Greek cooking class in the centre

What it involves

It is a hands-on class of about three hours in which you cook an everyday Greek menu and then eat it at the table with the rest of the group. It is run by Alternative Athens, an Athenian company offering routes and experiences, and called Greek Cooking Class. It is not a demonstration: you knead, chop and assemble yourself, with someone from the kitchen team explaining each step and telling you where each dish comes from.

The published menu has three parts. As a starter, tzatziki, tirokafteri (the spicy feta dip) and pita bread made on the spot. As a main, gyros wrapped in your own pita with chips, onion and tomato, in pork, chicken, vegetables or mixed, or a vegetarian mushroom gyros. For dessert, a Greek yoghurt cheesecake with fresh mint. During the meal wine, beer and water are included.

When and how much

There are two sessions a day, at 10:30 and at 17:30, and each lasts about three hours. The published price is €95 per person, with no separate child rate. It does not run on 1 January, 15 August, 25, 26 and 31 December or Easter Sunday.

The company asks you to book at least two days ahead. In high season, and especially for the morning session, it is best to do so earlier.

Meeting point

You meet at the Apollonion bakery, at 1 Themistokleous Street, next to Omonia Square. Someone from the team will be waiting for you there and walks you to the kitchen. Getting to the meeting point is not included: from Syntagma or Monastiraki you reach Omonia by metro, on lines 1 and 2, or on foot in a quarter of an hour.

Who it suits

It works for anyone who wants to take home recipes to repeat later, and for families with children who can cope with a long activity with their hands busy. The company sets no minimum age, but warns that it is a hands-on class and asks parents to judge whether it suits the youngest. With teenagers it usually goes well: they make the pita and the gyros from start to finish and eat their own.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets are catered for. Tell them when booking about any other allergy or intolerance.

How to organise the day

The morning session ends around 13:30 and replaces lunch; the afternoon one, around 20:30, replaces dinner. If you do the class on the day of the Acropolis, go up the rock in the first slot, at 8:00, and you will reach Omonia in time for 10:30. Very close to the meeting point is the National Archaeological Museum, on Patision: it combines well with the afternoon session.

For something to eat or to buy Greek produce afterwards, Fanis' Karamanlidika, next to the central market, is on the way back towards Monastiraki.