athens food tour rachel and mike

A Gastronomic Journey Through Athens: My Experience with Rachel and Maik’s Walking Food Tours – Food Around Athens

• March 15, 2024

Guest post by Nicolette Ford. One of our food tour guests in March 2024.

Athens, you’ll no doubt be aware, is dripping in history. However, did you also know, that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest in the world ? Neither did I.

Athens’ streets mix the ancient with the modern. While there, I experience modern roof tops bars with hip clientele (I’m not one of them) in Psyri and ancient streets with cobblestones in Plaka. The city weaves together traditional tavernas with bustling street food stalls and vibrant markets. Here, food is not just sustenance but a celebration of Greek culture, history, and the art of hospitality.

I want to experience the city beyond its ancient ruins and iconic monuments, so I embark on a journey with Rachel and Maik’s Food Around Athens walking tour .

The meeting point is very easy to find, thanks to excellent instructions from the tour guides. A great, stress free, start to the afternoon.

One of the first things Rachel tell us is that she’s unashamedly not taking us to any pretty places. Those places are for tourists. The best food and the most authentic experience is in downtown Athens. These are places that are hard to find for a tourist.

I’m excited already!

Barely moments into the walking food tour, I find myself rapidly accumulating a ton of knowledge about Greek cuisine. Our journey starts with a leisurely stroll down an ancient Athens street. It’s here I learn of Greece’s fame for its robust Oregano – a revelation to me. The first of many to come.

As we venture further, weaving through the heart of Athens, we walk through the bustling meat and fish markets, each a hub of activity and banter, before making our way to the aromatic alcoves of the spice shops.

Along the way, our palate is treated to an array of traditional Greek cuisine – pastries, succulent souvlaki, richly brewed Greek coffee, and the finest olive oil. We sample Greek honey, locally produced cheese, and fresh olives. Each tasting is a chapter in the story of Greek culinary tradition.

When shop owners focus on what they do best, the result is excellent quality produce.

I would dearly love to shop like that, weaving in and out of the specialised shops with my shopping bags, buying the best of the best of everything and chatting to and laughing with everyone along the way. Sounds idyllic.

By the time our tour meandered to its conclusion with a sit-down meal at a traditional taverna, I’m pleasantly surprised, despite all the food tastings, that I have some room for a meze – a selection of small dishes that perfectly encapsulate the generosity and diversity of Greek cuisine. All the famous ones are here, calamari, Greek salad, gigantes beans, Greek yoghurt, honey, and many more.

My favourite part of the tour is that not once do I feel rushed. There are opportunities to buy produce but there is no pressure to do so, or to move on too quickly. The entire 3 hours feels relaxed, with plenty of time to soak up the history and anecdotes of Greek food.

Walking through Athens with Rachel and Maik feels like being part of an extended family, especially as we meet their friends, the proprietors of family-owned local shops and traditional tavernas. Their warmth and hospitality were the icing on the cake of an already unforgettable tour.

This isn’t just a food tour; it is an immersive journey into the heart of Athens, a food experience led by two individuals whose love for their city and its culinary heritage is infectious. Through their eyes, I see not just the flavours but the soul of Athens.

If you’d like to book your own Athens food tour, book this one. It’s the number one food tour for a reason.

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So glad we took this tour! Don’t miss... - Food Around Athens

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So glad we took this tour! Don’t miss it!

The hosts were fantastic! Enthusiastic about their purpose to share their love for Greek food and Athens. They explained things very well. Shopping for the spices and nuts was wonderful too! I highly recommend this tour because of Rachel & Mike…they made the tour extra special!

Thank you for such a kind review. We had a really lovely time with you and your group. You were great sports!

We did this tour on our second day in Greece and our only regret is that we did not do the tour on our first day! The food was AMAZING and we went back repeatedly over the course of our trip to some of the food stops! The tour guides were so knowledgeable and friendly. We brought our 3 year old son and they played with him while we tried food and went out of their way to get him ice cream (even though it wasn't one of our stops) they even helped feed him and clean him up. The food was the best food we had in Greece but honestly the guides were so personable, friendly and, helpful that I would reccomend this tour for that reason alone! You will not regret this tour!

Thank you 😊 you are a lovely family and we adored meeting you all!

This was one of the best tours I've ever been on - and I've been on many! I had the most fantastic first evening in Athens being guided by Rachel. A true local, she knows so much about the food, culture, and history behind it all. She spoke English very well and was consistently checking to make sure we were all having a great time! We also sampled so many foods - all of really high quality. I had some of the best food of my life. Anyone going to Athens needs to take the tour!

