Diporto on Sokratous and Theatrou in central Athens has poured Attic retsina from barrels since 1887, a basement koutouki with a EUR10 lunch and no menu.
Tip: Lunch only from late morning until the pans empty, often by 17:00; no menu, no English spoken.
Address: Sokratous 9, Athina 105 52, Athens
Ariston on Voulis behind Syntagma in Athens has baked filo pies since 1910, a takeaway counter where the spanakopita is the order and a coffee runs under EUR3.
Try: Spanakopita, cheese pie, meat pie
Tip: Stand-up counter only; closed Sundays. Morning pies fly out before 10:00.
Falafellas on Aiolou near Monastiraki in Athens is the central falafel pita counter, fresh-built takeaways under EUR5 with tahini, salad and chilli.
Try: Falafel pita with tahini and salad
Tip: Queue runs longest at lunch; the meatball pita is the regulars' variant.
Krinos on Aiolou has fried loukoumades since 1923 in Athens, the EUR5 portion of doughnuts with honey at the back-counter seated room.
Try: Loukoumades with honey, Greek coffee
Tip: Closed Sundays; the seated counter at the back is the destination, not the takeaway window.
Lukumades on Aiolou and Agia Irini Square in Athens is the modern loukoumades shop, where filled or topped doughnuts run EUR4 to EUR8 with espresso to go.
Try: Filled and topped loukoumades
Tip: The injected loukoumades with cream are the order; queue runs longest on summer weekends.
Bairaktaris on Monastiraki Square in Athens has a takeaway pita window onto the square, a EUR4 pita that runs until 02:00 every day of the week.
Try: Souvlaki and gyros pita
Tip: The pita window faces the square; the sit-down room behind is a separate bill.
Taverna tou Oikonomou in Ano Petralona in Athens cooks home-style mageirio food since 1930, a EUR12 lunch plate from the pan with house red and bread included.
Try: Daily mageirio plate
Tip: No microwave and no menu; you point at the trays. Closes when the pans run out, often by 22:00.
