Courtesy: Thomas Gravanis

As Athens creatively reinvents its casual dining scene, here’s where to enjoy the capital’s new wave of contemporary Greek meze and cut-above street eats.

By Alex Kavdas

Gastone

Bocas Meze

Cherchez La Femme

Located in a central pedestrian square on Mitropoleos Street, just a stone's throw from the brand new Maria Callas Museum, Cherchez La Femme is one of the few true all-day spots in Athens. A cross between a European bistro and a Greek kafenion (here, Greek coffee is served with a bite of Turkish delight), this place starts early with breakfast and moves on to dinner, with coffee and lunch in between. From the freshly cut flowers in vases on the bar to the vintage décor and, of course, the carefully selected dishes, the atmosphere here feels very much eclectic. Rising Greek chef Stavriani Zervakakou has created a delicious menu with a strong regional touch, such as wild roe venison in tomato sauce with Greek pasta and kaniaki cheese from Kastoria in northern Greece, or our personal favourite, a baked melichloro cheese from the island of Lemnos with homemade carrot marmalade. Melichloro is a PDO cheese made from sheep's and goat's milk, a rich, hard cheese whose flavour is perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the carrot marmalade. For dessert, don't miss the Kok, the Greek version of a profiterole, a cream puff covered in a shiny chocolate glaze. Yum!

Reviewed by Despina Trivolis

Cherchez La Femme is one of the few true all-day spots in Athens.

Mystikos Kipos

Dopios

Dirty Mani