YOU ARE READING
Athens: funky vibes, wood fire cooking and a hip crowd at Pharaoh
SAVE
MENU
Restaurant Reviews

Dimitris Kossyfas | 2 January 2023
Pharaoh
4.0
Food:
Service:
Ambience:
Value:
Specialises in:
Cuisine:
Price:
$$$
Best time to visit:

It’s a festive Christmas 2022 evening when doors open at Pharaoh and already from its first night hordes are flocking in. A friend has visited early on and has tipped us that even though it’s still early days it’s worth swinging by for a test run. And along we visit for an early evening seating at the bar to try out the wine and the wood fired cooking… but above all the cosy vibes of this hip new establishment in the food map of Athens.

Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens

A lot had already been circling around between foodies for the particular endeavour, as each of its four owners have a story to tell. Manolis Papoutsakis known from Haroupi and Deka Trapezia in Thessaloniki made it to Athens, meeting wine expert Perry Panagiotakopoulos, famous baritone Dimitris Platanias and renown journalist Fotis Vallatos. The result? A funky wine bar restaurant with excellent music (at times played straight from the vinyl decks), traditional Greek dishes with a gentle twist and a hip crowd enough to make it a fun night out.

Although we found the neighbourhood a bit quaint we made our way behind the long velvet curtain hanging in the entrance and were immediately greeted by friends and acquaintances in this immaculate space created by Chrysokona Mavrou. We immediately thought this is bound to become a destination.

Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens
Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens

We got our seats at the bar a little after 6pm for a 2hr slot as kindly offered by Perry himself when calling ahead on the same morning. As these were the first few days of operation they notified us that they only accept cash, something that at the time didn’t seem to matter much. The list of wine was pretty long but we decided to go by the glass and had a nice bold Xinomavro. The food menu, that changes almost daily, was long and full of interesting options of the Greek land with great emphasis on accompanying greens and veggies.

We opted for a simple but tasty pomodorini tomato salad, topped with a generous portion of manouri cheese and some slivers of spearmint. Together with that we also ordered an insanely tasting chestnut stew that came in a hearty sauce from the overcooked onions. Perfect for dipping in the wholemeal bread on offer!

Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens
Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens

For mains we went for the crackling wild boar served with chunky oven-baked potatoes. The skin was cooked to perfection making it both crisp and chewy at the same time even though the portion was a fatty one (as it usually happens). Along with that we got a rabit stew in a lemon and oregano sauce that was unfortunately overcooked and kind of firm.

The night went on as patrons kept on coming in and out and the music kept on getting better, enough to order a couple of glasses more. Fotis, despite reserved behind the bar and keeping mostly to himself, was putting some nice touches with a mix of funky jazz and soul tracks.

Along with the wine we also got the only dessert on offer, a semi-baked halva topped with a mellowed quince – rather dull and unfortunate to be honest. But what was worse is that I remembered they only accept cash when overhearing the waitress tending to a party next to us. This warranted a swift run to the bank nearby which was definitely off-putting to say the least.

Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens
Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens

The mezzanine level that houses a long wine cellar also features a long table, perfect for wine tasting or other events which are bound to start taking place once the team finds its mojo. And speaking of which, our outro just before 8pm was rather forced by the rather cold waitress that came to notify us that the next party had arrived for their 8pm reservation.

Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens

But hey, it’s still early days and as a friend and food expert puts it “never visit a new hospitality establishment in its first 1 month of operation“. Hell, blame it on the fomo! We certainly hope the team will soon find its mojo, also perfecting the food offering (even though we heard the fried eggs with horta was the best dish that night!) cause we’re surely coming back!

Travel Food People - Pharaoh, Athens
BACK TO TOP
Related Articles for Athens
Athens: a French, sidestreet allure at Wine Is Fine
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: a French, sidestreet allure at Wine Is Fine
Athens
4.3
Athens: elegant and cosy Italian bites at Innamorata
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: elegant and cosy Italian bites at Innamorata
Athens
4.0
Athens: delicate meze in the backstreets of Metaxourgio at Rafiki
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: delicate meze in the backstreets of Metaxourgio at Rafiki
Athens
3.8
Athens: cult vibes and tasty crabs at Zarkadoulas
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: cult vibes and tasty crabs at Zarkadoulas
Athens
4.4
Athens: serious ramen dishes at Tanpopo
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: serious ramen dishes at Tanpopo
Athens
4.4
Athens: hip interiors and gourmet bites at The Architects of Time
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: hip interiors and gourmet bites at The Architects of Time
Athens
4.0
Athens: a seaman's seafood meze joint at E/G Taxidevontas
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: a seaman's seafood meze joint at E/G Taxidevontas
Athens
4.1
Athens: most loved dishes in Athens for 2022
Food
Athens: most loved dishes in Athens for 2022
Athens
Athens: sunny spells and specialty coffee at The Roosters
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: sunny spells and specialty coffee at The Roosters
Athens
4.1
Athens: hip vibes, tasty rolls and damn good coffee at The Blind Spot
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: hip vibes, tasty rolls and damn good coffee at The Blind Spot
Athens
4.3
Athens: dimly-lit encounters and a kick-ass burger at Brasserie Lorraine
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: dimly-lit encounters and a kick-ass burger at Brasserie Lorraine
Athens
4.4
Athens: Pan-Asian small eats, great service and funky music at Kitschen
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: Pan-Asian small eats, great service and funky music at Kitschen
Athens
4.1
Athens: small bites to share at the lively Tsiftis
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: small bites to share at the lively Tsiftis
Athens
4.0
Athens: exquisite bites at Materia Prima wine bar
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: exquisite bites at Materia Prima wine bar
Athens
4.4
Athens: refined dining at the quiet and lush setting of Jerar
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: refined dining at the quiet and lush setting of Jerar
Athens
4.3
Athens: curated coffee and brunch options at Anana
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: curated coffee and brunch options at Anana
Athens
4.0
Athens: Asian vibes and street food treats at Tailandi
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: Asian vibes and street food treats at Tailandi
Athens
4.3
Athens: artisan retail shop cum breakfast room at The Makers
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: artisan retail shop cum breakfast room at The Makers
Athens
4.1
Athens: new age taverna and hip vibes at Linou Soumpasis k sia
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: new age taverna and hip vibes at Linou Soumpasis k sia
Athens
4.1
Athens: cosy meze bites and tsipouro at Doukissa
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: cosy meze bites and tsipouro at Doukissa
Athens
4.1
Athens: casual, gourmet and finger-licking sandwiches at Guarantee
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: casual, gourmet and finger-licking sandwiches at Guarantee
Athens
4.4
Athens: delicious meze at the lively and cosy Foititis
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: delicious meze at the lively and cosy Foititis
Athens
4.5
Athens: divine classic and funky Italian flavours at ALIO Pizzeria
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: divine classic and funky Italian flavours at ALIO Pizzeria
Athens
4.3
Athens: funky vibes, wood fire cooking and a hip crowd at Pharaoh
1 of 10
2 of 10
3 of 10
4 of 10
5 of 10
6 of 10
7 of 10
8 of 10
9 of 10
10 of 10
PREVIOUS
NEXT
CLOSE