These Are The Best Greek Restaurants In London
Whether you’re still dreaming about the feta saganaki you devoured on your last Greek getaway or you’re looking for a homely Mediterranean restaurant packed with charm and old-school hospitality, we’ve got you covered with our edit of the best Greek restaurants in London.
London is abrim with a vibrant Greek-influenced restaurant scene, from family-run favourites who’ve been serving up classics for decades to newer fine-dining establishments defining Aegean cooking. Read on to find out where to get the best Greek-style meze in London.
Zephyr
Named after the Greek god of the West wind, zēphyr offers a casual dining affair inspired by Grecian culture with a late-night bar downstairs. Located on Notting Hill’s iconic Portobello Road, this bustling spot is one that’s worth the hype. Expect chic interiors to the multiple menu options featuring taste menus and a la carte brimming with chargrilled meats and fish “drizzled and dressed with modern-mezze flavours”. After dinner head downstairs to Agave cocktail bar, Naked & Famous, featuring close to 40 different expressions of tequila and mezcal.
Where: 100 Portobello Rd, W11 2QD
Website: www.zephyrlondon
OMA
OMA is on the lips of every foodie right now, set inside the beloved Borough Market. The menu and overall vibe are inspired by the Greek Isles, so expect fresh seafood, plus clay pot and grilled meats, all promising to deliver bold flavours.
Downstairs, in the main market, experience an Athenian street food offering at Agora – OMA’s lively sister restaurant. The must-order dish? The traditional souvla.
where: 2 – 4 bedale street, se1 9al
website: www.oma.london
Meraki
Located in the heart of Fitzrovia, Meraki is the fine-dining Greek restaurant you need on your radar. Under the watchful eye of global executive chef, Sanjay Dwivedi, you’ll find the team bringing a taste of Greece to the table, with bottarga from Mesologgi, tomatoes from Santorini and butter from Crete.
The space is beautifully decked out, with exposed brick features, a wine cabinet-lined wall and pews lining the kitchen counter for those who love the heat of the kitchen in front of them.
Expect an array of meze-style dishes, including taramasalata; Meraki’s famed tzatziki; mushroom skewers; saganaki prawns with feta and ouzo; and aged beef souvlaki with Greek yoghurt tahini. As well as larger dishes such as Josper Redefine ‘beef’ fillet with mushroom and chimichurri; and black cod ‘spanakorizo’ with spinach and dill.
where: 80-82 Great Titchfield Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 7QT
website: www.meraki-restaurant.com
OPSO
OPSO, named after an ancient Greek word translating to ‘a delectable morsel of food’, is a unique Greek restaurant located in Marylebone. Since opening in 2014, the team has been renowned for its seasonal, high-quality ingredients and modern take on Greek cuisine.
On the ground floor, you’ll find the bar boasting counter-side pews, tiled walls and brilliant Greek liqueurs on offer. While the dining room boasts a giant marble communal table situated between smaller tables.
Kick off your meal with feta kataifi with thyme honey and sesame seeds and moussakas with a rich bechamel and beef ragu filling. Opt for a sharing main and delight on the octopus ‘stifado’, a rich stew-like dish with caramelised onions, sherry vinegar and black-eyed beans.
where: 10 Paddington Street, W1U 5QL
website: www.opso.co.uk
Lemonia
This Primrose Hill favourite has been serving the local community for over 40 years and is still one of the capital’s best Greek restaurants – not to mention the prettiest. Expect earthy tones, green foliage hanging from the walls and ceilings, and a beautiful arched window ceiling allowing natural light to flood the room.
You can always guarantee a brilliant meal, with hot and cold meze options to start including smoked pork loin charcoal grilled; grilled halloumi souvlaki; giant butterbeans in a fresh tomato sauce; aubergine salad with olive oil and fresh herbs; and fresh tabouleh. Save room for mains of lamb shashlik; Mediterranean prawns; and keftedes – deep-fried lamb meatballs with parsley, onions and herbs.
If you’re dining with two or more, opt for the sharing meze, featuring a selection of hot and cold starters, chargrilled meats and Greek salad to enjoy a taste of everything.
where: 89 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 8UY
website: www.lemonia.co.uk
Kima
Escape to the Greek seas without the plane fare courtesy of Kima and its Greek-influenced menu. Brought to life by the team behind OPSO and INO, the restaurant specialises in modern Greek food, focusing on simple, high-quality ingredients.
