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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Maria

Athens, Greece

USD
$94-$169 per person

Creative Greek Cooking Class in a Local Athens Home

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food Tour

Meet Maria

Maria’s fondest childhood memories are scents, colors, music, and laughter flying around the house when friends and family came over. This is when her passion for food and cooking was born! Growing up in her grandmother's kitchen, Maria fell in love with cooking. Her grandmother taught her to cook all the traditional Greek dishes and passed on the family recipes to her. Later in life, Maria was fortunate enough to see a lot of the world and one of her favorite activities is exploring local markets, ingredients and dishes. She loves to experiment with these new flavors and ingredients and create her own recipes, with a fun twist. Maria is so excited to share her food, culture and love for Greek cooking with travelers looking for an authentic meal in Athens.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) In Greece, eating is more than a necessity; it is a cherished ritual that varies from family to family. Begin your in-home Athens dining experience with a glass of fragrant ouzo or tsipouro (anise-flavored aperitif), handpicked Greek olives, Graviera cheese and barley rusks; while Maria shares stories of growing up and learning to cook as a child in her grandmother's kitchen. A few dishes that you will share at her table are tyrokafteri (spicy Greek feta spread), horiatiki Greek salad with a twist and keftedes (Greek fried meatballs). Your meal ends with thick Greek yogurt topped with thyme honey and a glass of chilled mastic liqueur.

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) Enjoy a hands-on Athens cooking class and learn to prepare traditional Greek dishes with a modern twist. Your in-home Athens cooking experience begins with a glass of fragrant ouzo or tsipouro, along with handpicked Greek olives, Graviera cheese, and barley rusks. As you enjoy these classic meze, Maria shares stories from her childhood, growing up and learning to cook in her grandmother's kitchen. During this 2-hour culinary experience, Maria will guide you step-by-step through making an authentic Greek appetizer and a flavorful main dish, all based on her treasured family recipes. She’ll share practical tips, clever tricks, and the cooking secrets passed down from her grandmother—so you can confidently recreate these dishes in your own kitchen after your trip. Once the cooking is complete, you’ll sit down together to enjoy the delicious meal you helped prepare. A Greek cooking class with locals in Athens is one of the best ways to experience the city’s culture—connecting with real people, tasting authentic flavors, and discovering the culinary traditions that make Greek cuisine so special.

Notes: Maria can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets with advance notice. Please share any dietary restrictions or allergies when you book your Greek cooking class in Athens. If you would like additional alcohol with your meal, you can select the alcohol option during booking. This includes two glasses of wine for an additional cost.

Languages spoken: Greek, English, German

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Aperitif: Ouzo or tsipouro, handpicked Greek olives, graviera cheese, barley rusks
  • Appetizer: Tyrokafteri (spicy Greek feta spread) and horiatiki (Greek salad with a twist)
  • Main: Keftedes (Greek fried meatballs)
  • Dessert: Greek yogurt with thyme honey or Greek sweet made from quince
  • A glass of chilled mastic liqueur

