Finally Athens has its own juice bar and vegan hot spot. Avocado, a friendly narrow café located next to a small little organic market, is the place to go when you're craving a green juice, kombucha, or raw chocolate dessert.

Cookoovaya is the collaboration of five Greek chefs looking to create “wise cuisine.” The name is a cute play on words (the first park being cook, the second part, koukouvaya, meaning owl in Greek. Hence “wise cuisine.”), but the philosophy—and the food—is serious. The chefs source ingredients from small producers and farms throughout Greece, and the result is a simple yet inventive menu. The open kitchen and clean lines make for a cozy and comfortable atmosphere.

While Dionysos was a tourist trap in its first 50 years of business, new ownership and a new chef have transformed the restaurant completely.  Situated at the base of the Acropolis, the elegant spot’s idyllic atmosphere and panoramic views of the Parthenon make it perfect for a pre- or post-Acropolis meal of delicious, modern Greek food.

Aby Saltiel, local insider and owner of Mykonos hotel Kalesma, recommends Dopios, calling it “elevated Greek food.” A modern Greek mezze restaurant, Dopios uses local products and small producers from across Greece to create beloved appetizers and mains like hummus, smoked eggplant dip, fish croquettes and seafood orzo.

Set on a corner of Adrianou, a popular shopping street, Eat at Milton’s serves fresh and delicious seafood dishes in an airy patio restaurant.

“They serve very creative food at Ex Machina,” says Aby Saltiel, local insider and owner of Mykonos hotel Kalesma. With influences from Asia and the Middle East, Ex Machina sources spices from the Khan el-Khalili market in Cairo, and has seafood delivered daily by dayboat. Menu items include oysters with Ibérico ham and ponzu, cuttlefish with yellow curry sauce, and potato chips with furikake, taramosalata and tomato jam.

On the 6^th and 7^th floors of the Onassis Cultural Centre you will find Hytra, one of Athens’s more adventurous eateries. With stunning views of Athens and the Acropolis and an exciting menu, Hytra offers diners an unparalleled visual and gustatory experience. Inspired menu items such as “dirt” (porcini mushrooms, potato foam and edible foil paper over moussaka) will delight daring diners, but the progressive cuisine might not appeal to those with a limited palate. A wine list with labels from Greek producers rounds out this exceptional dining experience. Open for dinner only.

In the Kolonaki neighborhood, Malconi’s offers elevated dishes with creative cocktails and a lengthy wine list. “It’s a night spot with great food in the middle of Athens,” says Aby Saltiel, local insider and owner of Mykonos hotel Kalesma. The gastropub plays music from noon until late at night, and is a popular meeting point for locals and travelers alike.

The Mono Wine Restaurant is a major local favorite in the touristy historic neighborhood of Plaka. This ambitious spot serves excellent small plates, like duck breast terrine with sundried figs, pistachio and seared foie gras. The wine list has a smartly edited selection of excellent and unusual Greek wines; the country's indigenous grapes are creating a lot of buzz in oenophile circles lately.

With the looks of a Hollywood-style diner but ingredients sourced from some of the best organic farmers in Greece, this restaurant serves the kind of smart healthy food you'd want to eat every day just as its name proclaims. Perfect for lunch.

This cozy Greek tavern turns out quality dishes but keeps things simple. The vibe is relaxed, the service is friendly and the food is hearty and old-fashioned. A staple in the neighborhood (it’s been there for 50 years), Oikonomou might be a bit rough around the edges, but the great food and solid wine list are just enough to take the edge off. Sit outside during the summer months.

This new restaurant on Aghias Irinis Square is the Balthazar of Athens, with a bistro style interior, an upscale comfort food menu and a buzzy vibrant atmosphere.

One of the most beloved celebrity chefs in the country is Argiro Barbarigou who has cooked for everyone from Pierce Brosnan to Jean Paul Gaultier and Carla Bruni. At this cozy, airy dining room of a restaurant, the specialty is seafood, from grilled octopus stewed in honey to lobster pasta. When she's not touring for her latest cookbook, Argiro is often here air-kissing her guests.

In Athens’ riviera, Pere Ubu is a hangout spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and nightlife once the sun goes down. “It has great vibes with DJs and Greek music that often turn into dance parties late into the night,” says Aby Saltiel, local insider and owner of Mykonos hotel Kalesma. A stone pizza oven cranks out flatbreads, and charcuterie boards, hummus, pita bread and veggies, burgers and skewers round out the menu.

Aby Saltiel, local insider and owner of Mykonos hotel Kalesma, recommends Sea Spice for nightlife. “It has great vibes with DJs and Greek music that often turn into dance parties late into the night,” he says. Seafood dishes and traditional Greek fare provide sustenance, while elevated cocktails keep the vibes going all night long.

Aby Saltiel, local insider and owner of Mykonos hotel Kalesma, recommends The Black Salami. “In the middle of Athens, they make the best sandwiches I have ever had, and they bake their own bread daily from scratch” he says. Grab a quick bite while exploring Athens, or a fresh loaf of bread to complete your Grecian dinner.

This glamorous beach club in the suburb of Varkiza on a stretch of coastline that is referred to as Athens's Riviera is owned by Spyros and Chrysanthos Panas, brothers who have been shaping the city's nightlife for more than a decade. The sprawling location perched on a cliff over the sea is divided into several outdoor event spaces surrounded by blooming trees that include an excellent restaurant and dance floor. Valentino was so impressed when he stopped by on his yacht a summer ago that he stayed a few extra days. Don't forget to check out the Wonder Shop which debuts this summer, a boutique offering a well-curated mix of emerging international and Greek designers. Open from May to September.

This is a favorite restaurant of many Athens’s insiders, such as Lena Korres, founder of the international beauty line. The fish dishes, like kritharoto—a Greek risotto with crayfish, are exquisite. Chef Lefteris Lazarou was one of the first in Greece to win a Michelin star for a fish restaurant. There is no real menu, so just go with what is fresh that day.

Aby Saltiel, local insider and owner of Mykonos hotel Kalesma, recommends Zurbaran for a night spot with great food in the middle of Athens. Sushi, sashimi and raw starters such as tuna tartare and grouper ceviche are lighter choices, while pastas, seafood, and meats such as duck, chicken and pork round out the rest of the menu.