Specialty coffee Athens is something most visitors completely miss – overshadowed by the Acropolis, ancient ruins, and some of the best food in Europe. We spent two weeks in Athens and the surrounding area, and finding the best coffee in Athens was just as much on the agenda as sightseeing.
The inspiration came from two people: a colleague who had just come back from Athens and couldn’t stop talking about the cafés, and someone we follow on Instagram who had been posting incredible coffee content from the city for months. We had already been to Crete and knew the warmth of Greek people and the quality of the food – but the specialty coffee scene was entirely new to us.
What we found genuinely surprised us: a city that balances centuries of kafeneio culture with a thriving third wave coffee scene, entirely on its own terms. Here are our top picks for specialty coffee in Athens.
Before diving in: Athens has a coffee culture that runs deep. The city runs on freddo espresso and freddo cappuccino – chilled, foamy espresso drinks you’ll find at every corner café. The third wave scene didn’t replace Greek coffee culture – it grew alongside it.
Best Specialty Coffee Athens by Neighbourhood
We’ve organised this guide by neighbourhood – because in Athens, the best cafés cluster together and exploring on foot is half the fun.
Pagkrati
Quiet residential neighbourhood east of the National Garden. About 15 minutes walk from the centre.
– Foyer Espresso Bar – [Multi-Roaster]
Foyer was where our coffee trip started – the personal favourite of an Instagram contact who had pointed us toward the city’s best coffee places. Tucked away on Vriaxidos, it’s easy to miss from the street. It also sits directly opposite KUDU – so visiting both in one go is a no-brainer.
Inside, it’s slightly chaotic but entirely intentional: a living room vibe, warm and relaxed, with a three-group espresso machine behind the bar. Foyer is a multi-roaster and works with DAK Amsterdam. Three coffees on the menu, all genuinely good. The bean selection to take home is one of the best in the city.
Address: Vriaxidos 2, 116 35 Athens (Pangrati)
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 · Sat–Sun 09:00–18:00
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– KUDU Coffee Roasters – [Own Roastery]
Just 20 meters from Foyer, KUDU was our second stop – and it delivered on every level. The barista was immediately warm and engaging, pulling out his phone to show us his favourite spots across the city.
KUDU roasts its own coffee right here in Athens: eight different espressos and six filter coffees in a beautifully decorated shelf. But what really stood out were the pastries – orange cake with an extraordinary cream, cinnamon rolls, cheesecake. Top quality from coffee to food.
Address: Plateia Pagkratiou 4, Athens (Pagkrati)
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 07:00–19:00 · Sat–Sun 08:00–17:00
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Exarchia
Bohemian, slightly gritty, full of street art — and the highest density of specialty coffee in the city.
– TAF Coffee Roasters – [Own Roastery]
TAF Coffee Athens is an institution. Founded in the 90s, it was the city’s first third wave café and remains one of the most well-known coffee roasters in Athens – you’ll notice their beans served all over the city.
The space spreads across two floors with outdoor seating and over twelve espresso and filter roasts. In summer, almost every coffee is available on ice.
Honest take: the cup leaned dark and chocolatey despite ordering something fruitier. The atmosphere felt business-oriented – not the place for long coffee conversations. Worth a visit as an institution; for warmer vibes, look elsewhere.
Address: Emmanouil Benaki 7, 106 78 Athens (Exarchia)
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 07:00–17:30 · Sat 07:30–15:30 · Sun Closed
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– Motiv – [Café]
Motiv sits right next door to TAF in Exarchia – smaller, more sparse, less visual noise. The coffee holds its own.
We had an iced latte and a double shot espresso, both solid. We also picked up a Geisha from Peru – the cup leaned heavily chocolatey, which isn’t what you’d expect from a Geisha. Roasted a touch darker than we’d hoped. Still worth a visit as a quieter alternative to the TAF crowd next door.
Address: Emmanouil Benaki 20, 106 78 Athens (Exarchia) · 2nd location: Formionos 42, Pagkrati
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 07:30–19:00 · Sat 09:30–16:00 · Sun Closed
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– Boken – [Café]
Boken earns points before you even walk in. Directly opposite the entrance is a massive photorealistic mural by Australian street artist Guido Van Helten – a multi-storey work depicting two bookbinders at their craft. In Exarchia, bookbinding has deep roots tied to the nearby university. Worth stopping for on its own.
Inside: somewhere between an 80s atelier and Exarchia bohème. Slightly shabby, full of character, with a framed Yayoi Kusama print resting on the floor next to a couch. The barista pulled us into a coffee conversation the moment we walked in. We ended up with an Ethiopian filter from Create Coffee Roasters – excellent.
