Enjoy Greek culinary specialities in Athens

When you're in Athens, you'll want to try dolmadakia. These vine leaves stuffed with rice, onion, lemon and dill are the perfect appetiser. They can be served warm or cold. Variations are also possible with feta cheese or meat.\ Enjoy dolmadakia at the Efcharis restaurant. Open since 1995, it is housed in an old 19th-century neoclassical building right in the historic centre of the Greek capital, near Monastiraki.

This salad is undoubtedly one of the most famous dishes in Greek cuisine. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, olives and feta cheese. A delicious mix topped with a drizzle of olive oil and local herbs. A perfect dish to enjoy in the sunshine and warmth of Athens.

You can enjoy this salad at Greco's Project, a traditional restaurant just a stone's throw from Syntagma Square and Ermou Street, the most popular shopping area in the capital of Attica.

It's impossible not to mention Tzatziki when talking about traditional Athenian cuisine. This sauce, made from Greek yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil and aromatic herbs, is often eaten as an aperitif with pieces of bread or pita, or as an accompaniment to fish or grilled meat.

For a tzatziki, we recommend going to the Antica restaurant, located on the pedestrianised Hadrianou street, near the Acropolis. The street-side terrace is a great way to soak up the Athenian atmosphere while enjoying some very affordable food.

Spanakopita is a puff pastry with spinach and cheese (usually feta). The pastry is made from brick pastry, with several layers of phyllo pastry. Cut into triangles or individual rectangles, this puff pastry is often bought for takeaway and eaten in the streets or parks of the Greek capital.

Spanakopita is sold everywhere in Athens, both in restaurants and bakeries. We recommend going to the To Kafeneion restaurant built in an ancient building over 400 years old and at the foot of the Acropolis!

This sandwich is made with spicy grilled meat. Most of the time it is pork or chicken, but it can also be beef or lamb. The meat is served in pita bread with fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, salad and red onions. Gyros are served with tzatziki sauce and often accompanied by chips.

Located right next to Rizari Park is the Pita Pan restaurant, specialised in Greek pita bread sandwiches. You'll find the traditional gyros as well as different variations. We recommend buying them to take away and enjoying them in the park next door!

In addition to the Greek salad, moussaka is a Greek dish that has been exported all over the world. This aubergine and minced meat gratin, topped with cheese and béchamel sauce, was created in Greece in the 1920s by the chef Nikolaos Tselementes.

Ideally situated between the Acropolis and the Olympion, the Arcadia restaurant is the ideal place to enjoy a real moussaka or one of its variants. The decor is well thought-out and the terrace on the pedestrian street at the foot of the Acropolis is a real plus.

Greek cuisine is not only savoury, it also offers many desserts. The best and most typical of these being baklava. This Ottoman-influenced pastry made with almonds or walnuts is the perfect end to a meal. There are several types to choose from. It is a sweet delight!

To find the best baklava in Athens, we recommend visiting one of the capital's best patisseries located near Syntagma Square, called Baklavas. You can buy these pastries on the spot or order them directly from their website!