6 Best Michelin Star Restaurants in Athens

Athens is a world city embracing cuisines from all around the globe. Today you can find Michelin-starred Italian, French, and even Japanese-inspired restaurants on the streets of Athens. There are even many Athenian Michelin Green Star restaurants that focus on sustainability.

If you’re a fine-dining foodie in hot pursuit of a great Michelin-starred dining experience, you might want to add a few of the following to your next Athens food tour.

Nolan

Photo credit: Nolan

You’ll find Michelin-starred Nolan Restaurant in the vibrant heart of Athens, near the bustling Omonia Square and the neighborhood of Exarchia. They’re known for putting a creative Mediterranean spin on modern Asian-inspired cuisine, in a way that you can’t find anywhere else in Greece.

The interior décor is chic and contemporary with industrial elements. Like many Japanese restaurants, they have an open kitchen that allows you to watch the culinary magic happen. I also think it gives you more of a relationship with the meal to watch your food being made.

Nolan’s is diverse with classical Asian and Mediterranean-influenced dishes that you can order a la carte. Some of the most popular must-try items include grilled mackerel, seafood, and Asian noodle dishes. However, my favorite is their “Nolan’s Fried Chicken” known on the menu as NFC.

The coating is exceptionally crispy, which is especially important as it comes with a spectrum of Asian-inspired dipping sauces. I love how each has its own tanginess or heat that plays perfectly with the flavor of the marinated chicken. The crispy coating stays crispy dip after dip without getting soggy.

Nolan (€€€) – Voulis 31 – 33, Athina 105 57, Greece – Open Monday through Saturday for lunch from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM, with dinner service from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM. Closed on Sunday.

Delta

Photo credit: Delta

Delta is housed within Athen’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. It was awarded a Michelin Green Star for its farm-to-table approach to sourcing local, sustainable ingredients.

Delta’s interior décor matches the massive complex that surrounds it with sleek, modern aesthetic and minimalist design elements. I love the dining room’s large windows which provide stunning views of the cultural center’s gardens as well as the majesty of the Athenian skyline.

Delta’s menu changes with the season and what’s best from the local farms where they source their high-quality ingredients. With a focus on sustainability, they often feature fresh seafood, locally sourced meats, and organically grown vegetables.

Some of the more common staples you can expect to find in the spring through early autumn include squid fennel and lamb with wild greens. They also have an extensive wine list with many great pairings to go along with the menu.

The last time I visited Delta, I enjoyed a roast lamb dish with wild greens from the surrounding hills. You could taste the terroir of the greens, which had a light herbaceous quality to them that reminded me a bit of Greek oregano. A perfect pairing for the lamb, and a true testament to the thoughtful palate of the chef.

Delta (€€€) – Leof. Andrea Siggrou 364, Athina 176 74, Greece – Open Wednesday to Sunday from 6:30 PM to 1:00 AM. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.  

Spondi

Photo credit: Spondi

Spondi sits smack-dab in the beating heart of Athens’ Pangrati district, standing proudly on its reputation for having earned two Michelin stars. It is also conveniently near major Athenian attractions like the Panathenaic Stadium and the National Gardens.

The ambiance at Spondi is both elegant as well as intimate with touches of classic European décor. The dining rooms have warm lighting and exposed stone walls that give each table a sense of privacy. When the weather is nice, there’s a courtyard with outdoor seating.

Spondi’s menu is largely a fusion of French and Mediterranean cuisine, with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. While the tasting menu is popular and changes frequently, some a la carte staples are also well-worth trying.

This includes things like lobster, veal sweetbreads, and some innovative takes on classical French desserts. However, I think this is the best restaurant for foie gras outside of France. The last order I enjoyed was accompanied by a bright chutney and microgreens, which played a perfect counterpoint to the richness of the foie.

Spondi (€€€€) -Pirronos 5, Athina 116 36, Greece – Open every day from 7:30 PM to 1:00 AM.

The Zillers Rooftop Garden

Photo credit: The Zillers Rooftop Garden

Zillers Restaurant and Rooftop Garden is a Michelin-starred restaurant integrated with the Zillers Boutique Hotel. The rooftop dining area with views of the Acropolis, and sumptuously creative menu make it a must-try restaurant for foodies. It’s also close to other historic attractions such as Syntagma Square.

