16 Vegan Restaurants Not to Miss in Athens, Greece

When I think of Greece, I think of ancient archeological sites and turquoise waters—sadly, not vegan food! I mean, of course, they’ve got to have something, right? Maybe a couple of vegetarian spots, some sorbet? WRONG! Especially if you’re headed to the bustling metropolis of Athens!

Amidst the traditional tavernas and winding stone streets, a growing wave of veganism is transforming the city’s culinary landscape. From traditional Greek fare with plant-based twists (plus, Greek food has a lot of vegan options, too) to innovative vegan eateries pushing the boundaries of flavor and creativity, Athens has become a haven for vegans!

There is one drawback: you might find more places than you have time to visit; at least, that happened to me! With a Google Map covered in pins, I did my best to visit as many places as possible, but sadly, I couldn’t. It makes for an excellent reason to return. 

So, as you plan your vegan food adventure in Athens, you must visit all these fabulous restaurants and sweet spots!

The menu at Avocado offers a great mix of creative options, and they mark allergens like gluten! In addition to their regular salads, pizza, and macrobiotic bowls, they often have specials that take inspiration from around the globe. They had a terrific Japanese-inspired menu when I visited, and I devoured these savory soy “buns.” Truth be told, I can’t for the life of me remember exactly what they were called, but I do remember loving it. The dishes are also reasonably priced, including their fresh juices and smoothies — two thumbs up for their spicy green juice!

#2 Veganaki

38, Athina 117 43, Greece
Vegan and gluten-free friends, listen up; this spot has your name all over it! Even if you’re not gluten-free, this is still a can’t-miss spot for traditional Greek eats! I can’t remember the last time I had pastitsio or moussaka, so when I found this spot, I made sure it was the first spot I visited and man, it didn’t disappoint!

You’ll find loads of traditional Greek dishes that you most likely won’t find in many other places around the globe. Start with a tangy tzatziki to dip fresh pita bread, and maybe an order of cashew feta! You can’t go wrong with their Dakos salad (chunks of dry bread mixed with fresh chopped tomato, tzatziki, baby rocket, capers, and extra virgin olive oil) for something a little green. Next up is your main course, which is a little difficult — I loved the pastitsio, but I also almost got their Souvlaki! Souvlaki isn’t something I’ve found vegan and gluten-free in other spots; if you think, what the heck is that? It’s a kebab made from soy meat baked with fresh herbs and served with tzatziki, tomato, onion, parsley, and potatoes. 

#3 Peas Vegan & Raw Food

Falirou 40, Athina 117 42, Greece
I almost didn’t make it here! On my final day, I was trying to figure out my best plan of attack, and my local guide asked me where I was going to go. I shared my eating dilemma, and he said hands down, don’t miss this spot. It’s one of his favorites. So how in the world could I skip it with that ringing endorsement? 

The cute little spot has a tiny kitchen with an outdoor bar overlooking the action and a small artsy café surrounding it. It was a beautiful day when I visited, so I opted for a seat at the outdoor bar; it almost felt like I was having lunch at a friend’s place! Their menu focuses on street food — burgers, sandwiches, bowls — but with a healthy twist! Everything is house-made with fresh ingredients and whole foods — no matter what you choose, you won’t be disappointed; save room for a slice of one of their raw cakes!

#4 Mama Tierra

Akadimias 84, Athina 106 78, Greece (Restaurant) 
Chatzichristou 29, Athina 117 42, Greece (Street food)
Depending on where you are in the city, you’ve got two opportunities to visit this vegan restaurant! For a more leisurely experience with table service, head to their restaurant just north of Monastiraki Square in the Exarchia neighborhood. If you can’t make it over there, I bet you’ll be able to visit their street food restaurant, which is right near the Acropolis in the heart of the city!

At the restaurant, you’ll find a great mix of globally inspired dishes and a couple of classic Greek dishes! I had already eaten, but I wanted to check this spot out, so I went for a healthy macrobiotic salad—terrific for something light.

#5 Winner’s

Nikis 27, Athina 105 57, Greece
If you want a full vegan experience, consider staying at the eco-friendly hotel next door, Niki Athens. Then, you will get to enjoy a full vegan breakfast feast here!

The spot is super hip — a fun neon “don’t kill my vibe” sign greets you as you make your way into their modern dining room surrounded by greenery. It’s a great place to go if you’re looking for somewhere a little special. The menu has a heavy Asian influence with tasty options like miso mushroom noodles, fried rice, pad Thai, and more. If Asian isn’t your vibe, no worries; there are also creative pasta with sage butter, burgers, veggie-packed bowls, and more.

