The Greek Food Experience (Max 8 persons)
Description
More than just a food tour, rather travelling in a mindful way through food, storytelling & genuine conversation. Inspired by our love for the city, good food and meeting new people. On this most delicious tour, you will have the chance to try the BEST local food from the BEST vendors. Enjoy mouthwatering souvlaki, tasty & fresh homemade pies, delectable olives, PDO (Protected Designations of Origin) cheeses, Greek yoghurt, local cold meats, unique desserts and much more… let’s not spoil all of the fun! We will stroll through the streets of Athens City Center while visiting traditional Greek street food vendors; true Athenian icons, multi-generational family businesses, and new commendable food entrepreneurs. We truly believe that our curated experience is one of the best things to do on your first day in Athens. It’s a fantastic way to get your bearings, learn fun facts and stories about Greece & Athens and its culture, and to get recommendations and tips for your stay.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will stroll through the streets of Athens City Center while visiting traditional Greek street food vendors; true Athenian icons, multi-generational family businesses, and new commendable food entrepreneurs. Sample menu Sweet & Savory pies that you will never forget (i.e. Cheese Pie, Spinach Pie) Koulouri (toasted sesame bread ring) - Greece’s favourite breakfast on the run. this round-shaped bread is packed with good carbohydrates and proteins. Organic olive oil tasting. A traditionally brewed Greek coffee
Mitropoleos Square is one of the most charming squares in the historic center of Athens, located just a few minutes' walk from Syntagma Square and the Plaka district. The square is dominated by the impressive Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens (also known as the Cathedral of the Annunciation), the largest church in Athens and the seat of the Archbishop of Greece. Right next to the cathedral stands the much smaller but equally fascinating Little Metropolis (Church of Agios Eleftherios), a 12th-century Byzantine church renowned for its intricate stone carvings and architectural details. The contrast between the grandeur of the Metropolitan Cathedral and the intimate scale of the Little Metropolis beautifully illustrates the layers of Athenian history, from the Byzantine era to modern Greece. Today, Mitropoleos Square is a lively meeting point surrounded by cafés, shops, and pedestrian streets, making it an ideal place to pause while exploring central Athens.
This beautiful and vibrant square used to be the home of the city’s flower market. Only a couple flower vendors remain, as the rest have been replaced by café bars & eateries, becoming one of the hottest spots in town. Easy to reach no matter where you’re coming from, self-contained and peaceful, with no bothersome thru-traffic, the thriving square is teeming with life most hours of the day. We will enjoy a special delicacy from Crete, a pie like no other. It's called Sfakiani and is thin like crepe with soft cheese inside and honey on top! Sample Menu: Rakomelo: This famous alcoholic mixed drink is made by combining Raki (a grape flavoured brandy), with honey and warm spices like cardamom, cinnamon and local herbs.
Sample Menu: The ultimate Greek street food dessert: Loukoumades, aka “honey puffs” in the best place for 100 years. Aiolou street is a historical central paved road connecting Omonia square with Ermou street. Its name derives from the ancient Greek god of the winds, Aeolus. Constructed in 1833, Aiolou street is one of the oldest streets in Athens.
Visit the vibrant open fish and meat market of the city! Sample Menu: Souvlaki, our national street food. There are hundreds of Souvlaki places, but a handful of really good ones. We will take you for one of the most delicious, authentic and acclaimed!
Sample menu: PDO (Protected Destination of Origin) Greek cheeses, unique meats like pastourma and Tsipouro. Mecca of Athens’ spice and herb stores. Small, family-run businesses have been the lifeline of this street for decades, making it the first stop of any Athenian interested in food. PDO (Protected Destination of Origin) Greek cheeses and unique meats. Tsipouro, a popular grape-distilled spirit made pure or scented with anise. It is served as a welcome to guests, an accompaniment to meze or as the fuel for the laughter between old friends in cafes all over Greece.
Psyri or Psiri is central, trendy & unconventional! It is a colorful neoclassical neighborhood known for its artisans, specialty stores, restaurants, bars, tavernas (with or without live music), theaters, art and antique shops, as well as a small number of hotels.
Sample menu: Greek Honey tasting. 3 distinct delicious varieties. Kotzia Square is surrounded by lovely neoclassical buildings among which the old town hall. here is also a small archaeological site (where you can see the city's water supply system dating back to 2000 years ago) which has been recently brought to light following the excavations for the underground car park.
Located in the shadow of the Acropolis, the Monastiraki neighborhood is a blend of architectural styles, eras and cultures, sitting adjacent to the districts of Psyri, Plaka and Thisio. Monastiraki Square is one of the most enchanting squares in Athens, being the home to restaurants, cafes, shops, the famous flea market and plenty of ancient history. In the square, you can admire the sunken Church of Pantanassa, the only remaining part of the monastery (or rather nunnery) that existed on location during the Byzantine period and gave the area its name (Monastiraki means little monastery). But for many, Monastiraki is mostly synonymous with antiques and old treasures thanks to the flea markets and antique shops that dot the area towards Abyssinia Square.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You will get an orientation of the city of Athens, and plenty of tips from our local guide
- This tour is suitable for vegetarians, but not for vegans or those who follow a gluten free diet. There is only one stop where there is no alternative to meat.
- What to wear: Sunscreen, comfortable shoes & weather-appropriate clothing
- What to bring: A bottle of water, your appetite, wanderlust and curiosity
Reviews(196)
We arrived to Athens at 11:30 AM after an overnight flight. This food tour was the best activity to kick off our two night stay. Our hotel room was not ready and this was the perfect way to spend the afternoon tasting delicious Greek food and learning about the culture. Highly recommend Valentini as a guide, she was wonderful.
