Ten Best Dishes in Greece

See Greece recommends the ten best dishes in Greece to try, especially if it’s your first visit, and also discover the best places to find them.

Greece is a culinary paradise, offering a rich tapestry of flavors rooted in its history, geography, and culture. If you’re visiting Greece for the first time, here are ten must-try dishes, along with the best places to try them:

Ten Best Dishes in Greece

Moussaka

This iconic Greek dish layers eggplant, minced meat (often lamb), and béchamel sauce, baked to perfection. It’s a hearty comfort food that embodies Greek cuisine. See our full page all about Greek moussaka, complete with a recipe for you to try.

Best Place to Try: Head to Ariston in Athens, a historic bakery and restaurant known for its traditional moussaka and other Greek classics.

Souvlaki

Souvlaki consists of skewered and grilled meat (usually pork or chicken) served with pita bread, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki. It’s Greece’s answer to fast food, but far more flavorful.

Best Place to Try: Visit Kostas in Athens, a legendary spot that has been serving souvlaki since 1950.

Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)

This savory pastry is made with layers of phyllo dough filled with spinach, feta cheese, and herbs. It’s a popular snack or light meal.

Best Place to Try: Try it in Thessaloniki, the culinary capital of Macedonia (and the whole of Greece, locals would say), where bakeries like Terkenlis are famous for their spanakopita.

Dolmades (Stuffed Grape Leaves)

Dolmades are grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes minced meat. They’re often served as an appetizer or meze. See our full page on dolmades.

Best Place to Try: Sample them in Pelion, a region known for its fresh, locally sourced ingredients and traditional recipes.

Gyros

Similar to souvlaki but made with rotisserie meat, gyros are served in pita wraps with tomatoes, onions, fries, and tzatziki. They’re a street food staple.

Best Place to Try: Enjoy gyros at O Thanasis in Athens, a popular restaurant famous for its juicy, flavorful gyros.

Pastitsio

Often called Greek lasagna, pastitsio features pasta, minced meat, and béchamel sauce. It’s a comforting, oven-baked dish.

Best Place to Try: Try it in Nafplio in the Peloponnese, where traditional tavernas like Karonis serve authentic pastitsio.

Tzatziki

This creamy dip made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and olive oil is a refreshing accompaniment to many Greek dishes.

Best Place to Try: Enjoy it in Crete, where the yogurt is exceptionally rich and creamy. Many tavernas in Chania serve homemade tzatziki.

Seafood (Grilled Octopus and Calamari)

OK, so we cheated as this could be any of several dishes, but in Greece all seafood is a highlight. Grilled octopus and calamari are particularly popular, often served with lemon and olive oil.

Best Place to Try: Head to the islands of Santorini or Mykonos, where seaside tavernas like Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna in Santorini serve fresh, expertly prepared seafood.

Baklava

Hard to pick out just one Greek dessert, but it has to be the ubiquitous baklava. This sweet dessert is made with layers of phyllo dough, nuts, and honey syrup. It’s a decadent treat with Middle Eastern influences.

Best Place to Try: Sample baklava in Thessaloniki, where pastry shops like Chatzis have been perfecting the recipe for generations.

Gemista (Stuffed Vegetables)

Gemista are tomatoes, peppers, or other vegetables stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes minced meat. They’re a staple of Greek home cooking. Our favourite is stuffed peppers, which we often have at home but stuffed with feta cheese rather than rice.

Best Place to Try: Try them in the area around Meteora, where local tavernas use fresh, organic produce from the surrounding farms.

Ten Best Dishes in Greece

Greek cuisine is as diverse as its landscapes, with each region offering unique flavors and specialties. Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of Athens, the idyllic islands, or the serene countryside, these ten dishes in Greece will give you a true taste of Greece. Pair them with a glass of ouzo or local wine, and you’re in for a treat!