Thank you! Such a lovely review and i really appreciate it. It was great to meet you and share Athens with you and i am very happy you enjoyed it! See you again!!

A lovely and delicious walk around Athens's old downtown area called Plaka. The neighborhood is full of local shops, the central market, and great food. Mike, our local guide, showed us all the hidden gems of the Greek Mediterranean cuisine from olives, to salads, to souvlaki, halva, and more. Every stop was full of interesting stories and great food that makes any food lover salivate from the beginning until the end of the tour.

Thank you so much for your fantastic review. The pleasure was mine to meet you. Hoping to see you back here one day! Maik

I have been looking forward to this experience for months and am happy to report that it did not disappoint. Michalis took our small group of 4 through some very unique experiences and was an obviously loved Athenian by the many people we encountered during the tour. As other reviewers have said, come hungry and you will leave full! The local ins and out mentioned in the markets and neighboring streets of Psiri made for an absolutely perfect experience and I won't be forgetting the food and drinks we consumed any time soon. Anyone trying to decide on which local tour to book should look no further. Book this one and say hello to the cats for me at the end!

Thank you very much. I am so happy to know you enjoyed the tour so much. It was very good fun to spend time with you and i am very glad you felt the same. The cats are doing well and eating every day! Hoping to see you again. Maik

Good introduction to Greek Food and the local food scene in Athens. If you are there for one day or longer it was a good tour to try Greek foods and the local non tourist food scene. Mike our guide did a good job of explaining the food and the local food scene Be ready to walk the area of central Athens Only two stops we sat down at while the rest were short standing stops to sample food or drink. The central market was an experience

Thank you very much for your kind review. A pleasure to meet you.

‘Food Around Athens’ Food Tour

This tour was so much more than just a food tour.  They should rename it, “Food, History, Culture and Good Banter Around Athens”.  I suppose that is a bit long though.

We met up with Rachel in Monastiraki square on a GORGEOUS September ( the best month in Greece ) morning.  She met us with a little treat (which I will not reveal as that takes the fun out it) and introduced herself and her son Sam who was helping out.  She gave the group a little history of how she started leading the tours and the group itself did a little intro session.

On a personal level, I liked Rachel right off the bat.  There is nothing worse than getting a weirdo for a tour guide who you will be forced to chit chat with for the next 4 hours.  So they got a tick right away for friendly and personable guide.

I’m going to give some details about our afternoon with Rachel, but not an exact play by play for two reasons.  Reason one is that they change the tours every time based on the group and the group’s interests.  Reason two is because I like surprises and I want you to be surprised when you take your tour with Rachel or Mike!

Monastiraki and Psiri

We strolled around Monastiraki and Psiri which are neighborhoods that are always full of sights, sounds and smells at every turn.  These areas can be a bit intimidating for a first time Athens visitor as they have many closed down shops with graffiti on the walls.  That’s one of the great reasons to go on a walking tour with a local – if you are alone, you may miss some cool things because the streets aren’t ‘super welcoming’ at first glance.

I was super excited when I learned about our first stop.

(I said I’m not going to ruin the tour for you, but you should watch this whole video before visiting Athens anyway)

Two of my favorite Greek foods in one stop!  Spanikopita and Bougatsa.  Bam!

Athens Central Market

We made our way to the Central Municipal Athens Market on Athinas St and it just so happened to be my first time visiting this market.

There is a section for meat and another specifically for seafood.  I’ve watched enough shows on the Travel Channel to know what to expect of this type of meat market.  These are not places that I personally seek out when I am visiting a new city but it was interesting to see nonetheless.

I seriously can’t imagine what this joint smells like in mid August!

Each neighborhood has it’s scheduled Laiki day where farmers bring in their local produce and sell to the locals.  Rachel hooked us up with some seasonal fruits and the group happily munched away.

History, Culture and Good Banter Around Athens

The great thing about our tour with Rachel and Sam is that while we were walking around Athens, they were constantly sharing little tidbits with us about the local culture and relevant historical info.  They showed us interesting shops that I never knew existed (even after living here for over 5 years).

It was seriously like walking around a new city with old friends!

We all sat down at a taverna and had a tasty gyro .  I’m kind of a gyro snob, so I was pleasantly surprised when I took a bite and found it was really good!

We checked out a few churches on our way to Plaka which was our last area of the day.  The tour really did have a nice mix of culture, history and wasn’t just about stuffing our faces with yummy Greek food.  We were definitely stuffed by the end though!

