While the upcoming Ohi Day national holiday on Oct. 28 lacks a specific traditional dish, it provides a prime opportunity for dining out.
Athens offers a wide selection of taverns and mezedopoleia (meze restaurants) for holiday gatherings.
In Syntagma, Evgenia serves classic Greek dishes, including moussaka, stuffed vegetables, lemon chicken, and giouvetsi (meat and pasta stew), offering a traditional alternative to nearby tourist spots.
Further north in Nea Erythraia, Gakias provides an atmosphere reminiscent of classic Greek cinema.
The restaurant specializes in meze, such as handmade dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), chickpea stew, and lamb.
Fixaki, located near Saint Loukas Church in Neo Iraklio, is a budget-friendly option with outdoor seating in a square.
It serves creative Greek cuisine, focusing on grilled meats like burgers and calf liver, alongside specialties such as skioufichta (Cretan pasta).
In Exarcheia, Ama Lachei is set in a former school building and courtyard. The menu features Greek home-style cooking, including grilled meats, giouvetsi, and fresh seafood.
For seafood, the classic Piraeus tavern Margaro is known for its simple menu of fried fish, including small red mullet (barbounia), picarel, and shrimp, served with a village salad.
In Glyfada, the modern mezedopoleio Dopios uses local products under the direction of chef Christoforos Peskias. Dishes include giant beans with hummus, octopus with fava, and lamb sweetbreads.
Mr. Peskias's menu focuses on updated regional flavors.
By Zoe Papafotiou