The vegetarian and vegan options available in Athens are continuing to increase, aligning the Greek capital with international trends representing a healthier diet and lifestyle.
Mushroom gyro, moussaka with coconut milk béchamel, and green bean patties are just some of the options offering flavour at creative, eclectic street-food joints as well as charming all-day spots, all worth discovering even if you are an unrepentant meat enthusiast.
Gi
On the scene since its 2014 launch, Gi, meaning Earth, is a charming and hospitable all-day restaurant offering cosy corners inside as well as a comfortable yard space off Grigoriou Lambraki St in seaside Glyfada, in the capital’s south. From the morning hours, visitors may start their day with a nutritious meal, accompanied by one of the place’s renowned vegetarian sweets, on display in glass cabinets. Full meals may also be enjoyed, the choices including appetiser soups, vegan and vegetarian burgers, as well as noodle dishes whose bases range from rice tagliatelle, raw zucchini, to quinoa spaghetti, in a number of varieties.
69 Grigoriou Labraki, Glyfada, +30 210 9648512, Website, Facebook
Mama Tierra
For quite a number of years, this vegetarian hangout on downtown Akadimias St has prepared dishes respectful of Mother Earth, hence its business name in Spanish. The multiethnic food variety, covering the Mediterranean, Middle East, Asia and South America, includes a moussaka recipe with coconut milk béchamel and organic black bean mince; eggplant sausages with quinoa; traditional Indian Dal fry made with red and yellow lentils; linguine a la crème with mushrooms and coconut cream; as well as various burgers with mushroom mince and vegetable patties.
84 Akadimias, Athens, +30 211 4114420, Website, Facebook
Cookoomela Grill
No introductions are necessary for Cookoomela Grill, a renowned vegan souvlaki joint in the inner Exarhia, district, which recently gained a sibling outlet in nearby Gyzi. The mushroom gyro, wrapped in pita bread and filled with creative ingredients such as tzatziki made with organic soya yoghurt and a homemade, sugar-free barbecue sauce, is the main attraction. The spot also serves kebab made with lentil sausages, sided by sliced potatoes, unpeeled.
43-45 Themistokleous, Exarhia, +30 211 1822343 & 6 Petrou Kalliga, Gyzi, +30 210 6450700, Website, Facebook
W Karytsi
A new arrival on Athens’ vegetarian map, this tiny spot with tables set at a quiet part of Karytsi Square in central Athens, bases its concept on vegetarian and vegan versions of well-known Greek recipes. Examples include soya souvlaki served as a full-portion dish with tomato, pita bread and tzatziki; vegetarian moussaka, pastitsio (baked pasta dish) and lahanodolmades (stuffed cabbage rolls). Begin your meal with a Greek salad or dako, rusk topped with vegan crumble, handmade pitari (pie) filled with five mushroom varieties, as well as crispy tofu pieces with sesame and herbs.
5 Karytsi Square, Athens, +30 694 6337128, Facebook
Veganaki
This stylish corner shop in the Makrygianni area, with tables set along the wide footpath from early in the day, prepares health-conscious food, and in doing so, prefers the oven to the fry pan. The place makes its own dough for the pizza and pita bread options included on the menu. Selections include healthy salads and appetisers, falafel wraps with local chickpeas baked in the oven, vegan-version moussaka and pastitsio, as well as patties made with green beans and soya yoghurt tzatziki. These can be accompanied by gluten-free beers and other beverages.
38 Athanasiou Diakou & Kallirrois, Makrygianni, +30 210 9244322, Facebook
Local Green
This health-food spot on downtown Perikleous St offers an energy-boosting break from strolling around the city centre. You can pick the ingredients for a custom salad or consider the shop’s proposals. They include health bowls such as curry cauliflower with grilled cauliflower and Anatolian spices; an option with acai and other superfoods; as well as tempting sandwiches, wraps and focaccia selections, all filled with interesting combinations. Also check the range of fruit juice and smoothie drinks, prepared on the spot.
30-32 Perikleous, Athens, +30 210 3214500, Facebook
Peas
Despite being pint-sized, this street-food place in Koukaki offers a considerably wide gamut of vegan options. They include mushroom gyro, marinated tofu, tempeh as well as seitan in pita bread or pita pocket bread, plus salads and burgers, among them Jackfruit, with carrot and a mix of spices. The offering is made complete with savoury tarts, including a selection with nuts, sun-dried tomato and basil, as well as some main dishes. Sweets are not out of the picture, choices including chocolate cake and lemon pie with cashew and lime cream.
