Renowned for being very flavourful and fresh, Greek cuisine is loved all over the world, and you are undoubtedly in for a delectable treat if you’re planning a trip to Athens. The cuisine is mainly built on the use of olives and olive oil, grapes, cereals, fruits and vegetables, fish, cheese, lamb, sweet honey, and lots of herbs, amongst other signature ingredients. So, whether you are a vegetarian or not, there is a lot for you to choose from in terms of food when in Athens! Here is a list of 15 famous dishes that you simply must try when traveling to Greece’s capital city.
1. Moussaka
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One of the most popular Greek dishes, the Moussaka is a traditional eggplant casserole that is made using sautéed aubergines, pureed tomatoes, minced beef or lamb, onions, garlic and sometimes even cinnamon and nutmeg. It is then topped off with lots of cheese and béchamal sauce.
Where to find it: Maiandros Restaurant Address: Adrianou 47, Athina 105 55, Greece Timings: 10:30 AM - 12:00 AM
Arcadia Restaurant Address: Makrigianni 23-27, Athina 117 42, Greece Timings: 8:00 AM - 12:30 AM
Lithos Tavern Address: Esopou 17, Athina 105 54, Greece Timings: 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Monday to Saturday) 1:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Sunday)
2. Gyros
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Gyros is like a kebab that is made by cooking meat, usually pork or chicken in Athens, on a vertical rotisserie and then stuffing it inside of a pita wrap along with fried potatoes, tzatziki, onions, tomatoes, herbs and lemon. However, lamb or beef can also be used to prepare gyros.
Where to find it: All That Jatz Address: 10 Agiou Filippou, Astiggos &, Athina 105 55, Greece Timings: 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM
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A delight for cheese lovers, saganaki is a well-known Greek dish that is usually eaten as an appetizer. It is mostly prepared using kasseri or even gruyère cheese that is coated in flour and then fried in a small pan such that the surface becomes slightly crunchy while the cheese inside melts. This dish pairs well with salads.
Where to find it: Ydria Café Address: Adrianou 68, Athina 105 56, Greece Timings: 9:00 AM - 1:00 AM 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Breakfast)
4. Bougatsa
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Bougasta is a breakfast pastry that can be sweet or savory; it is made by stuffing phyllo pastry with either creamy custard or with minced meat and cheese. The sweet version is also topped off with icing sugar and cinnamon. You can have this with a cup of coffee.
Where to find it: Krinos Address: Aiolou 87, Athina 105 51, Greece Timings: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday) 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM (Tuesday, Thursday to Friday) Sunday closed
Bougatsa Savas Address: Tzortz 10, Athina 106 77, Greece Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:30 PM (Monday to Friday) 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Saturday) Sunday closed
Bougatsadiko Psirri Address: Pl. Iroon 1, Athina 105 54, Greece Timings: 7:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Mám Address: Pesmazoglou 3, Athina 105 59, Greece Timings: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Monday to Friday) 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Saturday) Sunday closed
5. Souvlaki
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Souvlaki, often referred to as kalamaki, is a delicious classic Greek dish that is made by cooking meat (lamb, beef, chicken or pork) on skewers over a charcoal barbeque. It can be had on its own or can be had with different dips like tzatziki, inside of pita bread, on a salad, or with rice and vegetables.
Where to find it: Oroscopo Restaurant Address: Antinoros 42-44, Athina 161 21, Greece Timings: 1:30 PM - 11:30 PM (Tuesday to Sunday) Monday closed
Souvlaki Athinaiko Address: Lagoumitzi 68, Athina 117 44, Greece Timings: 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Street Souvlaki Address: Kolokotroni 30, Athina 105 62, Greece Timings: 11:30 AM - 2:00 AM (Monday to Thursday) 11:30 AM - 3:00 AM (Friday to Saturday) 12:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Sunday)
6. Tzatziki
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Tzatziki is, without a doubt, one of Greece’s most popular dips or sauces and is had with many dishes like fish, grilled meat, pita bread, souvlaki, gyros, and more. It is made using Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, cucumber, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, and herbs such as thyme, parsley, dill, mint, etc.
Where to find it: Strofi Address: Rovertou Galli 25, Athina 117 42, Greece Timings: 12:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Tuesday to Sunday) Monday closed
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Owing to the wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that grow all over Greece, salads are commonly eaten here, with the choriatiki being one of the most well-known ones. It is usually consumed as a side salad and consists of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, olives, and olive oil.
