1. Chryssa-Chryssa, exuberant, generous and delicious homemade cuisine
Chryssa-Chryssa: Mediterranean cuisine and home-cooked dishes in Keramikos
Βorn and bred in the neighbourhood of Petralona, where she returned after a short tasty trip to Keramikos, Chryssa has been famous in the Athenian gastronomy since 1991. What Chryssa wanted all along and has finally accomplished was to create a restaurant in which everyone would have the chance not only to eat but, more importantly, to eat well. Thus, in this welcoming space that gathers all kinds of people, families, students, couples, groups of friends and colleagues who come here after work for a good meal, you will enjoy fine Mediterranean food, as a mom would prepare it for her children. And what’s more, without any compromise in the quality of raw ingredients and always at prices that anyone can afford, as already mentioned.
The menu includes exuberant and generous dishes, such as baby goat marinated in white wine, honey and wild thyme, and served with French fries that may well be one of the most delicious baby goat recipes in Athens, shi drum fricassee, as well as shrimps with dill and ouzo in crawfish bisque. Equally unforgettable is the crispy pork shank, the sea bass with olive oil and lemon sauce served with celeriac purée and Greek almyra or stamnagathi wild greens, as well as the amazing potato salad with rustic sausage and cheddar sauce. You can accompany all the above with selected wines from Greek vineyards from Tuesday to Saturday, 17.30-00.30, and on Sundays from noon.
Kallisthenous & 40 Eoleon Street, Tel. 213 0356879
2. Philosopheat Wine Restaurant, the artistic cosy spot with Greek and Italian flavours
At Philosopheat Wine Restaurant, you can find a large variety of Greek dishes made from high-quality raw ingredients and more than 100 special wine labels.
“As the sun goes down, enjoy an afternoon under the Acropolis rock, with relaxing music and songs”, this is the motto of Philosopheat Wine Restaurant. At the most picturesque pedestrian street in the centre of Athens, in a neoclassical building of 1850 with Italian style and ethnic music, you will get a taste of old-world Athens and enjoy the best version of classic Greek appetizers. As its name suggests, Philosopheat focuses on high-quality raw ingredients and the overall philosophy of food. From early in the morning, you can have your coffee as well as an inviting Greek breakfast with freshly-made bread, kasseri cheese, graviera cheese, tomato, olives, eggs, yoghurt with honey or jam of your choice. Next comes the fluffy and crispy, freshly-baked focaccia that is served with an assortment of freshly-sliced charcuterie and cheese. Whichever you choose to have, for example, Greek focaccia with prosciutto di Parma, vegan or even a sweet version of focaccia, you will definitively enjoy it to the fullest. Another classic option is the cured meat and cheese platter, while the freshly-cut salads, such as the burrata salad with citrus slices or the Caprese salad, the handmade tapas that are served in 4-8 or 12 pieces, the traditional pies like the tasty greens pie, the enticing appetizers, the heavenly grilled vegetables, the delicious appetizers and the cured fish options, such as marinated anchovy fillet, salmon slices and vinegar-marinated octopus, are all options that well deserve a place at your table. Accompany your meal with a glass of wine, choosing among the more than 100 special labels that you will find available here and finish this delightful experience with a traditional Greek sweet, such as the succulent and crunchy Greek custard pie (i.e., the famous galaktoboureko) or our favourite bergamot spoon sweet.
3 Mnisikleous Street, Tel. 211 7508091
3. Usurum Gastrobar, In this yard, you may as well spend the entire summer!
A new arrival in Psiri, Usurum Gastrobar recently opened on Lepeniotou Street and, judging from the experience of its owners, something tells us that very soon it will become the all-day spot that was missing in this neighbourhood. With a fabulous big yard, like an oasis in the centre of the city, Usurum Gastrobar opens early in the morning and serves speciality coffee varieties as well as delicious brunch options (until 16.00). On the menu you will find various intriguing choices, from our part we suggest the delicious scrambled eggs, the unforgettable baklava pancakes as well as the delightful blueberries pancakes.
As the sun starts to set in the afternoon, Usurum is transformed into the ideal after-office spot to enjoy a well-made signature cocktail or dinner in the cool and refreshing yard or the cosy indoor garden. Note that it is also worth visiting Usurum later in the evening, since every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, as well as on Sundays from early in the evening, there is a party with different DJs selecting the best house music! Open daily from 08.00 to 01.00, on Friday and Saturday until 03.00.
