Best of Athens Food: What to Eat & Where to Find It
When it comes to culture, few things are more telling than what a city serves on its plate—and Athens food is a celebration of both tradition and taste. From savoury street snacks to time-honoured recipes passed down through generations, Athens is a true paradise for food lovers.
Your List of Must-Try Athens Food:
The Savoury Treats
Start with the essentials: koulouri is a sesame bread ring that many Athenians grab on the go for a quick breakfast. For lunch, opt for souvlaki and gyros are fast, flavourful favourites you’ll find on nearly every corner. These grilled delights are wrapped in warm pita with tomatoes, onions, and a dash of tzatziki. A vegetarian staple alternative is the famed spanakopita, a crispy spinach and feta pie.
For something that is less on the go, explore the meze tradition—small sharing plates like dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), fava (yellow split pea purée), and saganaki (fried cheese).
The Sweet Treats
Athens food is not just about the savoury flavours. There are two staple desserts that you can’t miss out on trying. If you don’t mind a bit of a fried delight, seek out loukoumades, golden dough puffs drizzled with honey and cinnamon, or melted chocolate for the more sweet tooths. One more on the sweet treats list, the bougatsa, is made with a milk custard filling wrapped in crispy philo pastry, served with sprinkled caster sugar and cinnamon. The perfect street food take-away for breakfast.
The Must-Try Beverages
No Greek culinary experience is complete without sampling the local beverages. Traditional spirits like ouzo, raki, and tsipouro are staples of meze-style dining—shared meals of small plates. These anise-flavoured or grape-distilled drinks are best enjoyed slowly, always paired with food to complement their bold character.
Coffee lovers are also in for a treat. Start with a classic Greek coffee, hot-brewed and rich, served in a small cup with grounds settled at the bottom—opt for medium sweetness if you're new to it. For something colder, the iconic frappé is a strong, frothy instant coffee—ideal for serious caffeine enthusiasts. And of course, there’s the beloved freddo—available as espresso or cappuccino with milk foam on top—the most popular coffee across Greece, especially during the warmer months.
The Top Athens Food Tours
To truly uncover the soul of Athens food, join KeyTours’ daytime Athens Food Tasting Experience. Our guided food tours take you through local markets, historic districts, and tucked-away eateries where you’ll taste all the aforementioned dishes, in authentic eateries and meet the people who make them. If you prefer a more slow-paced, sit-down experience, try our Evening Food Tasting Experience and feast like local Atheninans. Fancy something even more exclusive? If you are not shy of heights, try the Athens Dinner In The Sky, an amazing gourmet 6-course experience coupled with breathtaking views you will not soon forget. 
Whether you're sipping strong Greek coffee in a sunlit square or dining at a traditional taverna with Acropolis views, Athens food is more than nourishment—it’s a journey through history, hospitality, and flavour. Come hungry, and let KeyTours lead the way.