Our last stop was in a beautifully shaded garden cafe/restaurant on a side street in Plaka.  What a great find!  There we enjoyed some mezedes (Greek tapas), a few local dishes and Greek wine.  I think Rachel wanted to feed us more, but we were all pretty full at this point.

I definitely suggest taking this tour to anyone visiting Athens.  Even if it is not your first time in Athens, you’ll surely see some new sites.  If you are a local with visitors, it is nice to let someone else be in charge and lead the way.  You’ll definitely learn a few new things and meet some nice people along the way.

Food Around Athens Website :  www.foodaroundathens.com Facebook page : www.facebook.com/FoodAroundAthens

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Athens Food Tour

Eating athens like a local.

Athens is a city with a thousand sights to see. It’s easy to spread yourself too thin seeing all of the historic attractions, so don’t forget its food! Athens has one of the world’s richest culinary histories and we can’t wait to introduce it to you. We’ll stroll through Athens’ ancient alleyways, savoring a crispy spanakopita and enjoying a traditional Greek coffee. We’ll walk past small shops with the smell of grilled souvlaki in the air, and explore local markets full of fresh foods. We’ll take you to cozy places where you’ll try recipes passed down for generations and show you the best food that the city has to offer.

The best food, history and culture of Athens, in one tour!

Monastiraki; Psiri

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Meet Your Local Athens Tour Guides

Our team of Athens Food Tour Guides includes local experts that speak several different languages.

Share a taste of local life on one of our award-winning food & culture tours in Athens!

Frequently asked questions, is a food tour in athens worth it.

Absolutely! There’s no better way to experience the beautiful city of Athens and its culture than a food tour with a local guide.

What is the most famous food in Athens?

It’s difficult to say with how many delicious dishes there are in Athens! The most noteworthy is probably either moussaka or souvlaki.

Do the tours accommodate vegetarian or gluten-free diets?

All of our food tours are vegetarian friendly. However, it may not always be possible to serve vegan, gluten-free, or kosher foods at many tour stops. Please notify us of any dietary restrictions upon booking so we can try to accommodate your needs.

What’s included in the price of the food tour?

All food and drinks are included in the price you pay for the tour.

What time is dinner in Athens?

People typically eat dinner between 7pm and 10pm. As you can tell, dinner is usually a little later in Athens than other European countries or the United States.

Do you tip in Athens?

Greek restaurants do not require tips, but they’re definitely appreciated!

I’m traveling alone. Do you offer single tickets or just group sales?

We love welcoming solo travelers! All of our tours are open to individual guests.

What is Eating Europe’s cancellation policy?

Private tours can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure.

Small group tours can be cancelled and refunded up to 24 hours before tour departure. See our complete cancellation policy here.

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Eat like an Athenian food tour

The ultimate Athens food tour

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• All weather

Athens food tour for food lovers

Join our classic Athens food tour with a local foodie who will show you all the local hot spots!!! Blend in with the locals in the Athens Central Food Markets and discover the authentic Greek cuisine. Sample traditional Greek foods like, different kind of local pastry, olives, olive oil, honey, cheese, meats, Greek coffee, sesame bread, famous street food and more in legendary local stores!

Historic Districts

Walk in historic districts of Athens, explore the modern Athenian life style and learn anecdotes and fun facts about food and Greek gastronomy.

More than 15+ tastings

Sample a large variety of iconic Greek foods selected for this Athens food tour. We guarantee that you don't need to have breakfast before or lunch after the tour

Accompanied by a local foodie

Follow your Athenian local expert, with an infectious love and expertise for Greek cuisine and discover hidden gems and explore real Athens like a local.

Easy Access

We meet at one of the most central places in Athens easily accessible by foot, public transportation or taxi.

Athens Food Tour Itinerary

Discover the most famous districts of Athens and taste various traditional and modern food all around

This Athens food tour runs every day from Monday to Saturday at 9.00am, Monday to Friday at 18.00pm and Sunday at 10.00am

Please note that during afternoon and Sunday tours the Athens central food markets of Athens are closed. The tour is still running but with small variations

• Accompanied by a local food expert
• All tastings mentioned 
• Small groups 
• Pick up – drop off
• Private expenses
• Gratuities (optional)

Our meeting point is at Korai square in front of the Starbucks cafe in Athens city center. Details on how to reach the meeting will be sent after booking.

