You can easily miss this tiny eatery hidden among cafes and souvenir stores along the foothills of the Acropolis. But keep your eyes peeled for a blue awning shielding outdoor tables with green-wire chairs, lace tablecloths, and oil lamps, and you’re in for a treat. Athina Bistro, a delightful Franco-Greek bistro right in the heart of Athens, Greece, exudes Parisian Charm and serves up elegant takes on Greek classics. Expect home-cooked Greek dishes presented with five-star finesse, complete with porcelain plates worthy of any yiayia’s (translation: grandmother’s) fine china cabinet. Favorites include the lamb leg with gravy and mashed potatoes (with meat so moist it falls right off the bone), the moussaka (a lasagna-like dish made from layers of dough, béchamel cream, ground meat and eggplant) dressed up in a quiche dish, and seabass ceviche. If you fancy a lighter bite, go for the sandwich with roast beef and jam or the bruschetta with fried eggs and spinach. Athenian bliss.
Athina Bistrot
Makrigianni 3, Athens
2109229210
Open every day from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM
The Inquiring Traveler's Notebook 