Zampano — Restaurant in Athens

Food Zampano nails a few things really well, starting with the coffee. Smooth, rich, and well-balanced—whether you go for a freddo espresso or a flat white, it’s clear they know what they’re doing behind the bar. The surprise star? The katsu sandwich. It’s crispy, juicy, and stacked just right between soft bread with tangy slaw and sauce that gives it a bit of punch. Not your average brunch item in Athens, and honestly, that’s what makes it fun. But the Greek yogurt—which you'd think would be a safe bet—goes a bit off-track. It’s good quality yogurt, but the toppings are extra sweet, almost cloying. Syrupy fruit, heavy-handed honey/syrup… it tips from refreshing to dessert territory pretty fast. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you might love it. If not, it’s a bit much for breakfast.

Service Service is warm and attentive, with that laid-back Athenian pace. You won’t feel rushed, but your coffee and food arrive in good time. Staff are friendly and happy to make recommendations or tweak orders if needed.

Ambiance Zampano has that perfect blend of rustic charm and cool, with exposed brick, cozy lighting, and plenty of greenery. It’s tucked into the lively Psirri neighborhood, which adds a bit of buzz to the laid-back vibe. It feels like a spot where locals linger and travelers stumble in and decide to stay a while.

The Takeaway Zampano’s a great spot for a slow morning or midday break in Athens. The coffee is excellent, the katsu sandwich is a sleeper hit, and the setting is effortlessly chill. Just maybe skip the yogurt unless you’re in the mood for...

So good I almost burst into the kitchen to shake the chefs hand. This place was understated, classy and accessible dining at its best (none touristy but very welcoming nonetheless) From entering you can tell this place cares, their wine list and menu is varied yet refined, a sublime marriage of Greek and Italian fare, with strict attention payed to flavour. We had a Prosciutto salad to start which we opted to pair with some meatballs, which were fantastically cooked (medium rare) unlike the dry and overdone standard seen throughout Athens. Our mains - slow cooked beef with Orzo and a mushroom Risotto (the likes of which I’ve seldom been fortunate enough to eat at home in London) the flavour of both dishes were on another level, nuanced and striking perfect balance in my palette. Dessert was as expected, fantastic, a few choice desserts, but done extraordinarily well with great flavour profiles) The decor and vibe of Zampano does not escape my review, we opted to sit outside, but the interior was beautifully minimal, tasteful, classy, well lit, the staff adorned in smart uniform, friendly and attentive (not overbearing) and exude a willingness to be of service. I absolutely CANNOT recommend this place enough. We left with a bottle of local wine (takeout from their menu) very satisfied and wanting to return. If you’re looking for refined comfortable vibes, delicious (cannot stress this enough) food at a very (again..) reasonable price, look no further. Zampano is a true gem of Athens for any curious...

Where do I start... Firstly vegan options is a lie but that's rarely a problem as I'm a master at picking dishes where ingredients can be omitted. I went for breakfast and ordered the smashed avo (no eggs), then noticed they have a mushroom omelette so asked if I could have mushrooms instead. I was told I can't exchange but could have mushrooms as a side for an extra charge (1€), obviously this was fine. The waiter returned minutes later to say they can't do mushrooms as a side (the mind boggles... They have mushrooms). I'm disappointed but it's still fine and since he mentioned sides I asked what sides they can do. He offers eggs (I reminded him the dish comes with eggs, and I don't want them). He seems stumped then says they don't do sides (which is only a problem because he's already alluded to the fact that they do). Then he suggests avocado as I side (I resist the urge to roll my eyes). This whole exchange wouldn't usually be a major issue however the whole conversation is marred by a passive aggressive over politesse. It was only when a man emerged from the kitchen, picking his nose, heading outside to presumably smoke that I realised why a side of mushrooms was so contentious: The cook clearly couldn't be bothered. As if this early morning exchange wasn't weird enough, I was then asked if I'd like to leave a tip; the answer was no.

It's a gorgeous...