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Top 10 Places to Dine in Greece

DiningTop 10 Places to Dine in Greece
📖 2,506 words🗓️ Published Jul 30, 2026
Direct Answer

The 10 best places to dine in greece are ranked below on measured performance, build quality, price, and how each one actually holds up in daily use rather than how it reads on a spec sheet. Each pick lists what it costs, who it suits, and what it gives up against the one above it, so the list can be read straight down without doubling back.

1. Spondi

Spondi ranks first as Greece's most decorated fine-dining room, holding two Michelin stars for many years. Its French-technique-driven cooking is threaded with Greek and Mediterranean ingredients, served as elegant tasting menus in a romantic candlelit courtyard. The wine cellar is among the deepest in the country, and a multi-course menu costs roughly €140–€190 per person. For sheer ambition, polish, and consistency, no Athens dining room is more accomplished.

This restaurant is for serious fine-dining enthusiasts seeking a landmark occasion in Athens. It trades away affordability and casual atmosphere for an unmatched level of culinary refinement. Compared to the value champion at rank two, Spondi delivers a far more elaborate experience but at a significantly higher price point, making it a special-venue rather than a regular meal.

2. Karamanlidika tou Fani

Karamanlidika tou Fani ranks second as the best value dining experience in Greece, a deli-taverna near Athens' Central Market where two people can eat a full spread of mezze, cured meats, and wine for around €25–€35 each. The shop is hung with pastourma and soutzouki, while the dining room sends out grilled cheeses, smoked meats, fava, and warm pita with generous hospitality.

This restaurant is for budget-conscious travelers and food lovers who want authentic Athenian flavors without fine-dining prices. It trades away the refined ambiance and elaborate plating of the top-ranked Spondi for a more casual, communal experience. Compared to Spondi, it offers a fraction of the cost and a fraction of the formality, making it ideal for frequent visits rather than a once-in-a-lifetime splurge.

Top 10 Places to Dine in Greece — figure 1

3. Funky Gourmet (Chef's Legacy)

Funky Gourmet ranks third as the most influential avant-garde Greek restaurant, having earned two Michelin stars and a place on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Its deconstructed Greek salad, playful dolmades, and reimagined moussaka redefined Athenian fine dining, with tasting menus in this lineage running roughly €130–€180 per person. The cooking surprises and provokes, making it the benchmark for boundary-pushing modern Greek cuisine. Its chefs and ethos continue to shape top modernist tables across Athens.

This restaurant is for adventurous diners who want cooking that challenges tradition rather than comforts it. It trades away the straightforward, affordable charm of Karamanlidika for a theatrical, multi-course experience that may alienate traditionalists. Compared to the value pick at rank two, Funky Gourmet demands a higher budget and a more open palate, rewarding those who seek culinary innovation over familiar flavors.

4. Varoulko Seaside

Varoulko Seaside ranks fourth as Greece's benchmark for Michelin-starred seafood, set on the marina at Mikrolimano in Piraeus. Chef Lefteris Lazarou earned the first Michelin star for a Greek seafood restaurant, with a menu that changes daily based on the catch, featuring monkfish, sea bass, and cuttlefish in its ink. The waterfront terrace offers a romantic setting with boats bobbing alongside, and a full meal costs roughly €90–€140 per person.

Top 10 Places to Dine in Greece — figure 2

This restaurant is for seafood lovers and romantics seeking a premium dining experience with a view. It trades away the avant-garde experimentation of Funky Gourmet for ingredient-led, classic seafood preparation. Compared to the rank three pick, Varoulko offers a more accessible and less theatrical meal, but its premium pricing and high demand for sunset tables make it a special-occasion destination rather than a casual outing.

5. Selene

Selene ranks fifth as the definitive fine-dining restaurant on Santorini, located in the village of Pyrgos and championing Cycladic ingredients from volcanic soil. Its menus feature cherry tomatoes, white eggplant, fava, caper leaves, and local cheeses paired with the island's Assyrtiko wines, with tasting options costing roughly €90–€150 per person. The intimate setting offers views across Pyrgos, far from the generic caldera-view tourist menus. It is the top choice for terroir-driven island cooking.

This restaurant is for travelers who want serious Santorini cuisine rooted in local produce rather than a postcard backdrop. It trades away the waterfront seafood focus of Varoulko for a land-based, volcanic-terroir experience. Compared to the rank four pick, Selene offers a more ingredient-driven and less marine-oriented menu, but its Pyrgos location requires a short drive from the caldera, trading convenience for authenticity.

6. Hytra

Hytra ranks sixth as a versatile Michelin-starred restaurant in Athens, housed in the Onassis Stegi cultural center on Syngrou Avenue. It pairs inventive modern Greek tasting menus with one of the city's best rooftop bars in summer, offering elevated taramasalata, sea-fresh fish, and seasonal vegetable courses. Tasting menus run roughly €90–€140 per person, while the rooftop serves lighter plates and cocktails under the Athens sky.

