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Athens, But Make It Delicious

If you’ve been following along with my 2027 Greece group trip, you already know the big picture. We’re doing Greece the smart way.

Unpack once 🧳. Wake up somewhere new. No dragging suitcases across cobblestone streets in 95 degree heat. 🌞 That’s why we’re sailing with Celebrity Cruises. Since most of us will spend a few days in Athens pre or post cruise, I thought it would be best to dive into some culinary research and write about what I found out. So here we go . . .

Athens might be the most underrated food city in Europe.

Bold claim right off the bat, and if you’re the kind of person I typically work with (project managers, engineers, executives, and people who are used to being “on” all the time), then this might be the part of the trip you didn’t know you needed most.

Because in Athens, meals aren’t rushed.

🍕 Did Pizza Actually Start in Greece?

I need to address something before we go any further. If you know me, then you know I’m always in the middle of my next International Pizza Tour.

Greece makes things interesting because there’s a legitimate argument that pizza started in ancient Greece! The Italians may have evolved the dish, but the idea comes from something called plakous over 2,000 years ago. It was a flatbread topped with olive oil, herbs, garlic, and cheese.

We’re talking about pizza’s great great great grandfather. Modern pizza absolutely comes out of Naples. No debate there. But the idea of putting incredible things on bread comes from Greece. In my mind, this trip just went from a fun European vacation to a pilgrimage.

One More Thing About Me

I have the eating habits of a 12 year old. If I had my way, I’d rotate between Pizza, Mozzarella sticks, Fried chicken, Ice cream, Chocolate croissants.

That’s my starting lineup, and there are some situations where I can eat all of those things in the same sitting. No shame.

I expect Greece to upgrade my eating habits (at least temporarily if not permanently)

  • Instead of mozzarella sticks? 👉 Saganaki. Fried cheese, but somehow better.
  • Instead of pizza? 👉 Ancient Greek pizza’s cousin. Flatbreads, souvlaki wraps, and yes, I will be doing “research.”
  • Instead of ice cream? 👉 Greek yogurt with honey. And I will absolutely convince myself this is a healthy decision.
  • Instead of a chocolate croissant? 👉 Tyropita. That flaky, cheesy pastry you grab while walking through Athens in the morning.
  • And instead of eating fast and moving on? 👉 Sitting down. Slowing down. Actually enjoying the meal.

Let’s Talk About What You’re Actually Eating

All of the images in this article came from Celebrity’s own blog post on the same subject. I’ve isolated the top 10 foods I’m most looking forward to trying in Athens, but please check out the aforementioned article for an even bigger list of Athens delicacies.

1. Souvlaki (your new favorite quick bite)

This is Athens’ version of fast food. And it absolutely crushes ours. You’ve got options:

  • Kalamaki. Grilled meat skewers, simple and perfect
  • Gyros. Shaved meat wrapped in pita
  • Bifteki. Seasoned ground meat, juicy and loaded with flavor

This is what you grab between exploring the Acropolis and wandering Plaka. Quick. Affordable. Ridiculously good.

2. Tzatziki (and yes, you’ll eat a lot of it)

You think you’ve had tzatziki. You haven’t. Real tzatziki is:

  • Thick Greek yogurt
  • Fresh cucumber
  • A generous amount of garlic

👉 Order it with everything. Fries. Bread. Vegetables. Meat.

3. The Greek Salad Reset

A Greek Salad is one of my favorite salads here in the states, but let’s reset expectations. What we call a Greek salad in the U.S. is not what you’re getting in Athens.

Here’s the upgrade:

  • Big chunks of cucumber and tomato
  • Kalamata olives that actually taste like something
  • A slab of feta, not crumbles
  • Olive oil that makes you rethink what you have at home

4. Lamb Chops

Meals in Greece are meant to be shared. And when it’s time for the main event, you order lamb chops by the kilogram.

They come charcoal grilled with crispy edges, and you finish them with a squeeze of lemon.

 

5. Moussaka (comfort food, Greece edition)

Think lasagna, but elevated. Layers of eggplant, spiced meat (ideally lamb), and creamy béchamel.

The best versions are not rushed. They sit, settle, and develop flavor. Kind of like this well planned trip.

6. Tyropita (your morning weakness)

You’re walking through Athens. Coffee in hand. You pass a bakery. Inside?  Tyropita.

Flaky pastry filled with cheese. This is your new breakfast on the go.

So long chocolate croissants.

7. Saganaki (fried cheese done right)

This sounds simple. It is simple, and it’s incredible. That’s why we’re trading out the mozzarella sticks.

Crispy outside. Soft inside. Hit with lemon. You’ll order it once and then wonder why we don’t do this more often.

8. Koulouri (Athens’ morning ritual)

If you’re up early, and we will be because I know how to maximize a port day…

You’ll see street vendors selling sesame bread rings. Warm. Slightly chewy. Perfect with coffee.

This is how Athens starts its day (if you’re not eating Tyropita).

9. Greek Yogurt with Honey (don’t skip this)

This one is easy enough for us to bring home, but is a dessert or a breakfast? Can I realistically trade out my ice cream for this?

10. Octopus by the Water

This is peak Greece. Grilled octopus. Glass of ouzo. Water in front of you. This is the kind of meal you remember long after the trip.

What Did you Think of Those 10 Foods?

This is just Athens. We’re also going to Santorini, Mykonos, Ephesus, Rhodes, and Hydra. Each with its own food scene. You don’t have to figure any of this out. No juggling hotels. No overplanning. No stress. You show up. Experience it. Enjoy it. The Celebrity Infinity will take you from place to place.

You can read about this stuff all day, but at some point you’ve got to sit down at the table.

Take the first bite. Slow down long enough to actually enjoy it. That’s what this trip is about.

And if I come back eating yogurt and honey for breakfast instead of a chocolate croissant . . . We’ll all know something significant happened.

If you’re thinking about joining us on this Greece group trip, let’s talk.

Ryan Joy
Creating Magic Vacations
[email protected]
315-212-9775

Life is short. Eat a Cookie. Have a Pizza. Go on a Vacation. 🍕

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