10 Day Trips to Restaurants Near Athens

Strolling by the lake, visits to archaeological websites, or taking a vineyard tour? We plan one-day excursions from Athens and mix them with good meals. We don’t have to journey far to have time! There are a number of ouzeries, tavernas, and eating places near Athens that may function locations for excursions and getaways.

Osteria Greca

Osteria Greca, situated contained in the Papargyriou Property vineyard, has been open for a number of years. The menu, created by Kefalonian chef Giorgos Antonellos, options dishes made with native components which are influenced by each the area and the chef’s native land. Highlights of the winter menu, which can quickly change to adapt to the season and out there springtime components, embody the Ionian bitter orange salad with varied citrus fruits and Greek burrata; dry Mavrodaphne wine risotto with apple compote, hazelnuts, and gremolata with mustard greens from their backyard; tender lamb hunkar begendi; and porchetta with contemporary herbs and fennel. Because the climate warms up, the brand new spring menu will likely be served within the out of doors space, which affords pretty views of the winery.

After all, the wine is from the vineyard’s assortment and at a reduced worth. Amongst others, it’s price attempting their basic Moschofilero and Assyrtiko mix, the Distinctive Mavrostyfo constructed from the extraordinarily uncommon Mavrostyfo grape selection, and for dessert, the fragrant Late Harvest constructed from overripe mountain grapes of the fragrant Moschato Rio selection grown in Sofiana. The restaurant additionally serves a big choice of imported wines and a small choice of Greek wines from different producers. It’s open on Fridays (20:00-23:30), Saturdays (13:00-17:00 and 20:00-23:30), and Sundays (13:30-18:00). Reservations are required because of the restricted variety of tables. A go to to the vineyard and winery earlier than or after the meal can be beneficial. –Nikoleta Makryonitou

Kavos, Corinthia

Corinthia, solely an hour’s drive from Athens, is a superb getaway. I get pleasure from going to Lake Stymphalia for walks, hen watching, and stress-free in nature. As a result of I all the time work up an urge for food after my stroll, I search for a desk at a close-by tavern. I just lately went to the fish taverna Kavos. It’s well-kept and tastefully adorned, primarily with wooden. Exterior, there are pergolas which are enclosed with glass for the winter and tables that overlook the Megara Gulf. There isn’t any music taking part in, so everybody speaks quietly, making a peaceable ambiance.

You order the appetizers from the waiter. We had radishes with loads of olive oil, a tasty seabass ceviche, and scrumptious do-it-yourself taramosalata, which was superb for dipping with farmhouse bread. We ordered the remaining gadgets from the kitchen after they confirmed us what was out there, weighed it, and beneficial the suitable portions. The squid was extraordinarily contemporary, having been caught that morning and punctiliously fried, to the purpose the place it resembled tempura. The chef focuses on crawfish pasta with seashells and linguine cooked in a particular lemon sauce. The well-curated wine record, that includes alternatives from native winemakers, rounded out the expertise. –Marina Petridou

Stavros, Elefsina

There are quite a few causes to go to Elefsina, together with the archaeological website and Vlycha, with its decommissioned ships and eerie ambiance. In any case, town of historic mysteries is simply a half-hour away from Athens. It’s additionally a chance to go to Stavros for a meal. Day-after-day, locals and guests collect on the balcony of this genuine fish taverna, which overlooks the harbor. The menu contains conventional Greek fish taverna dishes akin to hand-cut fries, crispy fried eggplant, marinated fried mussels, and grilled sardines. They normally serve glorious kopanisti cheese, which matches properly with tsipouro. –Georgia Papastamou

Antigoni, Thimari

A stroll to the ocean is all the time a good suggestion, no matter whether or not the climate is appropriate for swimming. We get pleasure from having a snack whereas watching the waves from above at one among our favourite beachside tavernas, Antigoni close to Thimari. The gravel-paved courtyard with whitewashed mulberry timber is kind of charming. Issues get much more fascinating when the dishes begin popping out of the kitchen.

We advocate attempting the do-it-yourself tiganopsomo (stuffed fried bread), gentle fried zucchini, and thinly sliced lamb chops. Nonetheless, their seafood can be glorious, notably the fried pink mullet, which is one among their specialty dishes. All of that is accompanied by gentle people music from a bygone period taking part in softly from the audio system. -Georgia Papastamou

Gavrilis Taverna, Kouvaras

Do you know you possibly can see reside alpacas in Athens? Apart from horseback using classes, the Kouvaras Equestrian Membership has a public farm with equines akin to donkeys and ponies, in addition to camels, llamas, and alpacas. Gavrilis stands out among the many many tavernas within the picturesque village of Kouvaras, which lies between Keratea and Kalivia. If the climate is sweet, sit within the well-kept courtyard; in any other case, seize a desk within the welcoming eating room.

