Souvlaki and gyros
Grilled meat on a skewer or off a spit, served in a pita or on a plate. It is the standard quick meal in the centre.
Athens
What to eat in Athens
- Souvlaki and gyros
- Horiatiki
- Spanakopita and tiropita
- Loukoumades
Data checked on October 5, 2026
Horiatiki
The village salad of tomato, cucumber, onion, olives and a slab of feta, dressed with olive oil and oregano.
Spanakopita and tiropita
Spinach and cheese pies in filo pastry, sold warm from bakeries and eaten for breakfast or a snack.
Loukoumades
Small fried dough balls soaked in honey and dusted with cinnamon, eaten warm as a dessert or an afternoon treat.
Freddo espresso
A shaken iced espresso that Athenians drink all year, often with a layer of cold foam on top.
Meze with ouzo or tsipouro
A table of small dishes shared with a glass of aniseed ouzo or grape tsipouro, usually in the late afternoon or evening.
Every itinerary on this site keeps a lunch break after 12:30, so there is room for a proper meal in the middle of the day.
What a meal costs
- Meal in an inexpensive restaurant
- €15
- Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant
- €60
- Coffee
- €3.67
Besides the sights
- Walk Dionysiou Areopagitou at duskThe pedestrian avenue below the Acropolis runs from the museum to Thissio, and it is quiet and cool after sunset.
- Watch a film at an open-air cinemaIn summer, screenings run outdoors under the sky, often with a view of the Acropolis, and they start after dark.
- Spend an afternoon on the Athenian RivieraThe coast south of the city is about 30 minutes away, with beaches, marinas and seafront walks.
- Share an evening of meze in PsirriThe streets north of Monastiraki fill with small tavernas and music at night, and it is a good place to try several dishes.
- Take a ferry from Piraeus to an islandA short sailing from the port reaches a Saronic island for a half day by the water.
Markets in the stop base