Other than its amazing beaches, whitewashed villages, and inspiring mountain landscapes, one of the main reasons why people travel to Greece is its unique flavors, fresh ingredients, and overall mouthwatering Mediterranean cuisine.
Often placed among the most delicious gastronomies in the world, there’s no doubt that you will want to try the fantastic food when island-hopping in Greece or when traveling around the country.
Every island and every region has its own special cuisine, and all of it is worth trying.
When moving around Greece, you might want to take into account some of the unwritten etiquette rules for dining; therefore, keep these do’s and don’ts of dining in Greece at hand for a seamless culinary experience.
Here are 10+ tips for eating in Greece.
1. Do Share Food
When going out for dinner, especially if part of a big group of friends or family, Greeks often order a variety of different dishes that land in the center of the table for everyone to share.
This eating habit is much more common than everyone ordering their own dish. In this way, everyone gets to try different flavors and have a much wider culinary experience.
When dining in Greece it is common to order shared dishes for the whole table
Eating solo in Greece?
Worry not, you can always ask for a platter that combines samples of different dishes, as you won’t be able to share.
Moreover, you’ll be happy to hear that asking for a food box to put the rest of your dinner and take home with you is not badly seen at all (as it might be in Italy).
And do not worry about heating your food; most Greek dishes are equally or even more delicious when eaten cold!
LEARN MORE: Dining Alone Tips and Advice
2. Do Eat Street Food in Greece
Gyro and souvlaki wraps are probably the two most famous examples of street food in Greece, and locals love them.
These sandwiches can be made of chicken, pork, or lamb, and they often include some vegetables, tzatziki or yogurt, and many times even French fries.
Greeks love to enjoy a gyro wrapped in pita bread during their lunch break or as a quick dinner, and you should too! Choose any souvlaki joint and get yourself an authentic Greek souvlaki.
Not a fan of meat? Don’t worry, many places have vegetarian versions with grilled halloumi cheese or falafel.
Gyros are one of the most popular street foods in Greece that you should try, and also try souvlaki of course!
3. Do Enjoy the Bread!
Upon sitting at the table in any taverna, the waiter will prepare your table, bringing a generous portion of freshly baked bread.
If you look around, you will see that many Greeks often take a piece of that bread, drizzle it with a generous amount of Extra Virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, and enjoy this informal appetizer even before ordering their food.
Don’t be afraid of doing the same. This is one of the simplest yet most delicious treats you will be able to enjoy in Greece… and certainly one that you will miss when back in your own country: nothing beats this special flavor combination so typical of the Greek culture.
4. Don’t Skip on Snacks
Greeks love their snacks, any time of the day.
The snack time foods are often savory and can go perfectly well with a cup of frappe. Common snacks all over the country are savory pies (spinach pie or spanakopita, cheese pie or tyropita are the most famous ones), but also koulouri.
Koulouri is a very ancient kind of round bread, often covered in sesame seeds, that most Greeks enjoy right before lunch or even as a quick breakfast on the go.
Enjoy outdoor dining at a typical Greek taverna
5. Do Try Greek Meze
Often described as light appetizers or even as the Greek version of Spanish tapas, Greek meze (or mezedes) are small dishes served before lunch or dinner, many times with a glass of ouzo, intended to open your appetite and kickstart a fantastic gastronomic journey.
Common meze changes according to where in Greece you find yourself.
They can be anything from plain but tasty Kalamata olives to small finger-sized bites of seafood (octopus and sardines are pretty common), but also vegetables, such as small dice of cucumber and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and oregano, small rusks, or more elaborated delicacies, such as stuffed vine leaves or zucchini flowers.
LEARN MORE: What to Eat in Greece – Must try Foods!
6. Don’t Say No to a Toast
After you’ve ordered your bill at the end of the meal, it is very common for the waiter to bring you a small shot of a strong alcoholic drink for a quick toast. It can be anything from mastic liquor (common on Chios Island), tsipouro, or tsikoudia, the drink of choice on the island of Crete.
This is part of a local tradition known as kerasma, which is the utmost example of Greek hospitality.
More often than not, kerasma consists of a small glass of an alcoholic beverage together with some fresh fruit, a small portion of Greek yogurt and marmalade, a spoon sweet, or a more fancy and elaborated sweet.
This “free sweet” often surprises tourists, who will never expect a restaurant to offer a sweet on the house after the bill has been paid. Do not refuse it; have a toast and enjoy the local hospitality.
7. Do Try Greek Comfort Food
Although summers in Greece might feel too hot to choose a baked dish and choosing a fresh salad might be the obvious option, do not disregard the amazing flavors of Greek comfort food.
Three trademark dishes of Greek cuisine, moussaka, pastitsio, and gemista, are a must if you really want to sample the kind of food that Greeks often have at home.
Moussaka is a delicious baked dish made with eggplants and potatoes (some versions also include zucchini), minced meat, béchamel sauce, and a touch of cinnamon that makes it incredibly tasty.
Pastitsio is similar to the Italian lasagna, but it is made with a thick layer of tubular pasta (known as ziti), a beef or lamb ragu, and a velvety layer of béchamel sauce.
Finally, gemista is another great baked delicacy made of tomatoes, bell peppers, and sometimes even zucchini filled with a mix of rice and plenty of fresh herbs.
And if the weather feels too hot to try them, do not worry; locals eat these dishes all year round, but in summer they serve them cold, and they are equally fantastic!
8. Don’t Stick to Greek Salad Only
Most people get to Greece thinking that they will have tons of Greek salad, and they do so!
