Lefteris o Politis is one of Athens’ oldest and most iconic spots.
Here, souvlaki is served the traditional way — simple and authentic, with just three essentials:
a juicy beef patty, warm oil-brushed pita, and a topping of tomato with finely chopped onion and parsley.
Constantinople meets Omonia
Lefteris Politis was born in 1951 in the heart of Athens to Stavros Savvoglou, a refugee from Constantinople. In a narrow alley behind Omonia Square, with simple ingredients and passion, a delicious story began to unfold, passed down from generation to generation.
When you’re in Omonia and hungry, only Lefteris Politis can save you with his perfect souvlaki, just like in the old days…
Finely chopped onion and tomato, beef patties, and pita bread that even a woman could bite into!
Of course, you’ll want two or even three to fill you up…
So order them right away and don’t get back in line.
As noon approaches, the line grows longer and longer. Of course, you won’t have to wait too long because they have a system here!
As we said, it’s tasty, small, fits in your mouth, and of course, no potatoes!
Rumor has it that you hold it, look at it, and are ashamed to eat it.
The shop
The souvlaki shop is a wide corridor, so don’t expect luxury, frills, and aromas.
Here, the aroma is souvlaki-lefter No. 5.
On the right, the charcoal grill is working at full capacity with a unique flow and system.
The oiled, fluffy pita bread on top of the burger protects it and absorbs all the aromas and flavors.
Next to him, the wrapper, a master craftsman with years of experience and the same appearance, has a bowl of bright red tomatoes and another with finely chopped onions mixed with parsley in front of him.
You simply choose how spicy you want it…
Of course, at the cash register there is also the option of soujouki for the more initiated.
Another flavor, you go straight to the East of Eden…
The Taste
I’ve tried them all.
From the simple non-spicy, the children’s version, to the spicy one with boukovo that brings tears to your eyes.
Unfortunately, our old spicy sauce is now gone, but life goes on with the same unadulterated taste.
Of course, the real treat comes with the magical meal on baking paper, with the patties happily dancing among the fluffy, well-baked pies, comforted by onions and roasted tomatoes…
We drank our beers and enjoyed each other’s company, as we did back then, with perhaps the best souvlaki in town.
We started talking about the best souvlaki in Athens and ended up at our other favorite.
Thomas’ kebab, another souvlaki place that you souvlaki fanatics should visit…
Of course, you need something sweet to finish off your meal. So you have two options.
The first is on the left in the narrow street at the old Stanis dairy, and the second is Ktistakis’ Chania loukoumades right next door on Sokratous Street.
Lefteris Politis
20 Satovriandou Street, Athens
Tel. 2105225676
https://www.lefterisopolitis.gr
At #TasteLocalGreece, we taste and promote all our favorite hangouts.
The local products we discover, the places we visit, and those that fit our philosophy.
The taverns we discover in our culinary quests. Our articles have no commercial benefit. Often, the restaurants we visit are unaware that we will be mentioning them.
They are all our personal experiences, and we share them with you. We strive to highlight forgotten flavors, authenticity, and simplicity that have been lost from our lives.
We strive to highlight forgotten flavors, authenticity, and simplicity that have been lost from our lives.
The information we provide is based on the period when we visited the place.
