The capital of Greek gastronomy is shifting south

Until a few years ago, the Athens Riviera was mainly associated with its historic fish taverns, summer nights out and Sunday walks by the sea. Today, however, the picture is completely different. From Faliro to Sounio, the coastal area has evolved into a gastronomic scene with international restaurant concepts, award-winning chefs, and new arrivals that shape the trends of Greek dining. It is no coincidence that more and more people choose to leave the city center behind, having a table in the south as their destination.

The major change started with the two-Michelin-starred Delta in the SNFCC and culminated when major hotel investments saw gastronomy as a key element of their identity. The Four Seasons Astir Palace in Vouliagmeni was the catalyst for the new era, bringing together under one roof some of the coastline’s most important names: The Michelin-starred Pelagos showcases modern Greek haute cuisine, Mercato radiates the deliciousness of Italian cuisine, Taverna 37 conveys the simplicity of the Greek tavern, and the brand new pop-up Zolotas Private Beach highlights the simple summer flavors cooked over fire and parrilla. All together, they complete a gastronomic universe that is difficult to find in any other urban destination in the Mediterranean. At the same time, Beefbar shows Athens a new culture around premium meat and Matsuhisa continues its successful course with the signature of Nobu Matsuhisa.

Meanwhile, at One&Only Aesthesis in Glyfada, Ora by Ettore Botrini pairs modern Mediterranean tradition with the chef’s Greek-Italian heritage, the Peruvian-inspired Manko is already a reference point in the international network of lifestyle restaurants, and Sumosan showcases modern Japanese gastronomy. At Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens, also in Glyfada, Sebastian has managed to stand out thanks to its unpretentious bistro style and Mediterranean flavors, while Sora introduces itself as a special rooftop spot with pan-Asian cuisine. In Kavouri, the Atlantis Lounge of Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso also draws inspiration from the Mediterranean and its surroundings, combining relaxed dining with unbeatable view.

However, it soon became clear that the Riviera’s success would not be limited to the large resorts. Successful restaurants that had already built a strong identity in other neighborhoods of the city began to see the Riviera as the next step. Thus, Christoforos Peskias’ Dopios established its presence in Glyfada and Basegrill left the narrow streets of Peristeri to appear before a completely different audience. Glyfada, a commercial neighborhood of the southern suburbs, began to transform into one of the most vibrant gastronomic hubs in the country. Alongside established brands in the area, such as Feedel, which celebrates modern Greek cuisine, and Tartare, one of the oldest French restaurants in Athens, new interesting concepts appeared: An indicative example is Anapsiktirio, which has stood out from the very beginning for its nostalgic vibes and Greek flavors. At the same time, the meat-centric Beastalis, the Italian Bella Vespa, and Feedel Asador express different aspects of modern urban dining, all scattered in the seaside suburb that until a few years ago no one had on their map for good food.

The seaside has also acquired its own destination restaurants, for which visitors are willing to cross the entire city of Athens. Bagatelle Athens in Astir Marina has brought the air of the French Riviera to the city, while Abra Ovata (at Vouliagmeni Lake), Bungalow 7 and, most recently, Asteria Rooftop (both in Asteria Glyfada) prove that creative Greek and Mediterranean cuisine can stand on an equal footing with international brands, attracting both residents and visitors from abroad. Ark, also in historic Asteria, and Colonial in the lush green Golf of Glyfada, are now favorite spots in the area.

A few kilometers further away, where the horizon opens and the natural landscape dominates, the Island Athens Riviera remains a timeless top destination for those who wish to combine food with entertainment, while in Vouliagmeni and Voula new arrivals and renewed proposals, such as the temples of fish cuisine Casa Fish Athens and BlueFish, and The C Beach Restaurant with its Mediterranean menu, further enrich the gastronomic mosaic of the coastline.

