Athens Food and Drink Tour
My friend, Jo, and I flew to Athens, Greece, to take the Emerald Princess Black Sea cruise. The most anticipated activity on our visit to Athens was the Athens Small Group Food Tour, which we found on the Viator website.
Jo and I had booked many past excursions with Viator and were always satisfied with them. Food tours are a good investment of money and time in my book. It seems only fitting that Athens would be the perfect place with its delicious food and drinks.
Tasting Athens Packaged Foods
My email confirmation from the tour group gave us directions to meet in front of the Zara store. Due to a misunderstanding, Jo and I realized at 9:30 (our meeting time), that we were in the wrong area. She and I hustled through town and finally met up with the group about 45 minutes later. We were exhausted!
Our guide, Evangelos, was in the midst of a demo at an upscale shop. There, we sampled rich olive oils, balsamic vinegar, feta cheese, and Greek yogurt (my favorite) with classic spoon sweets.
Due to the Greeks using seasonal fruits, which vary with the climate, the Greeks often preserve whole fruits in a sweet manner and later use them as toppings for desserts, yogurt, or ice cream. They call these “spoon sweets”. The fruits were so flavorful that I had to bring home a jar of the sour cherries. We concluded this visit with a shot of syrupy-sweet mandarin liquor.
Learning About Mastis
Our group continued by foot to an herb store, where we were introduced to mastis, a lead ingredient in chewing gum, and given a sample. The store had many medicinal herbs and we were given explanation of they were used. We then rounded the corner to a local meat store and munched on cured meats, similar to prosciutto, atop crusty rusks (similar to toasts). It was deliciously salty and decadent.
Exploring the Fruit and Meat Markets
In the Athens fruit market, we feasted on green seedless grapes and olives, both kalamata and big fat black ones. Evangelos informed us that only about half the Greek population like olives, which made me feel better since I do not either. The last stop in the market offered us samples of a chocolate candy-like product that was dry, but extremely palatable. It was made of tahini (sesame seed paste), chocolate, and one other ingredient. Yum!
Evangelos prepared us for the sights and smells of the Varvakios Agora, Athens central market housing meats and seafood. He led our group through the dozens of weekend traffickers who were buying their fresh fish, all the while our group gagging from the smell of fish, all sizes and varieties, stacked highly on ice beds on both sides of the walkways. The smell was totally disgusting, something you must learn to live with in that profession, and I could barely make it to walk through the market.
We passed a man filleting fish with such vigor that the flesh and scales were flying all over the crowds. I knew that if a piece touched me I would pass right out, but I made it through, unscathed, with a racing heart.
We stopped in the meat portion of the market to talk about the meats available in Athens. Being from the states, it was hard to see all the raw meats in intense heat piled in heaps with insects buzzing around. They also had horses heads displayed on ice. Eek!
Ahhh, Real Restaurants
Our group was led inside Epirus Tavern to share a stew, made with vegetables similar to ratatouille, and fried anchovies, which most of our group politely declined. The vegetables in the stew were extremely tasty, smothered in an olive oil sauce, that was quickly sopped up by the doughy bread they provided us. The meal with complimented with local white wine.
The last stops of the Athens Small Group Food Tour took us to the hipster or trendy part of town, located near the flea markets. I instantly fell in love! Adorable cafes lined the tree framed alleyways and curvy streets, and beautiful restaurants beckoned for us to visit.
We entered Psiri Grill House, a sleek and modernly decorated restaurant that was full of life, to sample both savory & sweet Greek cheese pies. What a fabulous creation! I preferred the savory to the sweet, but both were delectable. The last visit was to a friendly, traditional Greek restaurant down the street from Psiri, where we had Souvlaki with tzatziki sauce, a meal in itself.
Delightful Greek Donuts
Evangelos sent us on our way with loukoumades. These are the famous ooey-gooey Greek doughnuts, drenched in honey and cinnamon. He left us with a great understanding of Greek foods, the pleasures of dining with friends and family, local traditions, as well as a nice guided tour of the city.
I recommend this Athens Food Tour and encourage you to partake and fill your senses and stomach with it.
Viator Gets a Thumbs Up
Interesting: We tracked down a police officer and asked for directions. Jo and I were about a 45 minute walk away from our destination, so we set out walking across the city of Athens. I called the phone number provided to me in my email confirmation. A lady answered who was helpful and already knew that we had not shown up for our tour. She gave us the direct phone number of our guide, who told us where to meet and would wait for us there.
