20 Best Places to Eat in Greece: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Greek gastronomy is a celebration of fresh, sun-ripened ingredients, golden olive oil, wild herbs, and vibrant seaside traditions. From humble neighborhood tavernas and island fish harbors to Michelin-starred fine dining establishments, dining in Greece provides a rich journey through Mediterranean flavor and hospitality.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

When exploring the food culture of Greece, be sure to savor these iconic regional dishes:

Moussaka: Baked casserole layers of seasoned minced meat, sliced eggplant, potatoes, and rich creamy béchamel sauce.
Souvlaki & Gyros: Grilled skewers or shaved seasoned pork/chicken served in warm pita bread with tzatziki, tomatoes, and onions.
Fresh Octopus & Seafood: Sun-dried and charcoal-grilled octopus drizzled with olive oil, oregano, and fresh lemon juice.
Spanakopita: Flaky golden phyllo pastry pie filled with fresh spinach, herbs, and crumbled feta cheese.
Greek Salad (Horiatiki): Ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives, and a block of creamy feta cheese sprinkled with oregano.

20 Best Places to Eat in Greece

1. Strofi Tavern

Cuisine: Traditional Greek
Location: Makrigianni, Athens
Must-Try Dish: Slow-Roasted Lamb with Herbs & Greek Potatoes
About the Place: Operating since 1975, Strofi offers classic Greek dining on a rooftop terrace boasting spectacular night views directly facing the illuminated Parthenon on the Acropolis.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Strofi Tavern

2. Karamanlidika tou Fani

Cuisine: Greek Delicatessen & Meze
Location: Psyrri, Athens
Must-Try Dish: Cured Beef Pastourma Meze & Fried Sausage Flutes
About the Place: Part traditional deli and part vibrant tavern, Karamanlidika serves artisanal cured meats, aged Greek cheeses, and cold meze dishes inspired by Byzantine culinary roots.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Karamanlidika tou Fani

3. Varoulko Seaside

Cuisine: High Fine Dining Seafood
Location: Mikrolimano Harbor, Piraeus
Must-Try Dish: Charcoal-Grilled Squid with Wild Greens & Fish Soup
About the Place: Helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Lefteris Lazarou, Varoulko offers elegant seafood dining right on the edge of the sailboat-filled Mikrolimano marina.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Varoulko Seaside

4. Peskesi

Cuisine: Authentic Cretan Farm-to-Table
Location: Heraklion, Crete
Must-Try Dish: Slow-Cooked Pork in Honey Wine Sauce (Kleftiko)
About the Place: Housed in a restored historical mansion, Peskesi serves organic Cretan dishes prepared using traditional medieval recipes and produce sourced directly from their private farm.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Peskesi

5. To Steno

Cuisine: Cycladic Meze & Taverna
Location: Chora, Naxos
Must-Try Dish: Naxian Graviera Cheese Saganaki & Local Pork Stew
About the Place: A cozy meze eatery tucked into a narrow cobblestone alley, famous for serving flavorful small plates made with famous Naxian potatoes, artisanal cheeses, and local meats.
Explore More: Read our full guide to To Steno

6. Thalassaki

Cuisine: Creative Island Seafood
Location: Isternia Bay, Tinos
Must-Try Dish: Smoked Salt Cod & Sea Urchin Pasta
About the Place: Perched directly on a wooden pier where waves splash against the stone quay, Thalassaki is world-renowned for inventive seafood dishes highlighting Aegean traditions.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Thalassaki

7. Avli Restaurant

Cuisine: Elevated Cretan Gastronomy
Location: Rethymno, Crete
Must-Try Dish: Venetian-Style Lamb with Fresh Herbs & Graviera
About the Place: Set inside a lush 16th-century Venetian mansion courtyard filled with bougainvillea, Avli offers romantic fine dining inspired by Crete's rich culinary history.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Avli Restaurant

8. Selene

Cuisine: Modern Fine Dining & Volcanic Wine
Location: Fira, Santorini
Must-Try Dish: Fava Puree with Smoked Eel & Assyrtiko Wine Pairings
About the Place: Operating for over three decades, Selene pioneered elevated Santorini gastronomy, celebrating local volcanic ingredients inside an atmospheric restored monastery courtyard.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Selene

9. Kiki's Tavern

Cuisine: Rustic Beachside Charcoal Grill
Location: Agios Sostis Beach, Mykonos
Must-Try Dish: Charcoal-Grilled Pork Chops & Fresh Octopus
About the Place: An iconic, electricity-free open-air tavern shaded by olive trees overlooking a secluded cove, where everything is grilled over open hardwood embers.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Kiki's Tavern