The menu is very fish-led, with dishes such as the Ossetra caviar; fresh catch of the day, served whole on charcoal or steamed with unripened extra virgin olive oil; and smoked potato mash with pickled mustard.
where: 57 Paddington Street, W1U 4JA
Website: www.kimarestaurant.com
Andy’s Taverna
A Camden institute, Andy’s Taverna has been serving the local community since 1967. This family-run establishment ticks all of the right boxes, from the classic blue and white Greek restaurant exterior to the hearty, homemade classics.
Expect an array of hot and cold meze options, from tirokafteri, a Greek cheese spread with hot peppers, olive oil and herbs; loukaniko – Greek spiced pork sausage; spanakopita with chopped spinach and feta in a crispy filo pastry; and Corfu-style prawns with fresh tomato, chilli sauce and feta.
There are mains that regulars come back for time and time again, including the afelia – tender pork marinated in red wine and coriander; and the kleftiko, a traditional leg of lamb cooked in tomato sauce and served with roast potatoes and vegetables.
where: 23 Pratt Street, Camden, NW1 0BG
website: www.andystaverna.co.uk
MAZI
MAZI, meaning ‘together’ in Greek, is centred around the Greek tradition of sharing. The restaurant, home to simple interiors and a beautiful alfresco dining area out back, serves up a menu that’s designed to be shared and enjoyed by the whole table. Each dish will come as it’s ready, with highlights including courgette cakes with cucumber and mint dip; baby artichoke hearts in a kombu broth; tiger prawn risotto with lobster head bisque; braised ossobuco and orzo pasta giouvetsi; and wild cod with mussels.
Make sure you save room for traditional loukoumades, a Greek-style doubt with lavender honey, crushed walnuts and chocolate sorbet.
where: 12 Hillgate Street, Notting Hill, W7 7SR
website: www.mazi.co.uk
INO
This Carnaby hotspot takes inspiration from the Greek culinary tradition of cooking over charcoal, using quality firewood to cook ingredients sourced directly from around Greece.
Translating from the ancient Greek word for wine, INO offers a spectacular selection of specially chosen Greek wines, available by the glass and bottle.
Order for the table and opt for the tuna tart with fava and Santorini wild capers; feta on charcoal with cherry tomatoes, spring onions and Padron peppers; Imam – grilled aubergine with charred onions, tomatoes and feta; smoked red pepper lamb fillet with fava; and souvlaki with 150gr USDA prime rib eye steak with garlic yoghurt and olive oil.
where: 4 Newburgh Street, Carnaby, W1F 7RF
website: www.inorestaurant.com
Genzo Greek
This cosy family-run restaurant has been serving up homecooked Greek classics since opening in 2007. The interiors are simple with palette wood-topped tables and turquoise tones throughout.
The menu is bursting with flavour-packed delights, from yemista – courgette and pepper stuffed with vegetable risotto to chargrilled mixed sheftalia – grilled marinated cubes of pork and sheftalia (juicy Greek-style sausage) with pourgouri (bulgar wheat) and salad.
Those dining in a group can opt for the Greek meze feast featuring everything you need for a hearty meal, from pork souvlaki to lamb chops, hummus to halloumi.
where: 212 High Road, East Finchley, N2 9AY
website: www.genzogreek.com
Retsina
From rich turquoise interiors to top-quality fresh ingredients, you can always guarantee an excellent time at this North West London haunt. This award-winning, family-run restaurant has been in operation for over 30 years and has become renowned for its friendly hospitality and traditional menu with a modern twist.
You can choose between a set meze meal, featuring hot and cold starters with either tender grilled meats, grilled fish or a vegetarian option.
It’s designed around sharing, so even if you don’t want the set menu, you can share your favourite dishes with the whole family. Think louvi beans – black-eyed beans with olive oil, lemon and spinach; whole sardines with smokey tomato salsa; pastourma – 100% beef sausage cured in red wine, spices and garlic; traditional moussaka; and Greek lamb casserole with rice or roast potatoes.
where: 48-50 Belsize Lane, Belsize Park, NW3 5AR
website: www.retsina.squarespace.com