It is very impressive in my book for the company’s main contact to have that much information so timely and on a weekend day. Color me impressed, Athens Food Tour!
Though this tour was comped for my friend and I, opinions and reviews are solely my own and unbiased.
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Good to know that the tour organisers were so helpful. This sounds a great way to see a city – love the idea of the loukoumades particularly. But why did most of the group decline the stew when it sounds so delicious?
We all had the stew, we just declined the anchovies/sardines. We were all from the states, need I say more? lol
You can always learn a lot about the cuisine of the place you’re visiting by going to the local market! I love Greek food and I’m sure your experience was very tasty! 🙂
Absolutely! I am with you, I love visiting the local grocery stores.
I could barely look at these photos they have me craving Greek food so much!
HAHA! I planned it that way! 😉
Very nice photos! I love the fact that the tour took you to different kinds of establishments, although I think I would have also fainted if the the scales of the fish landed on my skin, or anything worse for that matter. Also glad you were able to catch up with the tour, albeit being a tad late. Happy travels!
I toned down my actual description for my post so your thoughts are probably right in line with mine! lol Thank you so much! Back at ya- happy travels!
I really rate Viator, they are a great site. This food tour sounds right up my street, it looks amazing. I’m hoping to do a food tour when I visit the Deep South next year.
Oh you should invite me! That is my favorite are in the states! 😉 I hope it will be great for you!
Ahhh! I already love food..but Greek food makes my heart flutter. SOOOO much goodness. I enjoy doing food tours as well-especially those that take you around markets. I love seeing the source of the food before it gets to your plate!
Me, too. Foodies unite! 😉
I’m actually going to Athens next year, this is really handy, thank you! So far I’ve only been on walking tours minus food, I’m thinking to get a real taste of Athens I’m going to have to join in on a Food Tour…you know for research 😉
Absolutely! Maybe two! 😉 Have a great trip and safe travels.
I actually think this is quite sad but I have never been on a food tour like this and After reading your blog I am dying to try one. everything looks so great. I will have to keep my eyes open for tours like this
Awesome! I have been on some pretty epic ones. I like that you get to eat, drink, learn some culture and history, and get exercise all at the same time! 😉
I love food markets! Even with meat and sea food as I don’t mind the smell, however, I can’t say I love it. But the horses’ heads…? I guess it would be too much for me! 😉
Oh it was so gross! Plus it was like a train wreck where you couldn’t make yourself look away!
I’m fairly certain that this is my calling in life: to participate in food tours and then write about them. And to be sure to try everything on every food tour as to give the most comprehensive review possible and then to always ask for another taste just to be sure my palate remembers everything correctly. 🙂
haha! I felt like doing that in Athens! I love food tours and cooking classes anywhere and everywhere. 😉
Oh my goodness. I’ve never done a food tour but now I really want to. How family friend was the tour? I tend to have four kids following me around. 🙂
I would figure they might make you a deal for bringing kids. I have been to ones where kids were invited and some that it was adults only but there are plenty of choices. 😉
Nice food tour, any travel is incomplete without experiencing the flavors and aromas associated with the place.
Agreed! 😉
The food tour seems interesting and I see some yummy veg options as well.
Have you ever been to Paris ?
Close to Notre Dame, in the “Quartier Latin”, there are several small streets, especially “rue de la Huchette”. The atmosphere there is so great. There’s a lot of greek restaurants that offers delicious food, and often also traditional dances.
One of my favourite ambiences in Paris.
Nope and surprisingly not on my list though I am sure to be a fan of the food. 😉
I have never done a “structured” food tour and this looks like a lot of fun! I will have to remember this if we are able to make it to Athens.
Sounds like a great way to truly explore the city’s cuisine. Its always fun to visit the food markets!
Grapes look amazing. I love finding the local farmers markets. Such a great way to save money on breakfast and lunch. I am totally craving Greek food after looking at your photos!
Awesome! 😉 Thanks Alexa.
I love Greek food. We were fortunate to have been hosted for dinner at his place by our favourite pub’s owner in Skiathos. And the dinner lasted for over two hours as we gorged! 🙂
Wow! That is very cool. Glad you enjoyed. 😉
The fruit market would be my favorite part. And the Chocolate! Oh and that donut drizzled in honey and cinnamon sounds amazing.
Sounds like me! I loved them all!