Central Market - Athens Varvakios Agora, Athens

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It is a great way to spend money on food. Also known as ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΗ ΑΓΟΡΑ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ, it is located between Omonia and Monastiraki.

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The Central Market off Athinas in between Omonia and Monastiraki Squares is a fish and meat market right in the heart of old Athens. Fresh meat and seafood of all varities are being sold. Even if you are not buying any seafood, it is interesting to browse around to see the vast array of seafood which you may want to savour for your next dinner.

You can buy just about anything in Athens and even on a purely visual level the city's markets and bazaar areas are worth an hour or two's wandering. Among these markets, don't miss the Athens central market. You will find them when you go up on Athinas from Monastiraki to Omonia, on your right just past Evripidou.

The Athens central market is a great place to save money on food. You’ll find halls of meat, fish, vegetables and fruits from all over Greece. The market is open Monday through Saturday from about 8am to 6pm. This is a great place to buy meat, fish, vegetables, Greek spices and herbs, cheeses, and sweets and to see how Athens is fed. Wear shoes as the floor may be a bit slippery, especially in the fish market.

Assuming that a restaurant within the Athens Central Market will have the freshest quality available, just about anywhere, I recommend dining in one of the 4 working class (one is kind of a secret underground restaurant in the vegetable market close to the olive shops), no frills ouzeries and sit down restaurants in the market. Doesn’t matter which one either, as you may have to wait in line for a place to sit in these cramped but delicious establishments.

Try the Patsa soup. It is made of intestines but it is a great hangover killer and good for your blood. Patsa is the working class food and it can be eaten any time of the day. You will find restaurants serving Patsa in almost every Greek town.

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Athens Central Market is my favorite. I seem to get energized walking around. To me the Central Market is one of the most exciting places in Athens.
If you are coming from the Flea Market and continue from Monastiraki square down Athinas street towards Omonia when you get to Evripidou street you will find yourself at the Athens Market. Morning is the time to be here. Some of the butchers come from generations of butchers who have had stalls in the market for a century.

The central market is an interesting, colourful and typical place to go where you can feel the daily Greek life. Although a good place to shop, don’t expect a very hygienic place.