The Grand — Restaurant in Athens

Dinner at the Grand in the Grand Hyatt was an unexpected delight. I came for the view. Yes, you should absolutely reserve a balcony seat if you can. I left genuinely impressed with the food, the atmosphere, and every thoughtful detail in between.

Let’s talk highlights. The shrimp tempura roll was absolutely delicious. It was super fresh, perfectly crispy, and packed with flavor. I wasn’t expecting sushi to shine here, but it truly did. The Greek salad was a bit different from what you’d find in the U.S.; however, the freshness of the tomatoes and other vegetables made it a standout. Every bite was vibrant and clean. It felt like summer on a plate.

I also tried the bread with dip. Unfortunately, the dip contained dairy. Thankfully, the staff kindly provided a cute little bottle of olive oil instead. Honestly, that olive oil was fantastic. The bread itself was cold and a bit dry; even so, the olive oil made a huge difference and brought it to life.

Now for the Passion Pimenta cocktail. It deserves special mention. It was, without question, the best cocktail I’ve had in over ten years. The balance was perfect, with just the right kick. That drink alone is worth coming back for.

In addition to the food and drinks, the live music playing during dinner added such a warm and elegant ambiance. It created the perfect backdrop—not too loud, just beautifully integrated into the evening. The interior decor is stunning as well. From the lighting to the furnishings, every detail feels refined and thoughtfully designed.

Of course, the true star of the evening was the setting. Sitting on the balcony offered a breathtaking view of history, which created an unforgettable atmosphere. It was more than just a meal. It was a complete experience.

I came for the view and left impressed by everything. The food, the live music, the beautiful decor, and the impeccable service all made this night memorable. This place is a gem. I highly recommend visiting, especially if you can get a seat on...

First, we enjoy good service and this is NOT the place for that. We sat at the bar because - there were no tables (lots were open the whole time we were there).

We were very patient and after about 10 minutes we had a drink order taken. We asked for the menu at that time also. About 25 minutes in, we got our drinks (it's Europe and I think this is about average). No menu. We asked for the menu AGAIN. No menu after 5 more minutes. I stood up and the manager watched me get the menus from next to her and pretended to ignore me. No problem. I am independent. We ordered from the very nice bartender. He took our second drink order and was very nice and took our food order (appetizer and mains). We got our apps within 20 min. Great service and the app was the best calamari I have had. We ordered another round of drinks. It was round 90 minutes in and we still hadn't gotten our mains (most of the restaurant had cleared out and it was mostly empty). I tried making eye contact multiple times with the manager but she was too busy on her phone to recognize a nuclear bomb or even an earthquake. Must have been really important. I told the bartender that we really needed to go soon (90 minutes already) and he made our meal appear in 5 minutes. The pasta came out cold. We normally don't complain about temperature but I had enough with this manager. I told her that I wasn't paying for cold pasta after waiting 95 minutes. Needless to say, I would not recommend if this lady is still working here. She has no desire to help or make this a positive experience. The bartender was wonderful and we left him a...

I would not recommend the restaurant based on our recent experience.

First of all, the music in the restaurant was unbearably loud – so loud that having a normal conversation was impossible. We asked for a table on the terrace but were refused because, as we were told, our group of six was “too many.” We then requested that the volume of the music be reduced. The waiter assured us he would inform the manager, but nothing was done and the situation did not change.

Secondly, the food was a real disappointment. The prices are quite high, and naturally you expect a decent portion for the cost. Instead, we were served a very small plate of pasta that cost €40. For a restaurant of this category, that is simply unacceptable.

Finally, and most importantly, we had arranged in advance for two birthday cakes. This was discussed by email with the hotel administration, and we confirmed it again the day before at the reception desk, where the staff even contacted the restaurant to make sure the cakes would be ready for dessert. Yet when our dinner was over – already overshadowed by the indifference of the staff and the poor dining experience – the only thing brought to our table was the bill. No mention of the cakes at all.

Overall, there was nothing enjoyable about this restaurant. Poor service, overpriced food, and a complete lack of attention to guests made our evening very disappointing. For an establishment that presents itself as high-class, the standards are far below...