This taverna is an area favourite for its flavors, notably its charcoal-grilled and roasted dishes, which embody lamb chops, veal chops, varied steaks, beef patties, and do-it-yourself sausages. Souvlaki and kokoretsi are additionally common, with connoisseurs preferring the sautéed lamb liver with oregano and oil. The tzatziki and spicy cheese unfold are do-it-yourself, whereas the feta is regionally sourced. -Marina Petridou

Le Souk and Eubous, Halkida

Theodore Bitsios and Elsa Karamouzi’s elegant restaurant has rapidly turn out to be the gastronomic hub of Halkida. With Italian influences and high-quality components, they provide one of the best vitello tonnato, genuine 72-hour matured pinsa, risotto, pasta, particular meat cuts, and inventive salads. On the finish, we had what is taken into account one of the best tiramisu in Central Greece, in addition to do-it-yourself ice cream that’s about to be launched internationally. The spectacular wine record, which incorporates each Greek and worldwide labels, and bartender Dimitris’ distinctive cocktails full the image. What extra may you ask for?

The opposite possibility is meat dishes subsequent to the wild waters of the Euripus! Eubous is situated on the mainland facet of Halkida, reverse the railway station and subsequent to the outdated bridge, proper on the water. It’s fantastic to see industrial and personal boats cross in entrance of you at evening, when the bridge opens and Evia turns into an island once more. We come right here for meat that has been correctly matured, reduce, and grilled. However if you happen to come throughout the goat pasta dish, don’t cross it up. Nor must you cross up the salads, fries, dolmadakia, or just about anything on the menu. A facet observe: the courteous waiters all the time point out the worth of the every day specials menu, which I imagine is sincere and relatively uncommon. -Meropi Papadopoulou

Skotadis, Aegina

Aegina is beautiful this time of 12 months. It’s solely a brief distance from Athens, making it a perfect day journey. Drive round its stunning countryside and cease by the Temple of Aphaia, constructed within the early fifth century BC on the positioning of an earlier temple. Based on Pausanias, it was devoted to Aphaia or Vritomartis, the daughter of Zeus, who fell into the ocean to flee King Minos of Crete earlier than being rescued by fishermen and dropped at Aegina.

The fishermen of Aegina have been very well-known ever since! Return to stroll across the pretty city of Aegina, earlier than ending up at Skotadis, Giorgos Lykouris’ ouzeri-seafood restaurant that looks like a standard Greek café. Skotadis is motive sufficient to go to the island. It has typically upset spoiled prospects who ask for spawn or octopus in August.  They solely serve contemporary, seasonal components and know the right way to put together them correctly. Mullet is in season this time of 12 months – tartare, fried, or uncooked with tagliatelle cooked in crab broth – however you too can strive pink mullet, codfish with garlic sauce (fried with flour, not batter), angler fricassee (no egg), shrimps from the Saronic Gulf in a spicy saganaki sauce, and stewed octopus with smoked fava bean puree. Additionally they make glorious pasta dishes, akin to shrimp pasta and a scrumptious orzo with prawns. -Christina Tzialla

Kakias, Salamina

Take the ferry from Perama to Salamina, and in fifteen minutes you’ll be sitting in entrance of a line of moored fishing boats, sipping glasses of ouzo and munching on sardines marinated in vinegar. Half of the tables at Salamina’s most well-known fish taverna, Kakias, are on the jetty. There are many tables contained in the restaurant too, however the well-trained employees can deal with the weekend crowds (reservations are required). Waiters cross the road with trays filled with shellfish (cockles, mussels, clams, and so forth.), do-it-yourself pasta, taramosalata, grilled octopus, and crispy pink mullets, or they cease by the tables to chop the superbly ready grilled squid, or to fillet the fish.

The menu contains a wide range of choices, from uncooked and salted to fried and grilled, in addition to risotto and pasta. You’ll additionally discover a wide selection of ouzo and tsipouro, together with some aged choices for the end (the psimeni, roasted, raki on the finish is on the home). When planning a day journey, take into account combining your seafood feast with a visit to the Mycenaean acropolis at Kanakia or a drive to the white, two-story house of Angelos Sikelianos, which is situated on the seashore at Moni Faneromeni, reverse the stone monastery. -Angela Stamatiadou

Psarou, Lavrio

The archaeological website of Thorikos, which incorporates one of many oldest historic theatres and is situated reverse the doorway to the city of Lavrio, eloquently demonstrates the every day lifetime of the residents round 500 BC. When you have time, go to the Archaeological Museum, which homes an vital assortment of bijou and mining instruments.

Taramosalata, smoked eggplant salad, cod pastirma, fava, and different acquainted delights are served on a platter at Psarou, situated behind the City Corridor and just a few meters from the ocean. There are a number of shrimp dishes, together with ceviche, giouvetsi (oven-baked orzo), and saganaki, in addition to seafood pasta and fish – small fried and bigger grilled. On the way in which again, it’s all the time price stopping by the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio to commemorate Icarus’ fateful flight. -Nena Dimitriou

This text was beforehand printed in Greek at gastronomos.gr.