However, they often miss a wide variety of other kinds of salads that are easily found in many taverns and restaurants.
As the country has very long summers with quite high temperatures, salads are a thing, especially at lunch.
And there are many varieties to try, including xoriatiki salad (this is the original name of the traditional Greek salad).
But other varieties as well, including tuna salad, octopus and avocado salad, a simple but very popular carrot and cabbage salad, a fresh salad made with just basil, feta, and tomato, and the Cretan salad on the island of Crete, a richer variety of Greek salad made with soft goat cheese instead of feta, boiled potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and even beetroot at times too.
Certainly eat Greek salad but also try others like Cretan salad, tuna salad, or octopus and avocado salad
9. Do Try Cold Coffee
In Greece there is a long coffee tradition and coffee culture, and locals are attached to this delicious habit. In fact, any time of the day seems to be the perfect hour for coffee.
When traveling to Greece, don’t overlook this local ritual and have your own glass of cold coffee or freddo espresso when sunbathing at the beach.
It might be healthier than a cold beer, and… who knows, you might even discover a new way of enjoying your cuppa!
Frappe is a delicious cold coffee drink you must try in Greece
10. Do Remember to Tip
Although tipping in Greece is not established by any guideline, tipping after getting good service will be really appreciated in a country that survives mostly on tourism (but that also has one of the lowest salaries in the whole of Europe).
And although there’s no fixed rule on how much you should tip after a meal, anything from 10 to 20 percent of the bill is considered very generous.
Alternatively, you can also choose to round up your bill. For instance, if your meal was €38, it is a good practice to pay €40 and tell the waiter to keep the rest.
11. Don’t Expect to Dine Early
Although this trend has changed a bit in recent years due to the high numbers of tourists visiting the country, Greeks never dine before 9 pm… or later, with most restaurants being full between 10 and 11 pm.
That means that most locals will be still enjoying their glass of cold coffee at 6 or 7 pm when you’re getting ready for dinner.
You don’t really need to worry, as you will certainly find many restaurants ready to serve you dinner as early as 6 pm, especially in the most touristic areas of the country.
On the other hand, if you want to mingle and be part of the local culture, then head for dinner at least after 8 pm.
Late hours work the same for lunch; locals often have their lunch after 2 pm. However, many restaurants that cater to travelers start serving lunch at around midday.
12. Don’t Expect Abundant Breakfasts
There’s a common joke that says that Greeks often have a coffee and a cigarette for breakfast and, up to a certain extent, that might be true.
Especially in big cities, such as Athens, Thessaloniki, or Heraklion, where the life pace can be as frenetic and fast as in any other capital of the world.
People don’t often have time to sit and enjoy a hearty breakfast, so they have a cup of coffee to go with a small cheese pie or a koulouri.
If you’re staying in an all-inclusive or a 5-star hotel, this rule might not apply, and you will be happy to enjoy eggs, yogurt, juices, pastries, and much more.
But normally Greeks don’t have such a huge food variety at their early morning table.
If you’re visiting a mountain village or remote fishing settlement, breakfast will be even more different.
In these areas, it is not odd for the housewife to serve the leftovers of dinner as the first meal of the day, including soup, vegetables, and savory pies.
If there was no food left from dinner, locals can arrange a quick and rich meal made of olives, rusks, fresh tomatoes, homemade cakes, and fresh fruit from their own garden.
13. Don’t Disregard Greek Wine
Even though many visitors still think that wine in Greece is synonymous with retsina, or low-quality table wine, things have changed a lot in the last few years.
Greece has a flourishing wine industry that, season after season, earns worldwide awards and recognition for its innovative tastes and stunning quality.
No matter where in Greece you visit, always ask for a glass (or bottle) of local wine, ask what the regional grapes and labels are, and go for them.
Wine in Greece is excellent, not as pricey as in other countries, and it will certainly be a pleasant and unexpected surprise.
Try the Greek wine to experience all the Greece has to offer
14. Don’t Be Afraid to Eat on Your Own
Even when in many other countries sitting alone at a table might be seen as odd or uncommon, this is not a problem in Greece.
Most locals are particularly friendly to solo travelers (and often very protective of women traveling solo), so nobody will stare if you sit at a table in a tavern or restaurant on your own.
In these cases, you will find that waiters might be more friendly than you’d expect, but do not worry; they will not be hitting on you; they will just want to engage in friendly conversation and keep you some company for a couple of minutes. It is perfectly normal and a great way to learn more about the local habits and customs.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the rules for dining in Greece are not so many and not so strict. Greece is a country that heavily relies on tourism and where local hospitality makes travelers feel safe and at home.
Although many of these guidelines won’t apply in international resorts or all-inclusive hotels, they will certainly be very much alive if you’re staying in small villages or spending the night in a small family-run hotel or studio.
For that reason, I suggest you bookmark this page and keep these do’s and don’ts at hand. They will certainly ensure an authentic gastronomic experience in Greece that you won’t easily forget!
More Greek Travel Info
What to Eat in Greece – Must Try Foods!
10 Best Islands to Visit in Greece
Best Things to Do in Mykonos (mini guide)
When is the Best Time to Visit Greece?
16 Beautiful Beaches in Greece
Mykonos vs Santorini – Which is Best?
Itinerary for 3 Days in Santorini
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About the Author
Gabi Ancarola is a translator and travel journalist living in Crete. She regularly writes about Europe for several magazines about travel, gastronomy, and hospitality. She has published several travel guides about Greece and plans customized trips to the Greek islands. She loves cooking local dishes, taking photos, and driving on the mountain roads of Crete.