A timeless classic that’s never out of fashion. The view from the roof garden of Hotel Grande Bretagne always packs a punch: the Acropolis rises in one direction, Lycabettus hill in the other, and the Greek Parliament, flanked by its ceremonial guards, is just across the street.

Old world opulence reigns at Grande Bretagne—but GB Roof Garden wisely refrains from trying to compete with the distracting backdrop. The restaurant is a simply dressed space whose elegant stone pillars discreetly echo the Parthenon. The menu is modern and Mediterranean, the atmosphere undeniably fancy but not too stuffy. During the day, you’ll find a more relaxed vibe (the formal dress code kicks in after 6pm). The lunch menu is a lighter version of dinner as well, with more emphasis on daily specials (perhaps something slow-cooked in the wood-burning oven or one of their fantastic pizzas).

The Grande Bretagne’s sister property, the King George Hotel next door, has its own regal rooftop restaurant. It also shares the same executive chef, pastry chef and sommelier—and naturally, an Acropolis view that’s every bit as high-impact. But it’s the chef de cuisine, Alexandros Koskinas, who has really put his stamp on the thoroughly modern Greek menu, weaving in many culinary influences from his native island, Corfu.

Awarded the Toques d'Or and the Greek Cuisine Awards six years in a row, the kitchen focusses on simple, fresh and seasonal food, which means the menu is updated often. Deft little tweaks elevate typical Greek dishes, like the saddle of lamb roast over vine twigs with black olive curry and spinach, or the Corfiot pastitsada (braised rooster with macaroni and nutty San Michali cheese from Syros island). For dessert, go for one of the Greek-inspired choices like The Pistachio—a tribute to this local nut, served with green apple and lemon verbena sorbet, fennel confit and caramelised pistachios. Heaven.

At this intimate and relaxed rooftop restaurant, you’ll be dining out on Athens’ architectural history. Zillers Roof Garden—and the boutique hotel it belongs to—are housed in one of Ernst Ziller’s neo-classical masterpieces. The German-born architect designed some of the city’s most important royal and civic structures, including the Greek Parliament.

The restaurant’s modern design ethos makes a satisfying contrast to the classical architecture of the building itself (they’ve used my favourite green marble from Tinos island to create the three bars). The crowd is diverse, but leans towards youthful. And the view offers a different perspective from the other restaurants on this list. You feel more “in the thick of it” here. The tables overlook the marble square in front of Athens Cathedral, with the Acropolis floating above Plaka’s tumble of tiled rooftops.