Kreatofageion Aristotelis Cretan BBQ in Psirri

One way to explore new cities is to scroll through hashtags on Instagram, but a more serendipitous way is to just wander along the back streets and stumble over new shops, boutique hotels and the occasional Cretan Antikristo BBQ.

We found Kreatofageion Aristotelis by accident while trying to avoid the Christmas mayhem that is the ‘Little Kook’ in the trendy Athens neighbourhood of Psirr – trying to avoid the crowds of instahordes taking photos of cheap Chinese plastic decorations.

Beside a church a fire burned. At first glance it looked like a large outdoor gas heater, but on closer inspection the flames were cooking a wide variety of meats hung in a pyramid shaped rack, also known as Antikristo.

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Antikristo is a traditional Cretan meat cooking technique. The word antikristo means ‘across the fire’. The meat is slowly cooked, sometimes up to 6 hours depending on the cut and the type of meat. Some say that the Anticristo is a healthier way of grilling due to the way the fumes are directed, and the meat retains a large part of the natural fats due to the vertical grilling position.

And while we are talking definitions – Kreatofageion loosely translates as ‘meat eatery’. But you don’t have to go all the way to Crete to experience this style of cooking. Seek out Kreatofageion Aristotelis in Psyrri and enjoy the hospitality and the theatre of this meat eating experience.

We first visited on a Friday in January 2023 – about a month after it first opened its doors. We were presented with olives and cheese and bread – showcasing Cretan ingredients. As good as the nibbles are, the main event is the meat.

We ordered two types of sausage. Village sausages are a great way to get a feel for a meat restaurant in Greece and they didn’t disappoint, though the Buffalo sausage may not be to everybody’s taste.

The showstopper was the Pancetta, cooked for 40+ minutes over the flames. Succulent and moist and sweet and accompanies by roast potatoes. Crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Add lemon juice, mustard to taste and it’s a memorable meal.

The service and hospitality is super friendly. The team are proud of their food and their offer.

Given the unique experience and the quality of the food, the pricing is very reasonable for the centre of town.

We will be back to give Kreatofageion Aristotelis the multi-sensory Sense in the City podcast experience soon.

Useful Facts

• Address – 3 Aisopou St. Athens (Nearest Metro – Monastiraki or Thissio)
• Instagram
• Opening Hours – Tuesday to Thursday 17:00 – 00:00, Friday – Saturday 12:00 – 00:30, Sunday 12:00 – 00:00, Closed on Monday

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