It's no secret that Greek food is the flavour of the moment, and for good reason. In the last couple of years, it seems like every second opening – from fine dining restaurants to low-key sandwich shops – are celebrating the flavours of the Aegean. But with such an influx of new Greek restaurants taking over the city – and many ol' faithful institutions continuing to grow in demand – it can be hard to decipher which Greek restaurants in Sydney are actually worth visiting.
That's where my – very uniquely placed – set of skills comes in handy. Not only am I Greek, but I'm a Greek who enjoys eating Greek food out just as much as I enjoy cooking it. The selection below of Greek restaurants are a curated list that I have eaten at and enjoyed on many occasions, so rest assured, none of these are one hit wonders.
Here's a list of the best Greek restaurants in Sydney – from elevated experiences to pipping hot souvlakia and tried and tested tavernas.
The Apollo (Potts Point)
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Best for: Traditional Greek flavours in a contemporary, but unpretentious setting.
Open: Lunch – Friday-Sunday. Dinner – Monday-Sunday.
If you've had the chance to dine at Potts Point favourite, The Apollo, you would have quickly understood why this restaurant is one of the most frequented, and loved, Greek restaurants in the city. Having opened in 2012 by acclaimed chef Jonathan Barthelmess and restaurateur Sam Christie, the restaurant's saganaki cheese has its own fan base (and an extremely devoted one at that), and the baked ox-tail kritharaki (essentially orzo) is the menu's true underdog. As someone who has the pleasure of visiting many times, my favourite thing about The Apollo is that it honours traditional, Greek taverna food in a contemporary setting. Despite its modern industrial interiors –
characterised by exposed concrete and brass accents – the space is warm, inviting and far from the 'fusion' tag so many modern Greek restaurants seem so obsess over. Bottom line, you could bring your Yiayia and she'd be thrilled.
Olympic Meats (Marrickville)
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Best for: An uncomplicated, easy meal. Eating like Greeks do.
Open: Lunch – Saturday-Sunday. Dinner – Wednesday-Saturday.
When I first visited Olympic Meats, I made the mistake of going on a Sunday and within its first two weeks of opening. I'm not a particularly patient person, but when I'm hungry and have committed to eating somewhere, I somehow develop the temperament of a kindergarten teacher. All this is to say, the wait was unequivocally worth it. This is Greek food for Greeks – not in an elitist way, but it reflects the very same dining experiences I have in my own home. The menu certainly features dishes that we all know and love, (the spanakopita is actually prepared using chef-owner Timothy Cassimatis' grandmother's recipe), but also blends in more unconventional cuts of grilled meat, like paidakia which sometimes feature in the restaurant's specials and the homeliness of well-made fasolakia.
Definitely come for the meat (in particular, the Politiko ‘Kebab’ Pita) and stay for the bougatsa. Trust me.
My Father's Yeeros (Ramsgate)
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Best for: Beachside gyros and family traditions.
Open: Lunch and dinner – everyday.
Having grown up in Sans Souci, there have been many gyros shops that have come and gone in my lifetime. So, when My Father's Gyros opened its doors by Ramsgate beach last summer, it – shamefully – took me a few weeks to notice. But then I saw a photo of the restaurants patatas, and I knew My Father's Gyros meant business. Established by John and Olympia Plangetis, the eatery revives the legacy of John's parents, Stamatios (Steve) “Taki” and Maria Plangetis, who founded the iconic Yeeros Shop in Marrickville in 1976 – an institution for those wondering. The offering is humble, but packed with flavours and a true no frills approach – so you know that love and care is being out into every bite.
Order your gyros of choice (with the lot – tzatziki, tomato, onion, chips) and a couple of souvlakia and enjoy by the beach if the weather permits.
Olympus Dining (Redfern)
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Best for: An elevated dining experience, show-stopping interiors and extra, extra long lunches.
Open: Lunch and dinner – everyday.
Nestled in the newly-opened Wunderlich Lane, Olympus Dining well and truly opened with a bang. And for good reason. There's always some scepticism when Greek food is 'elevated' out of fear that it will lose so much of what makes it soulful. But that was never going to be the case with Olympus Dining, which is led by the same geniuses behind The Apollo. Head Chef Özge Kalvo, formerly of Baba’s Place and Ester, leads a menu that celebrates classic Greek flavours with a contemporary twist. Signature dishes include taramasalata made from white cod roe topped with bottarga, spanakopita inspired by a century-old recipe, and wood-fired meats.
