A Greek Sunday Dinner: Cooking Lessons in Athens

The very first thought that sprang to mind when I decided to go to Greece was:
“YES! Greek food!”

I’ve always been a fan of Greek cuisine. Feta is one of my go-to cheeses, and moussaka happens to be my signature dish. When my friends and I can’t decide what or where to eat, a Greek restaurant always seems to be the magic answer that gets everyone nodding happily.

Whenever I travel to a new country, I try to learn how to cook a few local dishes—or at the very least, understand the basics of the cuisine. I’ll sneak into the kitchen of a small restaurant or watch a local mom prepare the family meal. But until this trip, I had never actually taken a proper cooking class.

So when the opportunity came up to join a Greek Sunday Dinner cooking lesson, organised by Athens Walking tours for TBEX travel bloggers, I was psyched.

The class took place in Klimataria, a charming tavern that’s been serving traditional homemade meals since 1927. What an honour to learn new skills in one of the oldest taverns in central Athens!

Our host and chef for the evening, the lovely Maria Sotou, welcomed us with a warm smile and a shot of raki. That’s when you know you’re in good hands.

We threw on our aprons and gathered around a table full of fresh, colourful ingredients. I could already tell this was going to be a great experience—I could smell it.
After the mandatory handwashing, it was time to get them dirty again. Our mission: prepare six starters and one main dish in just a few hours. Then, of course, eat it all.

Maria guided us through every step, teaching us about the magic of fresh produce, Greek culinary traditions, herbs, spices—and even a few of her personal kitchen secrets.
We tasted regional specialties, sampled cheeses, nibbled on savoury pastries, and were introduced to herbs I’d never even heard of.

In what felt like no time at all, we’d whipped up mini eggplant pies, mastered a few fabulous dips, and learned how to make dolmadakia from scratch. The class was buzzing with excitement and curiosity—and, let’s be honest, our fair share of off-topic questions, jokes, and (classic blogger behaviour) excessive photo-taking.

Because of that, we didn’t manage to cook every dish ourselves, but luckily—Maria’s amazing team had prepared the rest for us in the background. We still got to taste everything and take the recipes home

As our stomachs began to growl, we were invited to sit down at a large communal table. The moment had come—time to reap the rewards of our (and mostly the staff’s) hard work.

We started with some homemade wine, and then the dishes started rolling in. One after the other, followed by a chorus of “ooohs” and “aaahs.” There was so much food!
Apparently, it’s the Greek way: you stay at the table for a long time, talking, laughing, sipping wine, and indulging in copious amounts of deliciousness.

I thought I knew Greek food. But this… this was something else. What I’d had before suddenly seemed like cheap imitations. This meal was, hands down, one of the best I’ve ever had.
Exactly the kind of food I love: simple, comforting, and bursting with clean, honest flavours.

As Maria tought us:
“The main ingredient for cooking is love.”

If you’re ever in Athens and want to dig a little deeper into Greek culture, I can only recommend this class. It’s not the cheapest activity at €68 per person, but it includes wine and a meal you won’t soon forget.

On a tighter budget or short on time? No worries—just go eat at Klimataria tavern . A meal for two (including salad, appetizers, two mains, and wine) will cost you around €25–30 (at the time of writing). That’s a steal, if you ask me. They also host live music a few nights a week, so check out their website for the schedule.

Have you ever taken a cooking class abroad? Which cuisine(s) did you learn?

The post “A Greek Sunday Dinner: Cooking Lessons in Athens” first appeared on Travel Cake.