eat and drink here in athens (+ some standouts in crete)

Here’s the thing. Winter isn’t prime time to visit Greece, but being only a two-hour flight from Tel Aviv last January, we couldn’t resist stopping there for a visit before heading to a two-week trip in Italy. Did I get a relaxing Mykonos beach trip out of it? No, but did I have beautiful weather and avoid the tourist craziness in the summer? 100%. Head to these spots in Athens (and Crete!), and you’ll see how Greece is great, even in the winter.

athens

O Kostas

Without a doubt, the best bite of food I had in all of Greece. Kostas specializes in souvlaki (grilled skewered meat), and I kid you not when I tell you that this miniscule, uber-popular shop had one guy grilling all the meat on (what looked to be like) a 12-inch electric flat top. The tender chunks of pork are wrapped in the fluffiest, most chewy pita, and it’s stuffed with diced tomatoes, herbs, red onions and a healthy spread of a very tasty tangy yogurt. Huge props to Nick from @dad_beets for this rec! By the way, this was a bit tough to find. The storefront is only in Greek, so be on the lookout for this: KΩ∑TA∑. If you want to geotag on Instagram (v important, duh), type this into your phone: Κωστας.

Kuzina

This open-concept, two-story stunner boasts a floor-to-ceiling bar and an inventive Greek menu with influence from places like Japan and Italy. I honestly don’t really remember what we got, but I know it involved some really great pasta dishes. Request a table upstairs for the best views of the restaurant.

Hotel Grande Bretagne

I know we all loooove ourselves a good rooftop sitch, and let me tell ya, the rooftop restaurant and bar at Hotel Grande Bretagne may be one of the best. The food is nothing to write home about, but there is something to say about enjoying some apps and mastiha (a traditional Greek liqueur that tastes like pine) with unparalled views of the Acropolis during golden hour.

The Clumsies

If a tiki bar and an ancient Athens building had a baby, it would be The Clumsies. The eclectic bar has hot pink neon lights and greenery throughout, and the fun vibes make it a great spot to enjoy some cocktails.

COCO’s Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

What better pregame for Italy than some gelato in Athens, right? We stumbled upon this place after yet another souvlaki situation. Grab a cone and explore.

EDEM

All I can say is: views, views, views. This beachfront spot is literally on the sand. Go for wine, not for food. Hop on the railway from Athens, and you can be on the water in a quick 30 minutes!

crete

Peskesi

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, which also means it’s one of the only islands open to visit in the winter (aka, the reason we went here). Peskesi is a beautifully-restored mansion in the center of Heraklion, and specializes in Cretan cuisine. You seriously feel like you’re eating in someone’s home, and I loved it. We had an awesome pork dish in a honey and thyme sauce, which is a definitive flavor profile in Crete. Their bread also comes in its very own wooden box, so, there’s that.