Unlike some other Greek dining experiences, Olympus Dining's menu incorporates flavours and traditional recipes from all over Greece – so, while you may have enjoyed a Greek-style lamb shoulder before, it's likely the herbs used to prepare this one may taste a little different, which I personally love. You also can't talk about Olympus Dining without talking about the interiors. The restaurant's centrepiece is a 50-year-old bougainvillea tree beneath a retractable glass oculus ceiling, creating an alfresco ambiance regardless of the weather.
Alpha (Sydney CBD)
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Best for: A refined take on traditional Greek cuisine.
Open: Lunch and dinner – Wednesday-Saturday.
Tucked into the sandstone folds of Sydney’s CBD, Alpha is where Greek tradition dresses up for the city. Helmed by culinary icon Peter Conistis, the restaurant offers a menu that feels like a love letter to the Aegean – with a contemporary Sydney inflection. The taramasalata arrives silky and blushing, the moussaka is rich and nostalgic, and the slow-cooked lamb shoulder all but melts beneath your fork; but one of my favourite under-the-radar dishes has to be the Murray cod fillet with avgolemono dressing.
Inside, the space strikes a balance between elegance and warmth; whitewashed walls, archways, and soft lighting that whispers rather than shouts. It’s the kind of place where lunch meetings linger into a late-afternoon wine, where every bite feels like a story passed down through generations – just with better lighting and a wine list curated to match.
Ammos (Brighton)
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Best for: Plentiful servings, vibrant atmosphere and great for big groups.
Open: Lunch – Friday-Sunday. Dinner – Tuesday-Sunday.
Brighton's Novotel was always due for a culinary revamp, but after much speculation, it was announced that Peter Conistis of Alpha was sweeping in to work his magic. The result? A huge, waterfront Grecian destination in Ammos. The menu is a celebration of Greek culinary heritage, featuring dishes like the 11-hour slow-roasted lamb shoulder, fire-roasted whole lobster with a la Grecque butter, and a reimagined moussaka with seared scallops and white cod roe taramasalata. Complementing the cuisine is an extensive wine list, highlighting both Greek and Australian selections, and a roving ouzo trolley offering over 30 varieties of the anise-flavored aperitif.
The space is beyond expansive, and bleeds into the hotel's poolside bar for the perfect continuation of an afternoon or start to an evening. It's great for bigger bookings and the restaurant even has a space that can be sectioned off for a more private dining experience.
Stix and Pita (Enmore)
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Best for: A no-frills feed and piping hot souvlakia.
Open: Lunch – Sunday. Dinner – Wednesday-Sunday.
If you're looking for a traditional gyradiko, you simply can't go past Stix and Pita. Perched on a bustling corner on Enmore Road, this casual spot is all about honest, charcoal-grilled meats, handmade pita, and dips that taste like they’ve been passed down through generations. It makes for the perfect feed before a night out, and the menu is truly customisable – so you can curate a pita, or plate, that has all of our favourite things. My order here are always the souvlakia – they arrive juicy and pipping hot, always.
Meet the Greek (Brighton)
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Best for: Traditional taverna food.
Open: Lunch – Sunday. Dinner – Monday-Sunday.
I may get some hate for this, but in my opinion, there aren't many great Greek taverna style restaurants in Sydney. There, I said it. But one that never disappoints is Meet The Greek. It's easy to miss this charming wonder in the chaos of Brighton's beachside strip, but once inside, the aromas speak for themselves. The restaurant is family run – which, undoubtedly, makes the world of difference – and the menu reflects the honesty of family-style cooking. The fact that you can order a slab of feta on its own speaks volumes.
I always order a serving of dolmades and in the winter, the lamb shoulder giouvetsi with grated kefalograviera cheese warms my soul every time. On the meat front, the kontosouvli – which are prime cuts of meat cooked on the charcoal rotisserie – is unmissable.
Feature image: One, two, three.
