The World’s 10 Best Greek Restaurants
Greek dining ranges from elegant tasting menus to relaxed taverna cooking, but the common thread is a deep respect for seasonality, olive oil, seafood, herbs, grains, and convivial shared plates. In this guide, the listed restaurants collectively show how Greek cuisine can feel both rooted and cosmopolitan: polished downtown rooms in Athens and New York, neighborhood restaurants in London, destination dining in Dubai, and island-driven kitchens that lean into the landscape and the sea. What makes Greek restaurants so appealing is the balance of comfort and finesse. You may find octopus, grilled fish, and lemony greens alongside baked dishes, mezze spreads, and desserts shaped by honey, nuts, and yogurt. Even the more contemporary entries in this group typically keep one foot in tradition, translating familiar flavors into a more refined or globally inflected style without losing the generosity that defines Greek hospitality. For travelers, that means a Greek restaurant can be many things at once: a celebratory fine-dining address, an elegant seafood room, or a lively spot for shared plates and wines from Greece. This guide is best read as a map of the cuisine’s range, from modern interpretations to classic flavors, all anchored by the pleasures of fresh ingredients and a strong sense of place.
Delta
Athens, Greece
Delta is a restaurant in Athens, Greece.
Estiatorio Milos
New York, USA
Estiatorio Milos is a Greek restaurant in Midtown Manhattan at 125 West 55th Street, where the New York branch occupies a large, airy dining room with high ceilings. The restaurant presents a polished central Manhattan setting while grounding its identity in Greek hospitality, expressed through the idea of philoxenia and food designed for sharing at the table. That combination gives the space a distinctly urban character while linking the meal to a recognisably Greek cultural approach. The food at this branch is centred on seafood, with the Midtown menu showing both raw and cooked options. Dishes listed include Milos octopus, calamari, Mediterranean fish soup, salmon tartare and whole grilled fish, alongside salads and vegetable dishes that support the fish-led offering. The broader Milos philosophy also emphasises careful use of ingredients and Greek staples such as olive oil, shaping a style of cooking that appears direct, ingredient-focused and rooted in the restaurant’s Greek identity. In practical terms, the Midtown restaurant serves lunch and dinner, making it suitable for both daytime meals and evening dining in the theatre and business district. The branch also offers takeout. For larger gatherings, the events information states that both the restaurant and the Lower Level can be used for private functions. That adds a second layer to the operation, allowing the venue to host receptions, group meals and other organised occasions beyond its regular restaurant service. The setting for events is described as expansive, with windows onto West 55th Street, while the main restaurant retains the open scale suggested by its high ceilings and airy layout. Taken together, these features present a branch that is as much about atmosphere as menu focus: a composed Midtown dining room shaped by Greek hospitality and a seafood-based kitchen. It works as a formal yet welcoming restaurant, with enough flexibility to accommodate everyday dining as well as private entertaining.
The Athenian
London, UK
The Athenian in Victoria, London, is a Greek restaurant at 15A Elizabeth Street, with another London site in White City at Unit 5, White City Place, 191 Wood Lane. The company’s official locations page identifies both branches, and its own background describes The Athenian as a London-founded business that began in 2014 as a market stall before growing into a wider network of sites across the city. Its menu is built around Greek gyros, souvlaki and halloumi fries, alongside chicken, pork and plant-based choices. The food pages also show Greek bowls, wraps, boxes and sweet items such as baklavá, with allergen and nutritional information available for customers who want more detail. The business says dishes are freshly made to order and that ingredients are sourced from partners in Greece and the UK. The restaurants operate in a casual counter-service style, with food ordered over the counter, collected, or delivered. The White City branch also offers table booking through the official site. The company has updated its restaurants with digital screen menus and an easier self-checkout setup, while also using biodegradable, plastic-free packaging for orders. These details point to a quick, streamlined dining format rather than a formal one. Overall, The Athenian presents itself as a modern Greek eatery with a straightforward city-restaurant character. Its London locations, fast-casual service and menu focused on familiar Greek street-food dishes make it suitable for a quick lunch, relaxed dinner or takeaway. The emphasis on fresh preparation, practical ordering and a menu shaped around wraps, bowls and platters gives the business a simple, contemporary feel in central London.
Spondi
Athens, Greece
Spondi is a restaurant in Athens, Greece.
Nammos Dubai
Dubai, UAE
Nammos Dubai, the epitome of luxury beachfront entertainment, offers an unparalleled escape from the ordinary. Situated in the vibrant city of Dubai, this exclusive beach club and restaurant sets the stage for a world-class experience. Boasting a pristine beachfront location in the heart of the buzzing city, Nammos Dubai invites guests to bask in the lap of luxury. The venue combines the essence of a beach club with the sophistication of a high-end restaurant, creating a unique and dynamic atmosphere. The restaurant at Nammos Dubai is renowned for its delectable Mediterranean and seafood cuisine, serving up an array of fresh, locally sourced ingredients in dishes that cater to every palate. The beach club area is a haven of relaxation and entertainment, offering private cabanas, crystal-clear waters, and an ambiance that transitions from daytime serenity to nighttime glamour. Nammos Dubai hosts a variety of events and live performances, ensuring that guests are entertained throughout their visit. With its unparalleled service, stunning views of the Arabian Gulf, and an air of exclusivity, Nammos Dubai is a go-to destination for those seeking a luxurious beachfront experience in the heart of this cosmopolitan city.