Dear Jamie, Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m really happy to hear that the food tour was the perfect way to start your time in Athens, especially after a looong overnight flight. It was a pleasure to meet such a lovely family and to share the experience with you — I truly enjoyed our interaction throughout the walk. Your recommendation means a lot, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. Wishing you many more wonderful travels ahead. All The Best!!
Vana was a wonderful guide and not only gave us good information about the food we ate but historical significance as well. The food was all delicious and we would recommend this tour for anyone.
Dear Ron, Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed both the food and the stories behind it. Vana has a wonderful way of bringing Athens to life through her warmth, knowledge, and genuine passion for sharing the city's culture and culinary traditions. Thank you for choosing to explore Athens with us and for recommending the experience to others. All The Best!!
We had such a wonderful enjoyable late afternoon food tour with Valentini. She was so knowledgeable, and in addition to tasting local fare she provided us with the history of Athens. We loved our tour and Valentini was superb! Cant wait to go back to Athens!
Dear Kathy, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We love creating experiences that go beyond the food itself, weaving together the flavors, history, and everyday stories that make Athens such a fascinating city. Looking forward to welcoming you back :). All The Best!!
Valentino was so much fun to tour with. She was very knowledgeable and shared personal stories too. We have a great day.
Dear Patricia, Thank you so much for your lovely review! It truly means a lot to hear that you had such a great day. Sharing history and flavors of Athens, and local perspectives, is such an important part of creating a genuine and memorable experience. We hope the memories, flavors, and stories from the day will stay with you long after your trip. All The Best!
Wow, what a great tour! Vana was a great guide!! She took the time to tell great stories and explain the history of the area. The food choices were amazing 🤩. I would highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for your kind review! Reading messages like yours truly means the world to us. A great deal of research, thought, and love goes into every food stop we include on our tours, so it makes us especially happy to know the experience resonated with you. Vana is indeed very special. Her warmth, personality, genuine love for Athens and Greek food, and sincere interest in connecting with every guest are exactly what make the experience so memorable and personal. Thank you again for joining us and for taking the time to share your experience. All The Best!!
Valentino was exceptionally personable and knew where the best of the best food was
Dear Robert, thank you very much for taking the time to share this lovely review with us. We truly appreciate your kind words. We put a great deal of love, thought, and research into creating our itineraries, carefully selecting each stop to showcase some of the very best flavors Athens has to offer while sharing the stories behind them. All The Best!!
We could not have had a better, more knowledgeable and friendly host for the food tour! Katarina was just and shared her love of Greek food and her country! We thoroughly enjoyed every minute!
Dear Linda, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear how much you enjoyed the food tour and your time with Katerina. Your kind words about her knowledge, warmth, and passion for Greek food and culture truly mean a lot to us. Katerina loves sharing the flavors and stories of Greece with our guests, and we’re so happy that this came through and made your experience so memorable. All The Best!!
Vanna (our guide) and this tour are AMAZING. We (group of 8 Canadian women 40-70 yo) spent the day walking the most popular districts, learning history with exceptional delivery and ate the BEST variety of Greek food from savoury to sweet. This was our first day (and time) to Greece, and what a great way to introduce oneself to the life, food and culture. Vanna introduced her world to us with clarity, professionalism and every once of character and charisma. Our trip will be unforgettable because of this tour. Only a fool would decide to not book this tour.
Dear Heather, Thank you so much for this incredibly kind and generous review! We are absolutely delighted to hear that your first day—and first experience—in Greece was such a memorable one. There’s no better compliment for us than knowing the tour helped introduce you to the food, culture, history, and spirit of Athens in such a meaningful way. A very special thank you as well for your wonderful words about Vanna. She truly is an exceptional guide, and your comments about her professionalism, charisma, warmth, and storytelling mean so much to all of us. We will be sure to share your message with her—it will absolutely make her day! It was a real pleasure hosting your fantastic group, and we’re so happy to know this experience became such a special part of your trip to Greece. Wishing all eight of you many more wonderful adventures together, and hopefully we’ll have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Athens someday! All The Best!!
The whole experience was fantastic, from start to finish, Valentini lead us through the back streets to traditional eateries, sampling so many local tastes. With her enthusiasm and passion, she made the whole experience fabulous. Would highly recommend.
Dear Alex, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are truly happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience from start to finish. It was a pleasure guiding you through the backstreets and sharing some of our favorite traditional spots and local flavors with you. The positive energy and wonderful vibe you brought to the group were truly priceless—it meant so much. A heartfelt thank you from our side! All The Best!!
We booked this Athen Bites tour from Rhonda Zorman of Enjoy Life Vacations in the USA and what a find this was! And Valentina, just perfect for us! Valentina from Athen Bites was terrific, an absolute gem! This was one of the highlights welcoming us back to Athens after many years she guided us through a 1/2 day food journey through the streets and locale eateries blending incredible flavors with the authenticity of Greek food and culture. It felt like for us, like a knowledgeable friend guiding us around rather than being led by a tour guide. We never once felt rushed or overwhelmed everything flowed naturally. Valentina was enthusiastic, engaging, and very open to questions and conversation which really made this experience even more memorable. If you’re looking for a genuine taste of Athens this is not to be missed.
Dear Bob & Dan. Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and thoughtful words! It truly means a lot to hear that your experience with us was such a special part of your return to Athens. It was an absolute pleasure!!!! spending the day with you both—sharing stories, flavors, and a little piece of what makes this city so unique. I’m especially happy to hear that the tour felt relaxed and personal. Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and openness made the experience just as memorable for me as well. "It takes two to tango" :). When you are back, remember you have a friend in Athens. All The Best!!
