Festive dining in Athens Riviera: where to eat out this holiday season

Anapsiktirio in Glyfada brings the holidays to a more relaxed pace, with a sense of nostalgia that’s hard to find elsewhere. With an unpretentious character and an atmosphere straight out of the ’90s, retro touches in the décor and an impressive open kitchen that makes you feel part of the experience, it’s a choice for those who want festive dining without stiff formalities.

The menu by Thanos Feskos and Dimitris Chatzidimitriou focuses on comfort Greek flavours with a contemporary touch, ideal for sharing and relaxed holiday gatherings, while the distinctive cocktails definitely add to the seasonal mood. During Christmas and New Year’s, Anapsiktirio becomes an ideal meeting spot for groups looking for good food, music and a warm setting… with Friends playing on the wall and suddenly giving you the same sense of cosiness as a lazy Sunday afternoon on your living room sofa.

En Plo in Vouliagmeni is one of those restaurants that instantly connect the holidays with the sea. With the waves almost breaking at your feet, where the shoreline meets the impressive Aegean sunset, it offers a festive setting of relaxed luxury in an idyllic landscape, ideal for those who want to escape the usual choices.

Its cuisine is based on quality fish and seafood, with an emphasis on Italian flavours and options that are enriched during the holiday season to suit the festive table. The atmosphere remains warm and welcoming, while live music evenings add yet another reason to choose it for festive dining along the Athens Riviera.

With panoramic views embracing the Saronic Gulf and an atmosphere that perfectly balances timeless elegance with contemporary luxury, Ithaki in Vouliagmeni is a constant value for festive dining in the south. During the Christmas and New Year period, the restaurant takes on an even more radiant character, offering an experience that starts with the setting and culminates on the plate.

Ithaki’s cuisine focuses on quality ingredients and clean, refined flavours, with dishes that combine Mediterranean philosophy and modern techniques. Seafood, selected meats and carefully curated festive creations come together in a menu ideal for special occasions, whether it’s a New Year’s Eve dinner or a celebratory meal with loved ones.

Beastalis in Glyfada is not just a steak restaurant, but a place where meat is treated with absolute respect, knowledge and technique. As reflected in its philosophy, every cut is carefully selected, properly aged and precisely cooked to highlight the pure, authentic flavour of the ingredient.

The holidays find Beastalis in its natural role: ideal for festive dining with character, without excess but with substance. The menu gives meat the leading role, accompanied by simple yet meaningful sides, while the service team acts as a guide, helping shape the experience at the table. The urban, warm space and its serious approach to gastronomy make it an excellent choice for holiday tables with friends who truly appreciate good meat.

Pelagos at the Four Seasons Astir Palace in Vouliagmeni is a point of reference for those seeking high gastronomy year-round, even more so during the festive season. With views over the endless blue and a sense of absolute elegance, the restaurant offers an experience perfectly suited to high-standard celebratory dinners.

Pelagos’ cuisine follows contemporary Mediterranean paths, with an emphasis on excellent ingredients, balanced flavours and precise techniques. Its established menu is also an ideal choice for the holidays, combining luxury and finesse without excess. It’s the option for those who want to experience the festive season in a resort setting, where every detail—from service to the final dish—radiates festive perfection.

Jerar, the bistro by Haris Nikolouzos and Giorgos Kavaklis, is among the restaurants that place emphasis on detail and a contemporary gastronomic approach. In an elegant, minimal space, it offers dishes based on seasonality and clean flavour, successfully putting Dafni on the gastronomic map for foodies everywhere.

During the holidays, Jerar is an ideal choice for those who want a refined festive dinner without exaggeration, with dishes that balance creativity and warmth. The atmosphere is calm, almost intimate, and suits both romantic dinners and small groups. A restaurant that proves festive dining can be modern, serious and enjoyable at the same time.

O’live Restaurant on the rooftop of Dusit Suites Athens in Glyfada places gastronomy at the centre of this year’s festivities, proposing a complete festive experience that extends throughout the holiday season. Under the guidance of new Executive Chef Jean Charles Métayer, O’live adopts a contemporary Franco-Mediterranean approach, translated into dishes that are carefully crafted, familiar and satisfying, with no trace of pretension.

The festive menus embrace the sense of indulgence that the season allows and demands, featuring welcome drinks, refined amuse-bouches, winter soups, creative salads, technically accomplished fish and meat dishes, and desserts that act as a celebratory finale. At the same time, signature cocktails, special wine selections and festive bar options complete the experience perfectly.

The setting is equally defining: panoramic views over the Saronic Gulf and the Athens Riviera, a warm atmosphere, natural materials and a sense of intimacy that feels more like an elegant living room than a hotel restaurant.

O Italos is one of those restaurants that remind you why Italian cuisine is always a good idea for the holidays. Without excess or elaborate forms, it focuses on the essence: quality ingredients, authentic recipes and dishes made to be shared.

Fresh pasta, pizzas with proper dough and comforting Italian classics create a table that feels more like a family gathering than a formal night out. The space is warm and friendly, ideal for groups and families who want to celebrate without formality but with an emphasis on flavour and good mood. For festive dining in the south with a relaxed character and an Italian heart, O Italos remains a reliable choice that never disappoints.

Pere Ubu in Glyfada is one of those restaurants that combine character and substance, which is exactly why they work so well during the holidays. With a strong personality, contemporary aesthetics, impressive cocktails and a kitchen that loves clean flavours but isn’t afraid of creative twists, it offers an alternative option for festive outings.

The menu follows a more comfort-driven philosophy, catering both to those who want something more “casual” yet tasty and to those who enjoy full tables with dishes that have character and a clear identity. The space, beautiful and lively, creates the ideal atmosphere for festive dinners without formality—perfect for groups looking for good food, great energy and an experience slightly different from the usual.

Riviera Coast is the definition of contemporary seaside dining in the south, combining effortless style, a cosmopolitan aura and an open horizon that serves as a setting in itself. With sea views and an atmosphere that balances relaxed ease with refinement, it’s an ideal choice for festive tables that want to move away from a strictly formal framework.

The cuisine, under the guidance of chef Giorgos Pappas, follows Mediterranean and comfort rhythms, with dishes made for sharing that enhance the feeling of togetherness and celebration. During Christmas and New Year’s, Riviera Coast becomes a meeting point for those who want good food, music and the sea in the same frame, opting for a more relaxed yet equally festive dining experience along the Athenian Riviera.