The first time I ordered fish in Athens, I made every mistake possible. I sat down at a tourist restaurant near Monastiraki, pointed at something on the menu, and got a plate of frozen, overcooked sea bream that could have come from anywhere. The bill was €38 for a single fish. I still think about it with a small amount of rage.
Then a Greek friend took me to a tiny taverna in Piraeus — no English menu, fish displayed on ice at the entrance, old men arguing over backgammon in the corner. She ordered grilled red mullet and a plate of fried calamari that had been swimming that morning. Total for two: €32. That was the moment I understood what seafood in Athens is supposed to be.
Athens sits on the Saronic Gulf, and the fishing boats come in daily. The seafood here can be extraordinary — but only if you know where to eat it. Here are the 10 best seafood restaurants in Athens, the ones locals actually choose when they want fresh fish.
Quick Picks#
| Restaurant | Neighbourhood | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varoulko Seaside | Piraeus (Mikrolimano) | Fine dining seafood | €€€€ |
| Margaro | Piraeus (harbour) | No-frills fried fish | € |
| Thalassinos | Pagrati | Upscale neighbourhood gem | €€€ |
| Psaras | Plaka | Tourist-friendly, solid fish | €€€ |
| To Steki tou Ilia | Piraeus | Fresh catch, local crowd | €€ |
| Jimmy and the Fish | Piraeus (Mikrolimano) | Waterfront atmosphere | €€€ |
| Ouzeri Lesvos | Kypseli | Authentic island-style meze | €€ |
| Akovitika | Neos Kosmos | Southern Peloponnese flavours | €€ |
| Kollias | Piraeus | Fish-market fresh, old school | €€ |
| Karavitis | Pangrati/Kolonaki | Classic neighbourhood taverna | €€ |
Price guide: € = Under €15pp | €€ = €15-30pp | €€€ = €30-50pp | €€€€ = €50+pp
Before You Order: How Seafood Works in Athens#
If you’ve never ordered fish at a Greek taverna, here’s what you need to know — because it works differently than most places, and the surprises usually show up on the bill.
Fish is priced by weight. This is the big one. Most fresh fish on the menu shows a per-kilo price, not a per-plate price. A whole sea bream might be €50-70/kg at a nicer place. Your actual fish might weigh 400-600g, so your plate costs €20-42. Always ask “poso kanei to psari?” (how much is the fish?) before they cook it.
Ask to see the fish first. This is totally normal in Greece — not rude, not weird. Walk to the display, pick your fish, and they’ll weigh it in front of you. If you’re not comfortable doing this, at least ask the waiter what’s fresh today. The answer should be specific (“the red mullet came in this morning”) not vague (“everything is fresh”).
Frozen fish must be marked. By law, Greek restaurants must indicate frozen items on the menu, usually with an asterisk or the word “kat.” (short for katepsygmeno — frozen). If nothing is marked, ask. Good places are upfront about it.
The 10 Best Seafood Restaurants#
1. Varoulko Seaside (Piraeus — Mikrolimano)#
If you want one unforgettable seafood meal in Athens and budget isn’t a hard constraint, this is it. Chef Lefteris Lazarou won Greece’s first Michelin star for his seafood, and Varoulko Seaside is his flagship — right on the water in Mikrolimano harbour.
What makes it special: This isn’t traditional taverna food. Lazarou does things with octopus, sea urchin, and humble sardines that feel inventive without being pretentious. The tasting menu walks you through seasonal Greek seafood in ways you didn’t know were possible.
Must order: The octopus with fava puree, anything with sea urchin when in season Price: €50-80 per person with wine Atmosphere: Elegant waterfront, white tablecloths, harbour views Reservations: Essential, especially weekends
2. Margaro (Piraeus — harbour area)#
The polar opposite of Varoulko — and just as good in its own way. Margaro is a bare-bones fried fish shop near the Piraeus harbour that’s been packing in locals for decades. There’s no menu. They fry whatever came off the boats that morning.
What makes it special: Radical simplicity. The fish is fresh, the frying is perfect, and they don’t overcomplicate anything. You sit down, they bring you fried fish with a simple salad, bread, and beer or ouzo. That’s it. And it’s magnificent.
Must order: Whatever they’re frying — usually calamari, red mullet, or shrimp Price: €10-15 per person Atmosphere: Paper tablecloths, fluorescent lights, zero pretension, 100% flavour Tips: Cash only. Expect a wait at peak hours — locals queue happily.
3. Thalassinos (Pagrati)#
Pagrati isn’t a neighbourhood most tourists visit, which is exactly why Thalassinos feels like a discovery. It’s a proper fish restaurant — white tablecloths, attentive service, beautiful presentations — but set in a quiet residential street where you’re the only tourist in the room.
What makes it special: Chef-quality seafood at prices well below what you’d pay for the same level in Kolonaki or the tourist centre. The fish is sourced daily, the kitchen treats it with respect, and the wine list is serious.
