Explore Athenian Cuisine with iBestTravel

For Vassilis Kallidis, a Greek celebrity chef and street-food travel show host, eating in Athens isn’t just about the food. “I’m crazy about Athens, crazy in love!” Kallidis expresses, highlighting his passion for the city. Filled with places to visit, locales to explore, and most importantly, restaurants and dishes to try, his recommendations reflect his enthusiasm for Athens.

A roundup of Kallidis’ “most beloved” eateries, places where he feels “at home,” invites you to explore beyond the regular and immerse yourself in the city Kallidis calls “the most liberal, most sexy, open-hearted city where you can do whatever you want 24/7.”

Syntagma and Plaka

A food emporium, Ergon House combines a restaurant that serves modern Greek cuisine with a traditional Athenian agora (market). Complete with a deli, fishmonger, butcher, and artisanal grocer, Ergon House’s shelves are filled with products from all over Greece.

Around the corner, Inomagerio Evgenia has been serving traditional Greek food for over 24 years. Their moussaka is a favorite of Kallidis’, and ordering their fava, a yellow split pea dip, is a must. If Greek wine is your passion, drop by Heteroclito, a bar à vin that boasts over 200 local labels, paired with plates of Greek cheeses and cold cuts.

Monastiraki and Psirri

For great moussaka—a meaty dish that’s “one of the city’s hottest musts,” according to Kallidis—and excellent souvlaki (skewered meat and vegetables), visit Nikitas, an old-style taverna feeding locals and visitors since the mid-60s. Stop by Avli, a taverna that gave a taste of Greek island life with its whitewashed walls and blue shutters, for a drink and an omelet with sujuk sausage.

In Monastiraki, the most touristy part of Athens, go to To Steki Tou Elia, an old family taverna, for their Mediterranean-style lamb chops, grilled with oregano over hot coals. A few blocks away, Thanasis is known as “one of the most photographed kebab places in Athens” and has been serving succulent kebabs since 1964.

Petralona and Koukaki

A short stroll from Monastiraki—and almost devoid of tourists—is Petralona, a neighborhood resembling “a Pedro Almodovar movie.” There, Aster serves Cretan specialties and makes up one of Kallidis’s top ten in the city. Across Filopappou Hill, Attikos Greek House boasts a terrace view of the Parthenon and, for Kallidis, the best “mamma-style” moussaka in Athens.

Panepestimio

For some of the best souvlaki in town, visit Prodorpion, popular among locals during lunch breaks. If you want to experience 1960s Greece, stop by Kapetan Mixalis, a traditional Cretan taverna where you can enjoy braised pork with mustard surrounded by patrons who embody the spirit of Greek culture.

Pangrati and Kolonaki

In Pangrati, traditional neighborhood tavernas like Mavros Gatos coexist with fashionable cafes. Kallidis mentions that “everything tastes homemade,” especially their stuffed grape leaves with egg-lemon sauce. Kolonaki, Athens’ posh area, features an outdoor restaurant called Dexameni serving traditional Greek mezes and offering excellent people-watching opportunities.

Exarchia and Omonia

For “one of the best places to eat fish in the center,” visit I Stoa, and don’t miss ordering their taramosalata, the Greek fish roe dip. For authentic Cretan specialties, Kriti is recommended for deep-fried olives and Cretan snails with rosemary and vinegar.

A few blocks away, Stani, a dairy haven from 1931, offers a traditional worker’s breakfast and Lefteris serves suvlaki in homemade pita—an ideal spot to enjoy your meal in a truly Athenian manner.

Dining in Athens is personal for Kallidis, as it fuels his fondness for his city. By following his recommendations, you too can fall in love with the vibrant culinary landscape of Athens.