Spondi

Spondi is one of the most established fine-dining restaurants in Athens, recognised by the Michelin Guide every year since 2002. It sits on a quiet residential street in Pangrati, a few minutes from the Panathenaic Stadium, in a building with vaulted dining rooms and two Mediterranean-style terraces planted with greenery, which become the main draw on warm evenings.

The chef is Arnaud Bignon, and the cooking is contemporary French with international influences. Seasonal produce leads the menu, though some ingredients, such as crab, prawns, lamb and chocolate, appear all year in different guises. You can order à la carte or choose the Discovery tasting menu, where courses can be added or removed, which changes the price. Dishes picked out by the Michelin inspectors include langoustine with fermented pine honey, kaffir lime and curry. Save room for the cheese trolley, which brings a selection of Greek and international cheeses with fresh bread.

The wine list is extensive and a good place to explore the best of Greek wine alongside French classics. Service is formal but warm, and the pacing allows for a long, relaxed evening. Spondi currently holds one Michelin star, and prices reflect its position among the top tables in the city, so it is best kept for celebrations and special dinners. Couples, food-loving groups and business diners make up much of the room.

Dinner is served nightly, according to the Michelin Guide. Book ahead through the restaurant's website, particularly if you want a table on the terrace in summer, and mention dietary requirements when you reserve. The restaurant has air conditioning for the hottest months and a car park, which is useful in an area where street parking is scarce.

Spondi is about a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride from Syntagma, through the National Garden or past the stadium. Pangrati is a residential district with neighbourhood bars and cafés, so it is easy to begin with an aperitif nearby or continue the evening with a drink afterwards. Gift cards are available through the restaurant's website, which makes a dinner here a thoughtful present for food-loving friends. The Michelin inspectors also single out its interesting wine list.