Why Greek cuisine is vegetarian-friendly
Greek Orthodox Christianity has 180+ fasting days per year. Lent (40 days before Easter) is fully vegan. Advent (40 days before Christmas) is vegan. Many Wednesdays and Fridays are fasting days. This created a serious vegetable cuisine over centuries — not vegan-as-restriction but vegan-as-craft.
A standard Greek taverna will have 8-15 vegetarian options without trying. Most can make any dish vegan by removing the cheese — just ask "horis tyri" (without cheese).
Top vegetarian Greek dishes to order
- Gemista: Tomatoes and peppers stuffed with rice, herbs, sometimes pine nuts. Always vegan.
- Fasolada: White bean soup with tomato, carrots, celery. Greek "national soup." Vegan.
- Fava (Santorini-style): Yellow split pea purée drizzled with olive oil and capers. Famous Santorini specialty.
- Spanakorizo: Spinach + rice cooked together with dill and lemon.
- Briam: Roasted vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, potato, tomato) — Greek ratatouille. Vegan.
- Dolmades (rice version): Rice + herbs wrapped in grape leaves. Vegan if confirmed (some have meat — ask).
- Horta: Boiled wild greens dressed with lemon and olive oil. Always vegan.
- Tzatziki: Yogurt + cucumber + garlic. Vegetarian (not vegan).
- Spanakopita: Spinach-feta pie in phyllo. Vegetarian.
- Saganaki: Pan-fried cheese. Vegetarian.
Best vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Athens
- Veganaki (Pangrati): Fully vegan Greek menu. Modern, excellent, €15-25 per person.
- Avocado (central Athens, near Syntagma): Vegetarian/vegan global menu. Quick, casual, healthy.
- Cookoovaya (Pangrati): Modern Greek with strong vegetarian section. €30-45 per person, but worth it.
- To Mavro Provato (Pangrati): Traditional taverna, half the menu is vegetarian by default.
- Any neighborhood taverna: Order multiple vegetable mezedes — fava, gigantes (giant beans), gemista, briam, horta, fried zucchini, fried eggplant. Easily a satisfying meal.