The well-known OKIO Restaurant in Athens will permanently shut its doors on August 1st, the owners announced today.
In an emotional message to customers, the restaurant cited the difficult conditions in the hospitality sector as the reason for the closure.
“The past few years have been particularly challenging for the entire restaurant industry,” the announcement reads. “The significant drop in tourism, unstable economic environment, sharp increase in taxes, and overall decline in clientele have made the continuation of operations unsustainable.”
Despite the team’s best efforts to maintain the high standards customers had come to expect, the management concluded they could no longer continue.
The restaurant expressed deep gratitude to its loyal customers, stating: “You were the main reason we tried so hard to keep going for so long.” Special thanks were also extended to the entire staff — chefs, waiters, managers, and all employees — for their dedication and professionalism.
OKIO added that they hope conditions in the sector will improve in the future, leaving open the possibility of reopening one day.
The closure marks the end of an era for a restaurant that had become a favourite spot for many Athenians and visitors over the years.