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Feel free to reach out and we're happy to answer any questions you may have. Ask us for corporate or large group rates

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• Comedian Gilbert Lawand Brings ‘Iraq You Break’ Tour to Athens

Atlanta-based comedian Gilbert Lawand describes his style as silly and absurd sometimes, yet rooted in his personal background and the juxtapositions that can come along with a multicultural identity. Born in Baghdad to Catholic parents, Lawand moved with his family to the small town of Warm Springs, GA (population: under 500) when he was 6 years old to live on a farm. Much of his stage act centers around this unique position of identifying as a Southern, left-leaning person of color navigating conservative narratives of the Middle East. 

“It’s coming from a Southerner who didn’t start off in this part of the country or even this hemisphere,” says Lawand. “I love the South but also like to point out some of the injustices of the past and present. It’s the ‘duality of the Southern thing’ as [The Drive-By Truckers frontman] Patterson Hood would say. It’s also the duality of the Middle Eastern thing, as Gilbert Lawand would say. Did I just refer to myself in the third person? I sure did.”

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a double major in accounting and finance, Lawand received his MBA at Emory and briefly worked in corporate America before deciding to venture into comedy only three years later. After several years of performing stand-up and producing comedy shows in Atlanta, Lawand and his friend Mike Albanese relocated to New York City. 

Inspired by the abundance of talented comedians surrounding them, Lawand and Albanese soon co-founded the annual Red Clay Comedy Festival, which has since expanded into a multi-day festival featuring over 50 comedians performing across a half dozen venues in East Atlanta Village. The festival’s name pays homage to the iconic red clay that defines so much of Georgia’s natural landscape, but is also a reference to a lyric in the song “Bulldozers and Dirt” by one of Lawand’s favorite bands, The Drive-By Truckers. Currently in its ninth year, the festival has hosted an impressive roster of headliners, such as Eric Andre, Maria Bamford, Janeane Garofalo, Nikki Glaser, Kyle Kinane and Rory Scovel. 

“Red Clay is a festival that creates a comedy camp or mini-vacation type of atmosphere for the comedians,” says Lawand, who aims to always take good care of the performers every year. “We’re not a competition, and we don’t go out of our way to court industry types, so it’s not a stressful environment whatsoever. We put all the comics up in hotels, mostly in bunk rooms at the Hotel Clermont.”

Hot off the heels of the festival, which was held May 9–11, Lawand will return to Athens to perform at the 40 Watt Club on May 16. Though he has previously opened for other comedians at the 40 Watt—namely Scovel, whom he’s opened over 150 shows for—this will be Lawand’s first time headlining at the venue. The event is one of 10 stops on a Southeastern tour leading up to a live comedy taping at The Earl in Atlanta on May 24, which happens to be Lawand’s 50th birthday. 

“This hour that I’m touring called ‘Iraq You Break’ is very personal,” says Lawand. “It’s about my background and my worldview seen through that lens. It’s silly while still addressing heavier subject matter, such as immigration, right wing politics, war in Iraq and racism.”

The live taping will be Lawand’s first-ever special, and in some ways represents the culmination of the last 17 years spent honing his craft. He jokes that he must be on some sort of timeline coinciding with the cicadas, but the truth is that he hit a few health-related speed bumps after moving back to Atlanta in 2017. It took a little while to get back up to speed, but now he feels that his standup career is in its best place yet in terms of creativity and passion. 

“Audiences in Athens have been fantastic,” says Lawand. “It’s one of those places where I don’t have to tone down some of my leftist beliefs. It’s not an overt theme in my act, but it’s amazing how those that scream the most about freedom of speech and cancel culture are often the most sensitive and also the least funny. The scene has always been great in Athens. It seems to maintain a steady state of great comics and shows. I love it.”

WHO : Gilbert Lawand WHEN : Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m. (doors) WHERE : 40 Watt Club  HOW MUCH : $15

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Tsar: Description

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In terms of cuisine, there is very little Tsarist about this restaurant, as its menu is an almost stereotypical example of contemporary Russian fine-dining - traditional Russian dishes gently tweaked for modern tastes, plus imported fish, seafood and steaks. Nonetheless, Tsar has an impressively elegant interior and, for those that can afford it, offers well-cooked examples of what rich Russians like to eat.

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2-Day Tour in St Petersburg

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Description

Lifetime experience visiting two most artistic, elegant and stunning cities of Russia – St Petersburg and Peterhof on our private tours with friendly local guides.

This ultimate 2-day tour combines all the main highlight of St Petersburg, which is often called the Northern Venice, and Peterhof, which is said to rival Versailles.

