7 romantic restaurants in Athens for the best date night
What could be more romantic than dining with a view of the ancient Acropolis towering over the capital of modern Greece? Athens is a deeply historic city that nevertheless remains a vibrant and lively place to visit, and in this sprawling city of marble statues and diesel fumes, you'll encounter one contradiction after another.
You'll also encounter some absolutely delicious food. Greek cuisine focuses on fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods, bringing you the best of the Mediterranean climate. Plus, dining in an authentic Greek restaurant offers more than just high-quality cuisine. Local ingredients make for excellent flavors, but it's the incredible hospitality of the Greek people that makes for a truly special occasion. Dinner in Athens lasts hours and hours and can easily take up the whole evening.
Whether you're into fine dining with a romantic atmosphere or would rather sample delicious street food from the city's many tavernas, you don't have to go far in Athens to find a remarkable restaurant for a romantic dinner. Leave your bags behind at a Bounce luggage storage in Athens and check out some of these romantic restaurants for a memorable date night in Greece.
Fuga
As far as options for a romantic date night go, it's hard to beat an exceptional concert followed by a lavish dinner. And Fuga, set within the grounds of Athens Concert Hall, is the perfect place to follow a great performance with an excellent meal in one of the city's most romantic restaurants.
The chefs of Greece are justifiably proud of the unique flavors of Greek cuisine, but you'll find much more than that on offer in this fine dining establishment. Fuga takes a truly international approach to food, combining recipes from Europe, Latin America, and Asia to create something absolutely unique. Fusion dishes like ossobuco gyoza, sea bream yakitori, and traditional Greek lamb chops with a salsa verde twist are a testament to the eclectic gastronomic suggestions you'll find here. Bring your significant other and a sense of adventure to one of the best restaurants in Athens, and you won't be disappointed.
Our recommendation:
Book ahead of time for your best shot at getting a table on the enchanting balcony. Offering extensive views of one of Athens' most vibrant green spaces, it feels a long way from the chaos of the city while still being centrally located.
Location:
Petrou Kokkali 1, Athina 115 21
Price level:
$$$
La Suite Lounge
Housed in the luxurious Hotel St George Lycabettus, a favorite haunt of movie stars, La Suite Lounge is an excellent choice for fine dining at the peak of the city. Lycabettus Hill may well be the perfect location in the city to watch a beautiful sunset, and it's only a short stroll downhill afterward to check out this incredible place to eat.
Needless to say, the view from here is exceptional. On warm days — hardly a rare occurrence in Athens — you can sit outside on the terrace of the rooftop bar and take in the whole city while you enjoy a drink or a meal. The brightly-lit ruins of the Acropolis are a hauntingly beautiful backdrop to any meal, but the chefs at La Suite ensure the exceptional view doesn't overshadow the excellent food. Focusing on local organic products, La Suite starts with quality ingredients and transforms them through challenging techniques to make delicious meals that look almost as good as they taste.
The menu here is noticeably European, with plenty of Greek classics on the menu, like an unusual take on the classic Greek salad. But you'll also find dishes from Italy and France on the menu here, along with international favorites like black Angus steak and lobster with hollandaise sauce. The menu is on the smaller side, but you can rest assured that there's more than enough here for vegetarians, omnivores, and everything in between. Plus, there's an exceptional wine list to accompany the stunning views and guarantee you a memorable night at one of Athens' best restaurants.
Our recommendation:
If your budget allows, start off with the seafood platter, with the freshest ingredients from the nearby Mediterranean guaranteed to satisfy seafood lovers while you enjoy the best views of Athens.
Location:
2, Kleomenous st, Athina 106 75
Price level:
$$$
L'Abreuvoir
Wherever there's fine dining, you'll find a chef or two flying the flag of France. That's as true in Athens as it is anywhere else in the world, and L'Abreuvoir is unquestionably one of the best places in the Greek capital to dine on delicious French cuisine made with local products.
The fairly nondescript storefront outside doesn't give many clues to what you'll find once you step through the door of this restaurant. With crisp white tablecloths, soft lighting, and efficiently elegant waitstaff, you'll feel as though you've been transported to one of the most well-heeled arrondissements of Paris. Out back, there's also a small and cozy courtyard shaded by mature trees that makes the perfect place to dine al fresco and enjoy the excellent Athens weather.
The menu here is based around French classics. Expect steak tartare and a coq au vin that is probably the best in the city. And make sure you leave room for dessert. The crepes Suzette are a specialty here and something you have to try when you have a chance. Plus, you won't be short of delicious things to drink, with a 28-page drinks list giving you plenty of options to pair with your meal.
Our recommendation:
Coq au vin might be simple in theory, but it takes real skill and a knowledge of French tradition to pull it off well. The chefs here know exactly what they're doing with this dish, making it an obvious standout on the menu here.
