Athens Old Town: Greek Olive Oil & Herbs Tasting

Athens’ oldest bar is an unusual place to learn about olive oil. At Brettos in Plaka, you’ll sit among rows of colorful bottles and old wine barrels while tasting four Greek extra virgin olive oils with local herbs. It is a quick, focused stop near the Acropolis, not a long food tour.

I like the easy location and the chance to compare oils side by side instead of sampling just one. I also like the wine finish, which turns a short lesson into a pleasant pause in the old town. The main drawback is the 20-minute length: a well-led session can feel useful and relaxed, but a rushed one may feel more like a brief sales tasting.

Key points to know before booking

• Four oils are tasted side by side, helping you notice differences between Greek extra virgin varieties.
• Greek herbs are part of the lesson, with guidance on how to pair them with olive oil.
• Brettos gives the tasting a memorable setting, with wine and spirits stored in rows of visible barrels.
• The session lasts only 20 minutes, so it fits neatly before or after sightseeing in Plaka.
• Irini has hosted some sessions, taking time to explain the oils and answer questions.
• You can stay for more drinks or finger food, but those extras cost more.

A short tasting inside Brettos in Plaka

This experience begins in the old town of Athens, in the Plaka district. Brettos is described as the oldest bar in the city, and its interior is part of the appeal. You’ll see many barrels of Greek wine and spirits as you make your way to the tasting area.

The meeting instructions are simple. Find Brettos, follow the step on the right-hand side, and ask for the olive tasting booked in your name. There is no hotel transfer, so you’ll make your own way to the bar.

I like this setup because it places the tasting in a real local drinking spot rather than a plain classroom. You get a little atmosphere before the lesson even begins. The location is also close to the Acropolis, making it easy to pair with a morning or afternoon in central Athens.

Still, Brettos is a bar and deli cellar, not a purpose-built olive farm. If you want to see olive groves, watch oil being pressed, or enjoy a full Greek meal, this is not that kind of experience. It is a compact introduction in the center of town.

What happens during the 20-minute masterclass

The tasting focuses on the differences between extra virgin olive oils. You’ll try four types, with an English-speaking instructor explaining what to look for. The aim is to help you distinguish among the oils rather than simply taste them one after another.

You’ll also taste Greek herbs alongside the oil. This matters because olive oil is rarely enjoyed alone at the table. Herbs can change the flavor, add aroma, and suggest how you might use an oil with food at home.

The session also covers the difference between olive oil, virgin olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil. That basic vocabulary is useful when shopping in Greece, where bottles can carry several grades and labels. In only 20 minutes, you get the main points without committing half a day to a food activity.

The exact pace may depend on the group. One session had only one person and moved quickly, with the spoken explanation lasting about three minutes before the wine was left to enjoy alone. That is a useful warning: the short format works best when the host takes questions and gives the tasting room to breathe.

Other sessions have been more personal. Irini has been praised for taking her time, explaining each oil, and answering questions. If she leads your tasting, ask her to repeat a comparison or explain which herb works best with your favorite oil. The more you participate, the more useful the 20 minutes becomes.

Learning to taste four Greek oils

The heart of the activity is the four-oil comparison. You are not simply handed a bottle and told that it is good. You taste several oils in the same sitting, which gives you a better reference point.

For a first-time taster, the value is in the contrast. One oil may seem mild, another more forceful, and another may work better with the herbs. You do not need expert vocabulary to take part. Notice what you smell, how the oil feels, and which one you would want on bread or with a meal.

The activity does not state the exact regions, olive varieties, harvest dates, or producers for the four oils. I would not book this expecting a detailed map of Greek olive-growing areas. Instead, think of it as a practical introduction to the range of extra virgin olive oil.

The distinction between extra virgin, virgin, and ordinary olive oil is also useful for shopping. The session is designed to explain those categories in plain terms, so you can leave with a clearer idea of what the label means. If you plan to buy oil in Greece, this short lesson can help you ask better questions.

You will likely get the most from it by tasting slowly and asking why one oil differs from another. Since the scheduled time is brief, do not wait until the final minute to ask questions.

Herbs give the tasting a practical purpose

The herbs keep the activity from becoming a narrow lesson about oil alone. You’ll taste selected Greek herbs with the oils and learn how the flavors work together.

This is especially useful if you enjoy cooking. A good pairing can suggest a simple meal or help you decide which oil belongs on a salad, vegetables, bread, or another dish. The supplied information does not list the specific herbs, so I would not expect a fixed menu of named plants. The point is to explore combinations during the session.

I like this part because it connects tasting with everyday use. You are not only judging which oil tastes best on its own. You are also thinking about how Greek flavors reach the table.

Keep your expectations in check. This is not described as a full cooking class, and food is not included. You taste herbs with the oil, but you do not receive a meal as part of the $23 price.

The wine at Brettos

A glass of wine is included in the experience as part of the tasting. The setting makes it a natural addition, since Brettos is known for its wine and spirits and displays many barrels inside.

The wine gives you a pleasant final pause. One host may offer it after the oil tasting so you can enjoy it with your favorite oil. That small detail helps the session feel less like a quick product demonstration and more like a short break in Plaka.

Do note the difference between the included tasting and extra orders. The activity includes four extra virgin olive oils with Greek herbs. Additional food and drinks are not included, though you can remain at the bar afterward and order finger food or more drinks at your own cost.