#6 Sugar Killer

Multiple locations throughout Athens
The first time I walked into this vegan ice cream shop, I thought there was no way there were vegan ice cream options. There weren’t any vegan leaves on the menu or signs proclaiming their vegan pride and a massive line out the door. So, I figured maybe I got my food research wrong on this spot, but the next day, as I was walking by, I thought, let me ask. I am so glad I did — everything is vegan and sugar-free! This is one of those spots that I feel is stealthy, spreading the vegan vibes, and I’d bet most of its patrons have no idea their scoops are moo-free! I want to stand outside and say, hey, you like that? Well, guess what!? There is NO dairy! 

Their ice cream lineup is extensive — pistachio, banoffee, snickers, traditional Greek Kataifi, salted caramel, and more! In addition to ice cream, they also have a few baked treats like chocolate rolls and baklava and small layered desserts in cute little jars. 

#7 Planet Ice Cream

Ermou 86, Athina 105 54, Greece
Shortly after confirming that Sugar Killer was indeed vegan, I stumbled across this vegan ice cream shop! I felt compelled to support them, too! The little shop has a good mix of flavors like strawberry cheesecake, Ferrero but Better, peanut butter and caramel, Greek yogurt, and more! One unique thing about this shop is that they prioritize sustainability, and everything is compostable right down to your spoon. The spoon was made out of a biscuit cookie, so after indulging, you can just eat it!

#8 Holy Llama

Nikis, Syntagma 23, Athina 105 57, Greece
Holy moly! Holy llama! Holy, whatever you can think of! This vegan bakeshop knows how to make insanely beautiful vegan desserts that will knock your socks off. In their gorgeous pastry case, you’ll find golden vegan pastries, beautiful mini tarts, cakes, and more! But the deliciousness doesn’t end there—while their desserts are magnificent, they also have a full food menu!

You can pop in here and enjoy their all-day brunch menu, which includes croissant sandwiches, avocado toast, brunchy bowls, burgers, and more. Coffee lovers will also enjoy their colorful specialty latte lineup — no better way to start the day than with a blue spirulina and cinnamon coffee!

#9 Happy Blender 

Ifestou 39, Athina 105 55, Greece
This bright and colorful vegan spot will capture your attention immediately! From its cheerful, floral-colored walls to superfood-packed bowls, everything is created with the mission to help you and the planet feel the best! Here, you can start the day with shakshuka “eggs,” stacks of fluffy pancakes, beetroot avocado toast, and much more. 

If you don’t make it out of bed in time for breakfast, no worries; they’ll also wow you with their delicious pizza lineup, veggie-packed salads, and, of course, sweet treats! I really wanted to make it here for breakfast, but my timing didn’t work out, so I popped in for a fresh green juice and a treat.

#10 Wild Souls

Voulis 36, Athina 105 57, Greece
This bright orange spot almost glows — I bet it actually does with the right lighting at night! The unique color choice makes it nearly impossible to miss, which is perfect when trying to find somewhere for the first time. The vegetarian spot is unique; it’s part store and café. On the store side, it’s dedicated to all things nuts and seeds (if you have a nut allergy, stay away). You’ll find fresh nut butters and their specialty house-made Halva (a sweet and nutty treat made from tahini).

On the café side, you can enjoy fruity and savory Wild bowls filled with mango jam, peanut butter, tahini, soy yogurt, house-made granola, plus “EggNoEgg” concoctions, sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and more. I came here for a sweet treat, but I was disappointed that I couldn’t come back for one of those awesome brunch bowls. Everything looked amazing!

#11 Mother’s Vegan Café Bistro

Agiou Nikolaou 95, Athina 117 41, Greece
This hip little café isn’t too far from Peas Vegan and Raw Food, so in my planning, I decided to have lunch at Peas and then come here for dessert—a perfect way to spread the vegan love, right? Well, yes, if they had gluten-free desserts! They usually have raw cakes, but unfortunately, they were all out. I had already sat down; I wasn’t going to leave, so I had lunch number two!

The menu isn’t extensive, but it is flavorful and creative. You’ll find veganized Greek pies, veggie-forward bowls, salads, and burgers. I had their special Kombucha squash filet with roasted sweet potatoes and salad — the squash was super creative and prepared in a way I haven’t had before. So maybe it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t get dessert in the end!