Discover the best outdoor restaurants in Athens, from Michelin-starred gardens and elegant terraces to waterfront dining on the Athens Riviera. 

Summer dining in Athens is at its best once the evening begins to cool and restaurants across the city turn their attention outdoors. Behind neoclassical façades, gardens are set beneath citrus trees, tables spill onto elegant terraces and waterfront dining rooms fill along the edge of the sea. 

No doubt setting matters, but the eight restaurants featured here have been chosen primarily for the quality of their cooking. They range from Michelin-starred tasting menus and contemporary Greek cuisine to exceptional seafood and one of the city’s finest modern tavernas. When our editors are looking for a memorable spot to celebrate a special occasion in summer or simply make the most of a balmy evening, these are the restaurants we return to time and again.

Soil

Just moments from the Panathenaic Stadium, Soil has become one of Athens’ most celebrated dining destinations, earning both a Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star for its commitment to sustainability. Housed within a beautifully restored neoclassical residence in Pagrati, the restaurant is at its most enchanting during summer, when tables are set beneath fragrant citrus trees in its peaceful garden.

Chef Tasos Mantis draws inspiration from his own farm in Alepochori, creating a seasonal tasting menu that showcases Greek vegetables, herbs and carefully sourced produce with remarkable precision. Every dish reflects a deep respect for the land, resulting in a dining experience that highlights traditional Greek cooking. 

A: Ferekidou 5, Athens 

CTC Urban Gastronomy

Hidden within Kerameikos, CTC Urban Gastronomy pairs one of Athens’ most accomplished tasting menus with a beautiful garden that becomes one of the city’s loveliest places to dine once the weather warms. The leafy outdoor setting provides an elegant backdrop to chef and co-owner Alexandros Tsiotinis’ 11-course Blind Taste Menu, where each dish is revealed only as it arrives at the table.

Every plate is beautifully judged, with seasonality, technique and exceptional ingredients guiding the menu from beginning to end.

A: Plateon 15, Athens 

Cookoovaya

For more than a decade, Cookoovaya has remained one of Athens’ defining restaurants, celebrated for its ingredient-led approach to modern Greek cuisine. Located on the edge of Kolonaki, the restaurant combines a lively open kitchen with an inviting outdoor terrace that offers one of the area’s most enjoyable settings for summer dining.

Under the direction of chef Periklis Koskinas, dishes draw on personal memories, regional traditions and exceptional local produce, allowing the quality of each ingredient to take centre stage. Seafood is a particular highlight, while the restaurant’s thoughtful zero-waste philosophy further reinforces its long-standing reputation as one of the city’s most respected dining destinations.

A: Chatzigianni Mexi 2a, Athens 

Papaioannou

Few names are as closely associated with outstanding seafood in Greece as Papaioannou. Overlooking the water at Mikrolimano in Piraeus, the restaurant offers an elegant setting where uninterrupted harbour views become part of the experience, particularly on warm summer evenings.

Chef Giorgos Papaioannou works closely with trusted fishermen to source the freshest daily catch, preparing each dish with remarkable restraint to allow the natural quality of the seafood to shine. Signature dishes such as grilled prawns, raw shellfish and beautifully filleted fish served tableside reflect a philosophy built on seasonality, simplicity and generations of maritime tradition.

A: Akti Koumoundourou 42, Piraeus

Taverna Ton Filon

Occupying a lovingly restored 1950s taverna in Kolonos, Taverna Ton Filon has become one of Athens’ most distinctive modern dining addresses. Its charming courtyard, illuminated by strings of lights during summer, creates an inviting setting for a menu that changes daily according to the season and the kitchen’s inspiration.

Founders Yiannis Mousios and sommelier Giorgos Kontorizos have preserved the warmth and familiarity of a traditional neighbourhood taverna while introducing a contemporary approach to Greek cooking. Alongside ever-changing daily specials, favourites such as the lemon and oregano potatoes, house bread and rich chocolate mousse have become reasons enough to return.

A: Argous 66, Athens 

Aleria

Set within an elegant 19th-century neoclassical residence in Metaxourgeio, Aleria offers one of the most beautiful garden settings in Athens. Its secluded outdoor dining area provides a tranquil escape from the city, complimenting a menu that reinterprets Greek cuisine through refined technique and imaginative flavour combinations.

Chef Gikas Xenakis draws on regional ingredients and traditional recipes while introducing contemporary touches, resulting in a dining experience that is sophisticated yet welcoming. 

A: Meg. Alexandrou 57, Athens

Pelagos

Situated within the Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens in Vouliagmeni, Pelagos offers one of Greece’s most celebrated fine dining experiences in a setting that is every bit as memorable as the cuisine. Overlooking the Riviera, the restaurant’s elegant terrace creates the feeling of dining beside the sea, with uninterrupted water views adding to the sense of occasion as the sun begins to set.

Awarded two Michelin Stars, chef Luca Piscazzi presents contemporary Mediterranean cuisine through a tasting menu where each course is thoughtfully composed and seafood takes centre stage. While the food is exceptional, the combination of the waterfront setting, impeccable service and beautifully designed surroundings makes Pelagos one of the most sought-after outdoor dining experiences in Athens.

A: Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni 

Patio at The Margi

Hidden within the gardens of The Margi in Vouliagmeni, Patio is one of Athens’ most intimate fine dining restaurants, welcoming just nine tables each evening during its seasonal opening from May until October. Awarded both a Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star, the restaurant celebrates a genuine farm-to-table philosophy that begins at The Margi Farm, where much of the produce featured throughout the tasting menus is grown.

Chef Panagiotis Giakalis creates contemporary Mediterranean dishes that reflect each season, bringing together organic vegetables, herbs and carefully selected seafood with remarkable finesse. Surrounded by olive trees and fragrant planting, Patio feels wonderfully secluded, making it one of the loveliest places to enjoy a long summer dinner on the Athens Riviera. With only nine tables available each evening, booking well in advance is essential.

A: Litous 11, Vouliagmeni 

Main image by Patio