For my last post on Greece I’m writing about a subject close to most traveller’s hearts - eating on a budget.

Dining out at restaurants in Greece is all well and good, but the consequence is that your waist expands in inverse proportion to your wallet.

Apparently Greece’s entry to the European Union (EU) and adoption of the Euro led to price inflation. I can believe it. In most restaurants, ordering 3 -4 mezdes (which admittedly won’t leave you hungry) and wine or beer will set you back around 25 Euros (A$40).

So while eating out is fun, and worth a regular splurge, it’s not something a vegetarian budget traveller can afford all the time.

But that’s OK, because there are ways to eat more cheaply:

1. Greece is full of small bakeries, but the best ones are outside of tourist areas. Search out the local places, especially in small towns, and you’ll be rewarded by vegetarian pies - usually spinach scrolls, or pastie-shaped pies filled with feta cheese, for 1 - 2 Euros. Your cholestrol levels may soar, but at least you’ll be able to afford the medical costs!




2. Mini-markets in Greece are ubiqutous and in larger towns and suburban areas there are supermarkets. These are great sources for tinned vegetarian food that’s much tastier than in Australia and makes a good lunch. You can buy your favourite mezdes (stuffed eggplant, white beans in dill and tomato sauce, dolmades, pureed yellow lentils) for between 1 - 2 Euros for a can. Conveniently, they don’t need a can opener but you will need to wangle a spoon.




3. Fresh fruit is readily available from mini-markets, fruit and veg sellers and open air markets. There were large, sweet netarines and peaches while we were in Greece, and we often feasted on them for breakfast or as a (messy) travel snack. Again a small bag of each will cost about 1 - 2 Euros.




4. Every Greek restaurant will bring out a basket of bread with your meal. You don’t ask for it, but there will be a small charge included on the bill. The contents vary wildly - sometimes you get stale French stick, other times you’ll get a mix of homemade white and brown bread, and if you’re super lucky you get a tasty selection with olive or sundried tomato fillings. It’s usually more than you can eat, so wrap up the extra slices and use it for lunch tomorrow.
5. Andy’s tip: When in Greece, I like to do what the Greeks do. By that, do I mean drive dangerously, and routinely stay up until 1am? No. I’m talking about dinner. It’s customary and actually not unpleasant to order a small bottle of ouzo with your meal - at an inexpensive 4-6 euros in most restaurants, a 200 ml bottle was sufficient (in my limited experience) for two people, and packs about the same amount of punch as a bottle of wine between two. It’s important to get the details right - the ouzo should be served with plenty of ice and diluted with equal parts ouzo and water. Cheaper still would be to cut out alcohol altogether, but if you are looking to emulate authentic Greek dinner time practice, ouzo it ought to be.

Vegetarian in Greece: More posts on Greek veggie food

• Shhh! Greek food is vegetarian friendly
• Cheap vegetarian food in Greece
• Food and wine Santorini style
• Cretan food: not food for cretins
• Central fruit and vegetable markets, Athens
• Filistron mezedes restaurant, Athens

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