ATHENS | Chefs Giannis Loukakis and Spiros Pediaditakis opened all-day eatery, Akra in 2023. Housed inside a restored mid-century building, the space respects the sites past, aiming for a nostalgic, homely feel. The open kitchen nods to the home kitchens of that era, lining the wall, continuing to the rear where you’ll find the chef’s counter, facing a custom wood-fired open grill and stoves.
Upstairs, on the mezzanine, is a private dining and events space. It’s also where you’ll find Akra’s on-site bakery, the source of the restaurant’s bread and pastries. During the day, Akra operates as a cafe and casual lunch spot, with the front counter of baked treats and excellent coffee enticing diners. There’s a full lunch menu, and by night, it’s in full restaurant mode.
Cold, raw dishes, and hot dishes cooked on the open fire impress equally at Akra. It’s unfussy food at its heart, made using the best quality seasonal produce, respecting tradition with exceptional technique and contemporary flair. Several of the dishes are finished tableside, adding a sense of theatrics to the meal.
When I visited for dinner, I enjoyed things like semi-cured mackerel with cucumber juice and almyra greens; the most wonderful cherry tomatoes with summer berries and dry anthotyro cheese; and gamey roast rooster with spicy tomato sauce, fried potatoes, and Graveria cheese from Naxos. To finish, a wonderful mushroom and fennel fricassee in avgolemono.
I didn’t have any space for dessert, but given how wonderful the options looked, and the fact that Akra originally came onto my radar for its baked treats, you bet that I came back two days later in the morning. Given how enjoyable dinner was, I wasn’t surprised to be equally impressed by the pastries and coffee that I enjoyed.
Akra
Aminta 12
Athina 116 35
Greece
Telephone: 021 0725 1116
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Mon: 7:00am to 11:00pm
Tue – Fri: 10:00am to 11:00am
Sat – Sun: 9:00am to 11:00am