The vegan dining scene is not only here to stay in Athens, but also flourishing!
With more and more vegan restaurants and cafes opening up and an increasing number of previously vegan-incognizant places altering their menus to include exciting vegan options, there is a modern, creative, flavoursome and nutritionally sophisticated choice of venues for anyone with a hearty and even highly demanding plant-based appetite. Here we showcase our best recommendations.
Peas (40, Falirou Str, Koukaki)
With the motto “Give Peas a Chance”, this trendy Koukaki place serves salads, breakfast specials, wraps, burgers, sandwiches, souvlaki, hot meals, cakes and desserts that are all homemade. You’ll find gluten-free raw and sugar-free choices and can sip on vitamin-rich juices, smoothies and fair-trade coffee. Don’t Miss: the raw tart and club sandwich.
Trivoli Vegan Kafeneio 10 Best Vegan Restaurants in Athens (Marinou Antipa 107a, Ilioupoli)
A vegan bar/restaurant serving wholesome, filling meals such as various kinds of pasta, burgers, salads, souvlaki and healthy drinks such as shakes, juices and coffee with plant milk. Don’t miss: the cannelloni with vegan ricotta, spinach and sunflower seeds, Greek classic pastitsioand soy yiouvetsi.
Yi (69 Grigoriu Lambraki Street, Glyfada)
A foodie venue with sophisticated flavours and artfully concocted raw and vegan dishes, Yi has been impressing palates for over a decade now in a large, beautiful space in Athens’ southern suburb of Glyfada. Don’t Miss: Raw soup, Mexican burritos and the harvest veggie bowl with caramelized chickpeas.
The Vegan Vandal (Aminta 15 Pangrati)
Fancy junk food without the meat? This is your place. This fun Pangrati hangout serves souvlaki, pitta pockets burgers and other crunchy sinful-tasting stuff without the guilt. Don’t Miss: the Jack Burger with smoked pulled jackfruit marinated in BBQ sauce, coleslaw, mayo, garden onion, baby rocket and pickled carrot and the crispy cauliflower bites.
Cookoomela Grill – Exarchia (43-45 Themistokleous Street, Exarcheia)
Athens’ first vegan souvlaki joint, and still perhaps the most successful, specialises in homemade mushroom or lentil gyro, and a ‘tzatziki’ with organic soy yoghurt. Don’t Miss: the Yellow Dish (with mushroom, avocado, vegetable mayonnaise, tomato, onion, parsley and hand-cut potatoes.
Mother Vegan (Dimitrakopoulou 95, Koukaki)
This place differs from the rest, especially in that it ventures to create ‘steak’ made with organic beans, kombucha, and various other intriguing ingredients. And it succeeds in creating something very tasty! Don’t Miss: the aromatic chard pie with fresh garden herbs and the Smoked Tofu Burger with soybeans, tamari, nutritional yeast flakes, lentils and nigari.
Veganaki (38 Athanasiou Diakou Street, Koukaki)
Veganaki centres its menu on Greek recipes with rich flavours and high-quality local ingredients. Don’t Miss: the moussaka with minced red lentil and bechamel made with almond milk and cauliflower, the pastitsio with minced soy and for a taste of the Middle East, the crispy, oven-baked falafel
Winners Vegan Restaurant (Nikis 27, at Niki Athens Hotel, Syntagma)
Actually located within the Niki Athens Hotel, Winners Vegan is a cheerful little place serves plant-based organic dishes and snacks including great breakfast options like guacamole toast. Don’t Miss: Mac n cheese and vegan poke (Hawaiian sushi).
Mama Tierra (84 Akadimias Street, Athens)
Highly popular for its tasty ethnic cuisine, pure raw materials (many of which are organic) and healthy homemade preparation, this is a classic haunt for vegans and vegetarians. Don’t Miss: Greek soutzoukakakia patties with red sauce, crisp macrobiotic salads, mushroom risotto and vegetable korma.
Avocado (30 Nikis Street, Syntagma)
Another Athens vegan classic, this place serves wonderful Asian, Indian and Mediterranean dishes made with high-quality ingredients as well as wonderful, healthy smoothies and juices. Don’t Miss: the Zen Tempeh with organic rice noodles, ginger, fresh snow peas, red curry, coconut milk and tempeh, crispy tofu and raw chocolate tart.