Must order: Grilled whole fish of the day, the seafood risotto, crab salad Price: €30-45 per person Atmosphere: Refined but relaxed neighbourhood restaurant Reservations: Recommended for dinner
4. Psaras (Plaka)#
Yes, it’s in Plaka. Yes, it’s on a cobblestone street with fairy lights. Yes, tourists eat here. But Psaras has been serving fish since 1898, and it survives on quality, not foot traffic. It’s the rare Plaka restaurant that locals will actually recommend.
What makes it special: The location is genuinely beautiful — a stepped alley below the Acropolis — and the seafood is properly fresh. They’ve had over a century to perfect the basics: grilled fish, fried calamari, seafood pasta. It won’t reinvent Greek cuisine, but it delivers a memorable meal in a stunning setting.
Must order: Grilled sea bass, fried calamari, lobster pasta if you’re celebrating Price: €30-50 per person Atmosphere: Romantic, old Athens charm, outdoor seating under bougainvillea
If you’re exploring Plaka restaurants more broadly, check our guide to the best restaurants in Plaka — which covers non-seafood spots too.
5. To Steki tou Ilia (Piraeus)#
Not to be confused with the famous lamb chop place in Thissio with the same name. This is a Piraeus fish taverna where the local dockworkers and fishermen eat, which tells you everything about the freshness.
What makes it special: It’s the kind of place where the waiter tells you what’s good today because he saw it come off the boat. No theatrics, no Instagram angles — just extremely fresh fish, grilled simply, served with horta (greens) and bread.
Must order: Grilled red mullet, fried whitebait (marides), Greek salad Price: €15-25 per person Atmosphere: Unpretentious local taverna, outdoor tables in summer
6. Jimmy and the Fish (Piraeus — Mikrolimano)#
If you want waterfront seafood with a bit more polish than a traditional taverna but less formality than Varoulko, Jimmy and the Fish hits that sweet spot. It overlooks the small boat harbour of Mikrolimano — one of the prettiest waterfronts in greater Athens.
What makes it special: The setting is gorgeous (tables right on the marina), the seafood is creative without being fussy, and the cocktails are surprisingly good. It works equally well for a date night or a long Sunday lunch.
Must order: Sea bass tartare, grilled prawns, the fish of the day Price: €35-55 per person Atmosphere: Modern seafood brasserie, marina views, stylish crowd Reservations: Essential for waterfront tables
7. Ouzeri Lesvos (Kypseli)#
Kypseli is one of those Athens neighbourhoods that’s raw, real, and rapidly gentrifying. Ouzeri Lesvos brings the island tradition of ouzo-and-meze dining to the city — specialising in the style of seafood meze you’d find on the Aegean islands.
What makes it special: The meze format. Instead of ordering one big fish, you share a dozen small plates: sardines, grilled octopus tentacles, tarama, fried courgette, marinated anchovies. Pair it all with ouzo or tsipouro and you’ve got a long, leisurely meal that feels authentically Greek.
Must order: Sardines, octopus, anything listed as “catch of the day,” the tarama Price: €15-25 per person Atmosphere: Lively neighbourhood ouzeri, communal feeling, locals dominate
8. Akovitika (Neos Kosmos)#
Named after a village in the Mani peninsula (southern Peloponnese), Akovitika brings that region’s rugged coastal cooking to an unassuming corner of Neos Kosmos. This is where you come for less common seafood — things like raw sea urchin, fish soup, and salt-baked fish.
What makes it special: Dishes you won’t find at tourist restaurants. The psarosoupa (fish soup) is a meal in itself, and their salt-baked fish is worth the 40-minute wait. The ingredients taste like they’re from a fishing village, not a supply chain.
Must order: Psarosoupa (fish soup), salt-baked fish, raw sea urchin (in season) Price: €20-35 per person Atmosphere: Homey, taverna-style, regulars who know each other by name
9. Kollias (Piraeus)#
Another Piraeus institution. Kollias is just steps from the fish market, and it shows — the seafood couldn’t be fresher if you caught it yourself. It’s been run by the same family for decades, and they clearly take pride in keeping things right.
What makes it special: Location next to the source. The fish literally goes from the market to the kitchen. Simple preparations that let the quality of the ingredients speak: grilled whole fish, steamed mussels, octopus in vinegar.
Must order: Grilled whole fish (ask what’s best today), steamed mussels, octopus salad Price: €20-30 per person Atmosphere: Traditional, no-nonsense Piraeus fish taverna
10. Karavitis (Pangrati/Kolonaki border)#
Karavitis is primarily known as a classic Athenian taverna — barrel wine, grilled meats, the works. But their seafood is quietly excellent, especially the grilled octopus, fried calamari, and whatever whole fish is fresh that day. It makes this list because it’s the perfect choice when your group can’t agree on seafood-only.
What makes it special: A genuine neighbourhood taverna that does everything well. It’s been around since 1926, the courtyard garden is magical on summer evenings, and the wine comes straight from the barrel. The seafood isn’t the star here — it shares billing with the lamb chops and the meatballs — but it’s consistently fresh and well-prepared.