That option is handy if you are not ready to leave after 20 minutes. It is also a chance to turn the tasting into a longer stop without booking another activity. But keep the price in mind if you begin adding items to the bill.

How much value do you get for $23?

At $23 per person, this is priced as a short specialist tasting rather than a full food tour. The value depends on what you want from your time in Athens.

I think the price is reasonable if you want three things: a central location, a guided comparison of four Greek oils, and a glass of wine in a historic bar setting. You also get a basic lesson in olive oil grades and herb pairings, which can be useful beyond the visit.

The calculation changes if you want a large tasting, a meal, or a long conversation with an oil producer. Twenty minutes is a tight window, and food and extra drinks cost more. A person who wants a relaxed afternoon of Greek eating will need to spend additional money or choose a longer food tour.

The best value comes when you place it between other plans. Since Brettos is in Plaka and close to the Acropolis, you can fit the tasting into a day of central Athens sightseeing. It works as a planned pause, especially if you do not want to give up several hours for a culinary activity.

The setting matters more than the size

The venue is one of the strongest reasons to choose this experience. Brettos provides an old-town backdrop and the striking sight of wine and spirit barrels. You are not tasting in an anonymous meeting room.

That atmosphere gives the activity a sense of place, even though the tasting itself is brief. Plaka is one of the most convenient areas for a visitor staying near the center, and the bar is close to the Acropolis.

The setting can also shape the mood. Some sessions may feel intimate if only a few people attend. A small group can make it easier to ask questions and compare impressions. But the experience may feel less substantial if the group is very small and the explanation is delivered quickly.

One person attending alone received the four oils and a very good glass of white wine, but felt left on their own soon afterward. That is not a problem for someone who wants a quiet drink, but it matters if you expect a lively, guided discussion from start to finish.

Who will enjoy this tasting most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a short introduction to Greek olive oil and have plans nearby. It suits people who enjoy food details but do not want a full cooking class or a half-day excursion.

It is also a good fit for couples or small groups looking for a calm stop in Plaka. The wine makes it more social, while the oil comparison gives the visit a clear purpose.

Food-curious visitors may find it especially useful before shopping for Greek olive oil. After tasting several types, you have a better basis for deciding what you like. You can also ask about the differences among olive oil grades before buying a bottle elsewhere.

Families can consider it if everyone is happy with a short tasting, though the activity is not described as a children’s program. Since wine is part of the experience, adults are clearly the main audience.

I would skip it if you want an olive farm visit, a full meal, hotel pickup, or a long lesson on production. Those features are not part of this compact city-center format.

Practical details that affect your choice

The activity is conducted in English. If you need another language, the supplied details do not indicate that one is available.

The duration is 20 minutes, with starting times based on availability. That makes timing important. Leave enough room to find Brettos in Plaka and locate the step on the right-hand side before the scheduled start.

There is no hotel transfer. You will need to reach the bar independently and identify yourself by the name on the booking.

The activity allows free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Athens schedule is still changing.

Because the tasting is close to the Acropolis, you might place it before or after a visit there. I would avoid scheduling it so tightly against another timed ticket that a small delay causes stress. The tasting is short, but finding your way through the old town still takes attention.

How to get more from the tasting

Go in with a simple plan. Before you arrive, decide whether you care most about flavor, cooking use, or learning how to shop for oil. Then ask questions that match that goal.

You can ask which of the four oils is mildest, which has the strongest character, and which herb pairing is easiest to use at home. You can also ask for a plain explanation of extra virgin olive oil compared with virgin olive oil. Those questions turn a quick tasting into a more personal lesson.

Pay attention to your own preference. There is no need to choose the most intense oil or agree with the host’s favorite. The useful result is knowing what you enjoy and why.

If you want more time afterward, stay for extra drinks or finger food. Just remember that these are not included in the booking price. If you are keeping the day inexpensive, enjoy the included glass of wine and continue your meal elsewhere in Plaka.

Should you book Athens Old Town Olive Oil and Herbs Tasting?

Book it if you want a short, affordable food experience in central Athens, especially when you already plan to visit Plaka or the Acropolis. The four-oil comparison, Greek herb pairings, and glass of wine give you more substance than a single sample, while Brettos provides a memorable setting.

Go in knowing that the quality of the session may depend on how much explanation your host provides. Irini has offered a warm, detailed experience, while another very small session felt rushed. Ask questions early, and you are more likely to get the value you want from the 20-minute format.

Skip it if you need a full meal, transport, farm visit, or extended instruction. For a quick taste of Greek olive oil in an atmospheric Athens bar, though, the $23 price is fair.

FAQ

Where does the olive oil tasting take place?

It takes place at Brettos Bar in Plaka, Athens’ old town. The bar 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 oils are tasted with Greek herbs, and the instructor explains how the herbs pair with olive oil.

Is wine included?

A glass of wine is included as part of the experience.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included. You can stay afterward for finger food or additional drinks at an extra cost.

Is hotel transfer provided?

No. Hotel transfer is not included, so you must make your own way to Brettos.

What language is the tasting conducted in?

The instructor leads the activity in English.

How do I find the meeting point?

Find Brettos Bar, follow the step on the right-hand side, and ask for the olive tasting booked in your name.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.