10. Klimataria

Cuisine: Historic Traditional Taverna
Location: Monastiraki, Athens
Must-Try Dish: Slow-Baked Pork Shank with Roasted Potatoes
About the Place: Operating since 1927 beneath grapevine trellises near Omonia, Klimataria serves comfort classics cooked in clay pots accompanied by live rebetiko acoustic guitar music.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Klimataria

11. Taverna Tou Oikonomou

Cuisine: Classic Home-style Greek
Location: Petralona, Athens
Must-Try Dish: Braised Beef in Tomato Sauce (Kokkinisto)
About the Place: A cherished neighborhood institution since 1930, Oikonomou keeps traditions alive with home-style braised stews, oven casseroles, and house wines served on outdoor sidewalk tables.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Taverna Tou Oikonomou

12. Spondi

Cuisine: High Haute Cuisine / French-Mediterranean
Location: Pangrati, Athens
Must-Try Dish: Multi-Course Chef's Tasting Menu
About the Place: Holding multiple Michelin stars, Spondi is one of Greece's premier fine dining venues, set inside an elegant stone courtyard serving exquisite artful French-Mediterranean creations.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Spondi

13. Sunset Ammoudi Taverna

Cuisine: Oceanfront Fresh Seafood
Location: Ammoudi Bay, Santorini
Must-Try Dish: Sun-Dried Grilled Octopus & Lobster Pasta
About the Place: Positioned at the water's edge below Oia's red volcanic cliffs, Sunset Ammoudi offers legendary views of the setting sun paired with freshly caught fish.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Sunset Ammoudi Taverna

14. O Thanasis

Cuisine: Greek Street Food & Souvlaki
Location: Monastiraki Square, Athens
Must-Try Dish: Kebab Souvlaki on Grilled Pita with Tomatoes and Onions
About the Place: Always buzzing with energy in central Monastiraki, O Thanasis is famous for serving some of Athens' best seasoned minced beef kebabs and open-plate gyros.
Explore More: Read our full guide to O Thanasis

15. To Kafeneio

Cuisine: Traditional Corfiot Meze
Location: Old Town, Corfu
Must-Try Dish: Sofrito (Garlic & Wine Sliced Beef) or Pastitsada
About the Place: Tucked into a shaded historic alleyway in Corfu Old Town, To Kafeneio serves authentic Corfiot specialties reflecting centuries of Venetian culinary influence.
Explore More: Read our full guide to To Kafeneio

16. Tamam

Cuisine: Cretan & Ottoman Fusion
Location: Venetian Harbor, Chania, Crete
Must-Try Dish: Iranian-Style Lamb Kebabs & Stuffed Grape Leaves
About the Place: Situated inside a former historic Turkish hamam bathhouse building, Tamam provides a unique atmosphere serving fragrant spices and traditional Cretan stews.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Tamam

17. Dionysos Zonar's

Cuisine: Elegant Greek Fine Dining
Location: Acropolis Slope, Athens
Must-Try Dish: Roast Rack of Lamb with Greek Herbs
About the Place: Located directly at the foot of the Acropolis hill, Dionysos Zonar's offers refined dining accompanied by unobstructed vistas of the illuminated Parthenon monument.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Dionysos Zonar's

18. Seychelles

Location: Metaxourgeio, Athens
Cuisine: Modern Greek Bistro / Meze
Must-Try Dish: Pappardelle with Slow-Cooked Beef Cheek
About the Place: A trendy modern bistro popular with locals in Metaxourgeio, serving creative twists on traditional Greek produce, regional cheeses, and craft tsipouro.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Seychelles

19. Barbarossa

Cuisine: Upscale Seafood & Cycladic Meze
Location: Naoussa Harbor, Paros
Must-Try Dish: Ouzo-Glazed Grilled Tiger Prawns & Octopus
About the Place: Located right on the stone fishing quay in Naoussa, Barbarossa is Paros' most iconic dining venue, famous for outdoor harborside seating and energetic island vibes.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Barbarossa

20. Kontosoros

Cuisine: Elevated Northern Macedonian Greek
Location: Xino Nero, Florina
Must-Try Dish: Slow-Oven Pork with Florina Red Peppers
About the Place: Located in northern Greece near Florina, Kontosoros is a celebrated destination restaurant specializing in rich regional meats, roasted red peppers, and local Xinomavro red wines.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Kontosoros

Featured Image

Authentic Greek Salad & Fresh Seafood Taverna Table