The 5 Best Spanakopita in Athens

Coming to Athens soon? One street food that should be at the top of your list of must-try foods is spanakopita. These are spinach pies made with phyllo dough, feta cheese, and herbs that you won’t be able to get enough of.

No matter where you go, you’ll find bakeries and street vendors all over the Greek capital selling these little snacks (we even try them on some of our Athens food tours). However, as with any specialty, only a select few establishments truly master the art of crafting spanakopita.

So, to make sure your first sample of spanakopita is one to remember, we’ve listed our favorite locations to try these delicious Greek pies.

Bougatsadiko Psirri

Photo credit: Bougatsadiko Psirri

To start, I’m sending you to the very place where I tried my first version of these mouthwatering appetizers, Bougatsadiko, which is located in Psirri.

Always rammed with people, Bougatsadiko is a famous Athenian pie shop where you can watch the bakers whip up the dough right in front of you as you order your spanakopita.

Believe me, I didn’t come to Bougatsadiko to order spanakopita, but the women behind the till saw me looking lost at what I should order and recommended it. I trusted her word, and before I knew it, I had a takeaway steel tray in front of me as I sat by one of the barrels out front.

The spanakopita was chopped into little triangles with a cocktail stick stuck into one of the pieces. My thoughts after having the first bite were, how had I not tried this before? From the earthy spinach mixed with the crumble of the feta to the crunchy phyllo pastry, I had just opened myself up to a new addiction.

Bougatsadiko Psirri (€2.50-€3, ~$2.70~$3.20) – Pl. Iroon 1, Athina 105 54, Greece – Open every day, 7:00 am to 12:00 am.

Pandora

A must-visit for anyone looking for the best spanakopita in Athens is Pandora in Makrygianni. Only around a ten-minute walk from the Acropolis, people from all over the city travel here to sample their special recipe, which includes handmade bay leaves and a flour mixture from selected wheat varieties.

Pandora is quite unassuming; I almost missed it the day I went there, but I saw a man walk out with a huge slice of pita in his hands. The wooden counter with a glass top takes up the front of the family-run bakery, and you can see all of the freshly baked goods inside.

When I first laid eyes on the slices of spanakopita, I couldn’t help but wonder how I would manage to finish it. But as it was presented on the white plate, the irresistible smell of feta made me more than ready to take on the challenge.

The crispy phyllo pastry paired with the earthy fresh herbs and mildly sweet leeks was superb, creating a fantastic, flavorful mixture. Not to forget the olive oil that gave it a final nutty kick.

Pandora (€2.50-€3, ~$2.70~$3.20) – Lempesi 1, Athina 117 42, Greece – Open every Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, and closed every Sunday.

Fillo

Photo credit: Fillo

Close by Syntagma Square, Fillo’s incredible lineup of pastries lures in crowds of people daily, but their spanakopitas are on another level.

Fillo has a little upmarket feel to it compared to your typical casual eatery serving up these Greek specialties. Maybe it’s the beautifully displayed pastries in the expansive glass-topped pastry station or the ornate lighting fixtures complemented by the gorgeous wallpaper designs.

I couldn’t get over how many versions of spanakopita they had on display when I visited. Besides the classic spinach option, there were ones with organic pumpkin, florini peppers, and even different meats for the carnivores out there.

The traditional spanakopita looked irresistible at Fillo, so I stuck with what I knew, and it didn’t disappoint: flaky, buttery phyllo dough separated into drool-worthy layers smothered in tangy feta and delicate bitter spinach.

Fillo (€2.90-€3.30, ~$3.10~$3.50) – 105 62, Voulis 11, Athina 105 62, Greece – Open every Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 6:00 pm, every Saturday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, and closed every Sunday.

Artos Venetis

Photo credit: Artos Venetis

Another Psirri haunt that whips up some seriously good spanakopita is Artos Venetis. It’s a little corner bakery on Sarri that does an incredible trade from the early hours of the morning until late in the evenings.

Located in a basic white building with green-paneled windows, it may not look like much from the outside, but the never-ending line that’s always outside Artos Venetis tells you all you need to know about this place.

While Artos Venetis always tries to make my sweet tooth get the better of me whenever I stop by, I can never turn down one of their spanakopitas. Each mouthful offers a blend of flavors, including a light creaminess from the feta, hints of mint from the fragrant herbs, and a satisfying crackle off the crust.

Artos Venetis (€2.00-€3.00, ~$2.20~$3.20) – Sarri 13, Athina 105 54, Greece – Open every Monday to Saturday, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, and closed every Sunday.

Creme Royale

Photo credit: Creme Royale

Creme Royale is a good old reliable spot for a spanakopita on Athina with its fresh ingredients, friendly staff, and scrumptious phyllo crust that I can never shut up about every time I leave.

Easily spotted for its sleek frontage, Creme Royale is a buzzing bakery where you’re always guaranteed some good spanakopita. I really enjoy the atmosphere here, whether it’s the black-and-white tiling or the view of the dough being prepared; there’s just something that sets it apart from other establishments in the area.

It’s easy to get lost in the freshly baked offerings at Creme Royale, but I suggest skipping it all and going for the spanakopita (you’ll thank me later). Perfectly packaged in delightfully crispy phyllo pastry with sharp and salty feta, bay leaf, and garden-fresh spinach, it won’t be long until you order a second slice.

Creme Royale (€3.00, ~$3.20) – Athinas 37, Athina 105 54, Greece – Open every Monday to Saturday, 7:00 am to 4:30 pm, and closed every Sunday. 

Conclusion

And so, we finish our lineup of the best spanakopita in Athens! These savory bites are another example of why Greek food is some of the tastiest out there. You can add them to your long list of snacks you need to try whenever you embark on your own food tour of the city.