Athens, the city of Michelin stars
The restaurant opened in 1996 by Apostolos Trastelis, who redefined the concept of haute cuisine in Greece. It received its 1st Michelin Star in 2002, among a wealth of worldwide distinctions, but the highest distinction to me is the fact it was my father’s favorite for our special family celebrations. The beautiful neoclassical building has two exterior Mediterranean-inspired terraces perfect for alfresco dining as well as an interior stone dining room in the style of an arched cellar. The cooking here is centered around elaborate and highly visual contemporary French cuisine.
Located on the 6th & 7th floor of the modern building of the Onassis Cultural Center, its stunning rooftop terrace provides breathtaking views of the Acropolis where you can enjoy your dinner beneath the stars, adding to the overall dining experience. Hytra showcases contemporary Greek cuisine, with flavors emerging from traditional recipes which have been executed with modern inspiration and aesthetics.
Varoulko Seaside
Since 1987, when he first opened “Varoulko” in Piraeus, Lefteris Lazarou
has been creating gastronomical masterpieces. He got his first Michelin star in 2002. The restaurant is now in the Mikrolimano marina with superb views of fishing boats moored out front. His philosophy is inspired by Odysseus Elytis who said: “If you deconstruct Greece, you will see at the end that what is left is an olive tree, a vineyard and a fishing boat”.
Botrini’s
The Greek-Italian Chef Patron, Ettore Botrini is one of the most recognizable personalities in Greece, he was starring in the TV show “Kitchen Nightmare” which made him established as an absolute perfectionist. Involved in haute cuisine for almost 40 years, and since 2011 alongside Nikos Billis, who was previously in “Noma”, the best restaurant in the world, they showcase a creative Mediterranean cuisine with constant references to the 2 countries, part of Botrini’s DNA.
The sound of the three letters forms the Greek word «σίτιση» meaning feeding & offering food. Chef Patron Tsiotinis, after a journey of knowledge and experience in renowned establishments and Michelin-starred restaurants both in Greece and France, opened his own restaurant CTC in 2015 and a few years later, at the age of 35 got his own star. Drawing inspiration for the world of art, he likens his culinary creations to paintings, each empty dish is a blank canvas awaiting his strokes of creativity.
Note: The dishes are a mystery until the moment presented to
you, so be prepared for multiple surprises both to the eye and
the palette.
Herve Pronzato, the French-born executive chef who lent his name to the restaurant, is co-owner, along with chef Grigoris Kikis and manager George Efthimopoulos. They created an informal French-style, Japanese-inspired
eatery, with an open plan counter where guests can watch the chefs at work. The cuisine offers a single menu degustation comprising of 16 dishes, so plan for a long tasting experience…
Chef Tasos Mantis and Alexandros Mouridis, coowner and F & B Manager, offer a single menu of well-presented small plates that reaffirm the restaurant’s “farm to table” concept. Also awarded a Michelin Green Star, with a special focus on vegetables, herbs and edible flowers from the chef’s kitchen garden in Alepochori, cultivated by his father.
The building, where the restaurant is in, is situated next to the city’s Orthodox cathedral and was converted into a hotel, Zillers Boutique Hotel. This was once the family home of German architect Ernst Ziller, who was a major designer of royal and municipal buildings. He came to Athens to design some of the city’s public buildings and fell in love with a Greek woman and spent the rest of his life here.
Located in the “Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel”, the mostluxurious resort in Athens Riviera, Pelagos, delights its guests with the combination of breathtaking sea views from the Vouliagmeni Peninsula and the tantalizing flavors of Mediterranean cuisine. It offers two tasting menus: “The Classics 360°”, featuring the restaurant’s signature dishes and “Pelagos On Tour”.