19 Lepeniotou Street, Tel. 212 0002363
4. Chelona Athens, the secret rooftop in Ermou Street
The philosophy behind Chelona restaurant stems from the nutritional dimension of the Mediterranean lifestyle. With the desire to exude passion, love, hospitality and quality, this restaurant offers a gastronomic journey of taste that transcends borders. The food is the result of a combination of the freshest ingredients, attention to detail and appearance, as well as distinct flavours, prepared with a wonderful touch of creativity. The cocktails are created by the Bar Academy instructor, Alexis Kontinis. The menu includes many intriguing options and the certified sommelier of the restaurant, Konstantinos Tsatsaris, is there to suggest the right wine depending on the occasion, tastes and flavours. An impressive gastronomic experience that is harmoniously combined with an extensive range of drinks and rare spirits that bear the signature of Cava Nectar. Here, you will find a huge list of premium drinks, while the whole procedure can be done in reverse i.e., you can choose the wine you prefer from the cellar and enjoy it in the tranquil environment of the restaurant on the first floor, where you will appreciate the even more unique and exotic rooftop of the restaurant, which always delights all visitors. Make your reservation and live a unique dining experience!
21 Ermou Street, Athens , Tel. 210 322224324
5. Blue Bamboo, a wonderful journey into the flavours of Thailand
Blue Bamboo is one of the first restaurants that introduced us to authentic Thai cuisine and has been operating since 2014 in the lively neighbourhood of Petralona, having made loyal friends who visit the place again and again. In a minimal welcoming space with tables and benches shared by groups of friends in the interior space and some tables outside, Blue Bamboo will take you on a wonderful culinary journey to Thailand, using top-quality ingredients in its open kitchen while still managing to keep its prices at levels that can easily be characterized as affordable for everyone.
In the carefully selected menu, which is regularly updated with new suggestions, you will find appetizers, salads, traditional soups, noodles and main dishes, while there are also daily dishes, like the steamed squid stuffed with minced pork and transparent noodles in a sauce made of Chinese mushroom and ginger! A new addition is the delightful duck with red curry sauce, fresh basil and lychee, while rice noodles with tamarind sauce, peanut, bean sprouts and coconut sugar are simply delicious. You can accompany all these dishes with a signature cocktail or a cocktail with a twist and classic Asian notes, Thai beers, as well as selected wines from Greek vineyards, in a place that will surely become one of your favourites. Open from Monday to Friday 18.00-02.00 and on the weekends 13.00-01.00.
24 Kidantidon Street, Tel. 210 3423124
6. Koulourades, when traditional taste becomes a daily morning habit
Who doesn’t feel nostalgic for those family walks to the White Tower of Thessaloniki or Syntagma Square on Sundays when, as a child, the first thing you used to hear was “Fresh sesame bagels!” and the second one was pigeons gathering around you and nibbling on sesame seeds? Or for the street vendor of bagels outside the schoolyard, hawking his freshly-baked sesame bagels?
As soon as this smell reaches the nose of the passersby, it triggers images, sounds, flavours, emotions and memories! This is how we want our mornings to be and we may very well make our wish come true in any of the 155 stores of Koulourades.
At Koulourades, the bakers passionately prepare bagels for every taste, using the traditional Greek recipe of the past, taking into account modern dietary needs and creating new flavour trends!
What to choose first? A classic sesame bagel? Or a bagel with a savoury or sweet filling? On weekdays, when you are in a hurry, the huge variety is tempting your palate. You feel the urge to taste everything! As soon as the freshly-baked bagel reaches your mouth, time stops… It’s as if you fall in love at first sight!
You immediately think about people at work. A bagel for everyone, what could be a better way to say good morning? Of course, you know everyone’s taste! One for your vegan friend, one without added sugar for the colleague who watches her diet and a sandwich bagel for the afternoon cravings– you get the point!
At Koulourades, the staff will greet you with love, passion and a warm smile. Don’t forget to accompany your breakfast with an aromatic, full-bodied coffee made from the exclusive variety of Koulourades, which you won’t find anywhere else. Trust us, you won’t regret it!
72 Trion Ierarchon Street
7. Ubuntu, a speciality coffee shop with lots of character
A New Age café in a more hipster version at Thisio
For a year and a half now, Ubuntu has been embracing the people of the neighbourhood, just as they have been embracing it back. This New Age cafe - however in a more hipster version – is famous for making coffee with lots of character and has become a daily meeting spot. The day begins with the best coffee and a sweet good morning from Nikos, Christos, Ivi and Kostas at this popular hangout place. The coffee blend from Handpickers Coffee Roasters consists of three different varieties from Brazil, with a strong aroma and taste of nuts and chocolate, as well as a choice of single-origin coffee with more acidity that alternates from time to time between Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica and Ethiopia. There is also a special drink, a carbonated drink with Club-Mate caffeine extract, based on mate (the traditional Argentine beverage) – you should definitively try it. The shop offers delicious savoury and sweet dishes, which are prepared daily with fresh ingredients, including many vegan options. The most popular dish is the Sandwich Meating with juicy chicken, prosciutto, parmesan and basil pesto. There is also a lending library, because what could be nicer than enjoying a good coffee in the company of a good book? Open daily from 07.00 to 20.00.
Extra tip: the place often hosts exciting events such as vintage (mostly) clothing bazaars, cycling races, as well as reggae and hip-hop parties on Sundays.
58 Nileos Street, Tel. 210 3410566
