Why Athens is the Best European City for Yogis

If you’re a yogi, yoga teacher or health nut looking for an amazing city destination in Europe with plentiful yoga studios and vegetarian or vegan food options, I guarantee that Athens will prove itself a great choice. As a travelling yoga teacher, I actively seek out the best vegetarian or vegan food and yoga practice spaces everywhere I go, including in Ubud, Sydney, Madrid, Brussels, Marrakech, Rio de Janeiro and even Reykjavik. In early summer 2019, I found myself with four days to spend in Athens and I have to say I was delightfully surprised by the abundance of options.

Planning my yoga classes and health food destinations while travelling is usually in the top three priorities, after securing accommodation and mapping out transportation routes to ensure smooth sailing. I essentially leave all the tourist experiences last, knowing I will find plenty of those options without even trying as I walk through any city center.

While in Athens, I walked from one vegan or vegetarian restaurant to the next and even visited an amazing boutique health food store on two separate occasions plus squeezed in a kundalini class between a walking and museum tours on my first day. On the third day, I intended to check out a vinyasa class near a Sea Turtle Sanctuary, but I wrapped up in a project then a phone meeting so I spent a lot of time at Stavros Niarchos Community Center for some kayaking down the canal during Nostos Fesitval instead. It wqas a great way to get some activity in without going too far away from central Athens, where I needed to be later that afternoon.

Top Yoga Studios in Athens

Swaha Yoga Studio in Athens

Looking for a good yoga class in Athens? Well, if you like a clean and modern atmosphere, I would recommend Swaha Yoga near Acropolis Metro Station. It’s vicinity to Athens’ main attractions along with it’s friendly and zen yet mildly eclectic environment make it a top choice. I sat in on their Community Kundalini Yoga class on Tuesday afternoon. It was the best way to step out of the busy tourist activities for an hour and wind down to focus on my inner space. The class was taught in English on great quality mats in a bright studio room underground. Their reception space has a bathroom and changing room with decoration reflecting the outdoors. It’s minimalist without being cold. They also offer pilates classes!

During the Kundalini class, our teacher led us through a series of kriya including pranayama (breathwork), mantra and mudra (symbolic gestures usually made with the fingers). We practiced a small variety of basic asana to complement the kriyas. On this particular day, I could feel the effects of the practice almost instantly as my body was quite hot from the temperature outside, throughout the city of Athens.

Because of its gentle nature, the class was a perfect mini yoga retreat from the hours of activity I had just endured on a free walking tour with a guy named Kristos (link here). After the class, I was able to refresh myself in their washroom and connect to their wifi before heading back out on my next adventure. Because the Acropolis Museum is a five minute walk from the studio, it was the perfect next sight to see during my stay in Athens. 

House of Yoga in Glifada

House of Yoga in Glifada, just outside of Athens city center along the coastline, has the casual chic urban oasis thing going for it with the monochromatic interior complemented with bamboo plants and recessed lighting. Can you tell I love good design? The design of a space counts for so much and ambience can really make or break my experience, especially when it comes to yoga and meditation.

I didn’t make it in time to class but I did note the Sea Turtle Rescue Center across the street. I feel like combining a vinyasa class (If you want to understand a bit more about the differences between a vinyasa, hatha and yin practice, check out this article: What is the difference between Hatha, Yin and Vinyasa Yoga?) and a visit to the Sea Turtle Rescue and Conservation Center just across the street on Glifada Beach is a great idea, especially for travelling animal lovers.

You can adopt a turtle here and see it through to re-wilding or rehabilitation! I would have loved the opportunity to do this, but my stay in Athens fell outside of their tour hours. If you’re headed to Athens between July and September and want to check out something really special, this place is unique and easily accessible by bus. Here’s a link to their website: Archelon Sea Turtle Protection Society

The Best Health Food Store in Athens City Center?

I wanted to have breakfast at Avocado on my first day in town but didn’t realize it was open for lunch and dinner only until I walked over. Next door to it, however, was this wonderful little surprise of a boutique health food grocery store called 4Seasons. I was enthralled to have this as an option as I loaded a few superfood snacks into my handbag.

Turmeric dusted seaweed bites, a tiny but powerful dark chocolate bar with coconut sugar, goji berries and blueberries, a delicious orange and mango smoothie and an all natural protein bar. I often opt for cacao or dark chocolate instead of coffee as it has a sufficient amount of caffeine and somehow my body agrees with the intake of it much more than coffee, which can often leave me irritable after drinking. So, I nibbled on the chocolate bar throughout my walking tour which lasted for three hours after drinking the super tasty smoothie (packaged in a glass bottle – yay for plastic-free packaging!) before we began.

In all honesty, the seaweed bites and protein bar were not all that exciting, and while seaweed is rarely something I consider exciting, I do appreciate it for it’s nutritional value. Packed with antioxidants, Iodine and Thyrosine, it’s a great snack to grab in a new country where your immune system might be even the slightest but vulnerable. And you know, protein bars are good for when you climbing up stairs all day and hitting a yoga class later on.

On a separate occasion, I walked into the 4Seasons Bio Market in Athens and tried their walnut super power bar with a chocolate base. This, as a protein option, was definitely a winner. It was simple and tasty plus it was a fairly generous serving size. My friend Cole and I were able to share it and both felt very satisfied.

This shop has a variety of other products from natural skin cleansers, fresh produce, protein powders, nut milks, gluten free products and more. I highly recommend making a stop here before adventuring through the city or down the coastline to grab a few things to keep you nourished, vibrant and healthy!

