Athens spent decades being treated as the place you leave to reach the islands, and its food scene improved a great deal while nobody was paying attention. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
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The guide
Athens spent decades being treated as the place you leave to reach the islands, and its food scene improved a great deal while nobody was paying attention. The crisis years pushed a generation of cooks into small, cheap rooms, and what came out was a return to Greek regional cooking rather than the taverna standards aimed at coach parties. The basics remain excellent and inexpensive: grilled meat, wild greens, olive oil that would be a luxury item elsewhere, and yogurt with real body. Meals run late, portions are meant to be shared across the table, and lingering over the last of the wine is expected rather than tolerated.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Psyri
Workshops and warehouses turned into mezedopoleia and bars. Loud at night, good for a long table of small plates and a crawl afterwards.
Koukaki
Below the Acropolis and residential. The neighbourhood where the modern Greek places opened first, alongside bakeries and old-style tavernas.
Exarcheia
Anarchist and student quarter with political graffiti and cheap, genuinely good food. Souvlaki counters, vegetarian kitchens, and no interest in tourists.
Varvakios Market
The central meat and fish market, open since 1886. Butchers, spice merchants, and a few tavernas inside that serve patsas soup to market workers overnight.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Souvlaki & gyros
· Grilled skewered pork or shaved meat from the spit, in pita with tomato, onion, and tzatziki. Two euros and the correct late-night food. - 02
Horta
· Wild greens boiled and dressed with lemon and olive oil. Ordinary, ubiquitous, and a good test of a kitchen's oil. - 03
Moussaka
· Layered aubergine, minced lamb, and béchamel, baked. Home cooking that most tavernas make in the morning and serve warm rather than hot. - 04
Loukoumades
· Small fried dough balls in honey and cinnamon, served hot. Sold from dedicated shops rather than restaurants. - 05
Bougatsa
· Semolina custard in filo, dusted with sugar and cinnamon, cut with scissors. Breakfast, from a bakery, standing up. - 06
Grilled octopus
· Tenderised, dried in the sun, then charred. Ordered with ouzo, which is the pairing the whole dish was built around.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Lunch runs 14:00 to 16:00 and dinner rarely starts before 21:00. Small plates are ordered for the table rather than per person. Service is included; rounding up or leaving a couple of euros is normal. Many tavernas close Sunday evening. August empties the city as Athenians leave for the islands and a good number of kitchens shut for the month.
All 20 food tours
Updated 2026-09-11The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Athens Discovery Private Shore Excursion with Lunch & Expert Guide Options
From pick up at your Cruise ship, Hotel, or Athens residence sit back in the comfort of one of our new Luxury Class Mercedes Vehicles as our experienced informative professional tour driver takes you on a private tour of
5h - 02
Acropolis Private Guided Tour with Traditional Food Tasting
With our Licensed Archaeological Expert, combine an Exclusive Private Tour of the Acropolis, together with food tastings at family-run authentic local eateries On meeting your experienced guide, you will tour the Acrop
2h - 03
Ancient Corinth & Acrocorinth Half-Day Private Tour with Lunch Option
From pick up at your Hotel, Cruise ship or Athens residence, sit back in the comfort of one of our new Mercedes, AudiA6 or other luxury models in the company of a professional tour driver who will take you to the olive f
4h - 04
Luxury Catamaran Cruise Including pickup and Traditional Food
Enjoy an amazing small group 5-hour Catamaran Cruise along the Athens Riviera with return transfers and food included. After a short transfer to your luxury Catamaran you will join a small group of up to 8 for a cruise
5h - 05
BEST Peloponnese Wine Roads Tour with Ancient Nemae
Exclusive to your group, we visit two of the best boutique wineries of the Peloponnese chosen for their quality production and their use of local indigenous varieties of grape. Experience a rare selection of some of the