Must order: Grilled octopus, fried calamari, barrel wine (krasi vareli) Price: €15-25 per person Atmosphere: Classic Athenian garden taverna, family-run, summer courtyard
Best Neighbourhoods for Seafood#
Not every neighbourhood is created equal when it comes to fish. Here’s where to head:
Piraeus (harbour area and Mikrolimano) — The undisputed champion. Multiple excellent fish tavernas, daily catches from the harbour, and a reason to venture beyond central Athens. Metro Line 1 takes you directly there. Three of my top 10 are in Piraeus, and there are dozens more.
Plaka/Monastiraki — Tourist-heavy, so choose carefully. Psaras is the standout. Avoid places with aggressive hosts and photo menus — the tourist trap warning signs I described in our Plaka guide apply doubly when fish is involved, because bad frozen fish is worse than bad frozen moussaka.
Pagrati — Quiet, local, increasingly good dining scene. Thalassinos is the anchor.
Glyfada/Voula (coastal suburbs) — Worth the taxi if you want beach-town seafood energy. Multiple solid tavernas along the waterfront. Best combined with a beach day — see our Athens beaches guide for the full rundown.
Budget Guide: What to Spend#
Here’s roughly what to expect, depending on how you eat:
Budget (€10-20pp): Fried fish tavernas like Margaro. Small fish (marides, atherina), bread, salad, beer. Simple, fresh, satisfying. You’ll be full and happy.
Mid-range (€20-40pp): A neighbourhood taverna like Kollias, Akovitika, or Karavitis. Grilled whole fish, shared meze plates, wine from the barrel. This is the sweet spot for most travellers.
Splurge (€40-80pp): Varoulko Seaside, Jimmy and the Fish, or Thalassinos. Creative preparations, better wine, waterfront settings. Worth it for a special meal.
Tips for the Best Seafood Experience#
Eat where Greeks eat, at Greek hours. Dinner starts at 9-10 PM. If a seafood restaurant is full at 7 PM and empty at 10 PM, that’s a tourist restaurant.
Tuesday and Friday are fish days. Traditional Greek Orthodox fasting means no meat on these days, so demand for fish is higher — and supply rises to meet it. Many tavernas get extra deliveries.
Seasonal fish tastes better. Red mullet is best in autumn, sardines peak in summer, swordfish in late spring. Ask what’s in season.
Don’t fear the small fish. Marides (whitebait) and atherina (picarel) are cheap, always fresh, and deeply satisfying eaten whole with lemon. They’re the local’s secret weapon.
Pair with tsipouro or ouzo. Greeks drink anise spirits with seafood for a reason — the flavours genuinely complement each other. Ask for it “me pago” (with ice).
For a deeper dive into Greek cuisine beyond seafood, our Greek food guide covers 25 must-try dishes, and our Athens food tours guide can connect you with local experts who know every hidden fish spot in the city.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Where is the best seafood in Athens?#
Piraeus — specifically the Mikrolimano harbour area and the streets near the central fish market — has the highest concentration of excellent seafood restaurants in greater Athens. For fine dining, Varoulko Seaside is hard to beat. For a budget-friendly, ultra-fresh experience, Margaro near the Piraeus harbour is legendary among locals. In central Athens, Psaras in Plaka and Thalassinos in Pagrati are standout options.
How much does a seafood meal cost in Athens?#
Expect to pay €10-20 per person at a casual fried fish taverna, €20-40 at a solid mid-range fish restaurant, and €40-80+ at upscale seafood spots. Fresh fish is priced by weight (per kilo), so always ask about the price before ordering a whole fish — a large sea bass at a nice restaurant can easily reach €30-40 for a single portion.
Is the seafood in Athens fresh?#
At good tavernas, yes — Athens’ proximity to the Saronic Gulf and the Aegean means daily catches are the norm. However, tourist-heavy areas sometimes serve frozen fish. By law, restaurants must mark frozen items on the menu (usually with an asterisk). Choose restaurants that display their fish on ice, let you inspect it before ordering, and can tell you specifically when it arrived. The restaurants on this list all prioritise fresh, daily-sourced seafood.
Should I go to Piraeus for seafood?#
Absolutely. Piraeus is Athens’ port city and the heart of the local fishing industry. The seafood there is often fresher and cheaper than what you’ll find in the tourist centre. It’s a 25-minute ride on Metro Line 1 (Green line) from Syntagma or Monastiraki, making it an easy half-day trip. Combine lunch at a fish taverna with a stroll along Mikrolimano harbour — it’s one of the best food experiences in Athens.
What fish should I order in Athens?#
Red mullet (barbounia) is the classic Greek fish — small, sweet, best pan-fried. Sea bream (tsipoura) and sea bass (lavraki) are popular grilled whole. For budget options, whitebait (marides) and sardines are always fresh and affordable. If you’re feeling adventurous, try grilled octopus (htapodi) or ask for whatever the catch of the day is — that’s usually the freshest and best-value option.