Traveler reviews

5.0 (8)
This was such a unique and memorable experience and easily one of the highlights of our time in Athens. Maria and Dimitri were incredibly warm, funny and welcoming from the moment we arrived. The hours genuinely flew by. We spent the night cooking, eating, drinking great wine and learning not just about Greek food, but about Maria and Dimitri, Athens, Greece and their lives and travels. The food was exceptional, authentic, delicious, but what really made the experience was Maria. She has such a big, fun personality and was absolutely made for this. She is hilarious, incredibly well travelled and full of stories. We laughed throughout the entire evening and by the end it felt far more like spending a night with friends than attending a cooking class. I would recommend this to anyone wanting something more personal and authentic than the usual tourist experiences. It’s a brilliant way to experience Greek food and culture while actually getting to know local people. An amazing evening, exceptional food and wonderful hosts. We would do it again in a heartbeat.
- yash August 30, 2026
Definitely one of the highlights of our Europe trip! We had such a fantastic afternoon cooking with Maria and her husband in their home in Athens. It’s a really unique experience being welcomed into someone’s home rather than attending a traditional cooking class, and from the moment we arrived everything felt incredibly relaxed and natural. The wine and conversation flowed throughout the afternoon, with plenty of laughs along the way. I’m not much of a cook myself, while my partner loves cooking, so he was very happy to take the lead and I was equally happy to enjoy the wine! Maria made the whole experience feel completely flexible and I got the impression she would happily tailor the afternoon to whatever level of involvement or experience her guests were looking for. Maria is very well travelled, open-minded, warm and genuinely great company. We felt completely comfortable and welcomed being ourselves, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The three of us boys had a great time. The food was fantastic, but it was really the atmosphere, conversation and hospitality that made the afternoon so memorable. It felt more like spending an afternoon cooking, eating and drinking with friends than attending a class. A genuinely special experience in Athens and something we would absolutely recommend to anyone visiting. One of our favourite memories from the entire trip. We look forward to visiting again in the future!
- kais August 30, 2026
Hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had. What a lovely and welcoming couple to invite us into their home and show us so much warmth and love! I wish I could have taken more food to-go! Highly recommend! I’ll be thinking about that Tzatziki for years to come. Thank you for sharing your travel stories and making us feel like family breaking bread together!
- emily August 28, 2026
My 8-year-old daughter and I joined Maria and Dimitri for a Greek cooking workshop — and it was pure magic. We cooked together, laughed together, and then sat down to enjoy the most delicious homemade Greek lunch we’ve ever tasted. The food was absolutely wonderful — authentic, heartfelt, and full of flavour. But the real highlight was Maria and Dimitri themselves. They welcomed us like family, with warmth, generosity and genuine joy that made us feel completely at home. My daughter still talks about that lunch as one of the best moments of our holiday. If you want to experience the true spirit of Greek hospitality — not in a restaurant, but around a real family table — this is it. Highly, highly recommend. 🍋✨
- Walace July 13, 2026
Maria and Dimitri welcomed us in their home and made us feel like we were old friends. We prepared some Greek dishes with ingredients that were purchased fresh from the farmers market. Olives they helped pick and olive oil from a friends local farm. From Ouzo to after dinner Mastic liquor it was a wonderful experience. A great way to end our last night in Athens.
- cher June 13, 2026
Read More

Maria

$94-$169 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $132 $113 $94
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $169 $149 $132
Alcohol
 $19 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $132 $113 $94
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $169 $149 $132
Alcohol
 $19 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Maria

Maria’s fondest childhood memories are scents, colors, music, and laughter flying around the house when friends and family came over. This is when her passion for food and cooking was born! Growing up in her grandmother's kitchen, Maria fell in love with cooking. Her grandmother taught her to cook all the traditional Greek dishes and passed on the family recipes to her. Later in life, Maria was fortunate enough to see a lot of the world and one of her favorite activities is exploring local markets, ingredients and dishes. She loves to experiment with these new flavors and ingredients and create her own recipes, with a fun twist. Maria is so excited to share her food, culture and love for Greek cooking with travelers looking for an authentic meal in Athens.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) In Greece, eating is more than a necessity; it is a cherished ritual that varies from family to family. Begin your in-home Athens dining experience with a glass of fragrant ouzo or tsipouro (anise-flavored aperitif), handpicked Greek olives, Graviera cheese and barley rusks; while Maria shares stories of growing up and learning to cook as a child in her grandmother's kitchen. A few dishes that you will share at her table are tyrokafteri (spicy Greek feta spread), horiatiki Greek salad with a twist and keftedes (Greek fried meatballs). Your meal ends with thick Greek yogurt topped with thyme honey and a glass of chilled mastic liqueur.

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) Enjoy a hands-on Athens cooking class and learn to prepare traditional Greek dishes with a modern twist. Your in-home Athens cooking experience begins with a glass of fragrant ouzo or tsipouro, along with handpicked Greek olives, Graviera cheese, and barley rusks. As you enjoy these classic meze, Maria shares stories from her childhood, growing up and learning to cook in her grandmother's kitchen. During this 2-hour culinary experience, Maria will guide you step-by-step through making an authentic Greek appetizer and a flavorful main dish, all based on her treasured family recipes. She’ll share practical tips, clever tricks, and the cooking secrets passed down from her grandmother—so you can confidently recreate these dishes in your own kitchen after your trip. Once the cooking is complete, you’ll sit down together to enjoy the delicious meal you helped prepare. A Greek cooking class with locals in Athens is one of the best ways to experience the city’s culture—connecting with real people, tasting authentic flavors, and discovering the culinary traditions that make Greek cuisine so special.

