Courtesy: Amalia Kovaiou

These family-friendly restaurants in Athens will keep even the pickiest young eaters happy. And you’ll love them too.

By Carolina Doriti

If you have kids, you know the struggle of finding a restaurant perfect for the whole family. You need to find the right mix of child-friendly foods and dishes adults will love, and that’s not always easy. But in Athens, where family meals are an essential part of everyday life, there are plenty of options, from simple and straightforward Greek food to those that specialise in peinirli. Read on for more of our picks that the whole family will love.

Ama Lachei stis Nefelis

Shaded with fragrant lemon trees, jasmine and bougainvillea, the courtyard of this long-standing taverna in Exarchia used to be a schoolyard. (Look out for the mural of children playing and black-and-white photographs in the former classrooms.) The modern Greek food is simple but sensational, with lots of delicious vegetarian options, including cheeses from all over Greece. Ask for their daily specials, or go for one of their kid-friendly best-sellers—meatballs that are perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, exceptional hand-cut chips and Cretan cheese pies with honey and mint. There’s plenty of indoor seating, too.

Karavitis

One of the many first-rate tavernas in the Pangrati neighbourhood, Karavitis has for decades been one of the most popular places for a family lunch in downtown Athens. This meat-lover’s favourite is famous for its biftekia (char-grilled meat patties), served plain or stuffed with cheese. Fried, battered courgettes are always a hit with kids, best dunked in tzatziki (yoghurt dip with grated cucumber), as are the lamb chops and slow-cooked veal casserole, with hand-cut fries soaked in the rich tomato sauce. In warm weather, the kids can make friends with the locals in Karavitis’ courtyard across the road.

To Steki tou Ilia

Athenian kids grow up on lamb chops. Grilled over burning charcoal, the chops are seasoned with oregano and sea salt then doused in lemon juice, which brings out the smoky flavour. It’s customary to eat these messy, sticky ribs with your hands—one of the many reasons why children love them. At To Steki tou Ilia (‘Ilia’s Joint’), families get together at the weekend to feast on platters piled with paidakia (grilled lamb chops), bread toasted on the charcoal grill, horta (steamed greens) and saganaki (fried cheese). During the summer, the tables are set in an overgrown garden overlooking the train tracks. A little further up the same street, you’ll find their sister restaurant with the same name. Their indoor space is a cosier option in winter.

Cupola

Who doesn't love pizza? This authentic trattoria near the Panathenaic stadium is located on a pedestrian street with a laid-back neighbourhood vibe. Perfectly thin, bubbling pizza is baked in a wood-burning oven and topped with genuine Italian ingredients. Kids love the panzerotti, mini, fried calzone…highly addictive for adults, too. If you prefer fresh pasta, try the spaghetti carbonara or the oven-baked conchiglionni ragu. And if your kids won’t share the hand-made cannoli stuffed with ricotta, chocolate chips and pistachios, order your own affogato (fior di latte ice cream with warm espresso and Amaretto liqueur).

Pizza will always be a crowd-pleaser.

Courtesy: Cupola

Avocado

At this wholesome vegetarian café, all the ingredients are organic, seasonal and cruelty-free. The menu ranges from veggie burgers to rice bowls and macrobiotic noodles. Anyone with dietary restrictions and food intolerances is bound to find something on the menu. There’s often a wait for tables downstairs. Instead, head upstairs, where cushions are scattered around low tables. They do fantastic smoothies and juices, and their vegan, raw, sugar and gluten-free chocolate tart is much tastier than it sounds. Right next door is one of the best organic stores in Athens.

These kid-friendly restaurants also happen to serve amazing food for adults.

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Agroktima Regoukou

If you’re looking to escape the city for the day, this farm-to-table tavern is well worth the 45-minute drive or taxi ride from downtown Athens. Surrounded by the countryside, in the northern suburb of Stamata, the restaurant is located right on the farm where almost all of the ingredients come from. Don’t miss their famous cheese pie, roast goat, and just-picked salads.

To Vrasto

Back in the 1960s, this family-run joint was a grocery store that did a sideline in meat soup. The soup was so popular that the owners decided to open a taverna and named it vrasto, which loosely translates as “broth.” The vibe is homely and familiar, just like the menu of Greek comfort food. Children are well looked after here; there are high chairs, baby-changing facilities, and an outdoor playground. In the warmer months, meals are served in the courtyard. Try the orzo with shrimp and of course, don't miss out on the soup that made this place famous.

To Avgo tou Kokora

Avdi Square in Keramikos has emerged as one of the most interesting places for foodies in Athens. It’s also a great spot to eat out with kids, as various restaurants have tables on the huge square, where children can run around chasing pigeons. This unpretentious neighbourhood restaurant specialises in slow-cooked casseroles, called mageirefta in Greek. Their signature dish is rooster stewed in tomato sauce and served with Greek-style fettuccine. This is also a good place to try classic Greek dishes such as moussaka, pastitsio and lachanodolmades (stuffed cabbage leaves) in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

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