Mpirmpilo — Restaurant in Athens

Visiting Athens came with many emotions for my daughter and me. We didn’t want to simply see the city—we wanted to experience it. That’s why we chose this restaurant as our very first Athenian meal. After landing, we went straight from the airport to our hotel, dropped our bags, and came here.

Food

The menu was easy to follow, offering a compact but thoughtful selection of dishes. At first, I was unsure about local dining customs—I didn’t want to make a mistake at the table. So, I observed quietly before ordering.

I chose the stuffed vegetables with rice, while my daughter ordered the chicken in tomato sauce. The rice in my dish was slightly undercooked, but the flavors were excellent and left a strong impression. Bread with local cheese was served immediately, which felt like a genuine welcome to Athens. My daughter also enjoyed her meal very much.

To clarify: we did leave some food behind, but only because we were tired and adjusting to the time difference. It was not because of the quality, which was very good.

Service

Service was warm and attentive throughout. It was clear that we were tourists, but this never translated into impatience or indifference. Instead, we felt a sense of openness and kindness. As visitors, we appreciate this greatly. Respect for the people, culture, and food of the places we visit is something we hold in high regard, and this experience confirmed why Athens is so welcoming.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere was exactly what we hoped for. Watching people take their time with food—talking, sharing, enjoying—was refreshing. In the United States, meals often feel rushed. Here, dining is treated as an experience, not just a necessity. That difference stood out in the best way.

Final Thoughts

I have no criticism to give. What stood out most was not only the food itself, but the sense of hospitality behind it. This restaurant does more than serve meals—it creates an experience that reflects the spirit of Athens.

We look forward...

Food was really good (we ordered spinach pie, Cretan salad, meat and fish as main courses), and the restaurant is very cute, nice atmosphere in a very good neighborhood in Athens. My low qualification comes from the fact that the young server, when asking him for wine, suggested us a Sauvignon Blanc white wine bottle, when I told him twice that I just wanted a glass. He told me they don't serve white wine in glasses, adding that we could take the bottle with us after dinner, so he convinced me (my fault for not checking the wine price). The food cost was around 55 EUR (for two persons). My surprise came when he brought a bill of 115 EUR, and I realized the wine he suggested cost 60 EUR!! More than the food cost. I told him it was my fault for not checking the price, but let him know I was really disappointed for not telling us this wine was the most expensive by far, when I insisted him from the beginning I just wanted a glass. I felt completely scammed, and it changed the good impression I had from this restaurant. Not even a sorry, but an answer telling me "I thought you saw the price". It shows the total lack of professionalism of the server; he could have bring a liqueur or sweet, invited by the house, to change our minds. I will definetely not recommend this restaurant to anybody, and will not...

Mpirmpilo is in the lovely Kolonaki neighborhood in Athens, Greece. I love this area because it is not as overrun with tourists as the Plaka area.

Alex, a host and one of the servers is super friendly and helpful with ordering. Everyone that works there seems as if they love their job.

To start, we ordered the Tzatziki, tahini, and spicy cheese dip with a heaping helping of pita bread. Everything was on point, but my favorite was the tahini. It came with these little toasted, caramelized garbanzo beans. What a treat. The crunch and the sweetness of this topping was a perfect complement to the tahini.

For dinner I ordered the pork gyro plate. It was super tasty. My other guests ordered the white fish and the chicken kabobs. The kabob dish was the clear winner. They were perfectly cooked and beautifully arranged. That is what I am ordering next time I drop in for dinner.

We had two bottles of lovely wine. Alex offered us a shot of something we cannot pronounce. We loved it so much that Alex gave us another one, on the house.

This is such a great place with an amazing staff. I have no hesitation recommending this restaurant if you want a great meal away from all the craziness of the Acropolis near the Acropolis. I will be giving a 5...