Food · Athens · Greece
What to eat in Athens
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Athens, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrew Parlette, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Souvlaki and gyros, Greek salad and Moussaka. Walk the meat and fish halls of the Varvakios market on Athinas Street, then the spice, olive and cheese shops on Evripidou and Sofokleous streets, finishing with coffee in Psyrri. Dinner rarely starts before 9pm, and tavernas stay busy past midnight in summer; lunch runs from about 1:30pm to 4pm.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Souvlaki and gyros
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 8
- Tipping
- Service is not usually added to the bill.
- Food experiences
- 4
12 foods to try
Street food
1.Souvlaki and gyros
Pork or chicken grilled on skewers (souvlaki) or carved from a vertical spit (gyros), wrapped in warm pita with tomato, onion, tzatziki and a few chips. Ask for 'pita gyro' for the classic wrap or 'merida' for a plate.
Where: Souvlaki counters on Mitropoleos Street at Monastiraki and neighbourhood grills (souvlatzidika) across the city.
Dish · Vegetarian
2.Greek salad (Horiatiki)
The village salad of tomato, cucumber, onion, green pepper, olives and a thick slab of feta with oregano and olive oil — no lettuce. It comes in a big bowl meant for sharing.
Where: Every taverna; it is at its best in summer when tomatoes are in season.
Dish
3.Moussaka
Layers of aubergine, spiced minced meat and potato under a thick béchamel crust, baked in large trays and cut into squares. It is often cooked in the morning and served warm rather than piping hot.
Where: Traditional tavernas and mageiria, the cook-shops that display the day's trays at the counter.
Bakery · Vegetarian
4.Koulouri
A ring of bread crusted with sesame seeds, sold from street carts every morning as the standard Athenian breakfast on the move.
Where: Street vendors and bakeries everywhere, especially near metro stations.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
5.Bougatsa
Crisp layers of phyllo filled with semolina custard and dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon, or with cheese or minced meat for a savoury version.
Where: Bougatsa shops and bakeries, eaten in the morning with coffee.
Snack · Vegetarian
6.Spanakopita and tiropita
Phyllo pies filled with spinach and feta (spanakopita) or cheese (tiropita), sold by the slice or as hand-held pastries.
Where: Bakeries (fournoi) and pie shops across the city, warm in the morning.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Loukoumades
Small fried dough balls soaked in honey syrup and topped with cinnamon and sesame or, in newer shops, chocolate and crushed nuts.
Where: Specialist loukoumades shops around Monastiraki and Syntagma.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Freddo espresso
Espresso shaken with ice until frothy and poured over more ice, the drink Athenians sip slowly for an hour or more; freddo cappuccino adds a layer of cold milk foam.
Where: Every café in the city; order it 'sketo' (no sugar), 'metrio' (medium) or 'glyko' (sweet).
Drink
9.Ouzo and meze
Aniseed-flavoured ouzo, or the stronger tsipouro, served with ice and water alongside small plates of grilled octopus, fried anchovies, fava, olives and cheese.
Where: Ouzeries and mezedopoleia in Psyrri, Pangrati and around the Varvakios market.
Dish
10.Grilled octopus (Chtapodi sti schara)
Tenderised octopus tentacles grilled over charcoal and dressed with olive oil, vinegar and oregano — the classic partner to a glass of ouzo.
Where: Fish tavernas on the Mikrolimano harbour in Piraeus and along the coast, and ouzeries in the city.
Dish · Vegetarian
11.Fava
A smooth purée of yellow split peas topped with raw onion, capers and olive oil; the best-known version is made from Santorini's yellow peas.
Where: Tavernas and mezedopoleia, ordered as a shared meze.
Dish · Vegetarian
12.Gemista
Tomatoes and peppers stuffed with herbed rice and baked with potatoes and olive oil; a summer staple and an easy vegetarian main.
Where: Tavernas and mageiria, mostly in summer.
Food experiences
Market morning
Walk the meat and fish halls of the Varvakios market on Athinas Street, then the spice, olive and cheese shops on Evripidou and Sofokleous streets, finishing with coffee in Psyrri.
A neighbourhood taverna night
Athenians eat late, from about 9pm, sharing salads, dips, grilled meat and fish. Pangrati, Koukaki and Exarchia have neighbourhood tavernas with lower prices than the Plaka lanes.
Rooftop drinks facing the Acropolis
Hotels and bars around Monastiraki, Syntagma and Makrygianni have terraces facing the floodlit Acropolis; go at sunset and book on summer weekends.
Seafood in Mikrolimano
The small horseshoe harbour of Mikrolimano in Piraeus is lined with fish restaurants on the water, a short taxi ride from the centre.
Quick bites and street food
- Souvlaki and gyros — Souvlaki counters on Mitropoleos Street at Monastiraki and neighbourhood grills (souvlatzidika) across the city.
- Koulouri — Street vendors and bakeries everywhere, especially near metro stations.
- Bougatsa — Bougatsa shops and bakeries, eaten in the morning with coffee.
- Spanakopita and tiropita — Bakeries (fournoi) and pie shops across the city, warm in the morning.
Vegetarian options
Of the 12 foods in this guide, 8 are usually vegetarian: Greek salad, Koulouri, Bougatsa, Spanakopita and tiropita, Loukoumades, Freddo espresso, Fava and Gemista. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Dinner rarely starts before 9pm, and tavernas stay busy past midnight in summer; lunch runs from about 1:30pm to 4pm.
- Bread, and sometimes water, is brought automatically and may carry a small cover charge listed on the menu.
- Sharing several plates is the norm; ask which fish is fresh and check its price by the kilo before it is cooked.
- Many tavernas bring a free dessert or a shot of raki or mastiha at the end of the meal.
- Skip restaurants with touts on the main Plaka lanes and walk a few streets back for better food and prices.
Tipping
Service is not usually added to the bill. Leave about 5–10% in restaurants for good service, round up taxi fares and leave small change in cafés.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kaliméra | Good morning |
| Kalispéra | Good evening |
| Yiá sas | Hello / goodbye (polite) |
| Efcharistó | Thank you |
| Parakaló | Please / you're welcome |
| Ne / Óchi | Yes / No |
| To logariasmó, parakaló | The bill, please |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Athens famous for?
Souvlaki and gyros, Greek salad, Moussaka and Koulouri. Pork or chicken grilled on skewers (souvlaki) or carved from a vertical spit (gyros), wrapped in warm pita with tomato, onion, tzatziki and a few chips.
+Is Athens good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Greek salad, Koulouri and Bougatsa.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Athens?
Service is not usually added to the bill. Leave about 5–10% in restaurants for good service, round up taxi fares and leave small change in cafés.