Top Three Vegan and Vegetarian Eateries in Athens

Veganaki Restaurant in Athens

Ok, so Veganaki is a really cool place. It has a modern minimalist atmosphere and sidewalk seating which is perfectly situated across from a park where tourists flock, so it makes for great people watching along with your vegan food eating if you’re alone or if everyone in your party enjoys the pastime.

I had the Rovitsa wrap which was really cooling and perfect for brunch on a hot summer day. Paired with the most amazing lemonade I’ve ever had, this meal left me feeling well nourished and content. Let me elaborate a bit more on the lemonade; did I mention how awesome it is? It’s not just lemonade, it’s called cinnmonade because their add cinnamon and cloves to it while completely omitting the high sugar content one normally finds in a tasty lemonade.

Their entire menu is appetizing and it took me a few moments to really decide. I was already feeling quite hot in the humid heat of Athens in June so I avoided having too many spices in my meal. The vegan tzatziki, mint, parsley and mung beans felt just right to me in that moment and I’m glad I went for it, but if I had time to try more I’d definitely go for one of the gluten free Greek-style vegan pies or Moussaka. The pies weren’t quite ready when I arrived at 11:30am. Keep in mind that the earlier you come, the less baked goods will be ready and you just might want to dine here twice!

They don’t seem to have a website up, but the Veganaki Facebook Page does list their menu and Happy Cow reviews!

Mama Tierra Vegan in Athens

Mama Tierra is a began dining space which is both delicious to the taste buds and the eyes. Here, I tried the Quinoa Salad, a Power Smoothie and their Ginger Hibiscus Kombucha. Have a look at the menu on their website here: Mama Tierra Restaurant Athens.

What’s Good: The people who run the kitchen are cool enough to make substitutes, like more greens and less quinoa on the Quinoa Salad. I know, it seems ironic but when all you really want is greens and the rest of the salad sounds appetizing, it is nice when a place willingly and easily accommodates your request!

What’s OK: Right before ordering the kombucha, my friend who has brewed it in the past on her own was talking about how many places in Ubud, Bali cannot seem to get the fermenting and bottling process of this healthful beverage quite, often forgetting a special bottling and refrigerating process which keeps it carbonated and while the particular Ginger hibiscus flavor of the kombucha was great, the kombucha which was served to us was also quite flat. We drank it anyway and definitely enjoyed it.

What’s Awesome: The Power Smoothie was so creamy and full of flavor that I finished three quarters of it in under five minutes. With dates, goji berries, banana, flaxseeds, chia seeds, nut milk and agave syrup listed in the ingredients, it tasted more like a dessert than a meal but it definitely sustained me for hours walking around Athens in the heat!

Avocado Vegetarian Restaurant in Athens

Eventually, I made it back to Avocado Vegetarian Restaurant in Athens next door to Four Seasons market and I was totally glad I did. It has been a really long time since I’d eaten a decent Macrobiotic meal or seen one on a menu so it was refreshing to be served a hefty, healthy macro dish in under 15 minutes. 

I was feeling quite sluggish from a long day walking around in the sun so I was thrilled to find a spicy ginger beer called Pimento on the menu. The peppery zing paired with the strength of the ginger was the perfect pick-me-up. If you know anything about Ayurveda, you know that peppery and hot foods are perfect for increasing Pitta, which is the precise dosha that gives people a fiery, can-do attitude. Needless to say, after this delightful meal, the determination required to walk another hour through the hot and busy city had returned and I felt, overall, quite balanced and satisfied.

Their dessert menu looked absolutely amazing, as did the rest of their sprawling menu. The prices at Avocado Restaurant in Athens, however, are a bit on the high side compared to the other tasty places mentioned in this article. I’d say the service, quality of ingredients, location and plentiful options justify the prices. Almost!

Extra Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly Tips

Roots Food and Culture: Jamaica Meets Greece

Roots Food and Culture was recently selected by Happy Cow as one of the best vegan food spots in Athens. Although we walked in, we didn’t actually manage to eat anything there because they only took cash and we were low on Euros. Their menu, however, looks really unique and tasty, featuring vegan twists on traditional Jamaican and Greek dishes! I was pretty impressed by the combination of cuisines and by the prices. You can have a taste of their magical menu for as little as two and a half Euros. I would say Roots Food and Culture is definitely worth a stop.

Coffee Island Does Soy Milk!

En route to see Poseidon’s Temple about an hour and a half south of Athens, I was really craving some coffee. Because coffee often leaves me feeling slightly irritable and causes dips and spikes in my energy levels, I often opt for decaf. Thankfully, decaf coffee is commonly found in Athens’ coffeehouses and so is soy milk. Coffee Island is a friendly Greek coffee chain I’d spotted all over the city and finally stopped into along the coastline. I managed to secure myself a dairy-free iced decaf latte (it’s ok, you can laugh if you want!) and an energy bar made from seeds, nuts and honey. Sugar and dairy-free treats always  win points with me as does service with a genuine smile.

Yiasemi: Authentic Vegetarian Friendly Greek Food at a Great Price

After a walking tour around Athens with Nikos, we stopped into an exquisitely charming little restaurant which is popular with the locals and tourists alike! Yiasemi Bistro is the kind of place you really must try if you want to experience authentic, deliciously prepared Greek food at an exceptional price. With each plate costing only five Euros, we opted to share three plates between three people plus we indulged in a massive piece of baklava along with a “cheesecake” dessert in the end. The atmosphere is totally unique and lovingly put together, featuring leafy climbing vines across the ceiling, reupholstered vintage dining furniture and an eclectic selection of decorations flanking every wall – all without feeling excessive or gaudy! Yiasemi also offers outdoor seating along the charming steps of a quaint village setting so anywhere you decide to sit is going to be a winning situation!