Hospitality lawyer in Greece

Since 1991, Koronakis Law Firm has worked with food and beverage businesses (“shops of sanitary interest”, ΚΥΕ): cafés, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, as well as hotels and tourist accommodation. Our lawyers work on a regular basis with engineers, accountants and food technologists, so you have one point of contact for every matter concerning your business. We have offices in Athens and Thessaloniki and serve clients throughout Greece.

When you need a lawyer for your business

Before you sign a lease or pay a deposit for premises. We check whether the premises can operate lawfully and whether there are any pending violations or sealings.
When you open: business operation notification (γνωστοποίηση), music, outdoor seating.
When there is an inspection, a summons or a fine.
When your premises are at risk of being sealed (closed).
When you receive a penal order or a court summons over music, hours or noise.
When the owner changes or a different company takes over running the business.

What we handle

Four rules worth knowing

Sealing (closure)

In bars, cafés and restaurants that serve alcohol, and in entertainment venues, three officially recorded violations within one year relating to music, noise, public quiet or opening hours lead to sealing of the premises. If the violations were recorded by the Police, sealing for 10 days is mandatory. The Municipality is required to decide on withdrawal of the licence or suspension of operation, which may last longer. It may also seal the premises for 10 to 60 days on the basis of violations recorded by other authorities as well.Article 350 para. 4 Law 5314/2026, Article 2 Presidential Decree 180/1979

Outdoor seating

If you go beyond the terms of your permit, you pay the fee plus a fine of three times the fee. For space used without a permit, the fine is a multiple (2, 3 or 4 times) of the amount per square metre set by the Municipality, depending on the location. If the violation is repeated within the year after a removal order has been served on you, the permit is withdrawn for 6 months. For a food and beverage business (ΚΥΕ), a double fine or sealing for 3–10 days is imposed in addition.Article 400 Law 5314/2026

Penal order

Objections may be filed only within 15 days of service. Service may be made electronically to your gov.gr digital mailbox or to your e-mail, by delivery to an employee of the business or by posting on the door. In all these cases the time limit is already running. Check your mailbox regularly and call us as soon as you receive anything.Article 412 Code of Criminal Procedure (ΚΠΔ)

OpenBusiness

A business with an old licence must complete the registration (απογραφή) on the platform. A business that filed its notification before OpenBusiness must upload its supporting documents. Deadline: 31 December 2026. Do not let it pass: after that date, missing supporting documents lead to sanctions.Articles 14A–14B Law 4442/2016, Article 59 Law 5255/2025

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a lawyer or an engineer for the licence?

Usually both. The engineer handles the technical side. The lawyer handles the lease, sanctions and the courts. We work on a regular basis with engineers, accountants and food technologists, so you have one point of contact.

I have received a penal order over music. What should I do?

Note the date of service and call us immediately (Athens +30 213 025 3173, Thessaloniki +30 2310 528 154). We will tell you how to send us the document securely. Objections must be filed within 15 days of service (Article 412 Code of Criminal Procedure).

Do you work outside Athens and Thessaloniki?

Yes, throughout Greece. We also have an office in Mykonos.

Contact: Athens +30 213 025 3173 · Thessaloniki +30 2310 528 154 · or send us your question.