Athens is one of the more affordable capital cities in Europe in terms of food costs and general cost of living. Whether you’re a backpacker looking to stay in a hostel or you’re simply in search of tasty street food, you’ll find the food prices in Athens to be lower than in most French, English, and other European cities.
To help you plan a thoughtful budget for your next Athens food tour, I decided to take a closer look at the average food cost for major meals, and drinks.
Average Cost of Breakfast in Athens
The average cost for a simple breakfast in Athens at a local café or bakery ranges from €5 to €10. However, a more elaborate brunch at mid-range sit-down restaurants might cost between €10 and €20 per person.
The cost of breakfast or any meal will typically be higher in touristy parts of Athens. You can expect to pay more for even a simple breakfast near the Acropolis, or Syntagma Square, than you would in a humble part of the city like the Plaka district.
Some of the more affordable places for breakfast in Athens include Souvlaki Kostas, and
Feyrouz. If you’re looking for a more upscale breakfast, that’s still worth the money, you might want to try Athénée or Zampano.
Average Cost of Lunch in Athens
The average cost of lunch in Athens at a casual restaurant or taverna will run you between €10 to €20 per person. This typically includes dishes like souvlaki, pita wraps, spanakopita, or tiropita.
However, the price can go up steeply if you want to eat lunch at an upscale or fine-dining restaurant. You have to prepare for this, as it can affect just how much money you have left in the budget for dinner.
At a mid-range restaurant like Kuzina the cost for a hearty lunch might run you between €15 to €25. Whereas lunch at a fine-dining restaurant like Spondi or Balthazar might cost you around €35 to €60.
Average Cost of Dinner in Athens
If you want to have dinner in a taverna or a casual restaurant in Athens, you can expect to pay between €12 to €20 per person. Most of these meals include traditional Greek dishes gyros, catch-of-the-day seafood specials, or fresh Greek salads.
The average cost for dinner in Athens at a mid-range restaurant like Mani Mani might range from €15 to €25 per person. This includes dishes with grilled meats, seafood, and more elaborate traditional dishes like moussaka.
Dinner at a fine dining restaurant in Athens can range from as low as €25 to as much as €65 per person or more. These are usually multi-course meals, tasting menu experiences, or the best of international cuisine, which can vary based on the popularity of the restaurant.
At a classical Greek fine dining restaurant like Cookoovaya you can expect to spend an average of €30 to €45 per person. Whereas a Michelin-starred restaurant like Delta can average around €140 to €180 per person. Then you could easily add another €40 to €60 for wine pairings.
Average Cost of Aperitivo and Drinks in Athens
In Athens, the average cost of aperitivo and drinks can vary wildly based on where you go. For a simple glass of wine or a draft beer at a modest taverna, you might only pay €3 to €5. If you want to also have meze (appetizers) expect to add an average cost of €8 to €10.
When you step up to cocktails at a café, bistro or casual restaurant the average cost for a single drink can range from €8 to €12. However, this will likely be more if you’re enjoying a cocktail while waiting for your table to be ready in the bar of a fine-dining restaurant.
Wine is sort of its own category in Athenian tavernas and restaurants. A single glass of humble table wine might only cost €3 to €5. A glass from a top-shelf wine might be more in the €10 to €15 range. A quality bottle of wine might cost €25 to €45.
Conclusion
The good news is you can fully enjoy an Athens food tour without breaking the bank. Yet you still have to be smart about your budget while taking into account the average cost of food and drinks at various establishments.
When I’m trying to be mindful of food costs, I find it helps to use public transportation as much as possible. Then I eat breakfast at a bakery or casual restaurant with an average cost of around €5 to €7.
This leaves me more money in the budget to enjoy a nice lunch at a mid-range café or taverna for €10 to €15. If I want a little more of an upscale lunch in the city center or near a popular tourist attraction like the Acropolis, I expect to pay €25 or more.
After a day of eating on a tight budget, I might let myself splurge on an Athenian fine-dining restaurant, with an average cost of around €15 to €25. If I want to go out for a special occasion at a high-end, Michelin-starred restaurant, I have to be willing to spend €200 or more.
