Food in Athens: A Practical Guide
It's easy to get Athens wrong-top. The first time I tried to order a coffee at a tiny kafeneio near Syntagma Square, I was handed a tiny cup of espresso and a plate of honey-drenched baklava. The barista, a woman with silver-streaked hair and a smile that said she'd seen it all, said, "This is not coffee. This is a Greek coffee. You drink it slowly." I'd been rushing through the city, chasing the Acropolis views, but here, in a corner of Athens where the tourists haven't quite made it, I realized the city isn't about speed—it's about savoring. And that's when I started to truly taste it. My first proper meal in Athens was at a place called Ouzeri Tzitzikas, tucked away on a quiet street near Monastiraki. I walked in at 8 PM, and the owner, a man named Nikos, greeted me with a nod and a plate of grilled octopus. The octopus was tender, charred just right, served with a side of lemon and a sprinkle of oregano. It cost 18 euros, and I ate it at a sm...