Greek Cooking Class with Rooftop Dinner Athens

Psirri and Monastiraki: the setting of the class

The class takes place in Psirri, one of the oldest quarters of central Athens, wedged between Monastiraki Square and the busy streets around the central market. Once a district of craftsmen and small workshops, Psirri today is known for its street art, small squares, family-run eateries and evening buzz, and it sits a short walk from the ancient Agora and the flea market of Monastiraki.

Because the venue is so central, the class is easy to reach on foot from most hotels in the historic centre or by metro to Monastiraki station. Many guests spend the afternoon visiting the Acropolis or browsing the flea market and then walk straight to the cooking class in Athens, turning it into a relaxed end to a day of sightseeing.

The hands-on Greek cooking lesson

After a welcome from your chef you put on an apron and meet the day's ingredients: spinach, fresh herbs, feta, Greek yogurt, aubergines, olive oil and filo pastry. The chef explains how everyday Greek family cooking follows the seasons and why olive oil, herbs and simple produce are at the heart of Mediterranean food.

You then cook step by step. First come two traditional pies, a savoury spinach pie and a sweet milk pie, built from layers of crisp filo. Next you prepare tzatziki with yogurt, cucumber and garlic, and an island-inspired salad of cherry tomatoes dressed with aged local vinegar. The highlight is moussaka, with layers of aubergine, minced meat and creamy béchamel. Questions are welcome throughout, and the small group keeps the class personal.

Rooftop dinner with a view of the Acropolis

When the cooking is finished, you move up to the rooftop terrace to enjoy what you have made. From the tables you look straight towards the Acropolis rock, where the Parthenon and the other monuments are floodlit after dark, and over the rooftops of central Athens to the dome of Aghios Dimitrios church.

This rooftop dinner in Athens with an Acropolis view is the moment most guests remember: the city lights come on, the temple glows gold on its hill and the table fills with the dishes you cooked together. Drinks are not included and can be ordered on site, so you can simply enjoy your meal with water or a soft drink of your choice.

The ground-floor class option

A second option runs as a more intimate class in a cosy ground-floor venue in central Athens, hosted by a Greek lady who shares the recipes she grew up with. The format is the same hands-on approach, but without rooftop dining: you eat the dishes you prepare at the table in the kitchen.

This option suits travellers who care most about the cooking itself and enjoy a family-style atmosphere, and it starts slightly later in the afternoon. Both versions last about four hours and are taught in English. Choose the one that fits your evening in the booking panel on this page. Whichever you choose, you leave with the recipes and the confidence to cook these classic Greek dishes again for family and friends.