A local’s food and drink guide to Nea Smyrni: Brunch, pizza, meze and more
From restaurants and all-day spots for brunch or coffee to a legendary bar and tried-and-true patisseries: a delicious guide to Nea Smyrni with recommendations for food, drinks and sweets.
- 03/11/2025, 15:04
“See you at the square”: this phrase and others like it could easily sum up the way people of Nea Smyrni arrange to meet for coffee.
Nea Smyrni Square has always been a meeting point for locals. There is hardly anyone who has passed through Nea Smyrni without sitting down or at least walking around its square. Open, with its distinctive fountains and the pyramid that kids always try to climb, the square is a daily gathering place.
The area is buzzing with life at all hours of the day: older people sit in the mornings sipping their Greek coffee while discussing politics and football. Students and office workers take a break enjoying their coffee or brunch, while by midday children and teenagers walk through with their school bags, fresh out of class.
Nea Smyrni Square might just be one of the liveliest in Athens, and one where locals truly treat it as an extension of their home.
Five years ago, Nea Smyrni was included in the Guardian readers’ list of the 10 best neighborhoods in Europe, a distinction that filled its residents with pride. Of course, time brings changes. Longstanding establishments close, taking with them a small piece of the square’s identity—though without erasing its “soul.”
Naturally, Nea Smyrni is not just its square. Its neighborhoods, whether Upper or Lower Nea Smyrni, have their own haunts. You’ll find irresistible brunch at Plateia Anixis, Neapolitan pizza at Fistikies—locals know this one well—and delicious souvlaki tucked away in a narrow side street off Artakis.
So where do we go for coffee and food in Nea Smyrni?
Your morning coffee starts at Healthix. The yellow shop across from the “Evangeliki Scholi” tram stop is where your day begins, pairing your first freddo espresso with a healthy overnight oat. If you’re watching your diet, there are also refreshing, tasty bowls perfect for lunch at the office.
If you’re more traditional, head to Nikos in the morning, a true neighborhood gathering spot. His handmade cheese pie comes out piping hot, and the aroma of his baked goods fills the entire block.
When it comes to all-day spots, the options are endless. At Plateia Anixis, which has really flourished in recent years, you’ll find Popolo. In its hidden courtyard, bathed in sunlight in the morning, you can enjoy a crispy, handmade leek tart with your coffee—the sweetness of the leeks contrasted with smoky bacon, parmesan, and goat’s chèvre. By evening, switch to spritz with pizza and bao buns.
On the square, Gaston is a longtime favorite for many Nea Smyrni locals and beyond. This all-day café has evolved and upgraded its menu, where every dish is carefully crafted. It also serves one of the best club sandwiches in the area.
Just a few meters from the square, one of the newest arrivals is Fred. This all-day destination has stood out in recent years for its minimal aesthetic and, of course, its menu. The coffee is excellent, the brunch menu full of interesting choices, and the pinsa—especially the burrata-pepperoni—is sheer delight. We recommend it for dinner too.
And since we’re talking pizza: Nea Smyrni has both classic pizzerias and newer arrivals bringing Neapolitan cuisine to the neighborhood. Pizza Zeas is a local institution, serving its signature Canadian-style pizza with a unique sauce for the past 50 years—its loyal patrons wouldn’t trade it for any other. For great value wood-fired Neapolitan pizza in a no-frills setting that feels like an old-school pizzeria, head up to Efksinou Pontou and Agias Sofias to Le Pizze Di San Gennaro—or just order at home through the usual apps.
If you’d rather not leave the square but also want to avoid the crowds, grab a table at the Italian restaurant Vissente. The food—whether pasta or pizza—is excellent, which is why you’ll always see it full. It’s also perfect for first dates thanks to its warm atmosphere.
For those who prefer the food and vibe of a modern mezedopoleio, Nostos Meze stands out right across from Estia. It came to fill a gastronomic gap in the area and, as it turns out, it succeeded. The chicken kontosouvli is tender and flavorful, while the meatballs in tomato sauce are pure comfort.
Sporos at Plateia Skatzouraki is also known for its meze and ouzo, while for Greek cuisine with a modern twist you should try Honolulu, with its stylish retro feel. The menu ranges from beef tagliata to hünkâr beğendi and traditional pasta.
On the border of Nea Smyrni and Neos Kosmos, Niotena radiates warmth, and although it only opened a few months ago, you’ll find it packed most nights. Tasty dishes are placed in the center to share, accompanied by wine or spirits from a very well-curated list.
For wine, you can also visit Karolos. “Hidden” in the arcade of a commercial building on busy Omirou, this wine bar has a fun vibe and a selection of Greek wines from producers worth discovering.
For a different take on souvlaki wraps, head to Mple Souvlakia. Try the rooster sausage or chicken soutzoukaki souvlaki for something unique. Still, the chicken gyro or skewers won’t disappoint either, since all the meats here are of top quality.
In Nea Smyrni you’ll also find cuisines from around the world. For Turkish food, at the well-known Döner Tzh (again toward Neos Kosmos), the doner is slow-cooked in a cast-iron rotisserie. It would feel like a lucky neighborhood discovery if it weren’t so popular that you now need a reservation to get a table. The standout dish: mantı with yogurt sauce.
Kenko, a Japanese restaurant that has become a local favorite, serves excellent sushi and raw dishes—don’t miss the oysters and shrimp tempura bao buns. Among the mains, the crispy duck is delicious and very filling.
Right next door, Pueblo Chido brings a Latin American vibe to the upper part of the square. Try the tacos with caramelized pork belly, picanha slices, and chicken burrito. If you love spicy food, ask for the Carolina peppers.
For Mexican, though, a timeless stop is Amigos: present in Nea Smyrni since 2007 (and since 1995 in Glyfada!), it is now the historic Mexican hangout of the Southern Suburbs of Athens. Its fajitas, served sizzling hot on cast iron with guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, and tortillas, are a must. As are the cocktails—beyond the classic margarita, we recommend trying the Paloma Tradicional.
On Ikoniou Street, Black Lotus, a small Vietnamese spot, is barely visible on the ground floor of an apartment building. Here you can warm yourself with a Vietnamese beef soup.
Time for drinks
If we’re not just talking cocktails and aperitifs, but drinks the way we used to mean them, then the destination is Epitokio: a legendary bar. Generations of Nea Smyrni locals have passed through its counter, and it still holds on to its authentic character. Inside you’ll enjoy yourself in an all-time classic rock bar, while the tables on the spacious sidewalk are almost always full.
Desserts at Nea Smyrni patisseries
Nea Smyrni’s sweet side reveals itself at its patisseries. At Dolce Casa, the birthday cakes of our childhood parties have made history. The patisserie on Agias Sofias is always a stop before visits, for a cake and some treats.
At Amelie, the American-style cakes are unbeatable. The carrot cake is silky smooth, while the forest fruit cheesecake is something you won’t want to end. You can even try them with your coffee at one of the tables.
Prodromos is famous for its lemon pie and New York cheesecake, but we strongly recommend trying (if you can find it) the handmade ice cream.
Sweet Corner, tucked away in a little side street off Omirou, has been around for years and has remained faithful to quality, keeping its loyal customers. The tsourekia with mastiha and mahlep are fragrant, and the traditional Smyrna cookies are made year-round. But if you ask us, go for the family-sized profiterole.