Greek Cooking Class in Athens: Central Market & Taverna Lunch

You shop like a local, cook in a real taverna, and eat what you made

A small-group Greek cooking class in Athens where you shop at the Central Market, walk through the old town, and cook classic dishes in a traditional taverna alongside a professional Greek cook. You prepare tzatziki, dolmadakia, Greek salad, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, and chocolate salami, then sit down to eat everything you've made in the heart of the city's historic center.

The experience

The class starts at the Central Market of Athens, where you and up to eleven others pick fresh ingredients the way locals do: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, olives, feta, herbs. A 15-minute walk through the old town brings you to the taverna, a working restaurant in Monastiraki where Athenians eat lunch and dinner every day. This is not a cooking studio. It's a lively, lived-in space with the sounds and aromas of a real kitchen around you.

A professional Greek cook guides you through preparing five dishes: tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber and garlic), dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves), Greek salad, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, and chocolate salami for dessert. You handle the cooking yourself (chopping, mixing, layering), while the cook shows you the techniques and the reasoning behind each step. The taverna's kitchen becomes your workspace for the afternoon.

Once the cooking is done, you sit down at a table in the same taverna and eat everything you've prepared, with a glass of wine included. A souvenir recipe book goes home with you so you can remake the dishes later. The whole experience runs 3.5 hours and ends at the venue in Monastiraki square.

What’s included

• All ingredients and cooking equipment (aprons, gloves, cookware).
• main dish, two appetizers, salad and dessert.
• a glass of wine per person.
• a souvenir recipe book with recipes.
• all fees and taxes.
• Third Party Liability Cover.

Before you book

Lasts 3h 30m, runs Monday to Saturday at 11:30, from € 99 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 11:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 98 years) · Youth (15 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 14 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Active Athens Holidays

Is this one for you?You do the cooking yourself in a shared group, so it suits anyone who wants to learn by doing rather than watching, and the taverna setting means you're cooking in the real rhythm of an Athenian restaurant, not in a separate studio classroom.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 17 years); Child (6 to 14 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I cook in this class?

You prepare tzatziki sauce, dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves), Greek salad, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, and chocolate salami for dessert. All five dishes are traditional home-style Greek food, and you make each one from the ingredients you selected at the market that morning.

Is this a private class or do I cook with other people?

It's a small group of up to 12 participants, so you cook alongside others but it stays intimate. Everyone works through the same dishes with the same professional cook guiding the whole group.

Where does the cooking actually happen?

The Central Market of Athens is where you shop, then you walk 15 minutes through the old town to a traditional taverna in Monastiraki: a real, working restaurant where locals eat daily. You cook in that taverna's kitchen and eat at a table there afterward.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No experience is required. The professional cook walks you through each dish step by step, and children are welcome from age 6 onward, so it's built for all levels.

What's included in the price?

All the ingredients you shop for and cook with, the main dish and two appetizers, salad, dessert, a glass of wine, aprons and cooking equipment, a souvenir recipe book, and all fees and taxes are included. You don't pay extra for anything during the class.