WHERE TO EAT AND WHERE TO MEET

Here is where you’ll find my list of favorite bars, cafes, restaurants, bakeries and yogurt shops. It should not be used as your bible but merely a jumping off point for your exploration into a food lover’s paradise.

Stani - This place makes you feel as if you’ve died and gone to dairy heaven. Always order a slab of yogurt with honey and walnuts but indulge yourself and also get a plate of cream with cinnamon or a pat of butter with honey. You won’t be sad about it.

Tanini Agapi Mou - Over 100 natural Greek wines by the glass are on the literally gigantic menu at this approachable yet hip wine bar. The food here is not a must but if you are feeling peckish then ask for their suggestions on the local meats and cheeses offered.

Takis - I can’t proclaim this is the best bakery in Athens but it has to be up there. Offering sweet and savory Greek delights all day long and a stone’s throw from the Acropolis make this bakery an easy choice.

Kolouri - This is not a place to eat but a treat to be eaten, most commonly on the street. A sometimes soft, sometimes crunchy ring-shaped pastry bread sprinkled with sesame seeds is a popular breakfast choice for many Athenians. It can also be sweet or sometimes stuffed but the classic is just with sesame seeds. Although you can find them at most bakeries (Takis is well-known for their version) I think they are most fun when purchased from one of the many kolouri vendors around town at their bright yellow carts.

Tigré - Athens is becoming known for their third wave coffee shop options however when in Greece I am a sucker for a Nescafé frappé, a Greek coffee with sugar, or a freddo cappuccino. This cafe sells all three and it is in a cute corner of the Exarchia neighborhood.

Black Salami Microbakery - Also in Exarchia, this happening bakery is best known for their high quality breads and their insanely delicious sandwiches. The quality of the products they use, from the olive oil produced in Mani to the ethically-sourced flour from Turin, Italy, is reflected in every delectable bite. Expect a line and if you show up too late you may be SOL.

Cocona - Using recipes and techniques learned from her mother, Ioanna has created a simple yet worthy menu dedicated to preserving traditions from her homeland Smyrna in Asia Minor. While she sells deeper, flakier pies popular in Greece her specialty is gozleme, a thin crepe-like pastry made to order and filled with things like spinach and aromatic herbs or pastourma, a spicy cured beef, or feta with mint and honey. She offers daily specials too so make sure to ask what is off menu that day.

Dirty Mani - A modern take on classic souvlaki with options like moussaka, cured pork and fig puree, or veal tail . This tiny cube-shaped spot is near the Acropolis and makes for a quick lunch before or after sight-seeing.

Mpirmpílo - This popular Kolonaki restaurant will most likely require a reservation but don’t let that keep you away. A classic, authentic Greek eatery with dishes like fava with smoked mackerel, moussaka, and Cretan rusk salad. In addition to their regular menu there are daily specials.

Lontza Tis Geitonias - This Exarchia restaurant has a menu is full of rustic dishes that make you feel like your dining in a Greek grandmother’s kitchen. The menu does change daily but if available try one of the pasta dishes, meatballs, or chicken in the oven.

Feyrouz - Levantine food may not be difficult to come by in Athens however this small restaurant is making its impression on the city. They carefully source ingredients, mill their own flour, toast their own spices and have designed a menu that rotates with the seasons. Their approach is casual and the depth and sophistication of flavors leaves me wanting more every time I come.