Athens Old Town: Greek Olive Oil & Herbs Tasting

Athens’ olive oil culture gets a quick, tasty introduction inside Brettos Bar, the city’s oldest bar in the heart of Plaka. You taste four Greek extra virgin olive oils, pair them with local herbs, and learn the basics from an English-speaking host.

I like the small setting and the easy location near the Acropolis. I also like that the tasting gives you something useful to take home: a better sense of what extra virgin olive oil should taste like, and how herbs can change the experience.

The main drawback is the 20-minute length. That makes it a handy stop between sights, but not a full food tour. If you arrive alone or the session is quiet, the lesson may be brief. One participant described only a few minutes of explanation before being left with wine, while another had a longer, question-filled visit with Irini.

Key points to know before booking

• Four Greek olive oils: Taste several extra virgin oils side by side, which makes their differences easier to notice.
• Herb pairings: Sample Greek herbs with the oils and learn how the flavors work together.
• Brettos Bar setting: Meet at a historic Plaka bar lined with colorful wine and spirit barrels.
• Short and central: The activity lasts 20 minutes and takes place close to the Acropolis.
• Wine included in the experience: You receive a glass of wine, while extra drinks and finger food cost more.
• Best for curious food lovers: This suits anyone who wants a compact Greek tasting rather than a long guided meal.

Four olive oils in the heart of Plaka

The main event is simple: four Greek extra virgin olive oils are poured for you to taste and compare. That side-by-side format matters. Sampling one oil on its own can leave you with little to say beyond good or not good. Tasting four in sequence gives you a better chance to notice changes in aroma, strength, texture, and finish.

A local expert guides the tasting and helps you spot the differences. You learn the distinction between olive oil, virgin olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil in a short masterclass. With only 20 minutes available, this is an introduction rather than a full course, but it gives structure to what could otherwise be a vague tasting.

I like this kind of activity because it turns a familiar pantry item into something you can examine. Olive oil is part of daily Greek cooking, yet many people use it without thinking about how one bottle differs from another. Here, you get a quick lesson in paying attention.

The experience does not give specific information about the olive varieties, harvest dates, or regions behind each sample. If those details matter to you, ask the host while you are there. The format leaves room for questions, especially if your group is small.

Greek herbs make the tasting more useful

The oils are served with local Greek herbs, so you are not tasting them in isolation. The herbs show how olive oil fits into actual Greek food. They also give your palate another way to compare the oils.

This is one of the more practical parts of the activity. A tasting can be interesting for a few minutes, then disappear from memory. Pairing oil with herbs gives you a simple idea to use later: try different herbs with olive oil and notice which combinations you prefer.

The available information does not name the individual herbs, so you should not expect a fixed list in advance. The promise is to taste some of the finest Greek herbs and learn how they go with olive oil. Your host can explain the pairings as you sample them.

I would treat this as a flavor lesson, not a full Greek meal. Food is not included, and the main package covers the four oils with herbs. You can stay longer for finger food, but that costs extra.

Brettos Bar adds character to a short stop

You meet at Brettos Bar, a well-known old-town stop in Plaka. The bar is described as the oldest in Athens, and its rows of Greek wine and spirit barrels give the tasting a distinctive setting. This is not a classroom or a modern cooking studio. You are stepping into a working bar and deli cellar in one of Athens’ most visited areas.

That setting is especially useful if you are already walking through Plaka. The meeting point is close to the Acropolis, so you can fit the tasting around sightseeing without arranging a separate transfer. You follow the step on the right-hand side of Brettos and ask for the olive tasting booked in your name.

I would allow a little time to find the entrance, since the instructions depend on locating the bar and the correct step. No hotel pickup is included. You make your own way there on foot or by whatever transport you are using in Athens.

The historic setting is part of the appeal, but it may not provide the quiet focus of a private tasting room. Brettos is still a bar, and the experience takes place within that atmosphere. If you want a formal lesson with a long sit-down meal, this is not that kind of outing.

The 20-minute format: useful, but very quick

Twenty minutes is both the strength and the limitation of this experience. I like the short format for a packed Athens day. You can fit it between a visit to the Acropolis, a walk through Plaka, or another nearby stop without giving up half an afternoon.

The timing also keeps the price reasonable. At $23 per person, you are paying for a focused tasting and instruction rather than a large meal or a long tour. For someone who wants a first look at Greek olive oil, that can be fair value.

Still, you should set your expectations correctly. The activity does not promise a detailed agricultural talk, a meal, or an extended wine tasting. It gives you four oils, herbs, instruction, and a glass of wine within a compact window.

The quality of the explanation may depend on the group and the host. One experience was described as a quick three-minute explanation followed by time alone with a very good glass of white wine. Another was praised because Irini took her time, answered questions, and made the session feel more personal.

That difference is worth keeping in mind. If you are the only person booked, the session may be very short unless you ask questions. If the host is able to spend more time with you, the same 20-minute booking can feel much fuller.

