Good to know
Good to Know
- Budget dining thrives in neighborhoods like Psyrri, Exarchia, Koukaki, and Pangrati; avoid tourist-heavy Plaka, Monastiraki, and Acropolis areas for better value
- Street food and bakeries (€3–€7) offer the best value; expect to pay €10–€20 in casual tavernas and €20–€25+ in mid-range restaurants
- Supermarket groceries are relatively expensive by European standards; local street markets offer better prices for fresh produce
- Outdoor plating and lingering are cultural norms; meals are social experiences, not quick transactions
- Greek menus naturally include abundant vegan options due to Orthodox fasting traditions (plant-based dishes cooked in olive oil)
- Fish is priced by weight (per kilo); always confirm the total cost before ordering seafood to avoid surprises
- House wine and locally produced ouzo are affordable ways to drink with meals (€3–€5 per glass)
- Breakfast pastries from local bakeries (€1–€4) are superior and cheaper than hotel offerings
Supermarkets
Sklavenitis
- Location
- Multiple locations, including Ampelokipoi (Leof. Kifisias 7); largest retail group in Greece
- Notes
- Extensive selection, fresh produce, quality meats; slightly more expensive than other chains
AB Basilopoulou
- Location
- Mitropoleos 72, Monastiraki (city center)
- Notes
- Founded 1939; large selection, fresh quality vegetables and meat; housed in historic neoclassical building
Bazaar
- Location
- Themistokleous 3, Omonoia (city center)
- Notes
- Discount supermarket chain; best prices, no-frills facility; convenient for downtown hotels
Budget
O Thanasis
- Price Range
- €10
- Neighborhood
- Monastiraki
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Souvlaki, gyros, grilled meats
Feyrouz
- Price Range
- €6.00
- Neighborhood
- Psyrri
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Lahmajoun, Turkish-Lebanese pastries, street food
Kritiko Steki
- Price Range
- €12
- Neighborhood
- Plaka
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Cretan cuisine, sfakiani pita, snails in sauce
Hoocut
- Price Range
- €12
- Neighborhood
- Psyrri
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Artisanal souvlaki with quality meats
High End
Spondi
- Price Range
- €60
- Neighborhood
- Psyrri
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Michelin-starred Mediterranean fine dining
Tudor Hall
- Price Range
- €55
- Neighborhood
- Plaka
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Greek fine dining with Acropolis views
Mid Range
Mani Mani
- Price Range
- €20
- Neighborhood
- Plaka
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Greek - moussaka, grilled meats, seafood
Kuzina
- Price Range
- €20
- Neighborhood
- Monastiraki
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Modern Greek cuisine with Mediterranean flavors
Linou Soumbasis Kai Sia
- Price Range
- €25
- Neighborhood
- Gazi
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional taverna fare, grilled meats and fish, exquisite fish soup
Zisis
- Price Range
- €18
- Neighborhood
- Makriyanni
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Contemporary ouzerie, fresh seafood, ouzo
Delivery Services
Wolt
- Notes
- Popular food delivery app covering Athens; wide restaurant selection
Efood
- Notes
- Major Greek delivery service; extensive restaurant network
Michelin Restaurants
Spondi
- Cuisine
- Mediterranean
- Neighborhood
- Psyrri
Must Try Local Dishes
Moussaka
- Description
- Layered casserole with eggplant, minced meat, and béchamel sauce; Greece's iconic comfort food
Souvlaki
- Description
- Marinated meat grilled on skewers, served with pita, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki
Gyros
- Description
- Pork or chicken sliced from a rotating spit, served in pita with tzatziki, tomatoes, and onions
Greek Salad
- Description
- Tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese, and oregano drizzled with olive oil
Dolmades
- Description
- Grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes minced meat; served with yogurt or sauce
Tzatziki
- Description
- Cool yogurt-based dip with cucumbers, garlic, and fresh herbs
Spanakopita
- Description
- Filo pastry pie filled with spinach, feta cheese, onions, and eggs
Bougatsa
- Description
- Custard or cheese-filled pastry, often enjoyed for breakfast with Greek coffee
Saganaki
- Description
- Pan-fried cheese (kefalotyri), crispy outside and gooey inside, often drizzled with lemon
Fasolada
- Description
- Traditional bean soup with tomatoes and vegetables; considered a national dish
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Athens has a flourishing vegan and vegetarian scene with dozens of dedicated establishments. Greek cuisine naturally accommodates plant-based diets through olive oil-cooked vegetables, beans, and lentils. The city has become a standout vegan destination in Europe.
Venues
Vegan Beat Athens
- Style
- Vegan street food, casual takeaway and limited seating
- Specialties
- Vegan gyros with mushrooms and vegan tzatziki, Greek dishes with plant-based twists
- Neighborhood
- Near Syntagma Square
Avocado
- Style
- Full-service vegetarian restaurant
- Specialties
- Sweet potato vegan burgers, tempeh curry noodles, fresh smoothies, gluten-free desserts
- Neighborhood
- Between Syntagma and Plaka (Nikis 30)
Mama Tierra
- Style
- Vegan street food and sit-down restaurant
- Specialties
- Vegan moussaka with coconut béchamel, vegan baklava, burgers, gyros
- Neighborhood
- Near Acropolis
Winners Vegan
- Style
- Full vegan restaurant
- Specialties
- Vegan Greek dishes, moussaka, big boss burger, gyros, banoffee pie
- Neighborhood
- Nikis 27, Syntagma
Holy Llama
- Style
- Vegan bakery with all-day brunch
- Specialties
- Vegan croissants, pistachio pastries, fluffy baked goods
- Neighborhood
- Near Acropolis
Bamboo Vegan
- Style
- Vegan cafe with grocery items
- Specialties
- Plant-based groceries, cafe fare
- Neighborhood
- Akadimia area (Zoodochou Pigis 36)
International Cuisine
- Overview
- Athens offers diverse international dining beyond Greek cuisine, with Turkish, Lebanese, Indian, and Asian restaurants particularly popular in central neighborhoods like Psyrri, Monastiraki, and near the Acropolis.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.