Location:
Xenokratous 51, Athina 106 76
Price level:
$$$$
GB Roof Garden
On the eighth floor of the Grande Bretagne hotel, you'll find one of Athens' best options for date night. After all, this is an astonishingly photogenic city, and if you get the chance to dine with a view, you should absolutely take it. GB Roof Garden provides a romantic atmosphere greatly enhanced by nighttime views of the Parthenon and the other ruins of the Acropolis, so you can't go wrong when you eat here. In fact, the Roof Garden feels as though it sits almost directly underneath Acropolis Hill, and it also provides views of lively Syntagma Square and many more of Athens' most famous attractions, so it's a top choice for intimate dates in the city, especially in the summer.
There is a dress code here, at least after 6 PM. Smart casual is good enough, so you don't need a tuxedo or a ball gown, but don't show up in flip-flops and shorts.
On the menu, you'll find the ubiquitous but always delicious Greek salad, along with some excellent seafood options like marinated seabass and grilled calamari. There are some inventive pasta dishes on the menu, like ravioli with smoked pancetta foam and pear or potato gnocchi with King crab. And if you're a fan of lamb, don't miss the trilogy of lamb chop, shoulder, and carré, which lets you sample this classic Greek meal at its very best.
Our recommendation:
If you're in the mood for seafood, the charcoal grilled fish of the day is always a good option, letting you sample whatever the best catch was on the day you visit.
Location:
1 Vasileos Georgiou A, Syntagma Square Str, Athina 105 64
Price level:
$$$$
The Olive Garden
Don't worry; this isn't the American chain of pseudo-Italian restaurants known for unlimited breadsticks and pasta dishes of dubious quality. The Olive Garden Athens is located on the top floor of the Titania Hotel and, like so many of the restaurants on this list, offers absolutely breathtaking views of the ancient city from its terrace. Executive chef Christos Tziliras oversees a menu that pays homage to Greek culinary tradition with black Angus steak, Serres goat, and Greek-style pasta that are big on flavor and a long way from what you'll find in corporate chain restaurants.
Although the dress code here isn't overly stuffy, sportswear, caps, and sneakers are frowned upon, so you may need to change before heading out for dinner here. Still, it's worth it to enjoy a traditional Greek menu elevated with international cooking techniques combined with an exquisite view of the city.
Our recommendation:
The Greek-style mixed grill is designed for sharing between two people, making it the perfect date night food. Feast on pork, chicken, lamb, and mixed vegetables, along with plenty of pita bread and tzatziki. On the other hand, there are plenty of options even for vegetarians, including vegetable moussaka, so you can enjoy traditional Greek food even if you don't eat meat.
Location:
Omonoia 52, Athina 106 78
Price level:
$$$
Dionysos Zonar's
Located almost right underneath the Acropolis Hill, Dionysus earns its place on this list with stunning views that make sure you won't forget where you are even for a moment. And when you consider that Dionysos was the Greek god of wine and pleasure, you have a good idea of what you're in for here.
The menu here is unapologetically Greek, with classic Mediterranean dishes like an excellent Greek salad and black seafood orzo on the menu. You will also find an enviable selection of seafood and some delicious meat-based dishes off the grill, including a ribeye black Angus. There's a separate section of the menu devoted to traditional Greek dishes, including braised veal, moussaka, and feta cheese in phyllo pastry, so you can enjoy the very best of what Greek cuisine has to offer here. The free-range lamb cooked in the pot is also a great option, designed as it is for two people to share.
Our recommendation:
If possible, try to time your reservation for dusk so you can see the fading sun on the romantic ruins above the city and watch the lights come on all over Athens. It's an unforgettable experience in this ancient city.
Location:
Rovertou Galli 43, Athina 117 42
Price level:
$$$
Orizontes Lycabettus
Lycabettus Hill is often regarded as one of the best and most romantic places in Athens. The highest peak in the city, you'll need to take a cable car to this legendary restaurant, but that only enhances the romantic atmosphere. You'll feel a long way away from the city as you tuck into marinated squid, freshly grilled lobster, and a rack of lamb. This restaurant combines traditional Greek food with more international options to make sure they have something for everyone, vegetarians included. And combined with the absolutely breathtaking view of the city from the restaurant terrace, you're guaranteed an unforgettable date night in this always-popular restaurant.
Our recommendation:
Start your meal off right with the stir-fried mushrooms in a goat cheese cream sauce to sample some of the best local produce from the area just outside the city.
Location:
Aristippou 1, Athina 106 76
Price level:
$$$
Conclusion
Athens is built in such a way that you'll have magnificent views from almost anywhere. The Acropolis still dominates the city just as it did 2500 years ago in the time of Pericles, so make sure you choose a restaurant with outdoor seating or a rooftop terrace so you can enjoy this extraordinarily scenic place.
Modern Greek cuisine celebrates tradition while also making space for new developments, so you're bound to find something delicious on the menu of these Athens restaurants. Just drop off your bags at a baggage storage and bring your significant other to enjoy some of the best food the Greek capital has to offer. Whether you want to sample the best street food in Athens, dine in a luxurious Michelin-starred restaurant, or just enjoy the view from one of the city's many rooftop bars, you'll have almost unlimited options for your date night in the Greek capital.
