fresh seafood and traditional Greek dishes with house-made flair.

A great spot for cheap, casual snacking, without the hefty price tags found elsewhere in Corfu Town. For just a few euros you can buy a gyros or souvlaki packed with falafels, grilled meat, pickles, and salad—it caters well to vegetarians and vegans, too. It seems to be open at all hours.

This venerable taverna stands apart from the needy café-bars that ring the waterside of Assos village. It's a solid old-stager with a menu of classic Greek mezedes, grills, seafood, souvlakis, and a far larger than usual range of vegetarian dishes. The more rural dishes, such as the goat stifado or rabbit lagoto stews, are particularly rewarding.

Stop in to taste some artfully tasty pittes (pies) to go that are made without using yeast in a wood-burning oven. Since 1981, the bakery (which now has three branches in Athens and one in Vienna) uses its own stone mill to grind the grains used in the pies, which have a perfectly crisp, buttery pastry, and comforting fillings made with high-quality ingredients. Try the creamy feta cheese or spinach pie, and grab a loaf of sourdough bread stuffed with feta and tomato for later.

Time to spice up your trip? Head down to Poncho, a funky little neon-lit shack on the busy Karitsi Square. Authentic handmade tortillas topped with the freshest of ingredients—you'll be craving them for days afterward. These tacos are the bomb!

It's the ambience and aroma of cooking fish and seafood that draw many passersby into this quayside restaurant, but it's the taste that keeps them in their seats for hours on end. Skordalia with mashed potatoes, crispy sardines, and melt-in-your-mouth octopus are but a few of the specialities on the menu. Hostess and owner Rosa Aggelatos also adds much to the fun with her acerbic wit and service, especially when discussing her love for classic Japanese motorcycles. The seating area outside is also one of the best in town to watch the yachts come and go from the marina.

Halfway up Lycabettus hill (around a 10-minute walk up the steps from Aristippou Street) you'll find this sprawling café-bar with its sumptuous panoramic views over the city. Stop here for a coffee, aperitif, and sandwich (or more if you're hungry, as there is a restaurant area, too) with one of the most fantastic vistas in Athens. After being closed for some 20 years this is now a popular hangout year-round, offering tourists and locals a like a moment of magical respite surrounded by greenery.

Almost like a boat tied to the land, Plima Plora stretches out over three floors with views of the city and the Fortessa, and, of course, the ocean that splashes mere steps away. Following the philosophy of an organic Cretan diet, ingredients are local with an emphasis on small producers. Vegetables and pulses predominate with seafood and meat used sparingly, while there is a small sushi menu for those in search of more exotic tastes.

This is a refreshing addition to the Athenian dinner scene created by the Greek-Japanese owner-chef of (also very hip) Nolan. Diners keep returning to delight in an inventive, improvisational, and experimental menu based on the season's best-quality ingredients from small producers as well as the restaurant's incredibly fluffy, crunchy, and mouthwatering homemade sourdough and "lactic" cheese. There is nothing predictable about this low-profile, affordably priced yet gourmet restaurant, where tables sprawl along a pedestrian road surrounded by graffiti-covered Neoclassical mansions. Try the marinated seafood, wild buffalo tartare, ceviche, and pizza cooked in a wood fire oven, and don't overlook the cocktail menu.

Seafood, particularly mussels and oysters, is the order of the day at this popular spot. A light, airy interior stretches into the street terrace and the staff err just on the right side of attentive. This is one of few spots in Glyfada where grilled, fresh sea fish—something that should be easy to get right on the coast—is rarely a letdown, and prices, which are always a tricky thing to gauge with fish, are accurately listed in the menu, so there are few surprises.   

English-style pub with a plethora of Greek and international beers in the heart of Kalambaka. Pop in for a sly pint (a liter here) or hang out and enjoy the predominantly rock (rather appropriate for Meteora) sounds and the easy eating, North American–inspired bar grub (burgers, hot dogs, and spicy glazed chicken wings) that they happily dish out.

On the main drag by the waterfront you'll come across Remvi café. Enjoy some of the best coffee to be had in town, and why not try one of their lovely pancakes or waffles, to sweeten the deal? They also serve beautifully plated snacks.

Greek cuisine was always vegan friendly, and now Rhino has brought street food into the 21st century. Souvlakis are reimagined with tofu nuggets and mushrooms, Greek salad gets vegan feta, and lentil and beetroot burgers leave you feeling healthy and virtuous. A nice change from the many meat-centric tavernas, the delicious food is a must for all.