If your crewed yacht charter in Greece starts or ends in Athens, you should plan at least one proper meal in the city. Athens isn’t just a gateway to the islands—it’s one of Europe’s most exciting food capitals. The city combines Michelin-starred innovation, rooftop dining with Acropolis views, modern tavernas, and deeply traditional kitchens that have been cooking the same recipes for generations.
We put this guide together because many of our clients ask: “Where should we eat in Athens before we board?” or “What’s the right place for a final dinner after we disembark?” These are the restaurants we actually recommend, based on captain insights, local knowledge, and years of sending guests to the right tables.
1. HYTRA
Michelin-Star Restaurant in Athens with Acropolis View
Hytra is where we send clients when they want something serious. Michelin-starred and perched above the city in the Onassis Cultural Centre, it’s modern Greek cuisine with structure and clarity. Dishes like shrimp with almond and grape or slow-cooked short rib glazed with carob honey show technique without being fussy. The Acropolis view feels theatrical, and the service is sharp. This is Athens fine dining at its most assured.
2. KUZINA
Terrace Dining in Thissio with Parthenon View
We only recommend Kuzina if we can secure the terrace, because that’s where it becomes special. The Parthenon looms directly in view, and even a simple grilled lamb skewer takes on more weight in that setting. The menu blends Greek staples with light updates—think baked feta, inventive salads, and grilled meats. It’s not about culinary fireworks; it’s about location and timing. Perfect for sunset.
3. ELECTRA ROOF GARDEN
Best Rooftop Restaurant in Plaka, Athens
On top of the Electra Palace Hotel in Plaka, this is a polished option for those who want elegance without too much ceremony. The Acropolis view is picture-perfect, and the food holds up: seabass carpaccio, roasted lamb, pasta with local cheeses. It’s central, reliable, and a strong choice for a first night in town after a flight or a final toast before the airport.
4. MILOS
Iconic Seafood Restaurant in Athens (Original Location)
Milos is a name that travels—from New York to Dubai—but Athens is where it began. The philosophy hasn’t changed: absolute respect for ingredients. You choose your fish, it’s grilled, finished with olive oil, lemon, and sea salt. No distractions. The tomato salad tastes like the Aegean sun, the octopus is textbook, and the prices reflect the standard. For seafood lovers, this is essential. For those who want to carry the experience onto the water, we also arrange private Milos dining aboard MILOS AT SEA.
5. ERGON HOUSE RETIRÉ
Rooftop Bar & Restaurant near Syntagma
Ergon isn’t a fine-dining restaurant in the strict sense, but that’s exactly why it deserves a spot. It’s part boutique hotel, part high-end Greek food hall, and the rooftop restaurant Retiré is where it comes together. Guests can graze on mezze, share plates of cured meats and cheeses from small producers, or order grilled meats and vegetables with a strong glass of Greek wine. The terrace feels like a pocket of the islands in central Athens—olive trees, open air, and a younger local crowd. We often recommend it for a relaxed pre-charter evening, especially for guests staying near Syntagma who want something lively, social, and still firmly rooted in Greek produce.
6. SEAWOLF
Captains Favorite Seafood Restaurant in Athens
Captains love Seawolf for a reason: it’s one of the few places in Athens doing contemporary seafood with restraint. No gimmicks, just well-executed dishes like cuttlefish risotto, tuna tartare, and prawn linguine that actually tastes of prawn. The room is clean-lined and calm, the cooking confident. It’s not flashy, but it always satisfies.
7. HURACAN
Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) restaurant in Glyfada
If you’re boarding in Glyfada and want something bold, Huracan is the move. It’s Nikkei cuisine—Japanese-Peruvian fusion—with dishes like tuna tataki with yuzu, robata-grilled skewers, and punchy ceviche. The crowd is stylish, the cocktails are strong, and it offers a refreshing shift from Greek flavors without losing intensity. A great choice for groups who want a change of pace.
8. MANÁRI TAVERNA
Wood-fired Greek grill in Athens
This modern taverna comes from the same team behind Nolan and Birdman, but here they strip it back to fundamentals. Everything is cooked over open flame: lamb chops, local cheeses, vegetables that taste of smoke and oregano. The room is lively, portions generous, and the cooking honest. For those who want traditional Greek food without clichés, Manári nails it.
9. PASIFAI
Traditional Cretan restaurant in Glyfada
Pasifai is about heart and heritage. A Cretan family-run spot in Glyfada, it serves rustic island cooking—braised goat, handmade pies, wild greens. The wine comes from the back, poured like it matters, and the welcome feels genuine. It’s not modern Athens dining, but it’s authentic and deeply satisfying. Perfect if you want to experience another side of Greek food culture.
10. COOKOOVA
Modern Greek restaurant in Athens
Cookoovaya brands itself as “wise cuisine,” and it lives up to the claim. This is modern Greek food rooted in seasonality and designed for sharing. The open kitchen sets the tone, the staff know their menu inside-out, and dishes—from roasted beetroot to ribeye—are precise without pretension. We often recommend it to clients who want a proper sit-down meal that balances modern execution with a relaxed mood.
