How to Book a Table in Greek: Restaurant Reservation Phrases

A short reservation works best when the details are clear. Prepare the day, time, number of people and name before you call. This dialogue gives you a reusable structure, then asks you to change the details rather than memorise one booking.

A reservation for tomorrow evening

Keep the four details separate

Για αύριο gives the day: “for tomorrow”. Για δύο άτομα gives the party size: “for two people”. Στις οκτώ το βράδυ gives the time: “at eight in the evening”. Σε ποιο όνομα; asks for the booking name. Listen for which detail is being requested before answering.

Change one detail at a time

Try για τρία άτομα (“for three people”) or για τέσσερα άτομα (“for four people”). Άτομα is neuter, so the forms here are τρία and τέσσερα. To move the booking, say στις εννέα το βράδυ (“at nine in the evening”). Do not change the day, party size and time all at once during your first practice attempt.

Check the confirmation

When the other person repeats the details, listen for the numbers and the day. If they say three people but you want two, reply Για δύο άτομα, όχι για τρία — “For two people, not three.” If you missed the time, ask Μπορείτε να επαναλάβετε την ώρα; — “Can you repeat the time?” The repeated details are your chance to notice a misunderstanding.

Four reservation tasks

1. Ask for a table for tomorrow using the opening sentence.
2. Answer Για πόσα άτομα; for a group of four.
3. Give nine in the evening instead of eight.
4. The confirmation says three people. Correct it to two.

Rehearse both roles

Write four details on a card: tomorrow, four people, nine in the evening, your chosen practice name. Read the restaurant’s questions aloud and answer from the card. Then repeat the final confirmation yourself. On a second attempt, deliberately change one detail in the confirmation and correct it.

Other reservation phrases

The opening sentence of the dialogue is enough for a phone call. These alternatives cover a booking for tonight, walking in without a reservation and arriving at the restaurant:

• Θα ήθελα να κάνω μια κράτηση για απόψε. — I would like to make a reservation for tonight.
• Έχετε ένα τραπέζι για τέσσερις; — Do you have a table for four? (when you walk in)
• Μπορούμε να καθίσουμε έξω; — Can we sit outside?
• Έχω κλείσει τραπέζι στο όνομα Παπαδοπούλου. — I have booked a table under the name Papadopoulou.
• Θα ήθελα να ακυρώσω την κράτηση. — I would like to cancel the reservation.
• Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ. — A table for two, please (short, at the door).

Common mistakes

• για τέσσερις άτομα → για τέσσερα άτομα: άτομα is neuter, so the number is τέσσερα. Without the noun, you say για τέσσερις for people.
• στο οκτώ → στις οκτώ: clock times take στις, because the hidden word is ώρες. The exception is στη μία, “at one”.
• για δύο ανθρώπους → για δύο άτομα: άτομα is the usual word for the number of people in a booking.

Questions about booking a table in Greek

How do you say “I would like to book a table” in Greek? Θα ήθελα να κλείσω ένα τραπέζι. Here κλείνω means “to book”, even though it also means “to close”.

How do you say “a table for two” in Greek? Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ. In a full sentence you can add άτομα: για δύο άτομα.

How do you say “reservation” in Greek? Η κράτηση. On arrival, say Έχω κράτηση στο όνομα Παπαδοπούλου. — “I have a reservation under the name Papadopoulou.”

Practise booking a table with the listening exercise. Learn phrases for asking someone to repeat.

Ask for the bill at the end of the meal. Order a coffee in Greek.