Greek cuisine is one of those gastronomies that can turn an ordinary meal into a small holiday. Olive oil, oregano, feta, tzatziki, grilled fish, seafood, grilled meat and desserts flavoured with orange or cinnamon are enough to bring the atmosphere of a Greek taverna to the plate. And for Bucharest residents, a gastronomic escape to Greece no longer necessarily requires a plane ticket. The capital currently has numerous restaurants and venues specialising in Greek cuisine, from classic tavernas and restaurants focused on fish and seafood to street-food concepts where gyros and souvlaki are at the centre of the menu. Gastronomic platforms and local guides list several such addresses, and their offerings show just how diverse the Greek food scene in Bucharest has become. I have selected five restaurants that illustrate precisely this diversity: Nikos Greek Taverna, Matheos, Taverna La Zavat, Souvlaki Station and Kvala. This is not a ranking, but a selection of places with different profiles, suitable both for those looking for traditional dishes and for those who want a quick meal inspired by Greek cuisine.

Nikos Greek Taverna, a Greek taverna in several areas of the city

Nikos Greek Taverna - Old Town is one of the best-known presences of Greek cuisine in Bucharest. The restaurant has several locations in the capital, including in the Old Town, at 6 Nicolae Tonitza Street, and in the Piața Alba Iulia area, at 2 Burebista Boulevard. Information published by the restaurant shows that the Nikos story began in 2013 in Constanța, and the concept was later expanded to Bucharest.

The concept is that of a Greek taverna, with a very extensive menu. The current offering includes pork and chicken gyros, souvlaki, bifteki, lamb ribs, moussaka, grilled fish and numerous seafood dishes. For those who prefer to share several dishes at the table, there are also substantial platters, such as the mixed grill for two people or the seafood platter.

One advantage of such a menu is precisely its variety. One person can choose a meat-based dish, another can opt for fish or seafood, while the meal can begin with tzatziki, Greek salad, saganaki or other appetisers. For dessert, the selection includes portokalopita, galaktoboureko, karidopita, Greek baklava and yoghurt with honey and walnuts.

The restaurant describes its cuisine as being inspired by northern Greece and states that a large part of the ingredients used are brought from Greece. It is therefore an appropriate option for those who want a taverna-style experience, with many choices from which to select.

Matheos, for fish and seafood inspired by Greece

Matheos Restaurant is another address worth putting on the list of lovers of Greek cuisine. The restaurant is located at 10 Marcel Iancu Street and has a profile somewhat more focused on fish and seafood dishes. It is also interesting that the venue previously operated under the name Kostas Restaurant, and from 1 June 2026 it adopted the name Matheos.

The current concept starts from traditional Greek cuisine, but also proposes modern reinterpretations of some classic recipes. The restaurant explains that it draws inspiration from the cuisine of the whole of Greece, from the islands of the Aegean Sea to the north of the country and the Peloponnese.

Fish and seafood are at the centre of the menu. The offering includes shrimp, calamari, octopus, crab legs, sea bass, halibut, black cod and other seafood dishes. The restaurant places emphasis on fresh fish and dishes inspired by Greek fishing cuisine.

For someone who associates Greek cuisine primarily with gyros, Matheos can offer a different perspective. Here, the experience is closer to a Mediterranean meal centred on fish, seafood and dishes cooked to order. It is the kind of place suitable for a longer dinner, where the emphasis is on the dish and the ingredient, rather than simply on a quick meal.

Taverna La Zavat, an address with a tradition in the Popa Nan area

La Zavat is located at 16 Popa Nan Street and is presented by its owners as a Greek restaurant with a story that began in 2010. The venue operates in a house and combines Greek cuisine with a strong seafood profile.

The story of the restaurant is connected to Dana and Bogdan Netcu, who took over the former “Casa Iancului” in 2010. According to the restaurant's presentation, following the recommendation of Florin Zavat, a waiter and manager who contributed to defining the new concept, the venue found its identity as a seafood taverna with Greek dishes and influences.