Of course, the legacy brands of the coastal area not only did not lose their place, but also gained a new audience, renewing a long-standing relationship of trust. For seafood lovers, Papaïoannou in Kavouri continues to be a reference point for excellent raw materials, Ithaki remains one of the most emblematic destinations in Vouliagmeni, while Lambros (opposite Lake Vouliagmeni) and Delfinia in Glyfada move along the same lines. Astakos, in the 2nd Marina of Glyfada, is also an established seafood destination; together with the new entry Synaxis in Vouliagmeni, which emphasizes meat and open-fire cuisine, they prove that authentic flavors can create interesting – and highly successful – new gastronomic concepts. The element that unites them is the common understanding that the modern restaurant offers not only good food; it offers aesthetics, hospitality and a lifestyle perfectly suited to the character of the Athens Riviera.

Perhaps this is also the greatest achievement of the area. There is no single recipe for success, nor a dominant type of cuisine. The Athens Riviera has managed to create an ecosystem where haute gastronomy, international brands, historic destinations and new businesses coexist harmoniously, attracting different audiences. The future of Greek dining is now being written in the South.

Delta, 364 Syngrou Ave., Kallithea, tel.: (+30) 698 665 7553

Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens, 1 Artemisiou Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 210 022 0188 (Sebastian, Sora)

Delfinia, 5 Diadochou Pavlou Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 210 894 3303

Colonial, End of Konstantinou Karamanli Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 210 342 0002

Tartare, 52 A. Panagouli Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 210 968 0320

Bella Vespa, 11 Kyprou Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 210 898 2880

Beastalis, 9 Kyprou Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 216 900 9911

Feedel Asador, 19 Kyprou Str. & 24 Napoleontos Zerva Str., Glyfada tel.: (+30) 210 898 0066

Astakos, 46 Diadochou Pavlou Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 210 894 7342

Base Grill, 5 Zisimopoulou Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 210 898 5848

Dopios Glyfada, 31 Laodikis Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 210 898 1747

Anapsiktirio, 74 Kyprou Str., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 212 105 4489

Bungalow 7, Asteria Rooftop, 110 Poseidonos Ave, Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 211 190 7001 – 211 190 7007

One&Only Aesthesis, 110 Poseidonos Ave., Glyfada, tel.: (+30) 216 686 1000 (Ora by Ettore Botrini, Sumosan, Manko)

The C Beach Restaurant, 4 Akti Voulas Str., tel.: (+30) 210 220 2890

Casa Fish, 18 Konstantinou Karamanli Ave., Voula, tel.: (+30) 210 899 2454, (+30) 210 895 3076

Papaioannou, 2 Iliou Str., Kavouri, tel.: (+30) 211 100 1117

Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso, 10 Agiou Nikolaou Str., Vouliagmeni [Atlantis Lounge, tel.: (+30) 210 891 1100]

Ithaki, 28 Apollonos Str., Vouliagmeni, tel.: (+30) 210 896 3747

BlueFish, 4 Poseidonos Ave., Vouliagmeni, tel.: (+30) 210 967 1778

Synaxis, 17 Poseidonos Ave., Vouliagmeni, tel.: (+30) 210 890 0216

Lambros, 20 Poseidonos Ave., Vouliagmeni, tel.: (+30) 210 896 0144

Abra Ovata, Vouliagmeni Lake, tel.: (+30) 210 896 2220

Four Seasons Astir Palace, 40 Apollonos Str., Vouliagmeni [Pelagos, tel.: (+30) 210 890 1192; Beefbar, tel.: (+30) 210 967 0700; Matsuhisa, tel.: (+30) 210 896 0510; Mercato, tel.: (+30) 210 890 1199; Taverna 37, tel.: (+30) 210 890 1037; Zolotas Private Beach, tel.: (+30) 210 890 1000]

Bagatelle Athens, 77 Apollonos Str., Vouliagmeni, tel.: (+30) 214 444 8240

Island Athens Riviera, 27th km. Athens – Sounio Ave., Varkiza, tel.: (+30) 210 892 5000

The article was published in “The Table,” NouPou Media’s new premium publication dedicated to gastronomy on the Athenian Riviera.