What to Eat in Athens – A Quick Guide to the Best Food in Athens, Greece

Athens is not only known for its ancient cultural landmarks, but for its exceptional culinary scene as well.

I LOVE the food in Athens, with traditional dishes passed down through generations, exquisite fine dining, and dangerously addictive street food all coming together to provide a gastronomic experience that is unlike anything I’ve seen before.

While you may want to visit all the incredible Greek islands to live your best Mamma Mia life, you have got to start your journey in Athens, which is a city well worth visiting (in my humble opinion).

Here’s what to eat in Athens, Greece.

What to Eat in Athens – A Quick Guide to the Best Food in Athens Greece

Greek Food at a Glance

Greek food has been influenced by Middle Eastern cuisine, Italian cuisine, and, of course, the Ottomans.

You’ll find plenty of grilled meat in Greece, and seafood is also super popular, with grilled sardines, octopus, and fried calamari, gracing the menus of Athens’ restaurants.

Stuffed vegetables are common, as are fresh salads, which are always drenched in olive oil and seasoned with oregano.

Greek dishes are always packed with flavour and are made using fresh local ingredients, such as local olive oil, cheese, and yoghurt.

What to Eat in Athens – Traditional Food in Athens, Greece

1. Moussaka

Of all the traditional Greek dishes out there, moussaka is perhaps the most iconic and a must-try food in Athens Athens.

This quintessential Greek dish is a hearty casserole stuffed with layers of eggplant, minced meat, and potatoes, all topped with bechamel sauce.

Moussaka is served in taverns and restaurants across the city, and it’s a perfect example of Greek comfort food and reflects the country’s love for wholesome and hearty meals.

The best moussaka in Athens

Moussaka is a dish best cooked by Greek grandmas in their kitchens.

It is very much a dish enjoyed at home, and Greeks wouldn’t often order moussaka when they go out to eat.

However, my Athenian friend told me that you can find the best moussaka in Athens in Olympion (Google Maps link).

When I visited Olympion, I ordered pastitsio, which is like moussaka but with pasta in place of eggplant. I can’t comment on the moussaka specifically, but if it’s half as good as the pastitsio, it’s definitely up there with the best.

2. Souvlaki

Souvlaki is the most popular type of street food in Athens, and it’s as beloved by locals as it is by tourists.

The Greek staple consists of juicy pieces of meat, grilled and served with seasonal vegetables, bread, along with a generous dollop of tzatziki.

Souvlaki is a great budget-friendly food to grab on-the-go, but you can also find it in tavernas all across the city if you fancy a sit-down meal.

Best souvlaki in Athens

Souvlaki stands can be found all over Athens, and you can choose from pork, chicken, or lamb for a most satisfying culinary experience.

It’s difficult to say where you can find the best souvlaki in Athens – every Athenian has their personal favourite souvlaki joint, but Kostas (Google Maps link), is widely regarded as having the best souvlaki in the city centre.

For a sit-down meal, you have to head to O Thanasis (Google Maps link) in Monastiraki. I had one of the best kebabs of my life here, and the traditional Greek music makes for a great atmosphere.

Another great Athens restaurant that serves souvlaki is Alexandrino Pagrati (Google Maps link), where I dined multiple times on my first visit to Athens.

3. Gyros

Gyros is cousin of souvlaki, and if you’re looking for some Greek food to try in Athens on a budget, you can’t go wrong with gyros.

The meat (usually pork, but sometimes chicken), is cooked on a vertical rotisserie and stuffed in pita bread, along with French fries, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki.

Gyros are typically eaten as a street food (in Athens, you can expect to pay around 3 EUR), although you can also get gyros in restaurants.

If you order gyros in a restaurant, you can expect to get all of the ingredients stacked on top of a flat pita bread rather than in wrap form.

Best gyros in Athens

If you’re looking for the best gyros in Athens, you’ll find it in the same places that I mentioned in the souvlaki section!

For takeout on-the-go, head to Kostas, while O Thanasis is a good sit-down option.

