The weather may have deteriorated slightly most recently but the days ahead are forecast to be sunny. To make the most of it, we recommend five elegant gardens and yards, from the centre of Athens to the suburbs, covering all food preferences.
Fuga
One of the most impressive retreats in the heart of the city, this premium restaurant extends into the lush gardens surrounding the Athens Concert Hall, or Megaron.
The restaurant’s menu, refreshed, this year seeks to fuse Italian and Japanese cuisines, presented through small and large dishes to be shared such as Tuna Tonnato with tuna tataki and ponzu sauce, crispy Italian arancini rice balls with smoked trout, jalapeno peppers and nduja sausage. Ensuing delights include interesting Asian rolls, Robata grill proposals, exquisite meat dishes and, naturally, desserts such as churros with homemade praline, coconut ice cream and passion fruit sauce.
1 Kokkali, Ambelokipi, +30 210 7242979, Website, Facebook
Piu Verde
A vintage choice, this all-day place spreads into idyllic Papagou Park, featuring tall pine trees. Early birds will find numerous interesting brunch proposals, including all kinds of egg-based dishes, sweet and savoury pancakes, as well as waffles. Beyond brunch, the place serves carefully prepared Italian selections, including Burrata with spicy honey, tomato confit and prosciutto, gnocchi with grilled mushrooms, smoked pancetta with sage, wild mushroom and truffle risotto, pork fillet stuffed with gorgonzola in the oven, as well as special pizzas. The place also offers a vegetarian menu, while the selections are made complete with Greek and Italian wines as well as cocktails.
Papagou Park, +30 210 6546185, Website, Facebook
Vassilenas
This particularly stylish place with an extensive history, in the Ilisia district, has, since last year, served guests at the lush parkside space it created under the Madritis Park trees. The restaurant’s renowned taramosalata (cured fish roe dip) is a standard selection to be seen on all tables. It can be accompanied by dishes such as warm octopus salad with string beans, as well as grilled sea bass with sautéed greens. The restaurant’s extensively stocked cellar includes wines to match your dish selections, while, for dessert, pay tribute to the pineapple baklava or yoghurt mousse with poached strawberries in Syrah wine.
Colonial
The all-day restaurant within the superb grounds of the Glyfada golf course is a sophisticated getaway worth discovering, even if not a golf fan. The spot is open for breakfast, brunch and full meals curated by the very gifted chef Giannis Baxevanis. His proposals cover all preferences. They include crispy Anatolian pie with mince and pine nuts, carob pie with fried calamari, taramosalata dip and mint, even fresh sea bass with tomato and herbs in the oven, or pork steak served with refreshing almond cream sauce.
End of Kon/Nou Karamanli, Glyfada, +30 210 3420002, Website, Facebook
Lefkes
This timeless restaurant in Galatsi, now refurbished, offers an atmospheric yard space that was also revamped with new tables and chairs of earth tone colours, while the food selections, changed frequently, depending on the inspiration in the kitchen, are always progressive. The current menu features bao buns with rooster gyro, ewe meat burger, big salads, as well as imaginative main dishes such as Greek rib rye with sweet potato croquette and chorizo, all paired with signature cocktails prepared at the restaurant bar.
100 Galatsiou Ave, Galatsi, +30 210 2924458, Website, Facebook
