10 Athens cafés, restaurants and bars to make summer last a little longer
Back from vacation and don’t want summer to end? We’ve got suggestions for coffee, food, and drinks in Athens that keep the summer vibe alive.
- 26/08/2025, 10:08
The first days after returning from holidays take time to adjust back to everyday life. It’s not easy for anyone: one day you’re waking up and lounging on the beach, enjoying sunsets at little tavernas, and the next you have to get up early to head to work.
Wanting to extend summer just a little longer, we’ve gathered some places worth visiting during those first days back, so the transition into daily routine might, perhaps, feel a bit smoother.
Start with coffee and breakfast at 72H Artisanal Bakery (Mitropoleos 27, Syntagma), filled with the aroma of freshly baked goodies. Try the sesame bread ring with cheese and egg or the spanakopita-style sandwich. But if you’ve got the time and feel like strolling through Athens while it’s still relatively quiet, grab a croissant and a coffee to go and enjoy the city.
A true staple for excellent coffee, Naif (Eurydamantos 15, Neos Kosmos) sets its tables under the trees of the spacious sidewalk behind the Onassis Foundation’s Stegi and serves not only coffee but also delicious food. This summer, beyond its burger and great salads, you might also come across pastitsio or stuffed vegetables on the menu. In the evening, say yes to a well-crafted negroni.
In Gazi, Mirlo has opened in the square on Elasidon Street (Elasidon 5, Gazi) from the team behind the famous Fayrouz, and it’s already getting plenty of buzz. Here you’ll taste meze with real flair, with kebab taking the lead. The yogurtlu kebab is made with lamb and served with kefir and sauce. The kontosouvli comes with muhammara, a roasted red pepper dip full of flavor and aroma. Don’t miss the beef liver with yogurt and charred lemon. Pair your meal with carefully selected Greek wines.
In the small courtyard of Ether (Priamou 2, Ilioupoli), you’ll try dishes full of character and deep flavor. Based on simple ingredients and focused on seasonality, the menu ranges from handmade pies and unique salads (like the one with amaranth greens, salicornia, grilled zucchini, and marinated roasted melon) to imam-style eggplants, kritharoto with shrimp, or the catch of the day. If you’re more of a meat eater, ask about the cut of the day when you visit.
One of the go-to spots we love returning to is Bella Vespa (Kyprou 11, Glyfada). In its lush green courtyard, everything always feels fresh and calm. Here you’ll enjoy comforting Italian cuisine, such as tagliatelle with wild mushrooms, parmesan cream, and fresh truffle, or Iberico pluma, pork shoulder from Iberico pigs with potato gratin and kale.
Staying in Glyfada, the new Dopios (Laodikis 31, Glyfada) is the well-known meze restaurant by Christoforos Peskias, which began in central Athens and now has its “southern” counterpart on Laodikis Street. The menu is identical to the one in the city center—meaning guaranteed quality—with meze based on Greek products and select producers, options from both sea and land, and plenty of vegetarian choices.
Heading back toward the center, Sembreviva (Kallirois 166, Petralona) is definitely worth mentioning. With its tables spread outside the refugee-era residence that houses it, this “edematopoieio” (roughly meaning “eatery”) feels like sitting in the square of a quaint provincial village. Here you’ll find tasty Greek dishes—often with a creative twist and made with excellent ingredients—as well as dozens of homemade liqueurs.
One Burger (Agathonos 7, Monastiraki), on the other hand, is not just a burger joint but an experience. In an impressive space with curves reminiscent of modern sculpture, it serves only two burgers and fries. Nothing else!
On August 28, Ioudas (Karori 5, Monastiraki) also returns from its summer break—the wine bar with the intriguing name that went viral on social media thanks to its neon signs. The “Christ and his mother” sign has been photographed countless times since it lit up. The wine list is carefully curated and features exclusively Greek labels.
A classic dry martini is best enjoyed in Ilisia, at Quinn’s (Maiandrou 7, Ilisia). The wooden bar and the striking painting—a replica of Hieronymus Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights”—immediately catch your eye as soon as you enter. Quinn’s is an authentic bar, the kind of place where good drinks are paired with conversations about everything under the sun.