If I think about Athens, the first thing that pops into my mind isn’t the Acropolis. It’s not the ruins or the museums. It’s food. Namely, the street food that I wolfed down between seeing sights. And not the kind you read about in the tourist brochures either. It’s the authentic kind. Inexpensive, sloppy, and just right.
I took the entire day to simply eat my way around the city. No grand plans. No fancy dining. Just local eateries, random street carts, and anything that smelled or looked incredible.
Here’s how the day turned out.
9:00 AM – Koulouri at a Street Cart Near Monastiraki
I began my day close to Monastiraki Square. Tons of tourists, but also lots of Athenians hurrying to work. I noticed a little cart offering koulouri, a circular sesame-topped bread rings that sort of resemble bagels, but lighter and crunchier.
One euro. Warm, slightly salty, and just the right amount of chew. Basic, but just what I wanted with my coffee. Locals were grabbing them without even breaking stride. I hung back and took mine slowly, reveling in the energy of the morning crush.
That was the moment I knew how good the food was going to be.
11:00 AM – Loukoumades in Psiri
Mid-morning sweet tooth? Loukoumades. Greek doughnuts, I say that with pride.
I discovered a tiny cafe set on a side street in Psiri. They served the loukoumades hot, smothered in honey and covered with cinnamon and ground walnuts. Crunchy outside, fluffy inside, and so sweet it hurt my teeth, but in a good way.
I sat under some sugar-coated vines, half-covered in powdered sugar, and listened to two old men bicker over coffee beside me. It was like something from a film. Except that I was sticky and stuffed.
1:00 PM – Souvlaki at Kostas (Near Syntagma Square)
Perhaps this was the best part of the day. I’d read about Kostas, a small souvlaki place that’s been serving forever. You only get one thing there, pita filled with pork, tomato, onion, parsley, and a scoop of yogurt-based sauce.
That’s it. No elaborate menu. No fuss. You order, wait, eat, and are gone.
The pork was soft with just a nice char on the grill. The pita? Soft and warm, folded around in paper so it wouldn’t disintegrate as you walked. I stood under the shade, eating mine, juice dripping onto my wrist, utterly quiet. It was that good.
And it was less than 3 euros.
3:00 PM – Spanakopita from a Bakery in Plaka
After stumbling off the souvlaki (barely), I found myself in Plaka. It’s touristy but quaint. I ducked into a little bakery. There was no English sign, just golden pastries arranged on trays behind a dirty glass window.
I gestured at the spanakopita, which is a spinach pie encased in layers of buttery phyllo, filled with flecks of feta. The woman who worked there nodded like, “Yes, good choice.”
It was hot and buttery and didn’t disintegrate in my hands like I had feared. I sat on a stone bench alongside a peaceful street and enjoyed it slowly. The sun was beginning to set, and all the air smelled of baked bread and lavender.
I didn’t utter a word for twenty minutes.
6:00 PM – Gyros Plate at O Thanasis
I understand that gyros are a ubiquitous thing in Athens, but O Thanasis off Monastiraki is a different story. It’s chaotic, it’s rowdy, and it’s filled with tourists and locals. But the grub is good. Always.
I ordered the complete plate of gyros. Pork once again, but with fries, griddled pita, and a healthy dollop of tzatziki sauce on the side. I was stuffed by this point, but somehow still ended up devouring most of it.
There is something to that pairing of crunchy meat, cold garlicky yogurt, and fresh tomatoes that just clicks. Even when your belly is crying out, please, no more.
Bonus: Cold Beer from a Corner Kiosk
Alright, this isn’t technically food, but after eating so much, I craved something cold. I purchased a can of Mythos beer from one of those 24/7 kiosks, as they are ubiquitous in Athens.
Sat on the stairs of some random church. Sipped slowly. Watched the city slow down around me.
Final Thoughts
Athens has its ancient ruins and its name-brand restaurants. But for me, the key to understanding the city was its street food.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not costly. But it’s authentic. Each bite is accompanied by a tiny slice of local life, like people chatting, scooters whizzing by, and the sun hitting the marble at just the right moment.
And for real, if you only have one day in Athens, skip the fancy eating. Just walk around, eat, and repeat.
You’ll be more informed about the city that way. And depart with a full stomach and no regrets.