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Don’t-Miss Dishes in Athens


Don’t-Miss Dishes in Athens
Hi, I'm Theodora!

A freelance writer and recovering nomad, Theodora divides her time between Britain and Bali. With bylines including CNN, BBC, the Guardian, Discover, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic Traveler, she’s working on a book, still blogs once in a while at EscapeArtistes.com, and spends far too much time on Twitter.

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Hi, I'm Theodora!

A freelance writer and recovering nomad, Theodora divides her time between Britain and Bali. With bylines including CNN, BBC, the Guardian, Discover, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic Traveler, she’s working on a book, still blogs once in a while at EscapeArtistes.com, and spends far too much time on Twitter.

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From Toronto to Melbourne, from London to Detroit, Greek food has spread around the globe, but there’s no better place to discover it than Athens. Whether meze, olives, moussaka, or octopus, here are some must-try dishes from the Greek capital.

Olive Oil

Photo Credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock

Greeks have been growing olives for around 5,000 years, and different regions compete passionately for the title of the best. There’s nothing like an olive oil tasting to discover the wealth of flavors—fruit, grass, almonds, mint—that hide inside an artisan Greek oil.

Seafood

Photo Credit: Deyan Georgiev / Shutterstock

Greece is a seafaring nation, and seafood is an Athens must. Savor melt-in-the-mouth calamari or an octopus salad; brave the intense tang of raw sea urchin or the simple freshness of grilled red mullet; and don’t miss traditional fish soup.

Kebabs

Photo Credit: Rusalkin Dmytro / Shutterstock

No Greek village is complete without the rich scent of barbecued pork drifting above the vines. Souvlaki—a skewered kebab generally made with pork—is a must, while gyros are the local answer to the doner kebab.

Meze

Photo Credit: MikeDotta / Shutterstock

Meze, little tapas-style appetizers, are at the heart of any Greek evening. Besides Mediterranean favorites such as hummus, savor stuffed vine leaves, tzatziki yogurt dip, or smoky, citrusy taramasalata. Wash them down with ouzo or raki.

Pastries

Photo Credit: ColorMaker / Shutterstock

Spinach pies, cheese pies, and sticky-sweet baklava dessert have one thing in common: phyllo pastry, a tissue-thin dough that many Greek cooks still learn at their grandmothers’ knees.

Moussaka

Photo Credit: Nina Firsova / Shutterstock

No neighborhood taverna is complete without this hearty, warming blend of ground lamb, eggplant, and bechamel sauce. And, yes, it works in summer too.

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See all Athens tours
3,071 tours & tickets
Parthenon temple on a bright day in Athens, Greece
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The Acropolis overlooking the city of Athens
Where to Find the Best Views of the Acropolis of Athens