“Kafeneio” Has Returned: Urban nostalgia has found its hangout once again

On Loukianou Street, Kolonaki regains its “constants” with the revival of Kafeneio 1987. The “Kafeneio” on Loukianou Street, first introduced to the public in 1987, was never just a simple restaurant. It was a “melting pot” where politicians, artists, and journalists exchanged views over steaming dishes, shaping the aura of cosmopolitan Athens for nearly four decades. Now it is once again setting its tables on the sidewalk, reviving one of the landmarks on Athens’ dining map.

This iconic hangout has reopened its doors, with the Brunello team (Giannis Morakis, Giorgos Melissaris, and Thomas Grubac) taking on the difficult yet charming task of bringing it back to life. The challenge? To bring the classic Athenian cookshop into the present, with respect for its heritage, but without a trace of outdated attachment to the past. At the helm of the kitchen is chef Kyriaki Fotopoulou.

With a career shaped by the terroir of Sigalas Estate and Kir-Yianni Estate, the chef follows a clear philosophy: seasonality, clean flavors, and the warmth of a Sunday family table.

The menu functions like a diary of nature. First impressions reveal a kitchen that works seriously with familiar flavors, executed with clarity: charcoal-roasted beets, beef sausage from Ilia, fluffy meatballs, beef mince pasta with manestra, slow-cooked lamb with Sfakian-style hilopites, as well as baklava with pistachio.

The experience is completed by a carefully curated wine list, where selections are made with the “conversation” between wine and food in mind. Each label serves the Greek identity of the space, enhancing the chef’s gastronomic narrative.

Chef Kyriaki Fotopoulou

The refreshed space operates from midday until evening and is the ideal spot both for a business lunch that requires discretion and for a dinner with friends who appreciate good food without excessive showmanship. Kafeneio fills up early, and that says something about the city and its need to rediscover its points of reference.

INFO: 26 Loukianou St., Kolonaki, tel.: +30 210 723 9600
Monday–Saturday 12:00–23:30, Sunday closed