7h - 06
Private Ancient Greek Flavors Food Tour
Get an authentic taste of ancient Greek gastronomy Get an authentic taste of ancient Greece in this special food walk that will travel you in the gastronomical wisdom of the ancient Greeks through flavors that have surv
4h - 07
Private Athens by Night Tour
A private exploration of the notorious Athenian nightlife Experience the favorite activity of the Athenians: going out for the night! Quench your thirst by tasting the best-quality Greek beers or other spirits and wande
3h - 08
Private Walking Meze Cooking Course
The ultimate gastronomical experience. A walking tour into the wonders of the city ending with a hands-on cooking lesson! The perfect way to gain a hands-on experience of this intricate and healthy cuisine. The ultimate
3.5h - 09
Private Athens Gourmet Extended Cooking Course
A culinary exploration of Athens for the ultimate foodie. A fun, informative and hands-on experience that engages all the senses! This experience will give you the opportunity to discover what cooking like an Athenian c
4.5h - 10
Private Dionysian Nemea Private Day Excursion
A sense-provoking tour offering insights into Greek wine varieties and the local wine culture A fantastic tour for wine lovers! Cross over the impressive Corinth Canal and head south to the Peloponnese peninsula. You wi
6h - 11
VIP One Day Cruise to Hydra, Poros and Aegina from Athens
Discover this One Day Cruise from Athens to the Saronic. The daily cruise in three magical greek islands, Hydra, Poros and Aegina, isn’t just a trip but is an experience you will never forget. A unique experience, a un
12h - 12
Traditional Greek Food: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Athens
Eat your way through Athens on this self-guided audio tour. Don’t waste your time eating at one tourist trap after the other when we can show you the best spots to eat and drink like a local. We’ll introduce you to delic
1h - 13
Wine Tour Athens to visit 2 of the most Award-Winning Wineries
6-Hours Private Wine Tour in Athens and immerse yourself in the world of Greek viticulture. Book your private tour online and prepare to explore two exceptional wineries located in the picturesque area of Spata. This win
6h - 14
8 Hour Private Wine Tour from Athens with Sounio & Lunch
Enjoy an 8-hour private tour from Athens, starting with a visit to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio and its stunning sea views. Afterward, head to the Attica countryside to explore family-owned wineries. Enjoy a delicio
8h - 15
Private Guided Acropolis Tour and Monastiraki Food Tasting
Explore Athens with a knowledgeable private guide, who will lead you through the iconic Acropolis, revealing the history of the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike. With skip-the-line tickets, you'll maximi
4h - 16
Private Delphi Tour & Olive Oil Tasting with Lunch from Athens
Immerse yourself in ancient Greek culture on this full-day excursion from Athens to Delphi, the mythical center of the world. Discover the renowned archaeological site, where the Temple of Apollo and the Sanctuary of Ath
8h - 17
Private Tour to Delphi from Athens & Olive Tasting - Farm Lunch
This private Delphi day trip from Athens takes in the archaeological site, the museum, and one stop that most group tours never make — a sitting lunch at a family olive farm below Mount Parnassus, on land that has been p
8h - 18
6-Day Private Tour, UNESCO Sites, Culinary & Corfu Island
Discover the essence of Greece on this immersive 6-day private tour. Begin in Delphi, visiting the Oracle's sanctuary and the charming village of Arachova. Marvel at the breathtaking Meteora monasteries before heading to
144h - 19
2-Day Delphi & Olympia Tour with Olive Oil & Honey Tasting
This 2-day Delphi and Olympia tour is unique, combining two of Greece’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites with immersive local experiences. Explore Delphi’s sacred sanctuary and Olympia, the birthplace of the Olymp
48h - 20
6-Day Tour in Athens, Delphi, Saronic Islands Cruise & Santorini
Discover the wonders of Greece on this immersive 6-day tour, starting with a guided exploration of the Acropolis and its ancient marvels. Savor local delicacies on a food tour, then embark on a scenic cruise to the stunn
144h