Must Try Food In Athens

Greece and Food, put them together and you’ve got the perfect holiday, for me at least. Greece spoils you with hundreds of delicious choices which I’ll admit can be really overwhelming at first. But you cannot go there and not try some of the best foods this country has to offer, here is my list of the must try food in Athens. So whether you are on a stopover to Santorini or preparing to party in Mykonos, these can easily be checked off in one single day.

Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)

I can have this for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and still look forward to it the next day for another serving. Spinach, feta, onions and eggs covered in a crispy filo pastry, baked at golden brown for perfection. Although this is very similar to the Turkish borek, spanakopita in Greece is a delight on its own and is my must try food in Athens. It usually costs about 1-2 EUR and can be found almost everywhere in Greece, but if I have to recommend one place, it would be one of many BENETH FOOD HALL, there is one right in the middle of Monastiraki Square in Athens.

Souvlaki Wrap

Deliciously juicy pieces of meat, grilled on a skewer is the original souvalki and also the most famous Greek food in the entire world. In Greece, a Souvlaki wrap is the most common street food for late night eats of budget meals. I won’t lie, I am a souvalki addict, those tender pieces of meat with crispy veggies and tzatziki sauce in a warm pita bread is just heaven in the mouth. It is just impossible to say no to those aromas that drag you in every souvlaki shop you cross. It’s a must try food in Athens, or anywhere actually, I even gave in to them on my trip to Brussels. I’ve paid as low as 1.5 EUR and as high as 5 EUR so it depends where you are in the country. The best place to try a souvlaki wrap in Athens is KOSTAS, however on my first trip to Greece, I didn’t have the time and the second one, they were closed in August for Summer holidays, yes they shut down their business for one full month just for holidays, says a lot about how well the business runs. O THANASIS and SAVAS, both across each other next to the Monastiraki square are great alternatives.

Fredo Espresso

What could be better than a nice cold iced espresso on a hot day? A greek Fredo Espresso not really a must try food in Athens, but a must try drink in Greece. This is not just coffee on ice, but a thick foamy layer protecting an ice blended coffee underneath, and the best part, there is no milk. Greeks are addicted to these and so am I, I was on 4 coffees a day on my last trip, yes, I have a problem.

Fredo Espresso is available in every single corner of Greece, literally, every corner, from the airport till the quiet alleys of residential areas. I recommend enjoying it in one of the dozens of beautiful cafes around central Athens and if you are Island hopping, enjoy it on the lovely beaches of this country, something that I personally loved during my time in Santorini, read more about that trip here.

Tsoureki from Terkenlis

Tsoureki is a sweet bread which is made during holiday season in Greece, mostly Easter. But a bakery called TERKENLIS took it to a whole new level, delicious chest nut stuffing and a thin chocolate coating with probably something that got me hooked to it. This is a pure hidden gem known only to locals and I can’t emphasise enough how much of a must try food in Athens this is. I am not a sweet tooth but a tsoureki from Terkenlis I cannot resist, a family sized portion for myself is a piece of cake for me (pun intended).

Unfortunately there is no Terkenlis café in Athens city centre but there is one at Athens Airport, you can also buy their products at the airport duty free, to be bring a piece of Greece back home with you.

Bougatsa from Bougatsa Thessaloniki

Bougatsa is a breakfast pastry popular in the Northern region of Greece. It is again a filo pastry which is commonly with a custard filling, however, savoury versions with cheese or minced meat are available as well. My favourite thing about this pastry is that it isn’t very sweet, the slight sweetness comes from the custard which is mellowed down with the crunchy filo outer layer and topped off with powdered sugar and cinnamon; I’m writing this down and salivating at the same time. BOUGATSA THESSALONIKI is the place for this in Athens, located in a very lively neighbourhood full of cafes and street art, perfect for Instagram.

An Authentic Greek Meal at a Greek Taverna

With all these street foods aside, your trip will be incomplete without enjoying an authentic Greek feast at a local taverna. So if you really want to dive into the Greek cuisine you have to enjoy a meal with crunchy kolokythokeftedes (zucchini balls), juicy tomatokeftedes (tomato balls), fresh tsatziki, creamy saganaki (fried cheese), hearty moussaka and so much more with some Greek Ouzo to sip on, the list just keeps going on.

I’ve had local food in many parts of Greece and to point out my single favourite place is just impossible, you can’t go wrong anywhere. In Athens, you have a bunch of options with beautiful restaurants around Plaka and Monastiraki, however, a taverna called TAVERNA KLIMATARIA is where I would suggest you to go.

A simple google search will give you dozens of recommendations of the must try food in Athens and every second one will be different; there are just too many choices. I’ve been to Greece twice as of now and these are the ones that I would recommend for a first timer, or a second timer, or a third timer, like I said you will want it more and more.

Taking a Greek Cooking Class is also another amazing way to experience the Greek Cuisine, so if you are looking to do something with your partner or as a group, this is a brilliant option. I took one with THE GREEK KITCHEN in Athens, you get to learn a lot about the Greek Cuisine, make some of the best foods and enjoy it with the other travellers, read more about my experience here.

BONUS: Food Around Greece

Here are some of the mouth-watering foods I’ve had on my trips around Greece.

Did I miss out anything on must try food in Athens? I’m sure I must have. Let me know in the comment section below. If you do try any of the food from this list, post it on Instagram and use the hashtag #PleaseStampMyPassport to be featured. 
To read more about my experiences in Greece, checkout my post 3 Days in Santorini and Greek Cooking Class in Athens