Highlights of Saint Petersburg:

• See top tourist attractions in Saint Petersburg: Nevsky Prospect, Church on Spilled Blood, St Isaac's Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, the Hermitage (from outside) and more!
• Take in the views of Nevsky Prospect, fascinating bridges, embankments and all downtown of St Petersburg;
• See a garden, 2 parks, 3 legendary cathedrals, 4 embankments and a dozen other local gems of St Petersburg;
• Learn about the intriguing, controversive and rich history of Russia;
• Hear the stories behind popular attractions;
• Get insider tips and an insight into a local Petersburg life;
• Get the real feel of St Petersburg in urban parks and off the beaten path areas;
• Enjoy the scenic views from embankments and capture the dramatic panorama from observation deck of St Isaac’s Cathedral (optional);
• Customize your itinerary and have a great time on a hassle-free private St Petersburg tour with a Friendly Local Guide.
• Hotel pickup  (any time you wish);
• Nevsky Prospect , main street of Saint Petersburg and, believe it or not, Russia;
• Kazan Cathedral , breathtaking - both inside and out, a true gem of Saint Petersburg with 136 columns;
• Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood , feel very small inside this grand cathedral with elaborate gilded-work and sophisticated mosaics;
• Eliseev Emporium  – a delicatessen store from a bygone era to refresh yourself before you hit Nevsky Prospect;
• Beloselsky Beloozersky and Anichkov Palace , cultural heritage of Russia and the most beautiful private palaces of XIX century;
• Monument to Catherine the Great , a major force in Russian history and the idol of many Russians;
• Russian National Library , the oldest national library of Russia, established in 1795 by Catherine the Great;
• Coffee experience  in the best coffee shop of St Petersburg, with views of Griboedova Channel Embankment and Kazan Cathedral (optional);
• Michael Garden & Summer Garden –  enjoy local nature and explore the city through the eyes of locals;
• Michael Palace  – astonishing architectural monument, unusual and unique for St. Petersburg;
• Palace Embankment, Admiralty Embankment, Griboedova Channel, Moika Embankment and Lebyazhya Kanavka Embankment  – take in famous landmarks, get the real feel of the Northern capital and enjoy the breezes coming off the water;
• Bronze Horseman, Monument to Peter I  - unique statue of Peter the Great, the greatest man in Russian huistory, the founder of Saint Petersburg. It survived the siege of Leningrad (former name of St Petersburg) during WW2 and is one of the symbols of Russia;
• Palace Square –  feel the magnitude of this huge square, one of the largest and most historic open spaces of the city;
• The Hermitage  is a huge complex, with several different parts. Must be on your bucket list for life experience;
• Marble Palace  with its opulent design and startling types of marble is one of few buildings that survived the siege during the WWII;
• Winter Palace  – with only 2% of the items they show, you will still be amazed with a vast variety of jewels, gold and furniture. Decorated in over-the-top fashion, this is one of the most photographed places in St Petersburg!;
• The buildings of Imperial Army General Staff and Royal Guards' General Staff;
• Alexander column  – the state of the art of architecture, the monument to the Russian military victory in the war with Napoleon;
• The Narva Triumphal Arch  – an elegant memorial to the war of 1812;
• Admiralty , one of the first structures to be built in St Petersburg, where Tsar Peter I himself took part in the massive construction of the very first ships of Russia's Baltic fleet;
• The Admiralty Garden , a fashionable place for the Petersburg aristocracy back in 19th century to promenade and catch up with the latest gossips;
• St Isaac’s cathedral –  grand structure, stunning interior, golden icons, splendid mosaics and plenty of history!
• Lunch  in a cozy local café. With magic interior, healthy foods, lots of mouth-watering desserts and perfectly located on one of the most vibrant streets of Saint Petersburg;
• Drop off  at your hotel or any place you wish.

What you get:

• + Meet a local and make a new friend in Saint Petersburg.
• + Exciting fun communication with a local, not just boring history lessons.
• + Ask your guide questions about any subject, get genuinely connected with your guide.
• + Private Saint Petersburg two day tour, customized itinerary, personalized experience.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit your individual preferences.
• + Your personal tour guide focuses solely on you and makes sure you get the most out of your experience.
• + Your personal travel consultant is at your service any time via email, facebook, skype or whatsapp. You will not feel alone with Friendly Local Guides.
• + Must do + off the beaten path of the city.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Local cosy cafes and restaurants with traditional cuisine and interior.
• + Lunch specials on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + Best coffee shops in the city.
• + Spectacular Saint Petersburg scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Special offers for taxi and hotels with good location and price.
• + Expert local advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in St Petersburg.

*This tour can be modified to meet your preferences

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