From scrumptious souvlaki to mouthwatering kleftiko by way of bubbling moussaka, Greek cuisine certainly doesn’t hold back when it comes to flavour. Luckily for us Londoners, we’ve got some pretty great spots in town where you can grab all the Greek grub you can get your ruddy hands on. Say ‘Hallou-mi’ to this roundup of ten of the best Greek restaurants in London. Sorry.
1. Andy’s Greek Taverna, Camden
Starting off this list of the best Greek restaurants in London is one of London’s oldest. Andy’s Greek Taverna was established all the way back in 1967, and they’ve got their hospitality down to a tee over the 50+ years of service. Styled like a traditional Greek taverna, you’re really treated as if you’re one of the family here, and that’s before we’ve even got to the food which is among Camden’s best.
At Andy’s, you’ll get everything you could ever want from the Aegean – think lamb kleftiko, Corfu-style prawns, freshly-fried calamari drizzled with lemon, melt-in-the-mouth swordfish and spanakopita – a delicious filo pastry pie stuffed with feta and chopped spinach.
Veggies will be happy with the stuffed peppers, vegetarian mousakka and sliced aubergines with feta cheese and tomato sauce, and there are a whole host of sharing platters you can opt for too.
Follow all of this up with a sticky baklava and a crisp glass or two of traditional white vino and you’re all set for a pretty memorable meal we say. Yamas!
📍You’ll find Andy’s Greek Taverna at 23 Pratt Street, London, NW1 0BG.
🚇 Nearest station is Camden Town.
2. Halepi, Bayswater
This cosy, family-run taverna is set right in the heart of Bayswater and is quite possibly the place to come in central if you’re looking for Greek food. Also styled like a taverna, it’s an informal spot with traditional Greek music playing as you wine and dine – eating here you’ll find it hard not to imagine yourself in Athens itself.
In terms of food, Halepi doubles as a kebab house too, so expect plenty of succulent, skewered meats with accompanying vegetables. They also do a mean fish grill which incorporates John Dory, red mullet, scallops and Dover sole, as well as all the starters you’d expect – think calamari, tzatziki, octopus salad and fried halloumi.
Where Halepi really pulls out all the stops is in its chef’s specials – the sliced veal cooked in piping hot butter with a dry white wine sauce is pretty much to die for.
📍You’ll find Halepi at 18 Leinster Terrace, London, W2 3ET.
🚇 Nearest station is Bayswater.
3. Lemonia, Primrose Hill
Located in leafy Primrose Hill – home to London’s most scenic view – Lemonia is a local landmark that has been drawing in punters in their droves for almost 40 years. It’s so beloved in fact that numerous celebs – including Harry Styles, Kate Moss, Jude Law and Rita Ora – have been spotted over the years.
And who can blame them? This spot is all about the atmosphere. The vine-draped dining room can’t help but conjure up images of sun-dappled courtyards during summer holidays in Greece, and the food? Well, there’s a reason it features on this roundup of the best Greek restaurants in London.
Standout dishes include the rabbit cooked in wine with baby onions and herbs, cubes of chargrilled, marinated fish, quail basted in olive oil with garlic and herbs and artichokes with broad beans in a rich tomato sauce. Plus, you can get a three-course set menu lunch on Mondays through to Fridays for just £17.50. Yep seriously! That’s a bargain in this neck of the woods. Trust us.
📍You’ll find Lemonia at 89 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 8UY.
🚇 Nearest station is Chalk Farm.
4. Ampéli, Goodge Street
Arriving in central at the start of 2020 was this Greek slice of heaven, which quickly catapulted itself into the echelon of the best Greek restaurants in London due to its excellent grub and fantastic wine list. Let’s start with the wine. Whereas other restaurants may draw on the collective strength of Italy, France, Argentina, Australia and more to ensure an *ahem* grape time, Ampéli unashamedly champions Greek wines.
Who can blame them either? Red and white draw the eye here instantly, but you can also try low-intervention orange wines, and prolong your stay by diving into the dessert wines. Plus, the friendly staff will be more than happy to help you if you’re needing to be pointed in the right direction.
Now for the food. In a street packed full of excellent restaurants – Charlotte Street, anyone? – this spot more than holds its own. The salt cod croquettes, heritage tomato salad with whipped feta and yoghurt and braised lamb shank with gigante beans are all pretty damn exquisite.
📍You’ll find Ampéli at 18 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2LZ.
🚇 Nearest station is Goodge Street.
5. Hungry Donkey, Spitalfields
This light and bright space set just off Petticoat Lane is the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat if you’re ever in East London. Influenced by Athenian street food, with organically-sourced and biodynamic products making regular appearances on the menu, the food at Hungry Donkey is quick, fresh and simple, just as the best Greek food should be.
All the dips you know and love are there on the menu (and they’re a hell of a lot better than the plastic pot kind from Sainos) and the fried halloumi cheese is so good, it’s the kind of thing you’ll order again before you’ve even finished the first.
