Gluten-Free Athens Guide

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When we started planning our honeymoon, Athens was one of the places I was most excited to visit, largely because of the food.

Since I eat gluten-free, I didn’t expect to find any fully gluten-free Greek restaurants. Most of the Greek islands we looked at didn’t have gluten-free bakeries, pita bread, or dedicated spots. So, finding places where I could order classic Greek dishes without worrying about gluten was a real treat.

During our trip, we tasted gluten-free pita bread, moussaka, gyros, fried cheese, and baklava. Whether you’re staying in Athens for a while or just stopping by before heading to the islands, there are plenty of ways to enjoy traditional Greek food while eating gluten-free.

In this guide, I’ll tell you about the restaurants we visited, what we ordered, and our honest opinions. I’ve also included a few fully gluten-free places we didn’t have time to try.

Where We Ate In Athens

• Greek Stories (100% gluten-free)
• Arcadia Restaurant (100% gluten-free)
• A for Athens Bar
• Diodos

Understanding the Gluten-Free Classifications

Everyone’s comfort level with gluten-free dining is different, so I’ve used a simple classification system throughout this guide based on my own experience.

Dedicated Gluten-Free | The entire restaurant or bakery is gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Friendly | There are several clearly marked gluten-free options, and the staff understands gluten-free dining. Gluten is still used in the kitchen, so it’s worth asking questions if cross-contamination is a concern for you.

Gluten-Free Options | You’ll find a handful of gluten-free dishes, but gluten-free dining isn’t the main focus. I ate comfortably at these restaurants, but those with more specific dietary needs may want to ask about ingredients and preparation.

Limited Gluten-Free Options | There are one or two gluten-free choices available, but I wouldn’t visit specifically for the gluten-free menu.

A quick note: I eat gluten-free but do not have celiac disease. These classifications reflect my personal experience. If you have celiac disease or are highly sensitive to cross-contamination, I recommend checking with each restaurant directly to make sure it meets your needs.

Greek Stories

Dedicated Gluten-Free

After a morning exploring the Acropolis and Ancient Agora, we needed a break. Greek Stories turned out to be the perfect place for lunch.

Greek Stories is a completely gluten-free restaurant near the Acropolis Museum that serves traditional Greek dishes. We didn’t have a reservation, but the staff quickly found us a table inside, which was a welcome escape from the afternoon heat.

We knew we’d be visiting Santorini later, so we ordered the Santorini tomato fritters. They turned out to be one of my favorite dishes, and I’m glad we tried them since we never got to have them in Santorini. We also shared a Greek salad and had chicken souvlaki with gluten-free pita bread.

Before we ordered, I asked the waiter if everything on the menu was gluten-free. He smiled and said yes. During our meal, I heard other diners ask the same thing and get just as excited.

If you want a gluten-free restaurant near the Acropolis, Greek Stories is a great pick. After lunch, we felt much more relaxed since we could order traditional Greek dishes without checking every ingredient.

Arcadia Restaurant

Dedicated Gluten-Free

Arcadia became one of our favorite restaurants in Athens. We liked it so much that we ate there on both our first and last nights in the city.

Arcadia is just a few doors down from Greek Stories and serves traditional Greek dishes in a cozy setting. We made reservations both times, and I’d suggest doing the same, especially when it’s busy.

On our first night in Athens, we wandered around the Acropolis before dinner. Since everything on the menu was gluten-free, we ordered several dishes to share and tried as many Greek specialties as we could. We started with pita bread and dips, then had moussaka, saganaki kefalotiri, spanakopita, and baklava.

I didn’t expect to be able to order spanakopita, baklava, moussaka, and pita bread in Athens without worrying about gluten.

By our last night in the city, we already knew where we wanted to eat. The staff welcomed us back and even remembered us from before. This time, we ordered pita bread with hummus, saganaki kefalotiri, Santorini tomato fritters, Dakos salad, and chicken gyros.

Out of everything we tried, the fried cheese and tomato fritters were my favorites. My husband doesn’t eat gluten-free, but he enjoyed the food just as much as I did.

One surprise was seeing an old coworker sitting at the table next to us. Running into someone you know halfway across the world feels impossible until it actually happens.

If you want traditional Greek food and the freedom to order anything on the menu, Arcadia is my top pick. It’s still one of the restaurants we talk about when we remember our trip.

A for Athens Bar

Limited Gluten-Free Options

A for Athens isn’t a gluten-free restaurant, but I wanted to mention it because it was one of my favorite spots in the city. We stopped by just before sunset, ordered a glass of rosé, and watched the Acropolis as the evening light changed.

We visited just before sunset, had a glass of rosé, and watched the Acropolis as the light changed. There aren’t many gluten-free food options, so I wouldn’t go for dinner, but I’d definitely return for the view.

If you’re nearby and want a drink with a great view of Athens, it’s worth stopping by.

Diodos

Gluten-Free Options

Diodos is a traditional Greek restaurant located near the Acropolis.

We ended up here after a day of exploring the city. The outdoor seating caught our eye, and seeing lots of local families and groups eating there always feels like a good sign. The restaurant has many traditional Greek dishes that are naturally gluten-free. Before ordering, I asked a few questions and chose a Greek salad, grilled vegetables, and grilled meat.

The food was simple and good, but what I remember most is the evening itself. Sitting outside with a view of the lit-up Acropolis and a mix of locals and visitors around us was a great way to end the day.

Other Entirely Gluten-Free Spots in Athens

Besides the places we went to, here are a few fully gluten-free spots that were on my list:

Asterisque | Is a dedicated gluten-free bakery and café in Athens. They serve pastries, desserts, and light meals, all made without gluten. It’s a popular place for a safe gluten-free breakfast or coffee.

Nudie Foodie Psiri | Is a fully gluten-free café in the Psiri neighborhood. They focus on healthy, wholesome dishes and have a relaxed atmosphere where everything is gluten-free.

Cantina Senza | Is a fully gluten-free restaurant with an Italian-inspired menu. It’s a great choice if you want pasta and comfort food made in a dedicated gluten-free kitchen.

Veganaki | Is a fully gluten-free, plant-based restaurant. They serve vegan comfort food without gluten, so it’s a great option for travelers looking for both gluten-free and vegan meals in Athens.

As always, I suggest checking the latest menus and confirming gluten-free practices before you visit.

What Eating Gluten Free in Athens Is Really Like

Before I visited Athens, I didn’t know what to expect from gluten-free dining. What surprised me most was how many dedicated gluten-free restaurants there are in the city.

Places like Arcadia and Greek Stories let me try dishes that are usually hard to find gluten-free while traveling, like spanakopita, baklava, pita bread, and moussaka. Outside of dedicated restaurants, I mostly stuck to simple dishes like Greek salads, grilled vegetables, and grilled meats, and I always asked about ingredients and how things were prepared.

I eat gluten-free but don’t have celiac disease, so your experience might be different. If you need to avoid cross-contamination, it’s a good idea to check each restaurant’s procedures.

Athens was one of the easiest places I’ve visited in Greece for gluten-free dining, and it made me feel truly relaxed about eating out. With both dedicated restaurants and naturally gluten-free options all over the city, I never felt limited in what I could eat.

Have you visited Athens while eating gluten-free? I’d love to hear about your favorite restaurants, bakeries, or hidden gems in the comments below.