It’s hard to find tasty fresh seafood and fish in Athens… let alone in a simple and unpretentious place. Paramalo in Kato Kifssia is exactly that, a cosy traditional tavern (of the very few around) with simple, fresh and tasty seafood and fish.
Thanasis, a mid-50s honest and cheerful chap, has long been in the restaurant business from back in the days when he used to serve fresh seafood in Chalkida, a town nearby. Having been through a rough patch he found himself in Athens establishing an honest seafood joint in 2013 away from all the glitz of the northern suburbs. Luckily, he brought the same high quality produce he used to serve back there.
Located in a quiet and mostly residential part of Kifissia, this cute and cosy place is ideal for an easy night out or for a relaxing lunch (if you go on a Sunday, make sure you go early). They also have a small patio right outside which is ideal during the summer.
Known for its shellfish (cockles are the best!), Paramalo serves a great variety of meze including some homemade raki. Grilled octopus, sea urchin salad and fried red mullets are at the top of my list. If you wanna go big, try the langoustines too. Grilled to perfection and seasoned with salt and pepper they taste like heaven. And finally, fried calamari – the way they delicately fry it is just about the best all over Greece!
Be it winter or summer, Thanasis at Paramalo serves the best seafood in Athens hands down.
