Culinary Secrets of Downtown Athens

This was one of the best tours I’ve ever been on. The pace was about right, we hit many places that only had signs in Greek (not the touristy places with everything in English). The honey tasting at the old, family run store was very informative. The fish and meat market was unique and the olive tasting was fun. Katia was a great host, unhurried yet no wasted time. She was engaging and very knowledgeable and proud of her Greek and Athens heritage. Some might ask if 5 1/2 hours is too long, especially in the middle of warm day. It is definitely a commitment to spend the better part of a day walking around Athens but it never seemed like we weren’t heading somewhere interesting or trying something new. We ending up walking close to 10km (6 miles) so we saw a lot of the city. One of the highlights was the book that each couple received at the end of the tour. It had most, if not all of the places we visited as well as other useful info about Athens (much better than any of the travel books we read before visiting). We’ll definitely lend it to any friend that is heading for Athens (as long as they promise to return it!). Overall an enjoyable, informative and filling day.

Constantine was an exceptional tour guide for “culinary secrets of downtown Athens”. He has so much information to share and we learned a lot. The tour itself included at least nine stops and brought us to parts of the city we had not yet explored. Some highlights were the central market where we saw meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, and olives, having Greek coffee at a cafe, cow and goat milk based desserts, traditional Greek items like Loukamades, souvlaki, spanakopita, and several types of seafood at the final restaurant. This was one of my favorite days of our whole trip that included Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. Also, Constantine took the time to help us get reoriented with the city so we only had a short walk back to our hotel.

This tour - and Katia - were terrific. It was our first full day in Athens and she not only helped us get oriented and to know the city a bit, she also took us to some of the most historic and truly Greek dining experiences that we never would have found on our own. She was personable and lovely and attentive and tuned in tour family’s needs the entire time. Make sure you come hungry! I highly recommend this tour and especially Katia.

Sofia was fabulous and showed us to so many hidden gems while introducing us to Greek cuisine. We learned a lot and had a blast along the way. Highly recommended for curious travelers and foodies alike.

Katia was a great guide, giving us an insight into the history & culture of Athen & intertwining that with the foods that are part of the Greek lifestyle - simple & fresh using the best of ingredients. We started with the simple Koulouri, the sesame ring-shaped bread, both delicious & sustaining. We tasted lots of- honey, olives, cheese. Had Spanakopita, delicious Souvlaki, that all the locals eat, meze with Tsipoura a non- aniseed type of alcohol. Then to a traditional “Dairy bar” with amazing yogurt desserts before a “late lunch with fried octopus, fresh anchovies & wild greens & a lentil mash! We didn’t really need dinner! Katia shared her own treasured memories of growing up & shopping & eating with her family which enriched our own experience. She set a relaxed pace & we never felt rushed. Culinary Backstreets have a unique approach which enriches the food experience.

The tour was excellent. Well paced, nicely curated, with a delightful guide, and delicious.

Katia led a relaxed and informative tour of downtown Athens with visits to the produce market and many family producers of local cheese, olives, Greek coffee, pies and more!

We had a wonderful food tour hosted by Katia. We visited and tasted food at various stores, food booths, cafes and restaurants. Items included bread, pastries, coffee, cheeses, olives, meats, seafood and other options from some amazing businesses. Most were places I would not have known or approached without a local host to make an introduction. Katia's passion for and knowledge of Greek cuisine made this an extraordinary day! She ensured that we learned the history of the cuisine and the providers. One of the best tours I have experienced anywhere and anytime!

The guide makes the tour and Constantine made this a great experience. His passion for stage presence (former TV anchor), love for Athens, and culinary arts was contagious. All had a wonderful time. Each stop had a story rooted in local tradition, but Constantine made the history come alive. The walk was easy. Food choices had a logic to them building from small treats (pastries, coffee, yogurt, and the finale: a multi-course lunch). Every thing had a story and one came away appreciated the traditions of the city food. The 4-5 hours seemed reasonable. Small group is definitely the way to go. Price very reasonable for time and volume of food.

This was our first day in Athens and doing this food tour was a perfect way to get oriented of what Athens has to offer. Katia was an excellent guide.