Skoufa has started to feel like a small food district in its own right—Birdman, Nolan, Gaku, Spitjack, Ami—and now Anthes joins the mix. The new bar-resto (a playful anagram of “Athens”) adds another compelling downtown address: warm, welcoming, and genuinely fun.

Executive chef Hippocrates Anagnostelis (Kensho Mykonos, Crios Paros) sets the culinary direction, with Konstantina Panagiotopoulou leading the kitchen day to day. In a nutshell: Greek comfort and memory, filtered through Japanese touches—polished, but never precious.

It’s exactly the kind of place you want for winter nights out: lively without being overwhelming, still very Athenian, with just the right cosmopolitan edge.

An urban home

Anthes unfolds across levels, like a modern city house. As you walk in, the bar anchors the first, more outward-facing space—after-office energy, low lighting, and a direct line to the buzz of Skoufa. A few steps down, you’ll find the open kitchen and a front-row view of the action, with the wine cellar in plain sight. Deeper in, an indoor “garden” with living greenery and comfortable seating feels like a quiet pocket courtyard, pleasantly removed from the city noise.

Menu to share

The menu is built for sharing. A red porgy tartare hits clean, briny notes with bright acidity—celery for crunch, yuzu for lift, and a crisp sheet that adds texture.

Among the Greek classics reimagined, a smoked taramasalata with confit leek lands on ladenia—a pairing that instantly reads “Aegean,” only with a lighter, more refined texture. Eggplant “like moussaka” arrives caramelised, topped with pulled beef and a goat-cheese béchamel: familiar flavours, a new body—lighter, deeper in umami, less heavy.

The gyoza is spot-on, with a crisp base and a filling that melts. The “potato” is essentially high-end dirty fries—but it’s actually a clever prasopita riff: paper-thin potato “chips,” a cream of aged Arseniko Naxos, and slow-cooked leeks underneath. It takes the (very overdone) deconstructed spanakopita idea and pushes it somewhere genuinely new.

Vegetarians won’t feel like an afterthought. Caramelised cauliflower with chickpeas, kale, and tahini-sesame is the kind of dish that makes you forget there’s no meat—proper char, sweet edges from caramelisation, and real depth from the tahini.

On the larger plates, lamb with fennel sauce and greens is substantial but not heavy, while the tagliata sits firmly in comfort territory—well-cooked, balanced, and satisfying. For fish, a red porgy fillet comes “pike” style, with a caper marinade and Tsakonian eggplant—Cycladic air, in very contemporary plating.

Wine & cocktails

The wine list moves between Greece and Spain, with a strong island presence—from the Cyclades to Crete—and a thoughtful selection by the glass via Coravin, so you can try serious bottles without committing to a full one. It’s unmistakably food-first: high-acid whites for crudos and greens, more structured reds for meat and richer comfort dishes.

At the bar, Thanos Tsekouras (Bank Job) has built a signature cocktail list that plays beautifully with the food. Midnight Sun—tequila, mezcal, green apple, beetroot, basil, and Port—drinks almost like a dish in itself and pairs effortlessly with the gyoza or cauliflower. Fruit-forward options like Berries Wine or Wanderlust (with prosecco, gin, berries, hibiscus) keep the night lighter, brighter, and more playful.

Sweet finish

Desserts are strong. Yogurt with quince closes the meal the right way—light, aromatic, and silky, without sugary nostalgia. The one-kilo signature pistachio tiramisu is clearly designed for lingering (and for taking the leftovers home). If you’re after something more intricate, Kumaru—pear compote, caramel, tonka crémeux, pecan praline, passion fruit foam—is the most chef-driven option, balancing sweet, roasted and tart notes.

Why it belongs on your list

Anthes isn’t trying to reinvent the city’s dining scene. It’s doing something smarter: taking what we already crave downtown and delivering it in a sharper, next-level version—Greek comfort with intelligent Japanese touches, a bar that respects the food, an island-leaning wine list, and a space that makes you stay longer than planned.

And yes, it has a fun side too: on many nights, house DJ sets and live performances add an extra layer of energy.

Info: Skoufa 3, Syntagma | Tel. +30 697 401 0187
Hours: Tue–Sun evenings & weekends at lunch time