Following waves of immigration in the sixties and seventies, Greek food and culture has become a huge part of Melbourne’s culinary identity. We’ve got the largest Greek population outside of Athens, so it’s no surprise the city is brimming with Greek taverns and family-owned restaurants to suit all occasions and budgets.
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It’s a tough task, but we’ve pulled together the best Greek restaurants in Melbourne, with plenty of options for the souv-fans, seafood lovers, dairy queens and vegetarians out there.
Astoria Bar Ke Grill
302 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Image: Astoria Bar Ke Grill | Kit Edwards
Housed in a beautiful Victorian-era terrace, Astoria is a little slice of Athens in South Yarra, especially with the tiered seating right onto the streetfront. Headed up by Nik Pouloupatis, who has a 35-year tenure in the industry (and 17 of those as a chef), it’s evident the restaurant is both an homage to his motherland and a labour of love. Seafood, as one would expect, is the star of the show here. Indulge in some hefty, smoky and tomato-ey prawns, Freo octopus, or a whopping big snapper to share. Must-orders include the bite-sized spanakopita, tarama dip and flatbread, and a couple of the Greek twists on classic cocktails; a mastiha sour or a ouzo mojito are our picks.
Jim’s Greek Tavern
32 Johnston Street, Collingwood
Generations of Melbourne diners have spent a night at Jim’s Greek Tavern—it’s like a rite of passage we all must go through. But once you’ve been, you’ll understand why. Jim’s is one of the most authentic Greek taverns in Melbourne, known for their traditional service with no menu, no prices, and generous serves. It’s bustling, noisy and a bit confusing at times, but the food has kept people coming back for decades. Add it to your to-do list if you haven’t already made the trip. PS. it's BYO.
Gracie Greco
536 Riversdale Road, Camberwell
Gracie Greco is a family-owned and run tavern serving up traditional recipes in Camberwell. The grandparents are in the kitchen cooking up a storm, while the two sons run the beautiful bar and front of house. As for the food, the grilled halloumi is legit drool-worthy—it’s lathered in honey and toasted sesame seeds and is oh-so-gooey. The gemista (stuffed peppers) are amazing too, with both a vegetarian and beef variety available, no one will go home hungry. And you absolutely have to try the loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) for dessert.
Bahari
179 Swan Street, Richmond
Since 2014, Masterchef alumnus Philip Vakos has been sharing his take on Hellenic food in his Swan Street haunt, Bahari. What started as a restaurant has grown into so much more—they now offer at-home feasts, picnic hampers, catering services, masterclasses, and grazing boxes alongside their in-house service in the restaurant, cocktail bar, and upstairs dining room. The menu is designed for sharing, with Vakos’ signature ‘Gringlish’ style filtered across the menu. We’d recommend the saganaki sliders and moussaka toastie—you can’t go wrong.
Stalactites
177/183 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
If you haven’t been to Stalactites yet, are you even a Melburnian? This iconic family-owned restaurant in the CBD is definitely one of the best Greek restaurants Melbourne has going for it, from the literal stalactite-covered ceiling to the fast-paced service, it’s one-of-a-kind. There’s usually a line for a table in the evenings, but it’s so worth the wait. Start off with the pita and dips before gorging on souvs and gyros. They also have a pretty great kids’ menu with far more options than your standard selection of burgers and chips.
Tsindos Greek Kitchen
197 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
Established in 1975, the family-owned and run Tsindos is one of the best Greek restaurants in Melbourne’s CBD. Three generations into operation, they continue to serve up traditional favourites from dolmades and moussaka to gemista and souvlakis. Their salads are equally worthy of praise, with plenty of options for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. They also offer Greek wines and spirits to pair with your meal if you want to have an authentically Greek evening.
