On the corner of Voulis & Apollonos, where people descend from Zappeion for a date, aperitivo or a relaxed dinner, Ami spreads its small tables on the wide sidewalk and proposes an Italian outing with an urban atmosphere. The small hall, with a marble bar, dark wood and black and white tiles creates an elegant, “almost private” mood without cutting you off from the action of the street.
The restaurant was opened in late 2022 by George Melissaris, George Kanellopoulos and Dimitris Babouris as Ami Gastroth?que with a more French direction, in 2024 it changed its identity and transformed into an Italian bistro, following the flow of the neighborhood and the trend for simpler, cleaner flavors.
Today, the kitchen is under the direction of award-winning chef Dimos Samourakis, with a menu that celebrates seasonality, purity and technique: handmade pasta, pizzas with character, a few but proper “seconds”, and classic cocktails for the necessary aperitivo. Samourakis – born in Thessaloniki and raised in Athens – has worked in distinguished kitchens in Greece and abroad, and has shown his creative fine dining eye in his personal project, Seeds.
From the new menu we tried, the following stood out: Bruschetta Tartare with artichoke and lardo di Colonnat, a classic tartare with a modern twist, Potato Gnocchi with veal tail and Naxos male: a comfort dish with a chewy texture and full sauce, Paccheri with salsiccia, a dish with a Sicilian mood and the right “bite”, Fregola mare, fregola cooked in mussel broth, with millet and zucchini puree in a balance of iodine-sweetness and Pizza with thin, well-baked dough – try the Margherita for purity or the signature gorgonzola-fig-arugula for a sweet-salty game.
Ami is one of the beautiful spots in the historic center where you can stop by for a Campari-based cocktail with antipasti or sit down for a full dinner. The location, the sense of the street and the purity of the flavors compensate for the choice.
Address: Voulis & Apollonos, tel. 21 3030 2290