Mains include pork, chicken and halloumi souvlaki pitas – which are guaranteed to fill a hole – and their ‘Smashing Plates’, include the much-loved classic, moussaka. Hot, bubbling and delicious comfort food, it promises to be better than your mama’s… And it most likely is.
📍You’ll find Hungry Donkey at 56 Wentworth Street, London, E1 7AL.
🚇 Nearest station is Aldgate East.
6. The Real Greek, Various Locations
There are 12 London branches of this much-loved chain, stretching from Dulwich to Covent Garden, and the atmosphere here is all about creating a traditional Greek family mealtime – i.e. yummy food washed down with a glass or two of great wine.
If you couldn’t tell by the name already, The Real Greek is all about ‘real’ Greek food. You’ll get all the classics here – including vine leaves stuffed with rice, tomato and fresh herbs, souvlaki wraps and home-cured salt cod served with lemon mayo – as well slightly more off-kilter fare such as jackfruit stifado.
In terms of drinks, you can get your hands on carafes of crisp white wine from Thessaloniki, bottles of ice-cold Mythos lager, ouzo (what else?) and plenty of fresh fruit juice. For a great view – head to the Bankside branch which is right next to the Globe Theatre and the River Thames.
📍You’ll find The Real Greek at various locations across London. You can find out more here.
7. Opso, Marlyebone
Literally translating to ‘delicacy’ in ancient Greek, Opso is all about the delectable dishes. A clean-cut, modern and upmarket spot in Marylebone, this place is all about the small plates. Go for the feta kataifi with thyme honey and sesame seeds or the Greek salad with Kytherian olive oil rusks and barrel-matured feta and you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in town.
Large plates include Giouvarlakia dumplings with lamb, Greek yoghurt and dill and eel carbonara – it’s delicious, trust us – and they also do plates to share. Options include skate wing or octopus stifado if you’re a fish fan, or carnivores can shell out by tucking in to the Wagyu short-rib chops with oregano and green olives.
They also do a mean brunch menu here, and they bill themselves as having the ‘largest and most diverse Greek wine list in London’. No small fry here then.
📍You’ll find Opso at 10 Paddington Street, London, W1U 5QL.
🚇 Nearest station is Baker Street.
8. Vineyard Greek Taverna, Camberwell
This family-run taverna has been whipping up excellent Greek food in SE15 for over 40 years now, and boy does that experience show. The food here at Vineyard Greek Taverna is probably some of the best you can get outside of Greece – you heard it here first folks.
Combining authentic Greek and Cypriot fare, you’ll get to indulge in hearty classics here such as kleftiko and mousakka, as well as a whole plethora of meze dishes to share like stuffed vine leaves, calamari and taramasalata with pita bread. The grilled kebabs are also pretty bloody fantastic, and if you’re wanting fish, then you could do worse than the grilled swordfish steak.
Vegans and vegetarians are well catered for here, and there’s an extensive selection of wines and beers on offer too. Best part of all is come the summer, when an alfresco terrace area opens up front draped in vines and twinkling fairy lights.
📍You’ll find Vineyard Greek Taverna at 3-5 Camberwell Grove, London, SE5 8JA.
🚇 Nearest station is Denmark Hill.
9. GReat Greek Grill House, Farringdon
The penultimate entry on this list of the best Greek restaurants in London is quite possibly this writer’s favourite. Casual and informal inside, this spot is all about the food – and what food it is.
The team at GReat Greek Grill House proclaim to have ‘the best souvlaki in London’, and it’s pretty hard to argue with them. The lovely staff here place a strong emphasis on flavour and authenticity, and that’s exactly what you get with their souvlaki. Fresh produce is sourced directly from local suppliers here, and everything else – such as pita bread, feta cheese, extra virgin olive oil and herbs – comes directly from Greece, so you know that everything here is as good as it gets.
Other things on the menu include kebabs, gyros and spanakopita – all washed down with a bottle of Mythos of course – and there are regular Greek music nights here with added dancing if you’re looking for a really authentic experience.
📍You’ll find GReat Greek Grill House at 98 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3EA.
🚇 Nearest station is Farringdon.
10. Retsina, Belsize Park
Rounding off this list of the best Greek restaurants in London is this award-winning, family-run restaurant right in the heart of the picturesque Belsize Park Village area of North London.
A chic and elegant spot with white-washed interiors and pops of colour, Retsina has been serving customers for over thirty years now, and you can easily tell. The food here is all delicious and places a real emphasis on using fresh and high-quality ingredients.
You’ll be able to tuck into all the classic Greek dishes, such as kleftiko and meze platters, along with an eclectic range of starters. The tahini, gigantes, and traditional home-made meatballs are all bloody delightful, but the whole sardines drizzled in smoky tomato salsa and black-eyed beans with lemon and olive oil ain’t to be sniffed at either. They’ve also got an impressive wine list too.
📍You’ll find Retsina at 48-50 Belsize Lane, Belsize Park, London, NW3 5AR.
🚇 Nearest station is Belsize Park.
So there you have it – a roundup of some of the best Greek restaurants in London. Whether you’re looking for halloumi or gyros, this roundup should have you practically salivating.