Restaurants for 40+ hours in Athens?

[lacontessa]

Hi--we are planning our first visit to Athens and Greece the end of May. We will only have 2 nights, arriving at 6:15 pm one night, and leaving about 10:00 am 2 days later (about 40 hours total). This is a compromise since my hubbie doesn't like big cities.

We will be staying at the Athens Gate hotel. Since we are arriving to the airport at 6:15 pm, should we just plan on eating at the hotel the first night? Necessary or less expensive to make reservations in advance? What about suggestions for lunch and dinner for our one full day in Athens?

Other restaurant suggestions near the hotel from previous postings on Tripadvisor include:
Adrianos
Herminion Restaurant
Platanos Taverna
Smile Restaurant

We welcome any and all suggestions on these restaurants as well as others. Thanks!

[AmericanInAthens]

I've lived in Athens for 10 years and I know the Plaka/Monastiraki area quite well.

Try this place:

http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/dinner-at-paradosiako-athens

It's near the Plaka (on the edge of it) and although you will see tourists there..it's not a tourist restaurant.

If you want a sit-down souvlaki dinner try Thanassis near the Monastiraki Metro station. Again, tourists go there but it's not a tourist restaurant:

http://thesensitiveepicure.blogspot.c...

If you're out roaming around and you feel like a snack don't ignore the local fast food chain Goody's. It's pretty good. You can even get a nice plate of spaghetti there...and it will be much better than anything you'll find in a tourist restaurant and it won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Really, if I had to give one piece of advice about dining in Athens it would be to STAY AWAY from restaurants catering to tourists. They are AWFUL. Yes...this means that you should STAY AWAY from restaurants in the Plaka. Go there to sit in a cafe, not to eat.

[seasand]

Why eat at the hotel if you only have 40 hours to spend in Athens? The city never sleeps, and athenians usually have late dinner. You will be staying in the center of Athens so you have many many choices with the subway station of Syntagma (Constitution) Square close by.
Areas you should visit during your stay:

THISIO. Wonderful area with a pedestrian road surrounding Acropolis. Don't miss this.
http://www.greece-athens.com/place.php?place_id=74
http://www.filistron.com/index-en.htm
Greek mezedes and a terrace with great view to Acropolis.

PLAKA
http://www.greece-athens.com/place.php?place_id=4
http://www.xpatathens.com/news/17714

GAZI
http://www.athensguide.com/gazi/index...

Check these out and feel free to ask any questions.

I wish you have a nice stay

Katerina - Athens Greece

[lacontessa]

Thanks so much for your reply. Will check them out. The hotel restaurant is an option because it is supposed to have a wonderful view and decent food.