Kosmikon — Restaurant in Athens

The best part of this place (except for location in the old town) is Zoe. She’s the one inviting guests to the restaurant.

The service was terrible. After we sat down, one of the waiters approached us and delivered the menu cards. Then vanished.

We didn’t get any treats or even a bottle of cold water which is usually served in Greek restaurants as a welcome gift.

After quite some time of waiting, another waiter came to collect the order. We asked for a bottle of white wine, sparkling water and nonalcoholic beer. Also Greek salad, linguine, calamari and pork in sauce with chips.

The waiter vanished but we could see him talking to the others, totally not bothered with guests. After quite some time and a gentle reminder, we reviewed our drinks. Then another 20 or so minutes later main courses, salad and calamari. And here the disaster came to live: calamari were tasteless, pork was quite ok but chips looked and tasted as if they were fried the day before, linguine tasted like plain noodles and looked like a greyish poop. Until now I believed there is no way you can ruin the Greek salad, yet kosmicon’s chief did it shovelling huge pieces of an old dried brown bread into the salad.

We spoke to Zoe (still lovely and understanding) and two waiters about the meals, one even asked if we wanted to talk to manager. Yes we did! But manager - strolling around and chatting to his staff - ignored us totally.

Long story short: we didn’t pay for linguine, we shouldn’t have pay for the Greek salad either. And chips - gummy and soaking with an old oil.

Yet we still paid nearly 70 euros for this disaster. This is a terrible place to go unless you starving and all the other restaurants are closed to zombie attack. 😜

I’m very disappointed and strongly dissuade to anyone willing to order anything from...

We had brunch at Kosmikon, located in the heart of Plaka, and overall, it was a pleasant experience with a few service-related hiccups.

We ordered Kagianas (Greek-style scrambled eggs with tomato and feta) and Tsoureki French Toast—a sweet Greek brioche-style bread served with fresh fruits, honey, and a touch of cinnamon. Both dishes were beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, striking a great balance of traditional Greek flavors with a modern brunch twist. We also had coffee, which was strong and well-prepared.

The outdoor seating was a highlight—charming and atmospheric, with views of the bustling Plaka streets, yet still peaceful enough to enjoy a relaxing meal. The location is prime for people-watching and soaking in the old-town vibe.

Service, however, was where things fell a bit short. We requested fresh orange juice after receiving our initial order, and while the server acknowledged it with a quick “OK,” he then went on to decorate other tables and never returned with the juice. After waiting around 20 minutes and finishing our meal, we reminded him, only to be told “it will be there in a minute.” At that point, we chose to cancel the order. The server came across as somewhat rude or disinterested, which stood in contrast to the polite and welcoming host at the front, who initially invited us in and made a good first impression.

For three people, the total cost came to around €50, which is reasonable considering the quality of the food, portion sizes, and central location.

In summary, Kosmikon delivers excellent food and a lovely ambiance, especially if you're seated outdoors. While the service could use improvement, especially in attentiveness and attitude, the culinary experience and setting still make it a spot worth trying if...

I had dinner at Kosmikon twice when in Athens. I booked it in advance of my trip on Open Table and had such a good experience that I returned a second evening when I had not booked plans. The location is fantastic on a busy corner that allows for wonderful people watching without feeling crowded. The outdoor patio is good sized and accommodated singles to larger parties. The menu is a moderate size with Greek classics and a variety of Vegetarian, meat, and seafood dishes. Prices seemed reasonable and a good value. My meals including an appetizer, main course and two glasses of wine were around $58 Euros. My first evening I had the crispy shrimp appetizer which was four shrimp wrapped in phyllo dough and fried and served with a sweet and sour sauce and salmon served on couscous for my main. Both were perfectly cooked and came to the table hot. The salmon was cooked exactly as I asked for it and both courses were very good. My second evening I had steamed mussels in a delicious broth and sea bass which was served with potatoes and green beans. Both courses were very good, and portion sizes were filling. The staff were friendly and attentive without being overbearing. I was traveling alone as I often do and the host and wait staff were accommodating of a single diner (which doesn’t always happen). I received excellent service, was offered prime tables (not put off the side), and was not at all rushed. I had two wonderful leisurely meals. I highly recommend Kosmikon and would return if I was...