The wine gives you a pleasant finish

A glass of wine is part of the experience, adding a relaxed ending to the olive oil tasting. You can enjoy it with your preferred oil after the samples, depending on how the session is handled.

One participant particularly liked the white wine, while another chose to continue with a wine tasting as well as the oil tasting. The activity itself focuses on olive oil and herbs, so the wine should be seen as an extra pleasure rather than the main subject.

This is a nice touch at the $23 price point, but read the inclusions carefully. The included item is the tasting of four extra virgin olive oils with Greek herbs. Food and additional drinks are not included. If you decide to stay at Brettos for finger food or more drinks, you pay separately.

I like the option because it lets you decide how long to remain. You can finish the 20-minute session and carry on with your day, or turn the stop into a longer break at the bar.

What the host can add to the experience

The activity is conducted in English. A local expert explains the oils and helps you compare them, and the quality of that personal guidance is important because the tasting is so short.

Irini was named as a particularly warm host in one account. She explained the four oils, offered different combinations, answered questions, and ended the visit with a glass of wine and the chance to enjoy a favorite oil. If Irini is hosting your session, you may get that more conversational format, though the host is not guaranteed by the activity details.

I recommend arriving ready with one or two questions. You could ask how to tell extra virgin olive oil from other grades, what makes the oils taste different, or which herbs work best with the sample you prefer. Questions help turn a short presentation into a useful exchange.

The group size can be small. One person had a one-person session, while another described a small-group experience. That can be a real advantage if the host has time for you, but it also means the experience may feel less lively if you are alone and the explanation is kept short.

Is $23 good value?

At $23, this is not a bargain snack, since the food and extra drinks are separate. The value comes from the guided comparison, the four oils, the local herbs, the wine, and the setting at Brettos.

I see it as reasonable for the right person. If you are already planning to walk through Plaka and want a short, local food experience, the location saves you the trouble of traveling elsewhere. You also leave with a clearer idea of what you like in Greek olive oil.

The value is weaker if you want a substantial meal or a long lesson. You could easily spend more after the tasting if you add finger food and drinks. That can be enjoyable, but it changes the total cost.

For a couple or small group interested in Greek food, $23 per person is a manageable way to add something different to a day of sightseeing. For anyone seeking a full culinary tour, I would put the money toward a longer food experience instead.

Who should book this tasting?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time visitors who want a quick introduction to Greek olive oil
• Couples looking for a relaxed stop near the Acropolis
• Food lovers who enjoy comparing flavors
• People interested in herbs, wine, and everyday Greek cooking
• Visitors with a busy itinerary who cannot spare several hours
• Anyone who enjoys historic bars and informal tasting rooms

It may not suit you if you dislike short activities or want a substantial amount of food. It is also not the best choice if you need hotel transfer, since you must reach Brettos Bar yourself.

Families can consider it, but the details do not describe a child-focused format. The experience is designed around tasting olive oil, herbs, and wine, so adults with an interest in those flavors are the clearest match.

How to make the most of 20 minutes

Plan to arrive at Brettos Bar in Plaka with enough time to find the correct entrance. Follow the step on the right-hand side and ask for the olive tasting under your booking name.

Once the tasting begins, pay attention to the order of the oils and ask about the differences you notice. Even a simple question about which sample is mildest or strongest can make the session more engaging.

Try the herbs with more than one oil if you are given the chance. The purpose is not simply to choose a favorite bottle. It is to understand how the oil and herb change each other.

If you enjoy the wine and the setting, ask about staying for extra drinks or finger food. Those additions are not included, so confirm the cost before ordering.

You can cancel without charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled start, and the booking option allows you to reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

Final decision: book it for a quick taste of Greece

Book this experience if you want a short, central, low-effort tasting with four Greek extra virgin olive oils, local herbs, and wine. Brettos Bar gives the stop a memorable setting, and a good host can make the 20 minutes feel personal and useful.

Skip it if you want a full meal, a long wine session, or a detailed study of Greek olive-growing regions. The format is brisk, and the quality of the lesson may depend on how much time the host spends with your group.

For most visitors, I would book it as a pleasant Plaka break rather than as a major Athens attraction. Keep your expectations modest, ask questions, and treat the $23 as payment for a compact introduction to a central part of Greek food culture.

FAQ

Where does the olive oil tasting take place?

The tasting takes place at Brettos Bar in Plaka, Athens. Brettos is described as the oldest bar in Athens and is close to the Acropolis.

How long does the activity last?

The scheduled tasting lasts 20 minutes.

How many olive oils will I taste?

You will taste four Greek extra virgin olive oils.

Are Greek herbs included?

Yes. The four olive oils are tasted together with Greek herbs, and the host explains how the herbs pair with the oil.

Is wine included?

The experience includes a glass of wine. Additional drinks and finger food are not included and cost extra.

What language is the activity conducted in?

The instructor conducts the activity in English.

Is hotel transfer included?

No. Hotel transfer is not included. You must make your own way to Brettos Bar.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.