Gyros in bread, served on a rustic wooden board

Be Picky Athens: Selected tips from insiders

They know how it's done: Flight attendant Anna Gozdzik explains how gyros got its name, and where to find the most delicious specimens in Athens 

|
2 min read
|

The ancient gods couldn't have thought up a better way: you skewer meat on a stick, stand it upright and let it turn evenly under heat so that the meat is grilled crispy on all sides. "Gyros" actually means "turn". At the same time it stands for so much more: the export hit from Greece represents the Hellenic joie de vivre ("Kefi") and hospitality all over the world. An attitude to life, wrapped in a fluffy pita bread. 

Outdoor area of a restaurant on a street in Athens
Outdoor dining in Athens: Gyros & Co. taste even better when eaten al fresco (© Alamy; header image © Westend61)
Close-up view of a gyros skewer and bread filled with gyros
The meat must be crispy on all sides. The chefs at Achilleas have mastered this art (© Getty Images)
Pita bread with gyros, with a lively Athenian street in the background
Tasty gyros pita: traditionally stuffed with tzatziki, tomatoes, and fresh onions, and now often served with fries as well (© Getty Images)

You can get gyros on every corner in Athens. But where does it taste really good? Well, at Achilleas. The meat has been spinning on its own axis here since the 1980s, winning locals over with its juicy taste and spicy marinade. The meat is wrapped in pita bread with freshly sliced tomatoes, peppers, onions, and chips, served with a large dollop of cool tzatziki – that's what I consider to be the tastiest gyros in all of Athens.

About:

Anna Gozdzik has been working as a flight attendant for Lufthansa since 2010. She tastes her way through Greek cuisine when in Athens, and knows the best places to eat in the city. 

Ready to discover the world?

Book a flight and write your own story. Our travel tips will make it unforgettable.

Find flight