Are you planning to visit Athens? Then get ready to discover the best spots to have a drink or a cup of coffee with a tasty meal. The most amazing place in the center of Athens is certainly Plaka. Find below the coolest bars, restaurants, and cafes in Plaka so you’re ready to check them out after arriving in Athens.
Pro tip: If you are planning a trip to Athens, consider bookmarking this article in your browser and come back to it to have some amazing ideas on bars, restaurants, and cafes in Plaka.
Top Bars, Restaurants, and Cafes to Try in Plaka
Plaka is the most amazing spot in the very center of Athens. We Athenians love it because it reminds us of a Greek island. The cobbled streets and beautiful neoclassical buildings create a unique landscape. So don’t miss the chance to spend some time discovering it as you’ll likely be amazed by all its different characteristics. It’s the perfect place for a morning or evening visit.
Plaka is the ideal place for finding delicious places to eat or meet locals in bars. In other words, you will find some of the coolest bars, restaurants, and cafes in Plaka at every price range. Most people choose to spend some time there in order to relax and enjoy this place in the heart of Athens.
Amygdalo
€ | Easy Take Away | Traditional Products
Amygdalo can be your first stop in the morning in order to get a cup of coffee and start your walk. This is one of my favorite take-away coffee shops. It’s really cute and has fun decorations. It is also very Instagrammable. You can use the swing outside the cafe and take some beautiful selfies!
Above all, it offers really tasty and affordable coffee, plus you’ll find different traditional products like nuts and chocolates. I recommend accompanying your coffee with a delicious grain bar made of Greek nuts.
Address: Epimenidou, 1
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 8 pm; Saturday – Sunday, 8 am – 9 pm
Melina Mercouri Café
€€ | Vintage Style | Indoor & Outdoor
A really beautiful cafe in the heart of Plaka is certainly Melina Mercouri Cafe. The interior is decorated to honor Melina Mercouri (our beloved actress, activist, and politician) with portraits and photos. It just so happens that the cafe owner was a close friend of Melina Mercouri, which is why he’s dedicated this vintage cafe to her.
If the weather is sunny, you can enjoy your coffee outdoor and admire the beautiful street and enjoy the quality coffee and tasty sweets. For an extra-nice experience, you can also ask for some meze. In Greek, meze are actually small dishes with food often accompanied by a glass of ouzo or wine.
Address: Lysiou, 22
Hours: Daily, 9 am – 2 am
Eat At Milton’s
€€ | Greek Cuisine | Modern Dishes
If you wish to try some Greek dishes but in a more modern way, Eat At Milton’s is what you’re looking for. Here you have the chance to choose among different dishes prepared with Greek products and served in a modern way. Cooking is certainly a work of art here. After finishing your meal, don’t leave without trying a sweet dessert first!
What’s also exciting about Eat At Milton’s is the atmosphere of the place. The modern but also the timeless decoration is very relaxing. Moreover, the staff is friendly and helpful, so don’t hesitate to reserve a table either for lunch or dinner. They’re open late which is nice if you’re looking for one last place to stop that isn’t a busy bar or nightclub.
Address: Adrianou, 91
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 4 pm – 1 am; Friday, 4 pm – 2 am; Saturday – Sunday, 12 pm – 1 am
Platanos Tavern
€€ | Outdoor Seating | Family Friendly | Authentic and Hearty
If you visit Athens, you can’t leave without having your lunch or dinner at Platanos Taverna in Plaka. Since 1932, a lot of famous people have visited Platanos Tavern, such as Kostis Palamas, Marika Kotopouli, Henry Miller, etc. It is a great place to enjoy your meals and live the experience to taste your dishes like a Greek.
Platanos Tavern offers only traditional, homemade dishes. That means you’ll have the chance to taste authentic Greek cuisines such as moussaka, horiatiki salad, fresh seasonal fruits, and Greek desserts like karidopita. Don’t hesitate to ask for a glass of tsipouro or ouzo but be careful. This is not your typical shot! Drink it slowly.
Address: Diogenous, 4
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 12 pm – 12 am; Sunday, 12 pm – 5 pm
Yiasemi
€€ | Indoor & Outdoor | Roof Garden
One of the most picturesque cafes-bistros in Plaka is certainly Yiasemi cafe. In Greek, Yiasemi is the jasmine flower. It is such a beautiful and cute cafe. You can choose to sit either indoors or outdoors. Naturally, the cafe’s outdoor space is more popular with tables and chairs placed on Plaka’s steps. Moreover, you can choose to sit in the roof garden where it’s a little quieter and really picturesque.
