ΕΛFollow us:TikTokInstagramYouTubeLinkedInAthens+30 213 025 3173ath@koronakislaw.grThessaloniki+30 2310 528 154skg@koronakislaw.gr
Contact
Watch our videos

Koronakis Law Firm, since 1991

Lawyers for food service businesses, entertainment venues and hotels

Business operation notifications (γνωστοποίηση), music, outdoor seating, EFET (Hellenic Food Authority) inspections, sealing (closure) of premises and court cases. We work on a standing basis with engineers, accountants and food technologists, so you have one point of contact for the whole process. Our aim: your café, bar, restaurant or hotel operates lawfully and avoids fines and suspensions of operation.

Call +30 213 025 3173
Send us your enquiry

Services

Everything your business needs, from day one

From checking the premises before you sign the lease to your defence when a closure is imposed. One point of contact for all the legal matters of your business.

All services

Pre-lease check

We check whether the premises can operate lawfully before you sign or pay a deposit.

Business operation notification

Supporting documents, filing on the OpenBusiness platform, changes and a file ready for inspections.

Music permit

The use of music is declared within the business operation notification. A permit is needed only for extended music hours, based on the rules of your Municipality.

Outdoor seating

Permit to use public space for tables and chairs, annual renewal and defence against fines for exceeding the permitted area.

Closure and sanctions

Written observations, appeals and applications for suspension to protect the operation of your business.

Court cases

Criminal cases over music, hours and noise; administrative and civil disputes.

Hotels and tourist accommodation

Business operation notification or Special Operating Licence (Ειδικό Σήμα Λειτουργίας) and MHTE (Special Registration Number of the Greek Tourism Organisation), inspections by the Regional Tourism Services, and the restaurants and bars inside the property.

Food safety and EFET

Preparing for the inspection, HACCP and allergens, fines and appeals.

The reception area of Koronakis Law Firm

Our philosophy

We do not only deal with the legal problem; we help prevent it from arising.

That is why we check the premises before the lease, keep track of permits and deadlines, and explain every document before it becomes a problem. The firm was founded in 1991 and today it is carried on by the second generation.

What a lawyer for food service businesses does

When to call us

  1. Before you sign a lease or pay a deposit for premises.
  2. When you open: business operation notification, music, outdoor seating.
  3. When you receive an inspection, a summons, a fine or a penal order (ποινική διαταγή).
  4. When your business is at risk of being sealed.
  5. When the owner or the operating company of the business changes.

What you need to know

Four rules that decide whether your business stays open

Sealing (closure)

In bars, cafés and restaurants that serve alcohol, and in entertainment venues, three 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. The Municipality may also seal the premises for 10 to 60 days on the basis of violations recorded by other authorities.Article 350 para. 4 of Law 5314/2026, Article 2 of 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 an order to remove has been served on you, the permit is withdrawn for 6 months. For a food and beverage business (“shop of sanitary interest”, ΚΥΕ), a double fine or sealing for 3–10 days is imposed in addition.Article 400 of Law 5314/2026

Penal order

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

OpenBusiness

A business operating under an old licence must be registered on the platform (απογραφή). A business that filed its notification before OpenBusiness must upload its supporting documents. Deadline: 31/12/2026. Do not let it pass: after that date, missing documents lead to sanctions.Articles 14A–14B of Law 4442/2016, Article 59 of Law 5255/2025

Legal Umbrella

Ongoing legal cover for your business

Reminders for permits and deadlines, on-site inspections, an explanation of every document served on you, and telephone advice around the clock. You run the business; we keep track of its legal side.

Learn about the Legal Umbrella
  1. Reminders for public space, music, extended hours and fire safety.
  2. On-site inspection of your premises by one of our associates.
  3. Explanation of every criminal complaint, fine or closure, and of what needs to be done.
  4. A file with the documents to be shown during inspections.

Your opinion matters

If we have worked together, you can leave your opinion on Google, positive or negative. Please do not include any details of your case.

Review our Athens officeReview our Thessaloniki office

Articles

From our library (in Greek)

24 articles and news items on the legal side of running a business

All articles (in Greek)

Frequently asked questions

What we are asked most often

Do I need a lawyer or an engineer for my business licence?

Usually both. The engineer handles the technical side; the lawyer handles the lease, sanctions and the courts. We work on a standing 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 of the Code of Criminal Procedure).

How many violations lead to sealing of the premises?

In bars, cafés and restaurants that serve alcohol, and in entertainment venues, three 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, and the Municipality is required to decide on withdrawal of the licence or suspension of operation, which may last longer (Article 350 para. 4 of Law 5314/2026). The Municipality may also seal the premises for 10 to 60 days on the basis of violations recorded by other authorities (Article 2 of Presidential Decree 180/1979). A separate rule applies to outdoor seating that exceeds the permit.

Do you work outside Athens and Thessaloniki?

Yes, throughout Greece. We have offices in Athens and Thessaloniki and a network of associates across the country.

All frequently asked questions

Talk to a lawyer

An issue with your business?

Tell us what is happening. If a deadline is running, we look at it straight away and tell you what needs to be done before time runs out. Before we start, you receive a written quote.

Athens+30 213 025 3173

Thessaloniki+30 2310 528 154

Tell us about your case