Where to find it: Ella Greek Cooking Address: Mitropoleos 26, Athina 105 63, Greece Timings: 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Monday to Thursday, Sunday) 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM (Friday to Saturday)
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Dolmades or Dolmadakia are a household staple in Greece and are made by stuffing grape leaves with rice, minced meat like beef, spices, and herbs like dill, thyme, or oregano. Some versions also use hollowed-out vegetables like tomatoes, peppers or courgettes instead of grape leaves. These can be had as appetizers or as a main course.
Where to find it: Kuzina Address: Adrianou 9, Athina 105 55, Greece Timings: 1:00 PM - 12:00 AM
9. Kolokythokeftedes
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If you don’t eat meat, kolokythokeftedes is the perfect choice for you! They are lightly fried fritters that are cooked using pureed or grated courgettes, dill, mint, and other spices, as well as some feta cheese, which makes the inside creamy. They go well with tzatziki and are often eaten as a mezze dish.
Where to find it: Zampano Address: Sarr 18, Athina 105 53, Greece
Kallipateira Address: Astiggos 8 Monastiraki, Athens Greece Timings: 11:30 AM - 12:30 AM (Sunday to Thursday) 11:30 AM - 1:30 AM (Friday to Saturday)
10. Spanakopita
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A delicious and healthy dish, spanakopita is a spinach pie; it is made by stuffing phyllo pastry with spinach, eggs, onions, herbs, olive oil, and different cheeses like feta cheese. This is a soft and creamy pastry that melts in your mouth and can be had as an appetizer, snack, or main course.
Where to find it: Ariston Bakery Address: Voulis 10, Athina 105 62, Greece Timings: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday) 7:30 AM - 8:00 PM (Tuesday, Thursday to Friday) Sunday closed
Makedonikon Address: Solonos 73, Athina 106 79, Greece Timings: 6:15 AM - 8:15 PM (Monday to Friday) 6:15 AM - 5:00 PM (Saturday) Sunday closed
11. Garides saganaki
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Often as a mezze dish or an appetizer with pita bread, garides saganaki, or Greek shrimp saganaki is prepared using sauteed shrimp that is deglazed with ouzo and cooked in tomato sauce. Feta cheese is then sprinkled on top, along with herbs and olive oil.
Where to find it: Tavern Klimataria Address: Pl. Theatrou 2, Athina 105 52, Greece Timings: 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM
12. Loukoumades
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Loukoumades are some of the world’s oldest pastries and are often said to be Greek doughnuts, made by deep frying small balls of dough that are then dipped in honey syrup. They are also sprinkled with cinnamon, sesame seeds, and chocolate sauce. Many eateries also serve them with modern fillings such as lemon cream.
Where to find it: Lukumades Address: Eolou 21, & Aghias Irinis Str, Athina 105 51, Greece Timings: 8:00 AM - 1:00 AM (Sunday to Monday, Thursday) 8:00 AM - 3:00 AM (Friday to Saturday) Tuesday to Wednesday closed
Ktistakis Address: Sokratous 59, Athina 104 31, Greece Timings: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Monday to Saturday) Sunday closed
13. Amygdalota
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Amygdalota are yummy almond cookies usually had at weddings and baptisms. They are baked using ground almonds, eggs, and orange or rose water and turn out to be crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. You would find them in various shapes like balls, crescent-shaped, piped, or pears.
Where to find it: Mitropolitiko Address: Voulis 39, Athina 105 57, Greece Timings: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Monday to Saturday) Sunday closed
14. Baklava
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A classic Greek dessert, the baklava, is a layered pastry made from phyllo pastry that is filled with ground nuts and honey or syrup. You can also try the galaktoboureko, which is quite similar to the baklava but is filled with custard.
Where to find it: Zoubourlou Address: Eschilou 4, Athina 105 54, Greece Timings: 8:00 AM - 1:30 AM
KrinosDeliolanis Antonios Address: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 100, Athina 117 41, Greece Timings: Open 24 hours
Nancy’s Sweet Home Address: Pl. Iroon 1, Athina 105 54, Greece Timings: 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM
15. Greek yoghurt
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While you might get Greek yogurt in any supermarket around the world, you must try out the authentic Greek version when in Athens. It is prepared using cow or sheep milk (usually fresh from the countryside) that is strained three times in order to give it a thick and creamy texture. You can have it with granola, fresh fruit, muesli, in smoothies, on toast, etc.
