Exarchia: Taste of Utopia
Description
On this afternoon food tour of Exarchia, we’ll explore this vibrant neighborhood’s roots in political activism but also investigate why it is also home to some of the city's best eats. This 6-hour tour includes more than a dozen essential bites, sips and stops that illustrate the history and culture of this iconic and complex district.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will learn some of the history of this building and area as we move to our next bite
Here we will take in the sites on the way to the next great bite
The oldest publisher in Athens and they publish our Culinary Backstreets Guide!
On the wat to the next best bite we will pass by this technical college
We will take in the limestone on the way to another great bite
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(68)
What fortune that we were the only ones to book this Backstreets tour with 3rd-generation Athenian guide Constantine! Exarchia proved to be the ideal backdrop for Constantine's twin loves of food and radical history. Starting with three different phylo pies (as one does early in the day) and ending with a full meal of North-African-inspired stew of chickpeas and greens, poached almira with sesame and cheese, and traditional moussaka, we needed every minute of the generous 5.5 hours that we spent as friends. The venue/food highlight was an intimate sampling of subversive cheese and spirits (and surprisingly good beef salami) at a local deli. Our guide answered our barrage of questions--culinary, political, musical, and personal--with great patience and cheer. Thank you Constantine for a youthful, yet mature, tour that never devolved into "hip hop and carbs"! Σας ευχαριστώ!
Thank you for the review and for supporting the local heroes who keep the culinary traditions of Athens alive. It is wonderful to hear that you connected so deeply with the daily life, complex history, and passionate artisans of the neighborhood. We truly appreciate you joining us to celebrate these authentic, family-run spots and the masters passing down their craft.
Constantine was a great guide. Knowledgeable, interesting and fun. Food experience was very good.
Thank you for the review and for joining us on this walk. We are delighted that you enjoyed exploring the neighborhood and connecting with the unsung heroes of the kitchen. Your support helps us preserve vital culinary traditions and sustain the traditional family-run spots that give the city its true flavor.
Our culinary tour in Exarchia with Sofia was the absolute highlight of our trip to Athens. Not only is Sofia an incredible guide to the foods and restaurants in Exarchia, she also is a wealth of information about the history, the architecture, the art, and the culture of both the neighborhood and Athens. Plus she is funny and charming in addition to all of that. She absolutely went above and beyond. Our tour, which we did early in our stay in Athens, provided us with information and ideas that made the rest of our stay so much richer. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Hello, and thank you for sharing such a wonderful review of your time in Athens. We are thrilled that your walk provided a deeper connection to the daily life, history, and culture of the neighborhood. Thank you for choosing to walk with us, supporting our unsung local heroes, and helping preserve these vibrant culinary traditions.
Constantine was amazing. So happy we did this tour.
Thank you for the review and for taking the time to share your experience. We are so glad to hear that you had a wonderful time exploring the neighborhood with Constantine. By joining us, you are directly supporting the unsung heroes of the kitchen and helping preserve the traditional family-run spots that make the city's daily life so special.
Gulden was a thoughtful, interesting, pleasant, fun guide. She chose a wide variety of excellent foods for us to try. The venues were all different and helped us understand Greek culture and the make-up of the neighborhood.
Thank you for the lovely review! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed exploring the neighborhood with Gulden and that the variety of foods and venues helped bring the local culture to life. She’ll be very happy to hear your kind words. We hope to welcome you on another Culinary Backstreets tour in the future!
Carolina gave us an absolutely amazing experience. She was knowledgeable, interesting and animated. She was greeted warmly by the owners/hosts in all the locales we visited
Thank you for sharing your impressions of the Exarchia walk — we’re very happy to hear you enjoyed it. Carolina will be delighted to know her energy and depth of knowledge made the experience memorable. We take real pride in working with guides who are deeply connected to their neighborhoods, and it’s lovely to hear you noticed how warmly she’s received by the people we visit along the way. Thanks again for joining us. When you get a moment, take a quick look at your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our site — your Exarchia stamp should be waiting for you!
Thankyou to Constantine for a great tour ! Constantin was knowledgable about the food but also the buildings we pasted by and the area we visited. The tour does not usually operate on a Sunday and some of the places we were supposed to visit were closed but Constantine always had another option up his sleeve. We ate meat on a skewer, cod with skordalia, fried anchovy, tarama and crusty bread, chick peas with greens and many more delicious things. Wine in carafes helped to wash down our feast.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted that Constantine was able to share both the culinary delights and the unique character of Exarchia with you. It’s wonderful to hear that even with a few closures, the tour still offered a rich and varied tasting experience, and that the food, wine, and local knowledge left a lasting impression. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to Constantine!
My son and I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Natali was a wonderful guide-interesting, knowledgeable, and kind. The food was delicious and made extra special by Natali's introductions to the people whose shops, many of them in the family for generations, make Athens so special. We can't recommend highly enough.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted that you and your son enjoyed your time with Natali in Athens. Natali perfectly embodies the knowledgeable and kind guides we’re proud to work with—bringing the city’s food, history, and people to life in such a meaningful way. It’s wonderful to hear that the connections with family-run shops made your experience even more special. That is exactly what we’re aiming for—showcasing how food connects us to generations of tradition and community. Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see your Athens stamp — and we hope to welcome you back for more shared moments in the future!
Highlight of my Athens stay. Our guide Constantine made the day a truly wonderful experience. We learnt more about Athens and the culture and history through their food. If you’re bored looking at ruins and only seeing the tourist areas and want to experience the true Athens, take this tour. Our guide Constantine made the day very special.
Thank you for choosing our Exarchia: Taste of Utopia tour and for sharing your experience! We’re so happy to hear that Constantine made your day truly special and helped you discover the real Athens beyond the usual tourist spots. We take pride in working with guides who bring the city’s history, culture, and food to life in a way that goes beyond the surface. That deeper connection to tradition and community is exactly what we aim to share. We hope to welcome you back soon for more authentic journeys! Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected!
The tour exceeded all expectations! Constantine, our guide, is fantastic. He knew everything about the local cuisine on the tour, as expected, but his knowledge went far beyond just that. We talked about food and drink, as it related to daily life, politics, religion, geography, history, environment, activism, and more, with expect to multiple places around the globe beyond (but focusing on) Exarchia. Constantine took time to listen to our interests and questions, and when we were heckled by some over-served folks at a potential stop, he gracefully moved things to another venue. Can’t wait to come back and learn more :)
Wow—thank you for this incredible review! We're so happy to hear that your Exarchia experience exceeded expectations. Constantine is a rare guide—deeply informed, endlessly curious, and always tuned in to both his guests and his surroundings. We take pride in working with people who are not just experts in local cuisine, but also passionate about the broader cultural, political, and historical contexts that shape it—and Constantine embodies that beautifully. Your comment about how the tour touched on everything from daily life to global connections is especially meaningful to us—that is exactly what we are going for. Food is the starting point, but the conversations it sparks are what truly make these experiences memorable. We're also glad to hear you felt well taken care of throughout, even when things required a quick pivot—that kind of thoughtfulness and flexibility is part of what makes Constantine such a pro. We can’t wait to welcome you back for more. And in the meantime, don’t forget to check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see your latest stamp—and to start dreaming up your next route!
