Greeks do not really order starters and mains. They order the table. A plate of tzatziki, a bowl of smoky aubergine dip, fried cheese still sizzling, grilled octopus, a village salad, warm pita, and everyone reaches in. That is meze.
Greek meze (mezedes) are small shared plates: dips such as tzatziki and fava, grilled and fried seafood, cheese, salads and vegetable dishes, eaten slowly with bread. In Athens you find them at mezedopoleia (meze restaurants) and tavernas, especially in Psyrri, Koukaki and around the Central Market. In 2026 most plates cost roughly €4–12. Many meze are vegetarian or seafood, so they suit Muslim travellers well; the ones to watch are pork sausages and meatballs, and the traditional ouzo, which we skip.
This guide covers the plates to order, how a meze meal works, where to go in Athens, halal points, prices and Greek phrases.
Plates to order
| Meze | What it is | Halal check |
|---|---|---|
| Tzatziki | Yoghurt with cucumber, garlic and olive oil | Fine |
| Fava | Silky yellow split-pea purée, often from Santorini | Fine |
| Melitzanosalata | Smoky roasted aubergine dip | Fine |
| Taramosalata | Fish roe dip | Fish; fine |
| Horiatiki | Village salad with tomato, cucumber, onion, olives and feta | Fine |
| Saganaki | Pan-fried cheese | Usually fine; sometimes flambéed with brandy; ask |
| Dolmades | Vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs | Vegetarian versions fine; some contain meat |
| Gigantes | Giant beans baked in tomato sauce | Fine |
| Grilled octopus, kalamarakia | Octopus and fried squid | Seafood; see Hanafi note |
| Keftedes | Fried meatballs | Often pork or mixed meat; ask |
| Loukaniko | Village sausage | Usually pork: not halal |
How a meze meal works
- Order several plates to share, a few at a time.
- Bread arrives first; dips come quickly.
- Grilled and fried dishes follow as they are cooked.
- Meals are long and relaxed. Nobody will rush you.
- A sweet dessert or fruit may arrive free at the end.
Halal note: dips, salads, beans, cheese and seafood meze are usually pork-free, but meatballs and sausages are often pork, and meat is not halal-slaughtered at ordinary tavernas. Saganaki is sometimes flambéed with brandy, and ouzeri are drink-focused. Most schools accept all seafood; the classical Hanafi view limits it to fish, so grilled fish is the safest choice. Athens has halal restaurants, especially around Omonia and Kypseli, and the city opened an official mosque in 2020. See our halal food travel guide.
Where to eat meze in Athens
- Psyrri – lively streets full of mezedopoleia and tavernas.
- Around the Central Market (Varvakios) – simple, busy tavernas used by market workers.
- Koukaki and Pangrati – neighbourhood tavernas away from the crowds.
- Plaka – pretty but touristy; compare menus before sitting down.
Greeks eat late: lunch from about 2pm and dinner from 9pm. Tavernas are often open all day.
More Greek food
- Souvlaki and gyros – wraps and skewers; often pork in Athens, but chicken and halal versions exist.
- Spanakopita – spinach and feta pie.
- Loukoumades – honey-soaked doughnuts.
- Greek yoghurt with honey – simple and excellent.
Read more in our guides to tzatziki, Greek island food and Cretan olive oil.
What it costs (2026)
| Order | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Dips (tzatziki, fava) | About €4–7 |
| Horiatiki salad | About €7–12 |
| Grilled octopus | About €12–20 |
| Fried squid | About €9–15 |
| Meze meal for two | About €30–60 |
Plan your budget with the Greece food budget calculator and see tipping in Greece.
Greek phrases
| Greek | Say | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Είναι χαλάλ; | Ínai chalál? | Is it halal? |
| Έχει χοιρινό; | Échei choirinó? | Does it have pork? |
| Χωρίς αλκοόλ | Chorís alkoól | Without alcohol |
| Λίγα μεζεδάκια | Líga mezedákia | A few small plates |
| Ευχαριστώ | Efcharistó | Thank you |
Frequently asked questions
What are Greek meze?
Small shared plates such as dips, salads, cheese, seafood and vegetable dishes, eaten with bread.
Is Greek meze halal?
Most dips, salads, cheese and seafood meze are pork-free. Avoid loukaniko and ask about meatballs; meat is not halal-slaughtered at ordinary tavernas.
Where can I eat meze in Athens?
Psyrri, Koukaki, Pangrati and around the Central Market have many good mezedopoleia and tavernas.
How much does a meze meal cost in Athens?
About €30–60 for two in 2026.
Compare with Balkan meze and baklava in Istanbul. See all Greece food guides.
Sources
- Visit Greece – Greek National Tourism Organisation.
- Meze and Greek cuisine.