Where to find it: Stani Address: Marikas Kotopouli 10, Athina 104 32, Greece Timings: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM (Monday to Saturday) 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Sunday)
Fresko Yoghurt Bar Address: Dionysiou Areopagitou 3, Athina 117 42, Greece Timings: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Where to Eat Street Food in Athens
Avli
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Located in Psiri, Avli is a small tavern that is known for its casual ambiance. It serves a variety of delicious dishes, but the most popular ones are keftedes, which are Greek meatballs; spetzofai which is a casserole consisting of sausage, onions, and pepper as well as small meze platters.
Address: Ag. Dimitriou 12, Athina 105 54, Greece Timings: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Monday, Wednesday to Thursday, Sunday) 1:00 PM - 3:00 AM (Friday to Saturday) Tuesday closed
Lefteris O Politis
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Looking for souvlaki? Head over to Lefteris O Politis because their traditional souvlaki is absolutely mouth-watering and is made using warm pita bread, meat straight from the grill, fresh tomatoes, onions, paprika, and parsley.
Address: Satovriandou 20, Athina 104 32, Greece Timings: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Monday to Thursday) 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM (Saturday) Friday and Sunday closed
Diporto
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Diporto is a rustic 19th-century eatery in old Athens that resembles a bunker and is known for only serving a few dishes every day. They usually serve chickpea soup, fried fish, Greek salad, bean soup, and fried sausage which is tasty as well as inexpensive. You should also try out their wine from barrels.
Address: Sokratous 9 &, Theatrou, Athina 105 52, Greece Timings: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Monday to Saturday) Sunday closed
H PITTA TOY KARAFLA
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H PITTA TOY KARAFLA is located at a street corner in Pagrati and serves exceptional gyros that are pretty inexpensive. It is made using shaved meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, warm pita bread, fresh tomatoes, and onions, spices, and herbs.
Address: Filolaou 142, Athina 116 32, Greece Timings: 3:00 PM - 12:30 AM (Tuesday to Sunday) Monday closed
To Paradosiako
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If you are looking for scrumptious non-vegetarian food, make sure to visit To Paradosiako. It is known for serving different kinds of meat, including pork, chicken, lamb, rooster, etc. that is carved directly from the spit rotisserie. You can pair it with french fries, salads, and cheeses, as well as beverages like beer and Greek wine.
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Popular for its seafood, Zizis is in Athens’ textile district and serves a variety of fried fish in cones that is ideal as a snack. They serve small fried shrimp, grilled squid, battered cod, sardines, anchovies, etc., often with french fries.
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Tis Theatrou to Steki is a famous eatery in Athens that is known not only for its yummy food but also for feeding hungry workers from farmer’s markets. A few of their dishes include the black eye bean salad, lightly battered and pan-fried small anchovies, whitebait, fava, which is a chickpea dip with shallots and onions, boiled spinach and zucchini, and more. You can have them with different kinds of Greek spirits, cold beer, or homemade wine served in a copper carafe.
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Pandora is located close to the Acropolis Museum and is known for making some of the best spanakopita that you would find in all of Athens. What makes it special is that their phyllo dough is homemade, and the final product turns out deliciously flaky!
Address: Lempesi 1, Athina 117 42, Greece Timings: 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM (Monday to Friday) 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Saturday) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Sunday)
Barbounaki
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Barbounaki, situated in the Kolonaki neighborhood, is a great restaurant to go to if you are in the mood for Mediterranean food, especially seafood. Some of the favorites on their menu include barbounaki which is a small red mullet, steamed cod casserole, trout salad, crayfish orzo pasta, etc.
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A popular tavern in the Koukaki neighborhood, Skoubri is a must-visit owing to its tasty seafood. They are best known for their meze platter featuring grilled fish fillets, chargrilled sardines, orzo with shrimp, octopus, and much more.
Address: Drakou 14, Athina 117 42, Greece Timings: 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Along with the multitude of attractions that you would see in Athens, something else that would make your trip here memorable is the delicious food! Greek cuisine is widely loved all over and has something for everyone, no matter their food preferences, and you will surely be left craving more once you return home. So try out all that you can when in Athens and enjoy its many mouth-watering dishes to the fullest.