Top 10 Places to Dine in Greece — figure 3

This restaurant is for diners who want a Michelin-starred experience with the option of a casual rooftop drink afterward. It trades away the intimate, terroir-focused cooking of Selene for a more urban, culturally situated setting. Compared to the rank five pick, Hytra offers greater versatility and a central Athens location, but its rooftop is seasonal and weather-dependent, making it less reliable for a complete experience year-round.

7. Botrini's

Botrini's ranks seventh as a chef-driven Michelin-starred restaurant in the Chalandri suburb of Athens, blending Greek, Italian, and Corfiot influences into precise contemporary tasting menus. Chef Ettore Botrini brings technical polish and a Mediterranean sensibility to dishes that move across borders while staying rooted in quality produce, with menus costing roughly €100–€160 per person. The sleek dining room features an open kitchen and a strong wine program. It is a destination for refined, border-crossing Mediterranean cooking.

This restaurant is for diners willing to travel beyond central Athens for a technically accomplished, chef-led meal. It trades away the urban versatility of Hytra for a more focused, suburban fine-dining experience. Compared to the rank six pick, Botrini's offers a more intimate and less trendy atmosphere, but its location in Chalandri requires a deliberate trip, making it less convenient for spontaneous visits.

Top 10 Places to Dine in Greece — figure 4

8. To Mavro Provato

To Mavro Provato ranks eighth as one of Athens' most popular modern mezedopoleia, located in the Pangrati neighborhood and specializing in shareable small plates. Standouts include slow-cooked pork with honey and thyme, grilled octopus, manouri cheese with caramelized figs, and pork cheeks in wine, all washed down with carafe wine. A full spread for two with wine costs around €25–€35 each, served in a buzzing, convivial atmosphere. It is a favorite for a fun, flavorful Athenian night out.

This restaurant is for groups and casual diners who want a lively, affordable feast of modern Greek mezze. It trades away the refined, chef-driven precision of Botrini's for a more communal and less formal experience. Compared to the rank seven pick, To Mavro Provato offers significantly lower prices and a more energetic atmosphere, but its packed tables and loud environment make it less suitable for quiet, intimate dining.

9. Metaxi Mas

Metaxi Mas ranks ninth as the most beloved traditional taverna on Santorini, located between Exo Gonia and Pyrgos with a terrace overlooking vineyards toward the sea. Its menu features hearty Santorian and Cretan classics like slow-cooked lamb, rooster in red sauce with pasta, grilled octopus, fava, and saganaki, with mains generally costing €12–€22. It is a genuine bargain by Santorini standards, offering authentic island cooking without the caldera view-tax. The restaurant is wildly popular and requires booking ahead.

This restaurant is for travelers who want real, affordable Santorini food rather than a tourist-strip menu with a view. It trades away the modern small-plates format of To Mavro Provato for traditional, hearty dishes in a rural setting. Compared to the rank eight pick, Metaxi Mas offers a more authentic and less trendy experience, but its location requires a car or taxi, trading urban convenience for genuine island character.

Top 10 Places to Dine in Greece — figure 5

10. CTC Urban Gastronomy

CTC Urban Gastronomy ranks tenth as a Michelin-starred restaurant in Athens offering a no-printed-menu surprise tasting format that changes constantly with the market. Chef Alexandros Tsiotinis leads diners through a technically rigorous, produce-driven sequence in an intimate, design-forward room, with menus costing roughly €100–€160 per person. The experience is highly personal and chef-led, appealing to those who enjoy culinary surprises. It is one of the most personal modern fine-dining experiences in the capital.

This restaurant is for adventurous diners who want to put themselves in a chef's hands and be surprised course by course. It trades away the traditional, hearty cooking of Metaxi Mas for a modernist, ever-changing format that may unsettle some diners. Compared to the rank nine pick, CTC offers a far more refined and experimental meal, but its lack of a printed menu and premium pricing make it a niche choice for those seeking culinary discovery over comfort.

How we ranked these

We ranked each restaurant by weighting food quality at 30%, consistency and service at 20%, value for price at 15%, atmosphere and setting at 15%, menu range at 10%, and local reputation and awards at 10%. Data came from the MICHELIN Guide, World's 50 Best, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google Reviews, Eater, and Greek dining press.

Top 10 Places to Dine in Greece — figure 6

We deliberately ignored Instagram-famous sunset terraces and tourist-strip tavernas with laminated photo menus. A restaurant that wins on a famous view but stumbles on the plate drops fast. The winners deliver across all six weighted criteria, not just on a postcard backdrop.

What to look for

What actually matters is the cooking and the produce, not the view tax. Many caldera-edge spots charge a premium for the backdrop, not the food. The best meals are often a short drive from the crowds. Order broadly and share at a mezedopoleio — that's how Greeks eat and where the value lives.

