Greek food is far more than moussaka and gyros — though those are excellent. The cuisine draws on 4,000 years of history, Mediterranean ingredients, and a philosophy that food is meant to be shared.
Here’s your guide to Greek food and the dishes you absolutely must try in Athens.
The Essentials: Top 10 Must-Try # Before your trip ends, make sure you’ve eaten these:
Every visitor to Athens eats souvlaki. But most eat it at mediocre tourist spots with inflated prices and disappointing pita.
Here’s where locals actually go for the best souvlaki in Athens — the places with lines out the door at 2 AM and generations of Athenians who won’t go anywhere else.
Quick Overview: Top Souvlaki Spots # Restaurant Neighborhood Price Best For Kostas Syntagma €3.50 Classic pork souvlaki O Thanasis Monastiraki €4.00 Kebab Elvis Psyrri €4.00 Late night Bairaktaris Monastiraki €4.00 Tourist-convenient, decent To Kati Allo Pangrati €3.50 Local neighborhood vibe Hoocut Syntagma €4.50 Gourmet pork belly Lefteris o Politis Exarchia €3.50 Student favorite Ta Karamanlidika Psyrri €5.00 Deli-style experience First: Souvlaki vs. Gyros — What’s the Difference? # Before we dive in, let’s clear up the confusion:
Greek food is so much more than moussaka and souvlaki — though those are excellent too. The best way to discover Athens’ culinary secrets is with someone who knows where locals actually eat.
After researching dozens of options, here are the 8 best Athens food tours for 2026, from street food adventures to hands-on cooking classes.
Quick Comparison # Tour Duration Tastings Price Best For Central Market Walk 4 hours 10-12 €79 Serious foodies Street Food Tour 3 hours 8-10 €59 Budget-friendly fun Evening Food & Wine 4 hours 8 + wine €89 Couples, date night Cooking Class 5 hours Full meal €95 Hands-on learners Private Tour 4 hours 12+ €150 Families, custom requests Our Top Pick: Monastiraki & Central Market Tour # Athens Food Tour: Monastiraki & Central Market ★ 4.9 (3,420 reviews) The definitive Athens food experience. Walk through the historic Central Market, taste 12+ local specialties, visit family-run shops dating back generations, and learn the stories behind Greek cuisine. Small groups (max 12) with passionate local guides.