Kafeneion
161 Spring Street, Melbourne CBD
The flavourful menu at Kafeneion offers a lot, from spicy cheese croquettes and dry cured beef with olives and fennel to braised beef cheeks coated with shallots and cloves. There’s no doubt it’s high on the list for Melbourne’s best Greek restaurant, with tradition seeping from the walls. After your meal, engross yourself fully in the evening Euro-style, enjoying company and drinks long after dinner. Kafeneion is open until 3am most nights.
Yassas
Various Locations
Southbank can be a bit hit and miss with tourist traps aplenty, but Yassas is one of the good ones. They’ve since opened up two more venues in Docklands, Eastland and Craigieburn, spreading the Greek goodness to the burbs. Their calamari is seriously good, and the yemista deserves a chef’s kiss. If you’re on the hungry side, we’d suggest going in for a feast. They offer two feast options, plus a feast for kids and platters for sharing (including a dessert plate).
Kalimera Souvlaki Art
43 Chester Street, Oakleigh
Meaning ‘Good Morning’ in Greek, Kalimera has become a pillar of the Souvlaki community in Melbourne, its store on the top end of Oakleigh’s main hub is constantly heaving with a raft of loyal locals. Serving up authentic Greek-style souvlaki, (that means no lamb) they have the option of pork and chicken Gyros which is served in a house-made pita with chips, tomato, and signature Kalimera sauce (a garlicky tzatziki yoghurt sauce with paprika). It’s hard to say if it’s the best souvlaki in Melbourne but it's right up there.
Eleni’s Kitchen and Bar
28 Anderson Street, Yarraville
If it’s family cooking you’re after, then head to Eleni’s Kitchen and Bar in Yarraville. Marking 50+ years of family hospitality businesses in Yarraville, Eleni’s is the best Greek restaurant in Melbourne for authentic home-style food. Named after the family matriarch, the space offers a gorgeous outdoor terrace with regular plate-smashing and live music on the weekends. The desserts are a sight to behold too, with their in-house pastry chef churning out stunning made-to-order treats.
Ambrosia
221 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East
If you’re in the mood for some charcoal grill, then head to Ambrosia. Technically the menu is ‘Mediterranean’ rather than strictly Greek, but their charcoal skewers and steaks are a treat for any carnivore. If you’re not a meat-fan, then their starter menu is generous enough to be a feast in itself with plenty of vegetarian options. The wine list is just as generous, with a range of Italian and French wines alongside local drops.
Mediterranean Greek Tavern
511 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick
Freshness is the keyword at John and Angelo’s Mediterranean Greek Tavern. Everything is handpicked and selected from the market each morning to be served on your plate that night, so you know you’re getting the freshest meal possible. The menu slants to the seafood side of things, with fish, calamari, prawns and oysters on offer each day, along with plenty of entree options, Greek wines and platters for sharing. It’s a wonderful local gem that’s worth every cent.
Hella Good
Various Locations
It’s all there in the name, Hella Good’s Souvlakis are some of the best in the business. Committed to keeping things simple and dishing up some of the tastiest souvlaki in Melbourne, Hella Good has a range of different souvas, but it’s hard to pass up their marinated lamb which cut straight from the spit. Lamb is typically only used on special occasions in Greek culture but we’re sure glad Hella Good has made an exception.
Philhellene
551-553 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds
A regular feature in the Good Food Guide, Philhellene celebrates provincial Greek cuisine and culture with a strong Cretan influence. Eating at Philhellene is like eating in a Greek home, with family recipes dominating the menu and owners Susie and John’s mothers preparing everything in the kitchen. It’s all about the love for Greek cuisine and culture here, and you can taste it in the food from the dips to the souvlakis.
Olive Oil And Butter
196 Somerville Road, Kingsville
Technically Olive Oil and Butter is a cafe, but we had to include it. This local brunch spot is the place to go for Med-style pastries and cakes. Their range of filo pastries is made in-house from scratch—along with everything else on the menu. They also have a range of gourmet food products for sale instore, and a cabinet full of pastries that are pretty hard to resist. Perfect for brunch or a coffee date.
Main image credit: Astoria Bar Ke Grill | Kit Edwards
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