Today, Athens is home to world-class chefs, innovative restaurants and a thriving food culture that celebrates both tradition and creativity.
That success story is entering a new chapter in 2026.
In a landmark announcement, Michelin revealed that the Michelin Guide Greece will expand beyond Athens to include Santorini and Thessaloniki for the first time. The move acknowledges Greece’s growing influence on the global culinary stage and positions the country as one of the Mediterranean’s most compelling food destinations.
The expansion is particularly significant because it reflects what diners have known for years: Greece’s culinary excellence extends far beyond its ancient landmarks and idyllic islands.
The Seeds of Athens’ Culinary Revival
Athens’ culinary revolution did not happen overnight. Emerging from years of economic challenges, the city reinvented itself through creativity, sustainability and a renewed appreciation of local ingredients. Today’s chefs are equally comfortable drawing inspiration from traditional Greek recipes and modern gastronomic techniques.
Farm-to-table dining, zero-waste philosophies and an unwavering commitment to seasonality have become hallmarks of contemporary Greek cuisine. Combined with a flourishing cocktail culture, exceptional wine programs and vibrant neighbourhood dining scenes, Athens offers visitors an unforgettable culinary journey from morning until late into the evening.
Michelin’s Growing Confidence in Greece
Michelin’s decision to expand its Greek coverage is perhaps the clearest indication yet that Greece has become one of Europe’s rising gastronomic stars. There was no separate Athens selection in 2025 as Michelin prepared for the nationwide expansion that will debut in the second half of 2026.
Until the new guide is announced, Athens retains its impressive Michelin portfolio, led by Delta’s two Michelin stars and eleven restaurants holding one Michelin star. The city is also home to several Bib Gourmand establishments that deliver exceptional cuisine at more accessible prices.
Athens’ Michelin Stars in 2026
Two Michelin Stars Delta remains Greece’s culinary flagship. Located at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, chefs George Papazacharias and Thanos Feskos continue to push the boundaries of sustainable fine dining. Their celebrated tasting menus have made Delta synonymous with innovation and the very best of modern Greek gastronomy. The restaurant also holds a Green Michelin Star.
One Michelin Star Athens’ one-star collection is remarkably diverse:
- Pelagos – Mediterranean luxury and contemporary technique at the Four Seasons Astir Palace
- Patio – farm-to-fork dining with produce from The Margi’s organic farm
- Soil – garden-driven seasonal menus and a Green Michelin Star
- Botrini’s – elegant Greco-Italian cuisine
- Tudor Hall – refined Greek cooking with Acropolis views
- Makris Athens – creative tasting menus celebrating Greek gastronomic heritage
- Plus long-standing favourites CTC Urban Gastronomy, Hytra, Hervé, The Zillers and Spondi, the pioneering restaurant that first put Athens on Michelin’s map.
Bib Gourmand Athens’ Bib Gourmand restaurants prove that exceptional dining need not come with exceptional prices. Standouts include Nolan (Greek-Japanese influences), Akra (intimate seasonal cooking), Fine Mess Smokehouse, Pharaoh, Cerdo Negro 1985 and Jerár.
Looking Ahead to Michelin Guide Greece 2026
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of 2026 is that Greece’s culinary story is still unfolding. The inclusion of Santorini and Thessaloniki alongside Athens creates opportunities for new Michelin stars, Bib Gourmands and Green Stars across the country.
For Athens, it represents international recognition of a culinary renaissance that has been years in the making. For Greece, it signals the beginning of an exciting new era where its gastronomic achievements stand alongside its cultural and historical treasures.
The Michelin Guide’s expansion confirms what many food lovers have long believed: Greece is no longer simply a destination for beautiful beaches and ancient ruins. It has become one of Europe’s most compelling places to eat.
And Athens is leading the way.