Gyros – pronounced yee-roe, not guy-ross, FYI – are those scrumptious hand-held wraps stuffed with hunks of chicken or pork expertly sliced off a vertical rotisserie. Not to be confused with souvlaki – that’s made with marinated meat cooked on a skewer – gyros typically come in a warm pitta bread alongside simple salad and tzatziki. Everybody in Athens has their favourite – here’s our pick of the Greek capital’s most legendary examples.
World-beating cocktails? Awesome archaeology? Marvellous markets? These are the best things to do in Athens.
And when you’ve worked up a perishing appetite, you’ll want to grab a seat at one of the best restaurants in Athens.
Getting eyeballed by the original Kostas is part of the fun here
O Kostas
O Kostas has been doling out hot, meaty drunk snacks for nearly 70 years now, and is currently under the management of the founder’s grandson – he’s also called Kostas, helpfully. Foregoing the easy win of overpowering tzatziki, the vibe here is ‘keep it simple’ with great quality meat, nice thick pitta, maybe a dab of yoghurt and a sprinkle of parsley. Get there early – by 3pm he’s typically sold out.
5 Pentelis, Χαυτεία
Tylixto Greek Wrap
The pork wrap with onion, tzatziki and fresh potatoes is the stuff of legend at this smart, contemporary spot famous for nifty service and astonishingly keen pricing. The chicken skewer – slathered in the joint’s very own tylixto sauce – is also well worth a look, with feta-sprinkled fries on the side. Quick and easy summer bites, done right.
19 Aiolou, Monastiraki
instagram.com/tylixto
