Where to eat after your walk at the SNFCC: The best spots for seafood and meat nearby
A Sunday walk in the park of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, with activities for both kids and adults, followed by a good meal nearby. Here are three spots ideal for your Sunday outings at the park.
- 03/11/2025, 15:22
One of the city’s most classic Sunday morning destinations is none other than the SNFCC Park -or, as everyone calls it, the “Niarchos.” The open space with its canal, walking paths, Great Lawn, and various activities makes for an ideal setting for groups of friends, couples, and of course, families.
You can start your walk with a coffee to go (either from one of the park’s canteens or cafés), take a stroll around the canal, and then head up to the Lighthouse to enjoy the city view. Afterwards, make your way back down along the paths and lose yourself among olive trees and lavender bushes.
If you’re visiting with children, let them run around and play in the open space while you enjoy some conversation. The playground with its distinctive wooden structures is also lovely—though it doesn’t have swings! If, however, the little ones insist on swings, there’s a solution: head to the western side of the SNFCC, where you’ll find the open area with fitness equipment. From there, take the exit facing the Municipal Swimming Pool of Kallithea. Just to your left as you leave, you’ll find a large playground with swings and a climbing pyramid.
You can also check snfcc.org to see if there are any activities your children can take part in. Keep in mind, though, that most of these usually require advance booking.
Where to eat near the SNFCC
A visit to the SNFCC feels almost like a mini getaway within the city, and it’s worth wrapping up with a good meal at one of the nearby tavernas or restaurants. The area around the Cultural Center offers several options (including many fish taverns), so there’s no need to get back in the car.
Let’s start with fish and seafood: just behind the SNFCC, across from the Kallithea Swimming Pool, the taverna “Giagia Elisavet” (2 Navarchou Votsi Street) sets its tables along the wide sidewalk. Elisavet Alexandri, honored by the Ministry of National Defense as a woman-symbol of refuge and resilience, opened her taverna serving seafood. The space is simple, but the kitchen more than makes up for it: here you’ll enjoy red mullets, goatfish, fried anchovies, and golden calamari, accompanied by hand-cut fries and velvety fava. Ouzo or tsipouro is, of course, a must.
The most well-known fish taverna next to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, however, is Pezoulas, which has been serving seafood for around 75 years and is now run by the third generation. Its small courtyard evokes a Cycladic island taverna—and it’s always full (so be sure to book a table in advance). The dish Pezoulas is famous for is grilled langoustines, perfectly cooked with tender flesh and a delicious marinade. You can also try their excellent langoustine pasta, but you’ll need to order it when you make your reservation. Naturally, the catch of the day—grilled or fried—is always a great choice.
If, on the other hand, you’re in the mood for meat, head to 35 Lamprou Katsoni Street, where “Lykoi” is located—a relatively new restaurant specializing in meat. The menu is simple and straightforward, with dishes that respect the quality of their ingredients: half a chicken, a pork tomahawk weighing about 700 grams, and juicy black angus beef patties. Start with a Mediterranean salad with Thessaloniki koulouri, ragout beef rolls with cheddar, or a selection of fresh mushrooms.