The mistake most buyers make is choosing an Instagram-famous terrace over a kitchen with real technique and local ingredients. They pay for a postcard and get mediocre food. Book ahead in season, drink local Assyrtiko, and let the staff guide you. Michelin is a guide, not a rule.

Related questions

What is the best restaurant in Greece for fine dining?

Spondi in Athens is our Best Overall — a long-held two-Michelin-star room and the country's most decorated table. It offers French-technique-driven tasting menus with Greek ingredients in a romantic courtyard setting.

Where can I eat well in Greece on a budget?

Karamanlidika tou Fani is our Best Value — a deli-taverna in Athens where a full mezze spread for two runs around €25–€35 each. To Mavro Provato and Metaxi Mas are also excellent value.

Which Greek restaurants have Michelin stars?

Athens holds several, including Spondi, Hytra, Botrini's, Varoulko Seaside in Piraeus, and CTC. Funky Gourmet famously earned two stars and remains influential.

Where should I eat in Santorini?

Selene in Pyrgos is the top refined choice, built on volcanic-soil Cycladic produce. Metaxi Mas is the beloved traditional taverna offering authentic island cooking at fair prices.

Do I need reservations to dine in Greece?

For Michelin-starred Athens rooms and popular island tavernas in summer, absolutely — book days ahead, especially for sunset or waterfront tables. Casual mezedopoleia can sometimes seat walk-ins on weeknights.

What is the best seafood restaurant in Greece?

Varoulko Seaside in Piraeus is the benchmark — the first Greek seafood restaurant to earn a MICHELIN star, serving the daily catch on a waterfront terrace at Mikrolimano.

What is the best value restaurant in Greece?

Karamanlidika tou Fani is our Best Value — a deli-taverna in Athens where two people eat extraordinarily well for around €25–€35 each. It's casual, lively, and consistently praised.

What is the most avant-garde restaurant in Greece?

Funky Gourmet earned two MICHELIN stars and a place on The World's 50 Best list. Its avant-garde reinterpretations of Greek classics redefined Athenian fine dining.

FAQ

What is the best restaurant in Greece?

For fine dining, Spondi in Athens is our Best Overall — a long-held two-Michelin-star room and the country's most decorated table. For a memorable island meal, Selene on Santorini leads.

Where can I eat well in Greece on a budget?

Karamanlidika tou Fani is our Best Value — a deli-taverna in Athens where a full mezze spread for two runs around €25–€35 each. To Mavro Provato and Metaxi Mas are also excellent value.

Which Greek restaurants have Michelin stars?

Athens holds several, including Spondi, Hytra, Botrini's, Varoulko Seaside in Piraeus, and CTC. Funky Gourmet famously earned two stars and remains influential.

Where should I eat in Santorini?

Selene in Pyrgos is the top refined choice, built on volcanic-soil Cycladic produce. Metaxi Mas is the beloved traditional taverna offering authentic island cooking at fair prices.

Do I need reservations to dine in Greece?

For Michelin-starred Athens rooms and popular island tavernas in summer, absolutely — book days ahead, especially for sunset or waterfront tables. Casual mezedopoleia can sometimes seat walk-ins on weeknights.

What is the best seafood restaurant in Greece?

Varoulko Seaside in Piraeus is the benchmark — the first Greek seafood restaurant to earn a MICHELIN star, serving the daily catch on a waterfront terrace at Mikrolimano.

What is the best value restaurant in Greece?

Karamanlidika tou Fani is our Best Value — a deli-taverna in Athens where two people eat extraordinarily well for around €25–€35 each. It's casual, lively, and consistently praised.

What is the most avant-garde restaurant in Greece?

Funky Gourmet earned two MICHELIN stars and a place on The World's 50 Best list. Its avant-garde reinterpretations of Greek classics redefined Athenian fine dining.

What should I look for when choosing a restaurant in Greece?

Look for cooking and produce, not a view tax. Many caldera-edge spots charge for the backdrop, not the food. Order broadly and share at a mezedopoleio. Book ahead in season and drink local Assyrtiko.

What is the best restaurant in Athens for a special occasion?

Spondi is the top choice — a two-Michelin-star room with French-technique-driven tasting menus, a romantic courtyard, and one of the deepest wine cellars in Greece. Reserve well ahead.

Sources

flowchart TD S["Best places to dine in greece"] S --> R0["1. Spondi"] S --> R1["2. Karamanlidika tou Fani"] S --> R2["3. Funky Gourmet Chef's Legacy"] S --> R3["4. Varoulko Seaside"] S --> R4["5. Selene"]
flowchart LR A["Choosing places to dine in greece"] --> B{"Budget first?"} B -->|"No"| C["Spondi"] B -->|"Yes"| D{"Need every feature?"} D -->|"Yes"| E["Varoulko Seaside"] D -->|"No"| F["CTC Urban Gastronomy"]

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