Athens: Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Tasting with Dinner

4.93

(362 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the souvlaki stand in Monastiraki to smell that good — like grilled meat and warm bread with this little tang of lemon in the air. Our guide, Eleni, waved us over and asked if we wanted chicken or pork (I panicked and just said “yes,” which made her laugh). She showed us how locals fold the pita so nothing falls out, but I still lost half my tomatoes down my shirt. The square was noisy, busy in that way that makes you feel alive, not lost.

Walking toward Syntagma Square, the city felt softer as the sun started dipping behind buildings. We ducked into this wine bar I’d never have noticed on my own. Four Greek wines — all different, one almost salty? — and cheese that tasted like actual grass (in a good way). Our group was small, just seven of us, so it felt more like friends than strangers. Eleni told stories about her grandmother’s vineyard; I tried to say “Assyrtiko” right and failed spectacularly.

Plaka at night is another world. The stones underfoot were still warm from the day, and there was this faint smell of jasmine somewhere. Olive oil tasting surprised me — I always thought it was just for salads but apparently Greeks use it for everything except maybe brushing their teeth. Tried mastiha too (tastes like pine trees if you’re curious). Dinner back near Syntagma was loud and messy in the best way — plates everywhere, laughter bouncing off the walls. By dessert (gelato with some Greek flavor I can’t pronounce), I realized I’d stopped thinking about my phone hours ago.