Beyond the Acropolis: Exploring Athens Through Local Cuisine

If you’ve visited Athens before and think you’ve explored all it has to offer, think again. In this post I go beyond the ancient ruins and iconic landmarks and take a culinary tour of this ancient city. A food tasting tour of a city is more than just delicious bites to eat, I discovered it really gives you a deeper understanding of the neighbourhoods, quality produce, traditions, and the people who keep them alive. Come with me as I take you on a foodie experience around Athens.

Why I chose this tour above others.

As I had already visited Athens and the Acropolis on a previous cruise. I was looking for something different to do in this time. As a solo female traveller, I also wanted to join something organised – for safety but also for convenience. After a search on GetYourGuide, I came across the Athens: Greek Foodie Tour with Tastings.

This tour had over 2,000 reviews and a rating of 4.9 stars out of 5 so this gave me the confidence this was going to be a great option. This small-group tour promised “authentic local tastes, cultural insights, and a walking journey through the city’s lesser-explored streets”.

I’ll cut to the chase if you don’t have time to read further - it didn't disappoint. If you are in Athens before or after your cruise and want to explore this ancient city from a different angle – then I can’t recommend this food tour enough.

This was a four-hour walking tour, led by a fun, knowledgeable and very helpful English-speaking guide. I’m not a fan of large, crowded cruise ship shore excursions, so i was also delighted to find out that this was also limited to a small group and only 47 GBP/ 55 Euros/ 66 USD per person – I didn’t hesitate to book.

It was also perfectly timed at 13:30 for lunch; My flight landed in Athens at 11am, so by the time I collected my luggage, cleared customs and took a taxi to my hotel to drop off my bags, I was ready for food. After a quick check in and freshen up at the hotel there was just enough time to hop into a taxi to the meeting point at Monastiraki Square.

There are other start times for this tour: 9:30, 10:00, and 14:00, so you could easily do one of the morning slots as a shore excursion and be back in plenty of time before sail away.

My Greek Foodie Tour Experience – a GetYourGuide Experience

So let me take you through what’s included and the stops on my tour. These may vary slightly depending on your guide, but you will not go away hungry after this tour.

We began in the lively Monastiraki Square, easily recognised by its historic little church. With my comfortable shoes on and an empty stomach from an early morning flight from London Heathrow, I was more than ready to discover what foodie delights Athens had to offer.

A handy map of this tour is at the end of this blog post ⬇️

Stop 1: Spanakopita you should definitely not walk past

After meeting my tour guide and the rest of our group (which was a grand total of 10 people), we made our way to En Athinas (Cafe Athens) on Athinas Street. This small, unassuming street café is easy to miss, and I would have never discovered it on my own. If you do head up here, you’ll probably be more distracted by the tiny little church on the opposite side of the street – the Holy Church of Saint Kyriaki.

No Greek food journey is complete without indulging in pastries. En Athinas does the best spanakopita and tiropita made with layers of impossibly thin, buttery pastry. There was plenty to go around so I could tell straight away we weren’t going to be small changed on this tour with mere nibbles and tastes of the culinary delights.

At this first stop were also handed ice cold bottles of water which were very much appreciated.
After a brief history of the importance of spanakopita, it’s variations and how it is made, we headed to out next stop.

Stop 2: The sights and smells of the market

Probably the smelliest part of the tour, so be prepared – the Varvakios Agora, Athens’ Central Market. We headed to the market entrance on Evripidou Street. We took a (slightly brisk) walk through the meat market – which had every part of lamb and pig proudly for sale – before heading on to the fish market and finally reaching fresh air again on Athinas Street where we wandered through the stalls of fragrant spices and endless displays of olives, herbs, and local cheeses.

Our guide was very accommodating to those in the group who were a bit averse to some of the sights and smells in the meat market, but she spent long enough for those of us who were interested to get an idea of how busy this market gets and how important it is to Athenians. No food stops here (thankfully) so we made out way to our next stop.

Stop 3: Coffee – but not as you know it.

If you like your coffee strong (and I do), Mokka on Athinas Street is the place to head. On this stop we tried some traditional Greek Coffee – Similar to Turkish coffee but with a lighter roasting which gives it a sweeter taste

The coffee is made by slowly brewing finely ground coffee in a small pot called a briki. The coffee and water (and, if you like, sugar) are combined and heated in the hot sand stirring, occasionally to produce as a creamy foam (kaimaki).

It’s then poured unfiltered into a small espresso size cup with the grounds settling at the bottom. But unlike espresso, Greek coffee is meant to be enjoyed and sipped slowly. As soon as you reach the grounds at the bottom, then it’s time to stop sipping (which is why you shouldn’t just knock a Greek coffee back, otherwise your get the grounds and all). Loukoumi are traditionally served with Greek coffee – syrupy sweets similar to Turkish Delight made with starch, sugar, water, and flavourings.

