If you are a vegan or vegetarian traveler, you might worry about where you can eat in an unfamiliar city and it might be difficult to spot the most suitable restaurants at first. With this short guide, you’ll have no problem eating out once in Athens! Of course, a healthy, light, and plant-based meal is an excellent choice for everyone!
Best Places for Vegan & Vegetarian Food in Athens
Cookoomela Grill
A vegan meal that won’t make you give up all the flavors of plant-based Mediterranean food. The menu only includes natural ingredients and the culinary proposals are tasty and nourishing while super healthy and light at the same time. Mushrooms are used as the basic ingredient of each dish and you should try them in wraps reproducing the vegetarian version of traditional gyros. Another popular dish is the vegetarian kebab made of lentils instead of meat.
Of course, they also offer plenty of salads and veggies coming from eco-friendly suppliers. They use recyclable and biodegradable packaging for a lower environmental impact. Cookoomela Grill is located in Exharia neighborhood and it fits well in the unconventional and alternative atmosphere of this area of Athens.
Address: 43-45, Themistokleous Street
Opening hours: Monday – Thursday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m./ Friday & Saturday from 1 p.m. to midnight/Closed on Sunday
Website: https://cookoomela.gr/en/
Mama Tierra
Either you are on a macrobiotic diet, you only eat healthy and plant-based food or you are simply curious to try some new dishes, visit this tiny restaurant in Exharia neighborhood. They offer some genuine food for a light meal with good value for money. That’s a good opportunity to try some traditional Greek food like moussaka, but also some international courses like veggie burgers.
The menu only includes fresh and high-quality ingredients as well as many spices to create some original recipes. A takeaway menu is also available in case you prefer to continue your sightseeing while eating some falafel or a wrap for lunch.
Address: 84, Akadimias Street
Opening hours: everyday from noon to 10 p.m/closed on Sunday
Website: https://www.mamatierra.gr/home
Avocado
A creative plant-based meal in a central area of Athens: that’s what you can find at Avocado. It offers fresh and seasonal meals that perfectly suit the owners’ cruelty-free philosophy and lifestyle. Avocado is located only 5 minutes away from Syntagma Square, so it is an excellent place for a quick lunch in the city center.
Among the most popular dishes on the menu, you shall try some hummus avocado with pita bread and their mushroom risotto. It’s also a nice place to taste a healthy smoothie during your afternoon break. Their generous portions provide a great value for money too.
Address: 30, Nikis Street
Opening hours: every day from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m./Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: https://www.avocadoathens.com/
Peas Vegan and Raw food
For a quick and tasty snack at any time of the day, try this vegan bar. One of the highlights of the menu is the wide choice of creative fresh fruit juices that are perfect to accompany a slice of raw apple pie or avocado tart. It is located close to the Acropolis Museum, so it’s a real nice place for a break after some sightseeing.
You can try many raw recipes to discover an unconventional way of eating while being sure of respecting the environment thanks to the eco-friendly packaging and the complete lack of plastic.
Address: 40, Falirou Street
Opening hours: every day from noon to 11 p.m.
Website: http://peas.gr/en/
Local Green Athens
It’s all about high-quality products and the strive to offer some healthy gourmet dishes. The highlight of the menu is the wide choice of fresh salads that are original and creative with an international and exotic touch, such as the Asian Tofu Salad or the Curry Cauliflower Salad. You’ll find veggies everywhere but the proposals are really innovative and appetizing like the kale chips or the many vegetarian wraps perfect for a quick yet healthy lunch.
You can also find some soy-free and gluten-free proposals as well as great attention to allergies. For particularly demanding customers, they offer the option “Build your Salad” with more than 50 toppings and dressings. Local Green Athens is located 5 minutes away from the busy Syntagma Square, right in the city center.
Address: 30-32, Perikleous Street
Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 11.30 a.m. to 7 p.m./Saturday from 11.30 a.m. to 6 p.m./Closed on Sunday
There are another couple of restaurants offering some good vegetarian and vegan dishes even if their menus are not strictly plant-based:
Feyrouz
This tiny Lebanese street food shop is an ideal choice for vegetarian and vegan travelers loving ethnic recipes. The menu offers a mix of Greek, Lebanese and Turkish dishes with some interesting plant-based alternatives.
Try a vegetarian pie like the Fatayer (Arabic spicy herb pie) for example, taste a vegetarian lahmatzou or a fresh summer salad. You can accompany your meal with a fresh Greek beer. Feyrouz is located in the city center, in a side street close to the vibrant Aiolou Street.
Address: 2, Agathonos Street
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday from noon to 10 p.m/ Friday & Saturday from noon to 11 p.m./Closed on Sunday
Website: https://feyrouz.gr/
Falafellas
Another great plant-based street food is falafel. Perfect for a quick lunch during your sightseeing or for a snack at any time of the day, falafels can be declined in countless versions. Here you’ll find many different toppings and the long line in front of the shop is a secure guarantee of quality!
Falafellas is located in Monastiraki neighborhood on a nice pedestrian street. There are no seats inside, but a few benches nearby. The menu also includes some hummus and tabouleh at a very convenient price.
Address: 51, Aiolou Street
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m./Friday & Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight/Closed on Sunday