The menu is varied enough to satisfy several preferences. Among the appetisers are halloumi, kefalotiri, saganaki, bouyourdi and tzatziki, while the fish and seafood section includes grilled octopus, calamari, shrimp, Saganaki mussels, sea bream and sea bass. There are also more familiar dishes, such as chicken or pork gyros and souvlaki.

The desserts maintain the same Greek direction. Portokalopita, kataifi and yoghurt with honey and walnuts complete the menu. Therefore, La Zavat can be an interesting choice for those who want to combine traditional Greek cuisine with seafood dishes.

Souvlaki Station, for a quick meal with a Greek taste

Souvlaki Station, at 7 Șelari Street, takes a different approach. It is a Greek-themed venue focused particularly on street-food dishes and meat cooked over charcoal. Its location in the Old Town makes it suitable for those who want to eat quickly during a walk through the city centre.

The menu is built around dishes such as gyros pita, chicken or pork souvlaki, halloumi pita and substantial platters. The restaurant explicitly states that its chicken gyros is cooked over charcoal, while souvlaki is available both in the chicken and pork versions.

There are also options for those who want a more substantial meal. The chicken gyros platter, for example, combines the meat with French fries, tzatziki, red onion, tomatoes and Greek pita. For groups, mixed grill options are also available, with souvlaki, lamb chop and bifteki.

The appetisers and side dishes are not neglected either. Tzatziki, tirokafteri, grilled halloumi and Greek salad are included on the menu, while dessert includes portokalopita. Souvlaki Station therefore mainly addresses those who want to experience the popular and accessible side of Greek cuisine, without the ritual of a long meal at a taverna.

Kvala, Greek cuisine in a house in Cotroceni

Kvala is located at 63 Doctor Louis Pasteur Street, in Cotroceni, and offers another perspective on Greek cuisine. The restaurant combines Greek cuisine with an artistic component, being described in local sources as a space arranged in a period building and associated with a permanent art exhibition.

The name Kvala is inspired by Kavala, a city in northern Greece, and the concept starts from traditional Greek cuisine. The menu includes a wide range of appetisers: tzatziki, tirokafteri, halloumi, feta saganaki, bouyourdi, melitzana and Greek-style stuffed vine leaves. These are dishes that allow a meal to be built in the style of a mezze, with several plates placed in the middle of the table.

The selection of main dishes is equally interesting. Kvala is classified as a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant, and the menu includes meat, fish and seafood dishes. According to the restaurant's presentations, the idea is to preserve the taste of Greek cuisine in a contemporary and relaxed setting.

Kvala is therefore a different choice for those looking for more than gyros. Its location in a quiet part of Cotroceni and the combination of cuisine and art create an appropriate setting for a meal where the atmosphere matters almost as much as the dishes.

From gyros and souvlaki to fish and seafood

The five restaurants show how differently Greek cuisine can be interpreted in Bucharest. Nikos Greek Taverna offers an extensive menu, from gyros and souvlaki to moussaka, fish and seafood. Matheos focuses more on seafood cuisine and ingredients from the sea, while La Zavat combines Greek specialities with the tradition of a seafood taverna.

Souvlaki Station moves in the direction of street food, with substantial and easy-to-eat dishes, while Kvala brings together Greek cuisine, a restaurant atmosphere and an artistic component. The choice therefore depends less on the abstract idea of the “best Greek restaurant” and more on what each customer is looking for on a particular day.

For a quick meal, a gyros or souvlaki may be enough. For a family dinner or an outing with friends, a platter of mezze, grilled octopus, a portion of moussaka or a seafood mix can turn the meal into a more complete experience. And for those who want to finish the meal in Greek style, desserts such as portokalopita, kataifi, baklava or yoghurt with honey and walnuts are almost impossible to ignore.

Bucharest may not have the Aegean Sea just around the corner, but it has enough tavernas and restaurants to make the taste of Greece easily accessible. From the Old Town and Piața Alba Iulia to Cotroceni and Popa Nan, Greek cuisine has found its place in the city and continues to diversify.

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