This stop also included a plentiful supply of Greek yoghurt and stewed fruits. More ice-cold water was also offered and at this stop we had a chance to sit down for a little while to admire the beautiful ceiling in this historic coffee shop. There were also toilets available as part of this stop.

Stop 4: Vine Leaves, Cured Meats… and Shots

Suitable refreshed (and highly caffeinated), it was time to move on to our next venue. Miran on Evripidou Street, which serves traditional deli Greek products.

Here we tried beef pastourmas – highly seasoned, air-dried cured meat with a rich, spicy flavour and distinctive reddish coating made from a blend of garlic, fenugreek, paprika, and other spices.

We also offered delicious dolmades – a delicate mixture of rice, dill, mint, parsley, lemon juice, and pine nuts rolled tightly in vine leaves into small finger-sized parcels and drizzled with olive oil.

To accompany these, we were offered a shot (or two for those who were brave enough) of raki, a clear spirit very similar to tsipouro or ouzo. Unlike ouzo, raki is not flavoured with anise, and has a more rustic, grapey taste. I hate aniseed so I enjoyed this ice-cold tipple and went back for another shot.

Stop 5: Olive Oil, Vinegar and Wine

Our next stop was at The Artist tucked away on Melathiou Street in the Psyrri area (although we used the entrance on Kalamida Street) . This stop was in a (thankfully) air-conditioned restaurant on a quiet side street where we enjoyed Greek wine, various types of olives, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

This venue is also a hotel and rooftop bar and was previously an industrial building which has since been turned into an urban artistic residence. Each tasting came with a ‘mini lesson’ such as how to identify high-quality olive oil, and the different wine and olive regions of Greece. Some of the products were available for purchase and I wish i’d picked up a bottle of the Jasmine Elixir.

Stop 6: Gyros, Souvlaki and Greek Beer

On our penultimate stop we found ourselves seated at Hoocut on Agias Irinis Square/ Athinaidos Street in the shade of the Holy Church of Saint Irene. Soon after we sat down a series of meze dishes arrived. These included Gyros, with Greek salad, tzatziki, hummus and Mamos beer, all served meze style; simple, satisfying, and deeply delicious.

At this point, all were silenced by the great food and our guide took the opportunity to explain the customs around meze – from toasting with Raki, to enjoying conversation and leisurely, shared meals together.

Stop 7: Lovely Loukoumades

Our final stop was dessert; lukumades at Lukumades on the corner of Eolou & Aghias Irinis Streets – traditional Greek deep-fried dough balls – similar to small doughnuts – drizzled with honey syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon. I had been eager to try these, and they didn’t disappoint (but see my guide to Corfu old town – coming soon – for my recommendation for what I think are the best lukumadesI’ve tried so far).

Our guide brought out of boxes of various types of lukumades – I opted for the traditional version but there were also bueno and chocolate versional available.

And with that, bellies full of delicious Greek food, we slowly made our way back to Monesteraki square with a fleeting view of the Acropolis as it was just about to enter golden hour. It was an excellent 4 hours, and the tour was amazing value. Our group enjoyed lots of traditional Greek foods and great conversation.

I made my way back to the hotel to get ready to join my cruise ship – Holland America Line’s Oosterdam) in Piraeus the following morning, and you can find out more about how that went in my Adriatic Gems Cruise post.

A quick map of this Athens Food Tour

Things to remember before you book this tour:

Comfortable footwear is essential: it’s a walking tour, after all. There are plenty of opportunities for a rest but expect to cover some steps during this tour.

Bring water, especially during warmer months: While bottled watered was provided to us on the tour, I’d still recommend bringing your own refillable bottle.

Communicate dietary restrictions in advance: As I mentioned earlier, some of the stops may vary from tour to tour, this is because the organisers are very accommodating for any dietary needs – but you need to communicate these in advance.

Come hungry: You’ll be eating constantly for four hours, so if you’re planning this a s shore excursion while in Athens – opt for the continental/ light breakfast option.

Come prepared for rain or shine: The tour operates regardless of weather, so pack accordingly. A sun umbrella might be useful while you’re waiting for the tour to start in Monastiraki Square.

Final Reflections

In my opinion, cities are best understood not just through their monuments, but through their kitchens. This food tour was lots of fun and was a perfect mix of food, information and sightseeing. It included numerous food stops and took me to parts of Athens I wouldn’t have discovered on my own.

Yes, you could follow my map above to visit the places yourself but the cost of the tour paid for itself in the amount of food and drink we were each given, plus we didn’t have to queue at any of the venues, had reserved tables waiting for us and an informative guide to give us insights and food demonstrations we wouldn’t have access to if we had visited independently. I’d definitely pay to go on this tour again and you can see why it is always likely to sell out in peak season.

Whether you’re a food enthusiast or simply curious about Greek culture, this tour is fun, informative and delicious – and hands down a great way to see Athens from a new perspective.

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