I was midway through my dessert at a tiny restaurant on Syros, Greece, when I realized that I might have made a mistake. A soft and pliable custard topped with honey rested on a base that seemed far too wheat-like for my liking, especially given that the restaurant had not heard of celiac disease before I ordered.
Before eating, I showed restaurant’s owner my free gluten free travel card, and had explained that eating any wheat would make me really sick. He assured me that the dessert had no wheat or flour in it at all, that it was full of honey and dairy products and “beyond delicious.”
On the latter front, I completely agreed. On the former, not so much—that night was one where I communed heavily with the toilet in my tiny bedroom. Since the restaurant was near where I was staying, I returned the next day to ask about ingredients. He listed them off, wheat-free. I asked what the base of the dessert was made of.
Sheepish recognition slowly dawned on his face. “Ah, yes. But you didn’t say pastry dough? You said wheat flour…?”
For celiacs, eating out can be incredibly stressful. It’s not merely a strong stomach ache, or a dash to the toilet. It’s that for many of us, the next morning you find that you cannot bend your joints in your hands, or you are lethargic and weary for days. There are varying levels of people affected by the disease, but I realize when travelling to foreign places that my stomach’s restrictions are an imposition on cultures that are not as sensitive to allergies or autoimmune diseases as my own.
Lots of Greek dishes are naturally gluten free. Usually there are no sneaky marinades containing gluten to contend with, but again I always give them my card to play it safe.
Tips for eating gluten free in Greece
- Be aware of cross-contact risks: Thankfully, french fries are fried in a separate fryer more than I was used to coming from North America, but it’s important to convey the risks of grilling on the same surfaces and, for gyro spots, that you can’t have any bread touching your meat.
- BYOB — not GF beer, GF bread! In addition to any snacks to tide you over between meals, a lot of the things I ate in Greece were delicious appetizer sized dishes that are normally served with pita. I brought some rice crackers to scoop things up, but see below for some options of where you can purchase gluten free crackers, bread, or other “I need this to scoop up my delicious eggplant dip” and other mezedes items.
- If you’re not vegetarian, opting for grilled meat and vegetables with rice is often a safe bet Concerns with this option including if the meat was marinaded in anything with wheat—in my experience, it was not as lemon juice, yoghurt, and herbs were used often—and if the rice has any bouillon / soup base that isn’t safe to flavour. Generally grilled seafood or meat with veggie sides was an option anywhere I visited in Greece.
- Salads ahoy! If you have a grilled main you set your eyes on but there’s no sides you enjoy, greek salads are a delicious option to fill you up and make you wish you could stay there forever.
- GF on a menu isn’t a guarantee, but GF on a label is. Being part of the European Union, Greece is required to follow gluten allergen laws for the EU as a whole, which means that products marked with the “crossed grain” gluten free symbol have met the standard of the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS).
Gluten free restaurants in Greece
Prior celiac guides were written with my own restaurant recommendations, tested from travels as a celiac. In 2017, my life took a big turn when a botched lumbar puncture left me with a chronic spinal CSF leak, and disabled. As a result, the restaurant and shop recommendations in this guide are put together via community crowdsourcing, and have not been personally tested. While I have been to Greece, my recommendations are outdated, and I have turned to fellow celiacs to help fill that gap and keep you as safe as possible.
ATHENS:
- Arcadia: higher-end greek food with traditional dishes and beautiful presentation. Knowledgeable about celiac disease, but no separate GF menu.
- Greek Stories: the Gluten Free Project offers traditional Greek food, wholly gluten free. This spot opened after I visited Athens, and I wish It was there when I was in town! The menu of dips, appetizers, main dishes, and more all look amazing.
- Nudie Foodie Psiri: Dedicated gluten free cafe with a focus on vegetarian food. Serves quite a variety of foods, including pancakes (and keto pancakes!), waffles, salads, GF pizza, and sweets.
- Anthema: now with two locations in Athens, this vegan, dairy free, and gluten and sugar free cafe has a surprisingly large menu of smoothies, salads, savoury meals, and snacks, as well as a shop with GF products available for purchase.
- Avocado: pasta, rice bowls, appetizers and side dishes: this healthy vegan spot offers gluten free options and a knowledgeable staff about celiac disease. Confirm with gluten free bread substitutions that any toasting is done without CC.
- Yi: A gluten free facility that opened in 2014, this restaurant markets itself as a plant-based haven. Chef Anna Hohlaki focuses on creative vegan and raw vegan dishes, with no preservatives or other additives, no sugar and no wheat flour. With main courses, salads, cheesecakes, and other sweets, they have a lot to choose from for celiacs who don’t mind avoiding meat for a delicious meal.
- Le Greche Ice Cream Shop: artisanal gelato with unique flavours, this shop is aware of celiac disease and will use separate tubs to ensure no CC for people who need it. Great spot for homemade, rich treats.
NAXOS:
- Pizzadelia: offers gluten free pasta and pizza, with a knowledgeable staff and confirmation that food is prepared in a separate area so it is safe for celiacs.
- Meze Meze/Meze2: dedicated fryer, delicious traditional greek food, and though they don’t have a separate GF menu, much of it is naturally gluten free. Rave reviews, and a staff knowledgeable about celiac disease as well.
- Naxian Capriccio: menu fully labeled for GF options, knowledgeable about celiac disease, and great grilled seafood and meat.
MYKONOS:
Pepper Souvlaki & More: most of us are used to just trying souvlaki without the pita, once we’re assured that they do not wipe the pita on the meat skewers. In this case, Pepper has gluten free pita available—so you can try it the traditional way, messy and delicious. As with many restaurants, a dedicated fryer (though in reality, it’s more a “separate potato fryer because why would we mix our potatoes with anything else” spot), so the fries are safe too.
Is Greece good for Gluten Free People? || How To Coeliac
FAQ
Is Greek food usually gluten-free?
Are gyros in Greece gluten-free?
Are fries in Greece gluten-free?
Are Greek dishes gluten-free?
Well, you’re in luck because many Greek dishes are gluten-free or can be made so with a few simple substitutions. Just make sure any dressing you have doesn’t contain wheat and that you use a pasta alternative, like rice flour or chickpea pasta.
What are some gluten-free breads?
Some gluten-free bread include those made with almond flour, coconut flour, and tapioca flour. Gluten-free breads are made without wheat, barley, or rye. They are a good option for people who have celiac disease or are sensitive to gluten. When buying gluten-free bread, be sure to check the label to make sure it is truly gluten-free. Some brands may say they are gluten-free, but may use wheat starch or other ingredients that contain trace amounts of gluten.
Can you eat gluten free in Greece?
Despina was kind enough to not only sit down and talk about my attempts to eat gluten free in Greece, but also offered to have me test out an Athens food tour tailored to celiacs, which included buckwheat bread (see below for bakery info), perfect for mopping up fava and feta. Click to head over to the purchase page.
Is Greek yogurt gluten free?
Another staple in a Greek household is homemade yogurt. It is a bit thicker than commercial yogurt and the flavor is exquisite. To make commercial gluten-free plain yogurt taste more like homemade, strain it in cheesecloth for three hours in the refrigerator.