Soirée is an oyster bar that opened its doors during the summer of capital controls – the owners are certainly bold if nothing else. The menu may be based on seafood, a fairly expensive ingredient, but the prices reflect the reality of Greece today.

We tried the delicious dishes created by chef Yiannis Stanitsas, which were of excellent quality. From the salad menu, we chose the green salad with lobster carpaccio and a dressing which flirts with flavors from Asia (the sesame oil was an inspired choice), and another with quinoa, vegetables and smoked salmon.

The tuna sashimi was very good, accompanied with a citrus salad, as was the avocado with crab and fresh herbs with lime chutney. And the shellfish platter with its cockles and razor clams? Quite simply, the sea in one bite.

From the hot mains we chose a risotto with shrimp and fresh herbs, which was perfectly cooked and precisely garnished, while the fillet of bass was poached in olive oil and served with a delicate cherry tomato ragu.

We couldn’t resist the Valrhona chocolate cream with caramelized hazelnuts, and we were amply rewarded. Just watching people consume the gorgeous cocktails at the bar was enough to make us feel intoxicated, but we opted for a Chardonnay ourselves.

The strongest points of Soirée are the new age feel of the place, its modern decor, the great selection of music, the lightning fast service and all-day operation with drinks and carefully prepared sandwiches.