Athens is serving up plant-based Greek goodness and we are here for it 🇬🇷🌱 From the OG vegan souvlaki spot to raw brunch havens and creative bakeries, the Greek capital has a thriving plant-based scene that is growing faster than ever. The streets of Monastiraki, Syntagma, Koukaki, and Exarcheia are packed with vegan gems that range from street food to artisan baking, and the quality is consistently high.
Athens rewards the curious plant-based eater at every turn. Here’s my guide to the best vegan and plant-based restaurants in the city.
Best Vegan Restaurants in Athens
1. Cookoomela Grill — The OG Vegan Souvlaki Spot
Cookoomela Grill on Themistokleous Street is a true Athens icon — the restaurant that introduced the Greek capital to mushroom gyros and vegan souvlaki, and in doing so converted thousands of locals to plant-based eating. The mushroom gyros is extraordinary: fragrant, juicy, loaded with proper Greek seasonings, and served in warm pita with tzatziki (vegan, of course) and all the trimmings. This is comfort food at its finest, and it’s difficult to stop at one. It’s also available on delivery apps across the city.
📍 Themistokleous 43-45, Athens 106 83 | 🌐 cookoomela.gr | 📸 @cookoomelagrill
2. Veganaki — 100% Vegan & Certified Gluten Free
Veganaki on Athanasiou Diakou Street is one of the most popular fully vegan restaurants in Athens — certified 100% vegan, certified gluten free, and air-fryer only, which means the food is genuinely lighter and cleaner than typical fast food. The menu covers burgers, wraps, bowls, and Greek-inspired dishes, all made with real care for both flavour and health. A great option for those with multiple dietary requirements, and consistently one of the highest-rated spots in the city.
📍 Athanasiou Diakou 38, 11743 Athens | 📸 @veganakigr
3. Wild Souls — Cruelty-Free Brunch & Nut Butter Heaven
Wild Souls has become one of Athens’s most beloved vegan brands, with multiple locations across the city and a menu that celebrates nuts, seeds, halva, and natural ingredients in the most creative and delicious ways. The smoothie bowls are spectacular, the house-made halva is legendary, and the brunch menu is a genuinely joyful experience. It’s also available as an e-shop if you want to take the Wild Souls spirit home with you. Available in Athens, Thessaloniki, and beyond.
📍 Multiple Athens locations | 🌐 www.wildsouls.gr/en | 📸 @wildsoulsgr
4. Holy Llama — Plant-Based Bakery & Brunch Near Syntagma
Holy Llama on Nikis Street, just a short walk from Syntagma Square, is one of the most exciting plant-based bakeries in Athens right now. The menu focuses on croissants, pastries, light lunches, and brunch items — all made from plants and all prepared with real skill and creativity. The window display is always stunning, and the coffee is excellent. It’s perfectly located for combining with a visit to the Acropolis Museum or an afternoon exploring the Plaka neighbourhood.
📍 Nikis 23, Syntagma, 10557 Athens | 📸 @holyllamacreativebaking
5. Happy Blender — All-Day Vegan Brunch in Monastiraki
Happy Blender on Ifestou Street in Monastiraki is a bright, colourful vegan brunch spot that has been making Athens’s plant-based community very happy since it opened. The açaí bowls are among the best in the city, and the all-day brunch menu covers everything from smoothies and juices to savoury bowls and seasonal specials. The location in the heart of Monastiraki makes it ideal for a mid-morning break between exploring the flea market and heading up to the Acropolis.
📍 Ifestou 39, Athens 10555 | 🌐 happyblender.gr | 📸 @happyblender
6. Winners VGN — Organic & Seasonal Vegan Near Syntagma
Winners VGN on Nikis Street near Syntagma is a 100% vegan, organic restaurant with a philosophy it describes as “seasonal as f**k” — and you can taste that commitment in every dish. The menu changes with what’s available locally and organically, and the kitchen finds ways to make seasonal vegetables feel genuinely exciting and satisfying. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to midnight, it’s a great option for both lunch and a late dinner.
📍 Nikis 27, Athens 10557 | 📸 @winners_vgn
7. Handwich — High Quality Vegan Street Food in Exarcheia
Handwich on Tzortz Street in the vibrant Exarcheia neighbourhood serves high-quality vegan street food — wraps, sandwiches, and creative handheld bites that are far superior to what the “street food” label might suggest. The fillings are inventive and satisfying, the ingredients are fresh, and the whole operation has a cool, underground energy that perfectly matches the Exarcheia vibe. Also available in Thessaloniki.
📍 Tzortz 3, Exarcheia, Athens 10682 | 📸 @handwich_gr
8. Peas Vegan — 100% Plant-Based in Koukaki
Peas Vegan is a cosy, 100% plant-based spot in the neighbourhood of Koukaki, just south of the Acropolis, serving wholesome bowls, snacks, desserts, and homemade treats. The menu is simple and satisfying, the atmosphere is warm and local, and it’s the kind of neighbourhood restaurant that becomes your regular spot when you’re staying in Athens for more than a day or two. Open daily from 1pm to 10pm.
📍 Athens, Koukaki | 🌐 www.peas.gr | 📸 @peas_vegan
9. Mother Vegan Café Bistro — Artistic Bistro in Koukaki
Mother Vegan Café Bistro on Dimitrakopoulou Street in Koukaki is one of the most characterful vegan spaces in Athens — an artistic bistro that combines specialty coffee, wholesome vegan food, homemade sweets, and a selection of organic and biodynamic spirits. The décor has a beautiful handcrafted aesthetic, and the menu reflects a genuine passion for quality ingredients and creative plant-based cooking. It’s a wonderful spot for a long, slow afternoon with good coffee and even better cake.
📍 Dimitrakopoulou 95, Koukaki, Athens 11741 | 📸 @mothervegancafebistro
Tips for Vegan Travellers in Athens
Athens is surprisingly vegan-friendly, and the concentration of restaurants around Syntagma, Monastiraki, and Koukaki makes it easy to explore several in one day. The vegan souvlaki at Cookoomela is a non-negotiable first stop. For coffee and pastries, Holy Llama and Mother Vegan Café Bistro are both beautiful. Wild Souls is the place for an energising brunch. And if you’re exploring Exarcheia — Athens’s most politically vibrant neighbourhood — Handwich is the perfect lunch stop.
Have you eaten vegan in Athens? Drop your favourite spots in the comments!