¡Topa!
Restaurant
Athens, Greece
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Photo courtesy of Topa. -
Photo courtesy of Topa. -
Photo courtesy of Topa.
About ¡Topa!
Basque tapería or Cretan kafeneio? Somehow, both. The kind of spot that wants to be the neighbourhood café but ends up being something just more layered.
Behind it are the people of the famed Oinoscent wine bar, Danis Agapitos, Aris Sklavenitis, and chef Giannis Tsikoudakis, who, after years of working together in Syntagma, set out to create something more relaxed and local. In Kypseli, just steps from the Municipal Market, the concept draws from Tsikoudakis’ travels across Spain, and especially the Basque country. Pintxos – those small, drink-friendly bites – share the table with pimientos de padrón, anchovies and jamón, but also with slow-cooked lamb, lemony artichokes, and Cretan ingredients. It’s food made for sharing, without any unnecessary styling or fuss. You might end up with a Sfakian pie, or a Basque cheesecake made with Cretan anthotyro cheese.
The wine list, curated by Aris Sklavenitis, features around 110 labels, moving mostly between Greece and Spain, with a clear focus on indigenous varieties. Expect Albariño alongside Malagousia, and a small but thoughtful nod to the French side of the Basque region.
More than anything, ¡Topa! is a place for grazing, for lingering, for starting at lunch and drifting into the night. Set on one of Kypseli’s most interesting pedestrian streets, it’s ideal for people-watching, with just the right amount of buzz.
Great for
- Basque
- Greek wines
- Spanish wines
