Food Lover's Guide to Athens

Featuring seasonal vegetables, grilled meats, and delicious cheeses, Greek cuisine has something for everyone. Whether you prefer fine dining or grabbing a bite to go, your culinary experience in Athens will not disappoint. Here’s what not to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

Almost any meal in Athens is likely to include a Greek salad, made of tomatoes, cucumbers, Greek olives, and shallots, dressed with Greek olive oil and topped with a slab of feta cheese. Another popular staple is tzatziki, a Greek yogurt with cucumber and garlic, and is used as a dip for meat, vegetables, or bread, or even eaten alone with a spoon.

Many Greek dishes may seem familiar as versions can be found around the Mediterranean. For example, the Greek version of moussaka is a baked dish made of layers of eggplant, ground beef, pureed tomato, onion, garlic, and spices, and topped with melted cheese.

Dolmadakia, or dolmades, are grape leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, herbs, and sometimes ground beef as well. If you’re in a hurry, skewers of chicken, beef, or lamb known as souvlaki are a popular street food to grab on the go, as are spanakopita —phyllo dough stuffed with spinach and feta cheese.

Must-Do Experiences

• Enjoy a traditional Greek dinner in a popular Athens tavern.

• Join a cooking class to learn about the staples of Greek cuisine and try your hand at preparing popular dishes yourself.

• Take a walking culinary tour to several bakeries and restaurants, and visit a market to sample traditional ingredients like honey, olives, and olive oil.

• Sample a variety of Greek appetizers and enjoy traditional Greek music at a lively bouzouki bar.