For a long time, few hotel restaurants in Athens held the sort of high standard that might capture the interest of a gourmand. Even fewer were available to stay at luxurious hotels with fine dining options, such as the Grande Bretagne, the Hilton, the King George, the Grand Resort Lagonissi, the Intercontinental, and the Margi. Today, however, the Greek capital has filled with design and boutique hotels, the kitchens of which produce breakfast and dinner off menus worthy the attention of every foodie who visits the city. At the rooftops and lobbies of these eight restaurants below, you can enjoy a great meal and a nightcap before bed, and a breakfast that’s everything you could wish for at the start of the day – check-in optional.

Breakfast at New Hotel

 

 

 

 

 

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The fact that locals choose this hotel for their special Sunday and holiday breakfasts is a clear sign that this is a good place to start the day. Breakfast in the lobby, which also serves as the dining room for New Taste restaurant, is served long enough that eventually, it turns into brunch. Choose between ornate pastries, eggs, plenty of healthy options, salads, sandwiches, burgers, great desserts such as their delectable warm donuts, and four kinds of Bloody Mary.

First home to the Olympic Palace Hotel, the modernist architectural style of the New Hotel building has been turning heads since 1958. When tackling its renovation, legendary Brazilian duo Humberto and Fernando Campana, famous for their ability to turn scrap and recycled materials into architectural works of art, took their inspiration from its original style, led as always by their philosophy that nothing must go to waste.

Located at walking distance from the Acropolis, Zappeion and the heart of the Athenian nightlife scene, foodies who stay here will also be happy to find that they are only minutes away from most of the city’s top gastronomy destinations.

Michelin-starred Seafood at Pelagos, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens

 

 

 

 

 

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At the tip of the pine clad peninsula of Astir Palace, the legendary destination hotel on the Athenian Riviera recently revived as the luxurious Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, you’ll find Pelagos restaurant and the award-winning, cosmopolitan seafood of chef Luca Piscazzi. Just recently rewarded with its first Michelin star, in this relaxed setting just 30 minutes from the heart of Athens’ historical center, you can taste gastronomical marvels such as spaghetti with caviar, shellfish and almond emulsion, or dry-aged pelagic sea bass with smoked caviar, kumquat and mastic – two of the chef’s signature dishes.

The Ergon House Athens Experience

 

 

 

 

 

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You’ll enter through a light-filled space – a 1000 square meter foodie haven containing a bakery, a butcher shop, a green grocer, a cheese and charcuterie counter, a liquor store and a deli stocked with products from over 150 Greek producers. Seated at one of the tables scattered around the space, you can enjoy quality brunch and other meals cooked with excellent local ingredients, and modern desserts such as stuffed “loukoumades” (Greek donuts) and warm “tsoureki” (sweet bread) with chestnut praline, along with a great cup of coffee from Athenian roasters Taf.

It’s a food lover’s playground, and if you choose to stay the night at one of the beautiful rooms located above it, you’ll likely sprint straight out of bed downstairs in your pajamas just to make sure it wasn’t all a dream. And as if all of this wasn’t enough, there’s a commune kitchen available, just in case you can’t wait to cook up a meal of your own with the ingredients you picked up downstairs.

Beautiful Zampanó and City Circus Hostel

 

 

 

 

 

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The two listed buildings housing the City Circus Hostel and Zampanó date back to the late 19th century, and while they were abandoned for the most part from 1970 until 2011, when the City Circus founders brought new life and beautiful décor back into their rooms, they have an iconic presence in the Psyrri neighborhood. On the ground floor of the hostel, bistro and wine bar Zampanó serves brunch and innovative dishes such as the excellent carbonara with suglino (salt-cured pork) from Mani, orzo with crayfish, beef cheeks with toast, a particularly good Greek cheese platter, and much more, to pair with cocktails or a local wine.

A spectacular cocktail and a view at A for Athens

 

 

 

 

 

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Elegant and luxurious, without being over the top, the rooms at A for Athens are simply gorgeous, and every time we visit for a cocktail, we catch ourselves wishing we could be tourists in our own hometown. Aside from the incredible view guests enjoy from their beds, they also have the option to enjoy both breakfast, brunch, and some really good drinks at the spectacular rooftop terrace, gazing at the incredible Acropolis view.

Dinner at Sense, Athens Was

 

 

 

 

 

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Located on the most beautiful street in Athens, Dionysiou Areopagitou, Athens Was Hotel sits just below the Acropolis hill, at the corner where the corner where the city’s most famous district, Plaka, begins. Guests staying in the elegant, luxurious rooms and modern suites can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the Acropolis – not just from their rooms, but also from the innovative, high-end restaurant, Sense, on the seventh floor. Here, you can choose between three tasting menus created by chef Alexandros Charalampopoulos, who cooks delicious and creative dishes which feature influences from traditional Greek cuisine, with contemporary finishes.

Brunch and Specialty coffee at Folk, at Blend Hotel

 

 

 

 

 

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Despite the fact that guests can also enjoy a nice view of the city (some rooms look towards the hills of Lycabettus, Filopappou and the Acropolis), it’s the interior of Blend that will steal your attention. The renovation and remodel of this 19th century mansion was undertaken by architect Alexandros Athanasiadis and Aeter Architects, who did an amazing job, while keeping the façade intact.

The hotel restaurant, Folk, is equally pretty. Curated by the team which also runs popular Different Beast in the Kifissia neighborhood, they serve breakfast, specialty coffee, and an all-day brunch menu. Diverse dishes, including plenty of healthy and vegan options, they pair ethnic and Asian influences while using Greek products. To give you an idea, their avocado toast is enhanced with tahini and “kalathaki” cheese from Limnos, the “gnocchi with corn cream” features smoked Greek eel, and the eggs Benedict with English muffins are served with delicious locally produced pastrami.

Japanese dinner at Freud Oriental, Semiramis

 

 

 

 

 

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Well-known Japanese restaurant Freud Oriental recently moved from Kolonaki to Kefalari, to the ground floor of design hotel Semiramis. On the menu, the minimalism of the Japanese dishes meets elements of Mediterranean gastronomy, resulting in fusion takes on yakitori, tataki, noodles, and sushi, as well as signature dishes such as the sea bass with edamame purée and garlic jalapeño dressing; and the wagyu teppanyaki, which both pair perfectly with one of the many sake or cocktail options on the menu.

Located at the Kefalari Park, the interior design of Semiramis is one of a kind. Created by famous designer Karim Rashid, a flou color palette adds a bold, futuristic, pop art-style to every corner, while the common spaces are also decorated with artworks by Jeff Koons, Sue Webster, and Tim Noble.

This article was previously published in Greek at gastronomos.gr.