Athens Central Market

This modern agora is a vibrant, hectic burst of life in Athens' market district.

TravelCurious Tip

Shoes are certainly recommended over flip-flops, especially in the fish market – the ground is usually wet with puddles of rather fishy melted ice.

Greeks have a well-earned reputation for delicious food, and many of them make a trip to the Athens Central Market when they need supplies. Located slightly to the north of the Acropolis, and sometimes known as the Varvakios Agora, the market is a whirling melting pot that will assault your senses with the sights, sounds and smells of a renowned world food culture.


A Cook’s Paradise

Entering the meat market, you’ll immediately be confronted by carcasses of all descriptions – some recognisable, others not – hung up on meathooks, often quirkily illuminated by brightly coloured lights. The butchers frequently have forefathers stretching back a hundred years or more who have plied the same trade, and they cheerfully bellow the prices of their wares to all who care to listen. In the fish market you can find fish from the Aegean, the Adriatic, and even as far afield as South America. Particularly fun is the vegetable market, where olive-sellers offer some of the finest produce in the world for you to peruse and sample at your leisure.


More Than a Load of Tripe

If the sight of all this food makes you peckish, look for one of four traditional “working class” restaurants located within the market. They are crowded and noisy, and you may have to queue for ten minutes to get in at lunchtime, but they use the freshest produce and serve up delicious traditional meals to order. If you’re feeling brave, try the patsas soup. It’s made using tripe and lamb’s feet, but locals swear by it as a hangover cure – especially in winter.


Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Athens
Hadrian's Library
See the remains of the largest structure erected by Hadrian in the 2nd century AD, which held not just a library but also music and lecture rooms.
Monastiraki Square
Once the site of the largest monastery in Athens, Monastiraki square is one of the city's major shopping districts and a popular meeting place for Athenians.
Koulouri
A ring of bread sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Dolmadakia
Delicate little wraps made with vine leaves that are usually stuffed with rice and herbs or meat and rice too.
Tzaziki
A healthy Greek cucumber yogurt dip or sauce you can serve with chicken, veggies, pita chips, gyros, and more.
Psiri
Psiri blends tradition and creativity with street art, local eats, and lively nightlife, offering a colourful, authentic slice of Athens near Monastiraki.

Related Tours

Flavours of Athens: Private Food Tour in Monastiraki and Psiri

Europe’s oldest capital city, Athens, boasts 5000 years of history to discover and a myriad of mouthwatering dishes to try. Greek cuisine is characterised by fresh ingredients and bold flavours, and is underpinned by the country’s geography, history and unique cultural heritage. The Athens food scene, in particular, offers a delectable mix of traditional and modern dining options, and there is no better way to discover it than indulging in a private food tour with a local guide.

On your half-day private food tour, you will:

  • Eat your way through Athens with a local foodie guide;
  • Explore 2 of the most interesting neighbourhoods in the historic centre: lively Monastiraki and trendy bohemian Psiri;
  • Taste authentic Greek food from Gyros to Greek doughnuts;
  • Sip aromatic Greek coffee and learn about the traditional practice of reading fortunes from the coffee grounds;
  • Find out about the core elements of Greek gastronomy from ancient times to the present day;
  • Sample sweet and savoury dishes while your guide reveals the key ingredients behind them;
  • Go beyond feta with a Greek cheese tasting;
  • Visit family-run eateries and hear about culinary traditions passed down for generations;
  • Try your hand at putting together a quintessential Greek plate of your own;
  • Pair your dishes with local beer, Greek wine or traditional spirits like Tsipouro.

Step into the heart of Athens and uncover the city’s culinary soul on this private half-day food tour through the bustling neighbourhoods of Monastiraki and Psiri. More than just a tasting experience, this journey blends history, flavour, and local tradition into a delicious exploration of everyday Athenian life. 

Your guide, a passionate local foodie, will lead you through lively streets, tucked-away bakeries, and family-run tavernas, revealing how Greek gastronomy has evolved from ancient rituals to modern street food culture. You’ll sip aromatic Greek coffee prepared in the traditional style and learn the art of fortune-telling from the grounds, a ritual that’s as much about community as caffeine. 

You’ll enjoy a thoughtful selection of emblematic flavours, from sweet treats like loukoumades (honey-drenched dough balls that are one of the first desserts in recorded history) to savoury bites of warm bread, tangy cheeses, and flaky pies fresh from the oven, offering a snapshot of Greece’s rich culinary tradition.

You’ll also have the opportunity to step behind the counter at a beloved local eatery, rolling up your sleeves to assemble your own plate of gyro or souvlaki under the guidance of those who have perfected the craft. Paired with a glass of Greek wine, a local beer, or the bold kick of tsipouro, it’s a hands-on taste of hospitality that goes far beyond restaurant dining. Between bites, your guide will share stories of ingredients, cooking techniques, and regional specialities, showing how food in Greece is never just about sustenance, but about connection. By the time your tour comes to a close, you’ll have savoured more than flavours: you’ll have embraced a gastronomic philosophy that makes Athens one of the most exciting food destinations in the world.
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