Of course, we’ll start with souvlaki. Named after a reference in the Greek cult comedy Let the Women Wait, Volvi is amongst the latest and most popular additions to a very very long line-up of traditional Greek street food eateries. The idea behind it was initially an inside joke between friends Aris Doukas, a successful bar owner, and Tasos Perdikis, renowned chef and son of a butcher. That was until an old souvlaki place shut down on fragrant Evripidou Street, right next to the Athens Central Food Market, which the duo took as a sign of fate. The menu consists of classic Greek comfort food picks such as the kalamaki tylichto; skewered pork or chicken meat (though Volvi only does pork) wrapped in pita bread, with tomatoes, onion, mustard, and boukovo flakes, the Mediterranean’s version of chilli. No potatoes. Their highlights are the homemade soutzoukakia (oblong meatballs with cumin and garlic) made after a recipe by Tasos’ grandfather from Aivali, Turkey, and also include Tasos’ paprika sauce made with sweet red Florina peppers and feta cheese, ideal for some extra flavour in your souvlaki wrap. 

Also: everything you need to know about Athens’ staple street food.

Enjoy traditional Napolitan pizza with a twist in the heart of Athens. Founder and master pizzaiolo Kyriakos Liodakis customised his dough by switching the traditional yeast with natural sourdough, which is left to rest for 48 hours. Granello, which means "grain" in Italian, opened in May 2019 and instantly gained the favour of the locals for its top notch ingredients like the Caputo flour, the best for baking a Napolitan pizza. Set in a 1865 brick building, the interior has been given a futuristic revamp and boasts an eye-catching custom wood-fired oven delivered directly from Naples. Pizzas are available in slices or as a whole for takeaway, but if you have a moment you can always sit down and enjoy with a bottle of wine or local brew (Blame The Sun and Noctua are your Athenian beer choices here). The menu selection is wide featuring regular and seasonal pizzas: figs and prosciutto for the summer, pumpkin for winter. The latest addition is the carbonara one with parmesan cream, mozzarella, bacon crumble, stracciatella and chives topped with black pepper that will make you cry out “mamma che pizza!”.

Also: join us for an extra slice of Athens.

This vegan spot on grungy Themistokleous Street in Exarchia is a crossroads of cultures. Since 2021 Sanem and Zelal have managed to form a multi-ethnic collective of Kurds, Palestinians, Syrians, and locals, all of whom co-run their version of a meze bar from inside their small kitchen. The 10-man crew take turns in the kitchen and bring their own traditional recipes and flavours to the table. Their highlight is the Turkish gözleme: thin crepes, crunchy on the outside and silky on the inside, stuffed with greens (spinach, leeks, chicory, fennel), mushrooms, onions, sauces and spices. Enjoy a glass of their red lentil soup with a side of ekmek (Turkish for “bread”); handmade buns filled with vegan Smyrna meatballs. Here, everything is very budget-friendly as their philosophy is to provide healthy, responsible and affordable nourishment for everyone. Before leaving make sure to sip some of their homemade lemonade, kefir, kombucha or hibiscus tea.

Also: lettuce show you around vegan Athens. 

After quitting sea life back in 1988, Lieutenant Giannis Karambelas came across this small rundown corner in Koukaki where he decided to open a small sandwich shop. Thirty five years later, it’s not only Giannis’ warm heart that has gained Guarantee its legendary status in Athens’ street food scene, but also his enthusiasm and desire to constantly improve on his products. “When we first started, customers were asking for ingredients that we didn’t have back then, like tuna or blue cheese. If people are asking for more, I thought, we should offer more,” Giannis recalls. Now, the shop offers over ten different kinds of bread delivered daily from three bakeries in the area, 20 types of cold cuts and 20 cheese types from around the world. You really don’t want to miss out on the handmade fillings, such as rosbeef, grilled vegetables (eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and more), salmon gravlax and pesto sauces. Guarantee’s menu has 36 sandwich combinations, some of which are ideas suggested by its customers. Take your pick, or have them make your own, then pair it with a freshly made juice and you’re good to skip your next meal.

Also: if it goes well in a sandwich, it goes well in a pie.