Plaka often appears in guides as scenery beneath the Acropolis, but dinnertime brings the district back to a concrete choice: share several plates inside a small old house or watch the street from an open taverna? Slopes and lanes can make a restaurant that looks minutes away on a map take longer to reach, especially after an afternoon at a museum or monument. Two places with their own websites and menus allow a better decision than a list of “authentic” addresses.
A house built around mezedes
To Kafeneio, at 1 Epicharmou, says it occupies a house more than four centuries old. Inside, its mezedes menu includes stuffed vine leaves, fava, mastelo cheese and a pastrami-and-cheese pastry. This is a format for asking, selecting and sharing; do not mistake small plates for a fixed-price meal. The website accepts booking requests and advertises daily opening until one in the morning. Anyone with allergies should ask about ingredients and preparation before ordering several dishes for the table.
A taverna on Kydathineon
Taverna Vyzantino is at 18 Kydathineon, on a pedestrian street in Plaka. It presents traditional Greek cooking and fish, with tables open to the street’s movement. That can be part of the appeal or a drawback for someone seeking quiet. Its site gives long daily hours and a phone number for reservations. Diners’ accounts are more varied than a photograph of a perfect taverna: praise for the setting and service sits beside criticism of certain dishes and bills. Read the day’s menu rather than arrive with an abstract idea of Greek cooking.
How to end the walk
If coming from the Acropolis or its museum, check the exit and visit hours first. Plaka rises and falls through streets at different levels, and no dinner table justifies cutting short a timed visit. Both addresses allow a meal without leaving the neighbourhood, but their atmospheres differ: To Kafeneio invites a sequence of small plates in an old interior; Vyzantino offers a taverna meal more open to the street. Compare availability, portions and drinks before calling either “cheap”. Online accounts help reveal patterns, not guarantee the service you will receive that night.
For exploring flavours through small plates and allowing time to talk, the Epicharmou house makes more sense. For a seat within Plaka’s street life and a taverna menu, Kydathineon provides another experience. A useful guide leaves travellers knowing which table they have chosen and why.
To Kafeneio favours mezedes in an old house; Vyzantino is a taverna more open to the street. Read the menu and confirm kitchen hours and seating.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
To Kafeneio occupies 1 Epicharmou, in the Plaka streets best explored slowly after looking towards the Acropolis from below. The restaurant places its premises in a house more than four centuries old and describes two levels that were once separate dwellings. That history comes from the business its
Mezedes in an old Plaka house
At 18 Kydathineon, Vyzantino offers another way to eat in Plaka: a taverna on a busy pedestrian street, with tables from which to watch the neighbourhood pass. The restaurant’s website presents traditional Greek cooking and fish, and takes telephone reservations. Its location suits someone already e
Greek cooking on Kydathineon Street
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
-
Official website of To Kafeneio ↗
Primary source
To Kafeneio · Accessed October 10, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website of Taverna Vyzantino ↗
Primary source
Taverna Vyzantino · Accessed October 10, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website ↗
Primary source
This is Athens, guía oficial de la ciudad · Accessed October 10, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Valoración de To Kafeneio Plaka ↗
Secondary source
The Athens Travel · Accessed October 10, 2026
Google 4.5/5 en 4067 reseñas de Epicharmou 1; consultado 10/10/2026.
-
Valoración y experiencias de Vyzantino Plaka ↗
Secondary source
Wanderlog · Accessed October 10, 2026
Google 4.2/5 en 1686 reseñas de Kydathineon 18; consultado 10/10/2026.