Eating Plant-Based in Greece
I have been on a plant-based diet for years, and eating out in general can be a struggle, especially when traveling. As I started researching vegan foods in Greece, I became a bit concerned. And honestly, it was difficult in some of the places we visited. I ate a lot of the same dishes every day, as sometimes I could only find one or two plant-based dishes on the menu. However, I loved almost everything I ate in Greece, and although it was harder than I expected to find vegan food, the plant-based food that I did try was delicious and inspired me to do a lot of Greek cooking at home.
Read Next: 14 Day Greece Itinerary
Traditional Greek Restaurant Dishes that are Plant-Based
Gemista (pronounced yeh-mee-stah), is a dish consisting of peppers and tomatoes stuffed with herbs and rice, and then baked. It was always accompanied with roasted potatoes. It was probably the dish that I ordered the most often as we frequented a lot of traditional greek restaurants (when visiting smaller towns), and I knew from researching, that it is typically made vegan. I heard that sometimes there can be minced meat in it, so if the description was not on the menu, I would always ask if this were the case before ordering. Always make sure to say “no cheese” as well. When I was ordering it from one restaurant, I noticed it was served with a side of feta cheese. I found this plant-based dish on the menu most often.
Fava, is puréed yellow split peas topped with olive oil, red onions, fresh herbs, and capers. I would typically order pita or bread to dip in the fava. I almost like this better than hummus, and would often got it as an appetizer.
Spanakopita is a pie made of phyllo pastry and stuffed with spinach. It is sometimes stuffed with cheese as well, so make sure to ask. I was skeptical about this being vegan when I read about it, but it was often marked “vegan” at cafes and bakeries where I purchased it. Sometimes it was labeled in English as a spinach pie or country pie. It was the perfect breakfast with coffee - super flakey crust and soft cooked spinach in the inside. I ate way too many of these pies while in Greece.
Briám is a dish consisting of baked vegetables in oil, usually with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and other vegetables. I ate this dish one time while I was in Greece as I did not see it on the menu that often. I tried it at a restaurant in Chania, Crete, and although it was tasty, it was not as satisfying to me as other dishes.
Gigantes are broad beans served in a sauce, and a popular dish in Greece. I actually never ordered this, and did not see it on the menu too often.
Falafel are garbanzo bean balls or patties mixed with a variety of herbs and spices, and often deep-fat fried. I only found this one time at a traditional Greek restaurant, and it was served with yogurt sauce in a pita, so ensure you ask before ordering. I ordered falafel from vegan and vegetarian restaurants while in Greece, and it was one of my favorite dishes.
Fries are also served at pretty much every Greek restaurant, and although I never just want a meal consisting of fries, they do make a great side or appetizer.
Sorbet is sold all over Greece and is gelato style, so it was always creamy and delicious. Greece has a dark chocolate sorbet that I have not seen anywhere else, and if you are craving chocolate, it pairs well with a scoop of coconut or raspberry sorbet.
Where to Eat Plant Based in Athens
Veganaki: This restaurant is 100% vegan friendly and located really close to the Acropolis Museum. For an appetizer I ordered “feta cheese” made from cashew nuts and for the main course I tried the vegan moussaka, which had eggplant, potatoes, and a red lentil sauce. It reminded me a bit of shepherd’s pie, and was delicious. For dessert I had a hazelnut-chocolate praline.
Where to Eat Plant Plant Based in Santorini
Falafeland: This is a vegetarian/vegan fast food restaurant located in Fira, Santorini. The vegan options are clearly labeled on the menu and the dessert they had that day was also vegan friendly. This place is very affordable and great for a quick lunch. I ordered the volcano wrap. I really enjoyed this place and would have came back, had I been in Fira longer.
Where to Eat Plant Based in Crete
Agios Nikolaos
We arrived in this port town late at night, and it was extremely difficult to find a restaurant that offered anything vegan friendly as this town is very seafood heavy. I looked at several menus, until I arrived at Cafe 12 Taste The Joy, which had closed its kitchen for the night. I ended up at Sirocco instead, and was happy I did as I had a delicious pizza.
Cafe 12 Taste The Joy -Although it was closed by the time I arrived, they did tell me they offer a vegan burger and vegan club sandwich.
Sirocco - They offer a pizza that is naturally without cheese or meat, and it was very fresh and delicious. I also had a Greek beer, which they had mixed with a lemon syrup. I highly recommend!
Chania
Falavela - This was my favorite place during my entire time in Greece. They are a vegetarian restaurant, and everything can be made vegan if you let them know. For instance, I ordered the falafel plate and instead of the yogurt sauce, they replaced it with guacamole for me each time.
Pulse Vegan - As the name implies, this is a fully vegan restaurant. We ordered a giant meze platter, with samplings from their menu (definitely big enough for two). We also ordered a plant-based meat dish, which was not our favorite. Our favorite item on the meze platter were the vegan samosas. We also ordered dessert, which was a decadent cake with frosting, and big enough for us to split. I loved the outdoor patio and location of the restaurant, along with the friendly service and being able to sample the menu. However, it was not my favorite food in Greece. This place has amazing reviews however, so definitely give it a try while you are in Chania.
Laganon Fresh Pasta - This restaurant was recommended to us by our hotel concierge. Most of the dishes are not vegan, but I was able to find one type of pasta that did not have eggs, and I ordered it with a traditional marinara sauce. I also ordered a side of tabbouleh (a salad with bulgar wheat, herbs, and olive oil). Although I prefer to eat cuisine of the places I was visiting, this was nice for one night on our trip and we both enjoyed our meals.
To Stachi - I had not get a chance to eat here, but it is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. They have good reviews and I checked out the menu one evening as we were walking by, and it looked like they had a lot of options.
Plaka - They do not have a website or Facebook page, but it is located near the Old Venetian Harbor. I came here one night to order food to-go. It is in a really lovely neighborhood with lots of charm, and they have outdoor seating available. I ordered a falafel wrap, and they were able to substitute the yogurt sauce for me with tahini. It was honestly not my favorite, as I remember there being too much tahini for my liking. However, they were very kind and accommodating and it is a nice place to grab a drink and sit on the balcony as you listen to music.