Avli
Chicago, USA
Avli River North is a contemporary Greek restaurant at 702 North Wells Street in Chicago’s River North neighbourhood. This branch is presented as serving Greek fare and drinks, with lunch and dinner offered through the week and brunch at weekends. Rather than describing a single-room setup, the venue combines restaurant and bar elements within one address. That makes it suited to different kinds of visits, from a weekday meal to a more leisurely stop centred on drinks or shared plates. The River North location is defined by several distinct spaces. Its official description highlights an expansive patio, an intimate upstairs dining room and a downstairs bar, giving the restaurant separate settings within the same venue. The page also refers to pink bougainvillea and a Santorini-inspired atmosphere, signalling a decorative approach that draws on Greek island imagery without suggesting a themed resort environment. Overall, the branch appears designed to feel atmospheric and sociable while still operating as an urban neighbourhood restaurant. Across the published menus, Avli offers a wider framework than a single all-day list. The site includes separate food and drink menus as well as lunch specials, brunch and dessert, indicating service that changes with the time of day. Avli’s broader description of its cooking refers to classic and contemporary Greek dishes, which helps place the River North branch within that culinary approach. Drinks are part of the offer too, supported by the dedicated bar space and distinct beverage listings on the site. Beyond seated dining, the restaurant also accommodates other ways of ordering and organising a visit. The River North page notes delivery and pickup, while the wider Avli site includes to-go ordering options for Chicago locations. Reservations are available, and the business also promotes catering, showing that its services extend beyond the dining room alone. Taken together, those details present Avli River North as a flexible Greek restaurant with several dining areas, a bar-led component and multiple ways for Chicago customers to use it.
Mazi
London, UK
Mazi is a restaurant in London, UK.
Selene
Santorini, Greece
Selene is a fine-dining restaurant in Fira Town on Santorini, presented on its official website as a long-established part of the island’s dining scene. The restaurant traces its beginnings to Giorgos Hatzigiannakis in the mid-1980s and now names chef Ettore Botrini and wine director Yiannis Karakasis MW among the figures shaping the experience. Selene also states that it occupies premises that formerly housed an 18th-century Catholic monastery, giving the restaurant a setting tied to the island’s layered history. The cooking is described through a distinctly Santorinian lens, with the restaurant emphasising Greek cuisine, local ingredients and the culinary traditions of the island. Rather than a casual drop-in format, Selene presents a structured dining experience through degustation menus, allowing dishes to be served as a considered sequence. This approach gives the meal a deliberate rhythm and places Santorini’s produce and gastronomic identity at the centre, with the menu designed to express the island’s character in a contemporary restaurant setting. Wine has a substantial role within the restaurant’s identity. Selene’s official material highlights a cellar and selection with a strong Santorini emphasis, including its own signature wine, Selene Santorini Cuvée Privée, alongside bottles intended to complement the food. The wine programme is not limited to pairings at the table: the restaurant also promotes dedicated wine-tasting experiences linked to Selene Antique Caves. In addition, its Vedema concept is presented as a gathering point for producers, island gastronomy and the culture of Santorini wine. Taken together, these elements define Selene as a restaurant where heritage, cuisine and wine are closely interwoven. The historic former-monastery premises provide a distinctive backdrop, while the food is framed around Greek cooking and Santorini traditions rather than generic international fine dining. The presence of a named chef and Master of Wine underlines a dual focus on the plate and in the glass. For diners in Fira, Selene is characterised by a composed, place-led experience rooted in Santorini’s produce, makers and longstanding food culture.
Alpha Restaurant
Sydney, Australia
Alpha Restaurant is a restaurant in Sydney, Australia.
Etrusco
Corfu, Greece
Etrusco is a restaurant in Kato Korakiana, Dassia, on Corfu, Greece. The official site presents it as a long-established family business rooted in the island, with the dining room and reservations now centred at the Corfiot address rather than a hotel or wider resort estate. The restaurant states that it operates Tuesday to Sunday in the evening, from 19:30 to 00:00, and that reservations can be made by telephone, WhatsApp or online booking. The cooking is explicitly shaped by the surrounding landscape and by produce grown around the property. The restaurant describes its philosophy as a search for composition and refinement, with dishes informed by nature, local herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables from its garden. Its menus include an à la carte offering alongside tasting-style options, and the cellar is presented as a curated list of Greek and international wines, with particular attention to Greek vineyards and the Ionian Islands. Etrusco also places emphasis on the pace and formality of the meal. The booking page recommends elegant casual dress, accepts online requests for groups of up to 15 people, and asks guests to advise on allergies or dietary needs in advance. The main dining room welcomes children aged eight and above, while younger families are invited to enquire about private dining possibilities, subject to availability. Taken together, the restaurant appears to offer a polished, destination dining experience that is closely tied to its Corfiot setting. Rather than relying on a generic fine-dining formula, it draws identity from its family history, a garden-led approach to ingredients and a wine programme designed to accompany the menus. The result is a restaurant experience framed as regional and deliberate, with service details that suggest a controlled and intimate evening setting.