4. Spanakopita

This traditional Greek dish is basically a spinach pie, filled with feta cheese, herbs, and onions and wrapped in layers of crispy filo dough.

Spanakopita is perfect for a light snack. The combination of the creamy feta and earthy spinach encased in flaky pastry is irresistible among locals as well as tourists.

Best spanakopita in Athens

Spanakopita is commonly available in bakeries across Athens.

I got a great spanakopita from a local bakery in Pagrati, but if you’re looking for something more central, Pandora (Google Maps link) is said to have great spanakopita, with fresh dough made onsite daily.

5. Tzatziki

Even if you have no clue about traditional food in Athens, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with tzatziki, an incredibly popular dip that is typically served as an appetiser that makes up a meze.

There are endless variations of tzatziki, but the traditional version is made with thick strained yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and dill.

6. Saganaki

Saganaki is the ultimate guilty pleasure, and not one to order if you’re watching your weight!

Saganaki is a slab of cheese that has been tossed in flour and fried. The end result is crispy on the outside and melty on the inside, and it’s a greasy, salty, cheesy dream.

Saganaki is a typical Greek starter, to be enjoyed alongside meze dips, salads, and other appetisers.

The name saganaki comes from the pan used to fry the cheese, which is called a saganaki or sagani.

Saganaki is one of my favourite things to eat in Athens.

7. Dolmades

Another classic Greek dish you must taste in Athens are dolmades, a flavour-filled delight.

Made from grape leaves, stuffed with rice and herbs (and often minced meat), dolmades are cooked until tender and served with sauce or yogurt.

Dolmades can be eaten as a starter, and their tangy taste also making them a delightful side dish to any major meal.

The dish is a perfect example of traditional Greek food made from locally sourced ingredients.

Best dolmades in Athens

Just like moussaka, dolmades are best made by Greek grannies in their homes, but a close second is Karamanlidika (Google Maps link), which is famous for its dolmades (just check out the 12,000+ positive reviews on Google Maps!).

8. Greek Salad

An iconic name, probably known the world over, the Greek salad is a simple dish of local tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, olives (olives are big business in Greece), and a giant slab of feta cheese, all drizzled with EVOO and sprinkled with oregano.

All the ingredients used are fresh and sourced directly from local markets, resulting in an explosion of flavour.

A Greek salad is a necessary accompaniment to any meal and is truly the best way to relish the true flavour of Greek cuisine.

The best Greek salad in Athens

It’s impossible to order a bad Greek salad.

I must have had about 50 of them during the time I spent in Greece, and every single one of them has been exquisite. With crunchy salad, quality oil, and creamy local cheese, the ingredients make it impossible to go wrong.

9. Baklava

No Athens food guide would be complete without Baklava.

Baklava is a sweet pastry, filled with chopped nuts in a layer of filo dough, and sweetened with honey syrup. It is sometimes flavoured with cloves or cinnamon to impart a warm and aromatic twist.

Along with a strong cup of Greek coffee, Baklava is the perfect way to end your culinary journey of Athens.

Best baklava in Athens

For the best baklava in Athens, head to Ta Serbetia stou Psyrri (Google Maps link) a beloved local spot in the Psyrri neighbourhood known for its buttery, nut-packed slices and late-night hours.

Mitropolitikon (Google Maps link) is one of the city’s oldest patisseries, and is well worth a visit. It still hand-stretches its filo and uses Aegina pistachios for a truly traditional taste.

Food of Athens | Final Thoughts

I could go on all day about what to eat in Athens (in fact, I have, on many occasions!).

Greek food is one of my favourite cuisines, and Athens is home to an equal number of world-class restaurants, traditional tavernas, and lowkey eateries that all serve fantastic food.

If there’s a bad restaurant in Athens, I haven’t found it (and trust me, I’ve tried!).

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That’s all I’ve got for today’s post, but as always, if you have any questions then don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments section below!

Until next time,

XOXO

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