Yi: Vegan eateries are springing up in Athens, in particular along the road towards beachside Vougliameni where you’ll find vegan and raw-food mecca Yi.  Greek for ‘Earth’, Yi is a plant-and-light-filled raw food café in Glyfada.  At brunch, come for chia bowls, Greek salad served with cashew "feta", or an almond mylk latte with a … Continue reading To eat: Glyfada

Nargile Express: Conveniently located near to offices if you’re working here, this Lebanese mecca has one of the best DIY mezze salad bars I’ve ever tried.  With a daily-changing line-up of dishes, highlights include a vibrantly green, lemony tabbouleh, an incredibly creamy hummus, a pomegranate-studded babaghanoush, freshly made falafel, Greek salad (of course) and tahini-marinated … Continue reading To eat: Marousi

Artisanal Lounge & Gardens: Set in beautiful gardens, this tastefully decorated bar/restaurant has a sophisticated French vibe that makes it a perfect hangout for a long, relaxed evening.  Their seasonal menu is influenced by the South of France and features a vegan celeriac ravioli with a truffle caviar, as well as a very popular Greek … Continue reading To eat: Kifissia

To Lokali: A neo-retro bar-restaurant, this spot is hidden in a plant-filled, softly lit backyard in Psirri.  To Lokali is an all-day hangout. Its founders explain that the concept was to create a “local” home away from home.  The place comes alive in the evening, though, when Athenians kick back with G&Ts in the lush … Continue reading To eat: Psirri

Beauty Killed The Beast: Head here for excellent cocktails, design inspiration, good music and a popular brunch.  With friendly service and a laid-back atmosphere, it feels more relaxed than some of the bars downtown in central Athens and very hip.  Though becoming more known, this spot feels like a hidden gem reserved for those “in-the-know’! … Continue reading To eat: Metaxourgio

Gardenista: Branded as “boho-chic”, Gardenista is certainly beautiful inside.  Though billing itself as primary a brunch spot, this place is also open (with the same menu) in the evening.  Whilst very instagrammable – both the food and the setting -  the food is disappointing.  The salads are overly dressed (definitely ask for dressing at the … Continue reading To eat: Chalandri and around

Kanella: For a taste of rustic taverna cooking, head to understated, rather rough-looking Gazi.  Kanella, though, is situated in a picturesque old building on a street corner with a characteristic display of coloured bottles in the window.  Meaning “cinnamon” in Greek, Kanella is a traditional family-run restaurant.  With their housemade village-style bread, mismatched crockery, brown … Continue reading To eat: Gazi

Ama Lachei: Set in what was once a school, this restaurant has been beautifully restored, inside and out.  In the summer months, there’s a beautiful garden – what must have been the school playground, complete with the original hopscotch chalked on the ground.  Inside, it’s all about the details: the falcon enamelware, the wall lights, … Continue reading To eat: Petralona, Koukaki and Exarchia

Baba Ghanoush: This small vegan/vegetarian Middle Eastern café has a jazzy ambience and sits on the corner of a lovely and lively little square.  With bar stools around the open kitchen and a few tables al fresco, it’s a great spot to spend an evening and soak up the Pagrati vibe.  With creative salads, freshly … Continue reading To eat: Pagrati

IT: Known as (or named to be) the “IT”  place where locals and jetsetters convene, this on-trend, all-day hangout is located in upmarket Kolonaki.  Branding itself as a health-conscious eatery, everything on the menu – from its breakfasts to all-day salads – use the best of local produce.  The Seasonal Greens with Mizithra Cheese (€7) … Continue reading To eat: Kolonaki