It takes chutzpah to open a 'Japanese Pub + Grill' on the same street as the best sushi restaurant in Athens ( Sushimou). But self-styled 'chef-butcher' Ari Vezenes pulls in the after-work drinks crowd — and plenty of epicurean tourists too. A wooden counter lined with chunky oak stools runs the length of the narrow space, a warm cocoon of wood panelling, glazed tiles, and diffused light.

One of Ari’s own latest ventures is Birdman, a hip-hoppy yakitori-centric Japanese pub in the center. Think Athens by way of Tokyo. Claiming his favorite corner stool at the counter facing the binchõ-tan fueled grill, he recounts how Birdman became an unexpected pandemic success thanks to its cool take-out bento boxes inspired by the ones at Japanese train stations.

The king of glamorous comfort food, Aris Vezenes has created this idiosyncratic Japanese pub and grill in an unassuming alley below Syntagma Square. The menu pays homage to Japan's rich culinary heritage: tasty neck-to-tail yakitori skewers, meat and seafood kushiyaki, melt in the mouth wagyu beef nigiri, and ethically sourced yakiniku meats from rare cattle breeds prepared on a robata-style grill at the open kitchen-counter. However, the ingredients have a distinctly local flavour: Laconia oranges, Kalamata olives, Aegean uni, and free-range chickens from Crete.

Birdman’s open-fire kitchen emphasizes traditional Japanese grill culture, featuring a range of neck-to-tail yakitori, meat, and seafood kushiyaki, alongside rare-breed beef nigiri and hands-only bone-in cuts. This approach blends with a respect for Greek heritage, utilizing fresh local ingredients. Highlighted by the Michelin Guide, the menu includes delicacies like steamed rice with leek oil, aged rump tartar, and Wagyu beef gyoza, as well as Iberico katsu and various Donburi bowls like Tori Don and Buta Don.

Billing itself as a Japanese pub, Birdman brings a self-conscious hit of Tokyo cool (and a feel-good soundtrack) to the enclave of Asian eateries below Syntagma Square. The handful of tiny tables and benches on the pavement weren’t designed for lingering. But the narrow, warmly lit space is excellent for a solo dinner at the counter or a casual date with an Ume Bloody Mary (with plum, wasabi, sake, miso, and truffle mushroom salt) and a few rounds of yakitori and kushiyaki straight from the robata grill.

Prepare for a culinary curveball at Birdman, a popular izakaya (Japanese pub) located in the lively Agia Irini Square. While it might seem out of place on a list of Greek restaurants, Birdman has carved out a unique niche by blending Japanese techniques with high-quality Greek ingredients. Expect expertly grilled skewers (kushiyaki) made with local meats and vegetables, creative small plates with a Mediterranean twist, and an impressive selection of sake and Japanese whiskies.

Might as well take the words from the Birdman site directly, “Tucked in an alley in the heart of Athens, Birdman is an intimate, no-fuss-no-frills, Japanese bar & grill, that pays homage to late-night Tokyo eateries and jazz Kissa-style listening bars in Japan, serving new style yakitori, straightforward drinks, and Hi-Fi analog tunes.” Though I can help you cut to the chase a bit - order the beef nigiri and a simple cocktail or beer. Cool vibe, nice crowd.

Birdman, an intimate Japanese pub and grill near Syntagma Square, stands out as a carnivore’s paradise with its focus on meat dishes prepared with precision and flair. Chef Ari Vezene’s culinary vision centers on ethically sourced, dry-aged meats from rare traditional cattle breeds. The meat is showcased through a variety of yakitori and kushiyaki—grilled skewers featuring every part of the animal, from neck to tail—cooked over a robata-style grill.

Στην «γιαπωνέζικη pub» του Άρη Βεζενέ πιάνουμε θέση στην μπάρα και απολαμβάνουμε καλοφτιαγμένα κοκτέιλ μαζί με σνακ που ποικίλουν: από σκορδάτα φασολάκια edamame και sandos μέχρι καλαμάκια yakitori. Το μενού έχει και χειροποίητα gyoza –ιαπωνικά πουγκάκια που ενώ γίνονται στον ατμό και είναι μαλακά, έχουν και μια τραγανή πλευρά που τα κάνει έξτρα λαχταριστά. Στο Birdman τα βρίσκουμε γεμιστά με κιμά από μοσχαρίσιο κρέας, της περίφημης ράτσας wagyu.

Είναι επίσης εκείνος που σύστησε το chicken katsu στους Αθηναίους, βάζοντάς το σε ένα μπέργκερ με japanese coleslaw, πίκλα αγγουριού, wasabi aioli και κάνοντάς το delivery μέσω του Ekiben by Birdman. Μπορείτε να το απολαύσετε και στην μπάρα του Birdman, ενώ από εκεί μπορείτε να προμηθευτείτε japanese style τηγανητό κοτόπουλο, φτερούγες και nuggets κατόπιν συνεννόησης.

These range from Ta Karamanlidika Tou Fani, a much-loved deli-restaurant specialising in the finest regional produce, with a huge range of cured meats and other charcuterie, as well as aged cheeses, superb home-baked bread and traditional pastries, to Birdman, a Japanese izakaya blending yakitori with jazz and funk deep cuts in the manner of a Tokyo ‘record bar’.

Birdman is inspired by Japanese listening bars, where connoisseurs used to go to hear the latest jazz records. Here, the soundtrack is more eclectic – running from Japanese jazz to Nigerian funk – and the drinks list has had an update too. There’s craft beer and natural wines offered alongside the sake highballs.

During our visit to Athens, the theme that was most prominent was the intense diversity of the city's dining scene. Traditional Greek food is enshrined in the culture, but a multitude of international cuisine blooms right alongside it. Many places have grown as cross-pollinated hybrids of that environment.

Chef Ari Vezené’s yakitori-focused restaurant, Birdman, is one of our favorite eateries in Athens. This place is pure hedonism, serving only the best quality Japanese beef and offering luxury ingredients like caviar, truffles, and wagyu. Come hungry, sit at the counter, and watch all the grilling action.

Birdman is an intimate, no-fuss Japanese pub + grill, inspired by far yet locally rooted. Tucked in an alley near Syntagma square, the open kitchen-counter specializes in neck-to-tail yakitori, meat and seafood kushiyaki, and a butcher’s selection of dry-aged niku-style meats, ...

Long gone are the days when Japanese cuisine in Athens was synonymous only to sushi restaurants. Birdman, is a cool and stylish izakaya (typical Japanese gastro-bar) in busy Syntagma, worth taking a break from Greek food during your holidays.

A Japanese pub & grill in the middle of Athens, Birdman offers a unique evening out. The long narrow space invites mingling at the bar. Sample the Japanese beers available and try some of the excellent dishes that are beautifully served.

Located just a short stroll from Parliament (where the changing of the guard happens) Birdman serves some great Japanese bar food.