If you choose to go to Yiasemi early in the morning, you can taste an authentic cup of Greek coffee and accompany it with a traditional sweet pie. As a bonus for some tourists, Yiasemi also offers a vegetarian buffet breakfast.
Address: Mnisikleous, 23
Hours: Daily, 8 am – 2 am
Brettos
If you are a liqueur lover and wonder where to taste some unique liqueurs, you must visit Brettos bar. In 1909, Brettos operated as a distillery for the production of ouzo, brandy, and liqueur for about 20 years. Today, it is a super cool bar where you can try numerous flavors of liqueur.
The place is totally different from the typical bars. Numerous bottles of liqueur actually decorate the bar, which means it’s another totally Instagrammable place. What I really like about this bar is that it’s the best place to buy my favorite bottle of liqueur and enjoy some great company.
Address: Kydathineon, 41
Hours: Daily, 10 am – 2 am
Thea Terrace Bar
€€€ | Rooftop Terrace | Acropolis View
A top reason why we love Athens is certainly because of the great Parthenon monument. So an amazing place to enjoy a drink or a cocktail at night is at Thea Terrace Bar since it offers the best views from the rooftop terrace. This bar is a bit more expensive than other ones, but the Acropolis views are so worth it.
Thea Terrace Bar is the ideal place to spend your summer nights while enjoying the best that Athens has to offer. The weather in Athens during the summer months is really hot, but the evenings with a breeze on a rooftop terrace are delightful. In addition, the bar is also open in the morning, so you can start your day here by having a cup of coffee overlooking the Parthenon too!
Address: Apollonos, 21
Hours: Daily, 11 am – 12 am
2 Mazi Restaurant
€€€ | Gourmet Dishes | Picturesque Decoration
2 Mazi Restaurant is on the edge of Plaka in an old neoclassical building. You can choose to reserve a table either indoors or inside the restaurant’s yard. I would choose the yard. It is a really beautiful place where you will feel like you are on a Greek island.
In this restaurant, you have the chance to try some gourmet, modern Mediterranean dishes. For example, you can taste dishes focused on fish or meat with great spices and flavors. Another great idea is to choose the handmade pasta. Whichever dish you choose to try, you’ll appreciate that it’s made with fresh Greek ingredients.
Address: Nikis, 48
Hours: Daily, 1 pm – 11:30 pm
Warehouse CO2
€€ | Wine Bar | Signature Cocktails | Dimmed Lighting
Warehouse CO2 is a great choice if you want to taste different types of wine. However, even if you aren’t a wine lover, you will find some amazing signature cocktails to try too. Whatever you want to drink, don’t miss the chance to accompany your drink with one of their gourmet dishes. My favorite is their crab that’s so tasty.
Everything in this bar is really neat with an industrial-modern feel. It definitely combines the old with the new and is a special place in the heart of Plaka. The low lighting is relaxing so you can enjoy your wine with friends.
Address: Hyperidou, 1
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am – 12:30 am; Friday – Saturday, 8:30 am – 1 am; Sunday, 8:30 am – 12:30 am
Odos Lysiou
€€ | Rooftop Terrace | Acropolis & Lycabettus View
The coolest bars, restaurants, and cafes in Plaka are many, however, one of the most amazing is certainly Odos Lysiou. You can choose Odos Lysiou for your mid-day coffee, for lunch and dinner, or for a drink at night. From Odos Lysiou, you can admire the view of the Acropolis and Lycabettus hills.
Another fun thing about this restaurant is that live music concerts often happen here. You might have the chance to enjoy a live concert while trying gourmet Mediterranean dishes and tasty drinks. It’s a great way to experience even more of local Greek life!
Address: Mnisikleous, 22 & Lysiou Corner
Hours: Monday – Friday, 5 pm – 12:15 am; Saturday; 1 pm – 1:15 am; Sunday, 11 am – 12:15 am
Cafe Plaka
€€ | Rooftop Terrace | Pet Friendly
If you wish to enjoy a breathtaking view, then Cafe Plaka is another great choice. Here you’ll find a cute rooftop with vintage decoration and a view of the Lycabettus Hill – the whole city of Athens. It is certainly an ideal place to start your day.
I recommend spending the morning here as you will discover a variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch, or brunch. Either salty or sweet dishes, whatever you decide to choose, will be really tasty.
Address: Tripodon, 1
Hours: Daily, 9 am – 10:30 pm
Where to Stay in Athens
A great hotel at a great price has become the norm in this internet era. Our article explains what areas are the best in Athens, so you can get a great deal in the perfect location!
Leave a Comment