Athens Food Market and Street Food

The Central Market of Athens (Varvakios Agora), operating since 1886, is one of Europe's great covered markets -- with entire halls dedicated to fresh fish, meat, olives, and cheese from every region of Greece -- and the surrounding streets contain Athens' best street food including souvlaki pita, loukoumades (honey-dipped doughnut balls), and spanakopita (spinach and feta phyllo pie). Greek cuisine's Mediterranean Diet designation by UNESCO protects a 3,000-year-old food culture now recognized as the world's healthiest dietary pattern.