City Guide – Athens, Greece

Athens has quietly become one of the most exciting dining cities in Europe. Whether you’re looking for a Michelin-starred tasting menu or a memorable rooftop dinner with the Acropolis lit up before you, the city delivers. Please contact your hotel concierge for additional recommendations, but here are a few suggestions to get you started.

FINE DINING AND SPECIAL OCCASION

Spondi Address: 5 Pyrronos Street, Pangrati, Athens 116 36 Reservations required Cuisine: Contemporary French, Mediterranean influence Price range: €€€€ Website: www.spondi.gr

The first restaurant in Greece to earn a Michelin star and still one of the most celebrated. Set in a romantic candlelit courtyard in the Pangrati neighborhood near the Panathenaic Stadium, Spondi is a landmark of Greek gastronomy. Chef Arnaud Bignon’s menu is seasonal, elegant, and French in its precision while rooted in Mediterranean sensibility. If you are marking a special occasion, there is no finer address in Athens.

Tudor Hall Address: King George Hotel, 7th Floor, Syntagma Square, Athens 105 64 Reservations required Evening dress code: Smart casual required; no sportswear Cuisine: Contemporary Greek Price range: €€€€ Website: www.tudorhall.gr

On the seventh floor of the historic King George Hotel, Tudor Hall delivers one of the most dramatic dining views in the city. Acropolis to one side, Syntagma Square below, candlelight throughout. Chef Nikos Livadias presents modern Greek cuisine built on seasonal ingredients and thoughtful technique. The wine program, led by sommelier Evangelos Psofidis, is exceptional. A tasting menu option is available. Reserve a terrace table if possible.

GB Roof Garden Address: Hotel Grande Bretagne, 8th Floor, Syntagma Square, Athens 105 64 Reservations required; terrace tables book quickly Evening dress code: Smart casual required Cuisine: Mediterranean, contemporary Price range: €€€€ Website: www.gbroofgarden.gr

The rooftop restaurant of the landmark Grande Bretagne hotel, set against a panoramic sweep of the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill, and Syntagma Square. More lively and social than Tudor Hall next door, GB Roof Garden is excellent for cocktails and a stylish dinner with a crowd. Best enjoyed at dusk when the city begins to glow.

CLOSER TO THE CENTER / KOLONAKI

Papadakis Address: Near Mount Lycabettus, Kolonaki, Athens Reservations required Cuisine: Greek island-style seafood, fresh Mediterranean Price range: €€€ Website: www.papadakis.gr

Tucked into the elegant Kolonaki neighborhood at the foot of Lycabettus Hill, Papadakis is a beloved institution for refined Greek island cooking. Celebrity chef Argyro Barbarigou, who hails from Paros, draws on island traditions for her seafood-forward menu. Alfresco tables on the pavement terrace are lovely on warm evenings. A favorite of discerning Athenians.

GAY SCENE / GAZI AND NEARBY

The heart of LGBT Athens is the Gazi district, clustered around Keramikos Metro station. The neighborhood comes alive late. Most bars fill up after 11 p.m. and clubs rarely peak before 2 a.m. Plan accordingly and do not be put off by quiet streets early in the evening.

Del Sol Café Bar Address: Voutadon 44, Gazi, Athens Open daily; gets lively by 8 p.m. Cuisine: Coffee, cocktails, light meals, salads Website: www.thisisathens.org/nightlife/big-bar (see neighborhood guide at thisisathens.org)

A cornerstone of the Gazi gay scene and the ideal place to ease into an evening. Del Sol has a generous terrace, a relaxed crowd of locals and visitors, and house music that picks up as the night progresses. A great spot for people-watching and the kind of comfortable drink that does not feel like it needs to go anywhere.

Big Bar Address: Votanikos area, near Gazi (approximately 5 minutes from Keramikos Metro) Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 p.m. Closed Mondays. Atmosphere: Bear bar, friendly and no-attitude Website: www.thisisathens.org/nightlife/big-bar

Athens’ first bear bar, open since 2004. Big Bar is relaxed, welcoming, and a favorite warm-up venue before a night out in Gazi. The crowd skews toward bears and chasers but everyone is genuinely welcome. Good drinks, good music, and regulars who take pride in making visitors feel at home.

Sodade2 Address: Triptolemou 10, Gazi, Athens 118 54 Open Thursday through Monday; closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Friday and Saturday until 6 a.m. Atmosphere: Premier gay dance club, mainstream pop and house, two dance floors Note: Sodade2 operates primarily through social media and is not currently maintained as a standalone website. Search the name for current event listings.

The most iconic gay club in Athens, running for over 15 years. Sodade2 has two stages: the front room plays mainstream pop and hits, while the back room goes deeper into house and trance. On weekends it gets packed. Arrive before 1 a.m. to avoid lines. Greeks go out late and so does Sodade2.

Myrovolos Address: Avdi Square, Keramikos, Athens Open daily until late Cuisine: Full restaurant menu, excellent vegan selection, bar Atmosphere: Gay-popular café, bar, and restaurant on a lovely square

A gay-friendly and gay-popular bar and restaurant on a quiet square near the Gazi village. Myrovolos does double duty as a genuine restaurant with a full menu and strong vegan options, and as a late-night social spot. A great choice if you want to eat well and stay in the neighborhood.

LGBT Note

Athens passed same-sex marriage in February 2024 and its court system confirmed marriage equality and adoption rights in 2025. Gazi and the surrounding neighborhoods are openly queer and welcoming. As in any major city, use common sense in quieter streets after late hours.