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CTC Urban Gastronomy

In the backyard of a neoclassical building in the center of Athens surrounded by apartment buildings from the 50s, chef Alexandros Tsiotinis has created a space where Greek cuisine meets French techniques and international inspiration that earned him a Michelin star. Do not miss the CTC Voyage, a blind tasting menu of 11 courses, and try it with the wine pairing recommended for the full experience. The dishes are a mystery until the moment presented to you, but you can hope for corn soup flavoured with lobster, and possibly an avocado dessert. Oh, and the service here is impeccable: the waiters could be choreographed.

To Kati Allo

We’re letting you in on a little secret with To Kati Allo. It has no website and no Instagram, and it’s tucked away down a little side street in Athens, round the corner from the Acropolis Museum. To Kati Allo is run by a local family over two generations, serving up simple, good, home-cooked Greek food that will likely be the best meal you have there. You can watch the chefs at work from its open kitchen, and the tiny tavern feels really understated. There’s no menu, so we can’t tell you what to order, but just trust us – whatever they serve up will amaze you. Ta Karamanlidika Tou Fani

This Byzantine pastomageireio, a tavern and deli in one spot, is set in a neoclassical house. Expect an array of Greek cheeses and cold cuts. The restaurant serves traditional regional dishes, like fried aubergine and zucchini in a Cappadocian sauce or saganaki cheese, served with a slice of dried meat called pastourma, beef sausage and eggs.

Cookoovaya

Cookoovaya in Greek means owl, and like the wise bird, Periklis Koskinas brings his own wisdom into his dishes. Here you’ll try Greek cuisine at its best, pushing the boundaries of fine dining with shareable dishes, like the grilled octopus with fava or the tarama with grilled phyllo. Here you’ll find Greek pies with a modern twist, (like the one with Greek beef filet, black pork bacon, mushrooms and fresh truffle), and for the full tasting experience, the restaurant created three different menus as an introduction to their cooking philosophy. And there’s a vegan one.

Klimataria

This family-run taverna has been going strong since 1927, offering evenings packed with Mediterranean food, music and dance – a combination Greeks love. The tis oras – a grilled meat platter – is a must. It includes biftekia, grilled meat patties seasoned with spices, as well as lamb and pork chops. Plus, considering Klimataria translates as ‘grape vines’, it’s no surprise the wine served here is always excellent.

Hytra

Greek cuisine is always elegantly presented at this Michelin-starred restaurant on the sixth floor of the Onassis Cultural Centre. Here, dishes are created with wild herbs, fresh vegetables, meat and seafood sourced from nearby. A multi-course menu encourages anyone new to Greek cuisine to indulge in its most distinctive flavours through dishes like tomato trout with pickled strawberries and savoro oysters. There’s also an array of imaginative desserts.