Notes: Maria can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets with advance notice. Please share any dietary restrictions or allergies when you book your Greek cooking class in Athens. If you would like additional alcohol with your meal, you can select the alcohol option during booking. This includes two glasses of wine for an additional cost.

Languages spoken: Greek, English, German

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Aperitif: Ouzo or tsipouro, handpicked Greek olives, graviera cheese, barley rusks
  • Appetizer: Tyrokafteri (spicy Greek feta spread) and horiatiki (Greek salad with a twist)
  • Main: Keftedes (Greek fried meatballs)
  • Dessert: Greek yogurt with thyme honey or Greek sweet made from quince
  • A glass of chilled mastic liqueur

Traveler reviews

5.0 (8)
This was such a unique and memorable experience and easily one of the highlights of our time in Athens. Maria and Dimitri were incredibly warm, funny and welcoming from the moment we arrived. The hours genuinely flew by. We spent the night cooking, eating, drinking great wine and learning not just about Greek food, but about Maria and Dimitri, Athens, Greece and their lives and travels. The food was exceptional, authentic, delicious, but what really made the experience was Maria. She has such a big, fun personality and was absolutely made for this. She is hilarious, incredibly well travelled and full of stories. We laughed throughout the entire evening and by the end it felt far more like spending a night with friends than attending a cooking class. I would recommend this to anyone wanting something more personal and authentic than the usual tourist experiences. It’s a brilliant way to experience Greek food and culture while actually getting to know local people. An amazing evening, exceptional food and wonderful hosts. We would do it again in a heartbeat.
- yash August 30, 2026
Definitely one of the highlights of our Europe trip! We had such a fantastic afternoon cooking with Maria and her husband in their home in Athens. It’s a really unique experience being welcomed into someone’s home rather than attending a traditional cooking class, and from the moment we arrived everything felt incredibly relaxed and natural. The wine and conversation flowed throughout the afternoon, with plenty of laughs along the way. I’m not much of a cook myself, while my partner loves cooking, so he was very happy to take the lead and I was equally happy to enjoy the wine! Maria made the whole experience feel completely flexible and I got the impression she would happily tailor the afternoon to whatever level of involvement or experience her guests were looking for. Maria is very well travelled, open-minded, warm and genuinely great company. We felt completely comfortable and welcomed being ourselves, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The three of us boys had a great time. The food was fantastic, but it was really the atmosphere, conversation and hospitality that made the afternoon so memorable. It felt more like spending an afternoon cooking, eating and drinking with friends than attending a class. A genuinely special experience in Athens and something we would absolutely recommend to anyone visiting. One of our favourite memories from the entire trip. We look forward to visiting again in the future!
- kais August 30, 2026
Hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had. What a lovely and welcoming couple to invite us into their home and show us so much warmth and love! I wish I could have taken more food to-go! Highly recommend! I’ll be thinking about that Tzatziki for years to come. Thank you for sharing your travel stories and making us feel like family breaking bread together!
- emily August 28, 2026
My 8-year-old daughter and I joined Maria and Dimitri for a Greek cooking workshop — and it was pure magic. We cooked together, laughed together, and then sat down to enjoy the most delicious homemade Greek lunch we’ve ever tasted. The food was absolutely wonderful — authentic, heartfelt, and full of flavour. But the real highlight was Maria and Dimitri themselves. They welcomed us like family, with warmth, generosity and genuine joy that made us feel completely at home. My daughter still talks about that lunch as one of the best moments of our holiday. If you want to experience the true spirit of Greek hospitality — not in a restaurant, but around a real family table — this is it. Highly, highly recommend. 🍋✨
- Walace July 13, 2026
Maria and Dimitri welcomed us in their home and made us feel like we were old friends. We prepared some Greek dishes with ingredients that were purchased fresh from the farmers market. Olives they helped pick and olive oil from a friends local farm. From Ouzo to after dinner Mastic liquor it was a wonderful experience. A great way to end our last night in Athens.
- cher June 13, 2026
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $132 $113 $94
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $169 $149 $132
Alcohol
 $19 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $132 $113 $94
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $169 $149 $132
Alcohol
 $19 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.