Boken is more of a place to meet and hang out than a quick stop – but you could easily work here too. One of our favourites.
Address: Emmanouil Benaki 40, 106 78 Athens (Exarchia)
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 07:30–18:30 · Sun 09:00–16:00
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Kolonaki & Koukaki
Upscale Kolonaki meets neighbourhood-y Koukaki, just below the Acropolis. Two different vibes, both worth it.
– Samba Coffee Roasters – [Own Roastery – since 1979]
Samba Coffee Roasters has been roasting coffee in Athens since 1979. The Kolonaki branch is relaxed and approachable. The standout: an extraordinary AREMDE espresso machine, open on both sides so you can watch the syrupy espresso flow directly into the cup.
We had an espresso – excellent: slightly lower acidity, a medium body, clear notes of apricot and a lot of sweetness. Smooth and round. We also picked up a washed Peru to take home. One of the best coffee roasters in Athens.
Address: Solonos 36, Kolonaki, Athens
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 08:00–18:45 · Sun 09:00–16:45
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– Third Place – [Café]
The name says it all. Third Place is built around the idea of a space that’s neither home nor work. The concept is carried through: minimalist Scandinavian design, curated Japanese and Nordic objects alongside the coffee bar.
When we visited it was pleasantly quiet – a few tourists, two people on laptops. We had an espresso from El Salvador, a natural process: very sweet, fruity, with a slightly funky finish. Third Place lives through its coffee and its atmosphere.
Address: Apollonos 23B, 105 57 Athens (near Syntagma)
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 · Sat 09:00–17:00 · Sun Closed
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Psychiko
Quiet residential suburb north of the centre — 15 minutes by metro from Monastiraki.
– Smolik Coffee – [Café]
Smolik is a little off the beaten path – not in the centre, but worth the detour. The café sits in Psychiko, sharing the neighbourhood with branches of KUDU and Samba.
The interior is genuinely special. A La Marzocco machine in an unusual colour dominates the bar. Coffee from Create and Handpickers, both Athens-based roasters. Two espresso options and several V60s.
We went for a competition natural from Create: red wine and apricot, with a slightly boozy finish – very funky, but the coffee rotates so another bean would have been equally easy. The carrot cake was homemade and excellent. One of the nicer terraces in the city.
Address: Ir. Politechniou 13B, Chalandri (north Athens)
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 07:30–19:00 · Sat–Sun 09:00–17:00
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Piraeus – Day Trip
Athens’ port city, 20 minutes by metro from Monastiraki. Not somewhere you’d stumble into — which makes it special.
– Oven Roasters – [Own Roastery]
Oven Roasters is worth a trip – literally. The roastery is in Piraeus, near the harbour, about 20 minutes by train from Monastiraki, a short walk from the station. A large concrete-and-wood warehouse, open and inviting.
We went on a weekday and had the place almost entirely to ourselves – which gave us a rare opportunity: we got to look at the roaster, a 15kg Loring, up close. Head roaster Dimitris Pantelis learned his trade at Samba before starting Oven. The espresso was a Brazilian natural: clean and round.
But the coffee wasn’t the highlight. The breakfast was. I had an omelette prepared Japanese-style, with sourdough bread and butter. Sounds simple – but every element was a 10 out of 10. Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest impression.
If you have half a morning free: the train to Piraeus is worth it.
Address: Kastoros 44, 185 45 Piraeus
Opening hours: Mon–Tue Closed · Wed–Fri 08:00–17:00 · Sat–Sun 09:00–18:00
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Conclusion
Specialty coffee Athens surprised us in every way possible. Nine spots across two weeks, and every single one had its own character – from a cosy living room bar to a harbour roastery, from bold branding to quiet Scandinavian minimalism. The people behind these places are passionate, and you feel it everywhere.
If you’re visiting Athens and you’re into coffee, set aside a day to wander through Exarchia, Pagkrati, and Psychiko – the distances are short and the density of good coffee is high. And if you have an extra half morning: the train to Piraeus for Oven Roasters is one of the better decisions you can make.
For specialty coffee Athens is best explored slowly, café by café. Our personal top picks: Foyer + KUDU as a combined first stop (20 metres apart, do both), Boken for atmosphere and conversation, Samba Coffee Roasters for the best espresso of the trip – and Oven Roasters for the best breakfast.C
FAQ – Specialty Coffee in Athens
Last updated: October 2026 – cafés and opening hours verified.