The atmosphere of Zillers is the embodiment of chic and sophisticated. Not to mention the breathtaking nighttime vista of the Acropolis. It’s an ideal spot for a romantic dinner, anniversary dinner, or a similar special occasion.

The menu at Zillers focuses on modern Greek cuisine, using traditional flavors with modern gastronomic techniques. Their tasting menu is typically the way to go, especially if you’re looking for an entry point to understanding Greek culinary heritage. It showcases the best of the local seasonal ingredients and often highlights traditional proteins like octopus and lamb.

On my last visit, I ordered the sea bass special that day. It was remarkably delicate and served on a bed of greens that added an aromatic lilt as much as it added visual contrast.

Zillers (€€€€) – Mitropoleos 54, Athina 105 63, Greece – Open every day from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

Soil

Photo credit: Soil

With a name like Soil, you automatically know it’s going to be a Michelin-starred restaurant that brings sustainability into sharp focus. It truly is a place that gets down to earth with a farm-to-table relationship with local providers, sitting in Syntagma Square, in the heart of Athens busting Kolonaki district.

The ambiance inside Soil is modern and serene with touches of neoclassical decor, and organic elements. The careful use of soft lighting and earth tones reflects their commitment to sustainability as well as creating an intimate dining experience.

Soil showcases contemporary Greek cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal, local produce. Much of which is grown on the restaurant’s farm or comes from other farms surrounding Athens.

The tasting menu is superb and often features dishes with lamb, red mullet, or quail eggs as the primary protein. They typically have multiple dishes that showcase wild greens, either as an accompaniment or as a feature in one of their many vegetarian dishes.

However, the thing I look forward to at Soil is their take on Greek yogurt. On my last trip, the dessert menu featured a Greek yogurt parfait that was gently sweetened with honey, and perfectly garnished with locally grown mint. It was an absolute delight for the senses and perfectly refreshing on a warm evening.

Soil (€€€€) – Ferekidou 5, Athina 116 35, Greece – Open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 PM to 1:00 AM. 

Varoulko Seaside Restaurant

Photo credit: Varoulko Seaside Restaurant

Varoulko Seaside in Athens is a Michelin-starred seafood restaurant, near the marina in Piraeus. It is known for its exquisite Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood.

The decor at Varoulko perfectly melds modern sophistication with a relaxed seaside vibe and breathtaking views of the sea. You feel as if you’re chilling out at a casual beachside restaurant, yet still having a fine-dining experience.  If possible, I recommend trying to score a table in the outdoor seating area around sunset!

The menu is carefully curated by head chef Lefteris Lazarou, who has a well-earned reputation for creative seafood dishes that highlight the freshness of Greek ingredients. This includes cultivating relationships with local fishermen and fishmongers who provide him with the best of what’s fresh each day.

Some of the more popular staple dishes on Varoulko’s menu include squid risotto and fish carpaccio. Many of the daily specials include a seafood pasta dish with a creative sauce inspired by classical Greek cuisine.

However, I think the secret gem at Varoulko is the sea urchin salad. It’s not always available, but when it is, it’s made from pristinely fresh sea urchin which has a briny sweetness emblematic of the waters surrounding Athens. I love how the delicate greens have a light dressing that gently accents the flavor of the rich flavor of urchin roe.

Varoulko Seaside Restaurant (€€€€) – Akti Koumoundourou 54, Pireas 185 33, Greece – Open every day from 13:00 PM to 00:00 AM.

Conclusion

If you’re a foodie on an Athens food tour or just looking for a great restaurant for a special occasion dinner, any of the Michelin-starred restaurants on this list will be a perfect fit.

If you want to taste the terroir of Greek cuisine, Soil might be the green Michelin-starred restaurant to fit the bill. If you’re looking for an impressive view of the Acropolis, Ziller’s rooftop restaurant will surely take your breath away. For seafood with a relaxed vibe, the short trip to Piraeus at sunset for a seaside table at Varoulko Seaside will never disappoint.