Food Tours · Tour

Athens Small-Group Food Tour: Ermou, Psyrri and a Meze Taverna

The group meets at the round fountain in Syntagma Square and walks down Ermou, the main commercial street, into what Athenians call the Commercial Triangle: the old trading quarter, where classical facades stand over boutique food shops and cafés. The first stop is a deli, and the subject is the Mediterranean diet as it is actually eaten. Kalamata olives, local cheeses, tapenades. After that comes street food, either a crisp pie or a souvlaki, or the vegetarian version, which is how most Athenians eat at midday. Psyrri is next, past the street art and the artisan shops, to a family-run taverna. The meal there is small plates, shared, with ouzo or tsipouro or wine, and the guide explains how Greeks order, toast and stretch a meal out. The end is in Monastiraki, in sight of the Acropolis, with local desserts and one flavoured product that is made nowhere else. The group is ten to twelve people. Olive oil, honey and cheeses are tasted along the way, and there are vegetarian options at every stop. Nut-free can be arranged, though traces cannot be ruled out; gluten-free, vegan, lactose-free and low-carb are limited.