Athens Old Town: Greek Olive Oil & Herbs Tasting

In Plaka, this short tasting turns a stop at Brettos, Athens’ oldest bar, into a lesson in Greek olive oil. You’ll compare four extra virgin oils, try local herbs with them and have a glass of wine, all in about 20 minutes.

I like the focused format: you get a guide to help you notice differences between the oils, rather than simply sampling them on your own. I also like the setting, with Brettos’s rows of wine and spirits barrels adding a sense of place to a tasting just steps from the heart of the old town.

The main caveat is the short clock. A solo session has felt brisk, while another guest had time to ask questions with host Irini, so the pace may vary. If you want a long food-and-wine class, this is not it; if you want a compact break between Plaka sights, it could fit well.

Key points

• Four oils, one quick comparison: You taste four Greek extra virgin olive oils with an expert’s guidance.
• Herbs are part of the lesson: The tasting pairs Greek herbs with oil, rather than treating the oils as a stand-alone sample.
• Brettos is the setting: Find the old-town bar with its visible barrels of Greek wine and spirits.
• A glass of wine rounds it out: Wine is part of the described experience; extra drinks and finger food afterward cost more.
• It lasts about 20 minutes: This is an easy-to-fit activity, but not a leisurely meal or extended class.
• The host can shape the pace: Irini has been named as a warm, informative guide; come ready with questions.

A short lesson inside Brettos in Plaka

The draw here is not a long tour or a sprawling tasting menu. It is a compact introduction to a product central to Greek cooking, delivered in the old town at Brettos, where the barrels of wine and spirits make the setting more distinctive than a generic tasting counter.

At $23 per person, you are paying for a guided comparison of four extra virgin olive oils, Greek herbs and the opportunity to learn what distinguishes olive oil, virgin olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. The experience is described as lasting 20 minutes, so think of it as a useful pause in your Athens day, not an event that will fill an afternoon.

That short format has a practical upside. You can fit it between a walk through Plaka and a visit to the nearby Acropolis area without surrendering a large block of sightseeing time. The trade-off is that you will need to stay engaged and ask questions as they come up. There may not be time for a slow, detailed conversation if the explanation is brief.

Finding the tasting at Athens’ oldest bar

The meeting point is Brettos in Plaka, in the heart of Athens’s old town. The instructions are specific: find the bar, follow the step on the right-hand side and ask for the olive tasting booked in your name. It is worth having the booking name ready so you can get settled without wasting part of the short session.

Brettos is presented as the oldest bar in Athens, and its rows of barrels holding Greek wine and spirits give you something to look at before the lesson begins. The venue is part of the appeal: you are tasting Greek products in a place associated with local drinks, not in a remote classroom.

The bar is also close to the Acropolis, which makes the location handy if you are already exploring Plaka or the surrounding sights. No hotel transfer is included, so plan to reach the meeting point yourself. Since the activity is short, allow enough time to find the entrance and step without turning a 20-minute tasting into a rushed arrival.

Four oils and the role of herbs

The central activity is tasting four types of Greek extra virgin olive oil. A local expert guides you through the samples and helps you spot differences. The information does not name particular regions, olive varieties or flavor notes, so go in expecting a guided comparison rather than a detailed catalogue of specific producers.

The herbs add a second layer to the tasting. You will try some of Greece’s local herbs and learn how they go with olive oil. That pairing matters because it connects the tasting to the way these ingredients can work together, rather than leaving you with four oils and no idea how to use them.

You can get more from the session by paying attention to what you notice in each sample and asking the guide to explain the contrasts. This is a chance to build a better vocabulary for olive oil, not a test with right answers. If you already cook with olive oil, you may find it useful to compare the samples with your usual choice. If you are new to tasting oils, the guide’s help is the main reason to book this rather than simply buying a bottle.

The tasting is also described as a quick masterclass on the differences between olive oil, virgin olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. That makes it a good fit for curious beginners. The time limit, however, puts a ceiling on how much detail you can cover, especially if several people want to ask questions.

A glass of wine, with extra time optional

A glass of wine is part of the described experience, and it gives the tasting a relaxed finish. One participant particularly enjoyed the white wine, while another chose to add a wine tasting and recommended it. The core activity, though, focuses on olive oils and herbs; do not assume that an extended wine tasting or additional drinks are included.

After the 20-minute session, you can stay at Brettos for drinks and finger food if you wish. Those are at extra cost, and food and drinks are listed among the items not included. Since the description also promises a glass of wine, it is sensible to check the details shown for your chosen booking time if the included drink is important to your decision.

This option makes the tasting easier to adapt to your day. You can keep it quick and move on, or stay longer at your own expense. If you are looking for a sit-down meal, this is not a substitute; if the barrel-lined bar appeals to you, the option to linger lets you enjoy the place beyond the guided portion.

How the pace and guide can affect your visit

The strongest version of this experience depends on the guide. Irini has been named as a host who took time to explain the oils and answer questions, and her warm approach helped make the tasting feel personal. Another account describes an especially brief explanation during a solo visit, followed by time to enjoy the wine alone.

That contrast is worth keeping in mind. The activity is only 20 minutes, and a one-person booking may feel different from a small group session. The available information does not promise a particular group size or a set amount of discussion, so arrive prepared to ask what you want to know rather than assuming the guide will cover every question unprompted.

The English-language instruction is useful for international visitors, but the experience is still a short introduction. If you want to explore olive oil in depth, visit producers or compare oils from different regions, you will need more than this session. If your aim is simply to understand a few basics and taste several oils in a central location, the format makes sense.

Is $23 a fair price for 20 minutes?

At $23 per person, this is not a budget meal or an all-afternoon food tour. Its value rests on the guided tasting of four oils, the local herbs, the wine and the convenience of doing it in Plaka. If you are already nearby and have an interest in Greek food, it can be a modest, focused addition to your day.

The price is harder to justify if you expect a long class, a large amount of food or an extensive wine experience. Food and additional drinks are not included, and the listed activity lasts just 20 minutes. Think of the cost as paying for a short, hosted tasting and an introduction, not a full meal or a bottle to take home.

For value, I would weigh two questions: Are you curious about olive oil, and will you enjoy a brief guided activity in a historic bar? If both answers are yes, the price may feel reasonable. If you would rather spend that amount on a longer tasting or a meal, this one may feel too slight.

Who should book this tasting?

This suits you if you are exploring Plaka, enjoy food-focused experiences and want a quick introduction to Greek olive oils. It also works for a short break between major sights, especially since Brettos is close to the Acropolis. The mix of oils, herbs and a glass of wine gives the session more variety than a simple oil sample.

It is less suited to anyone seeking a full culinary class, a detailed regional study or a meal included in the ticket. The brief duration is the defining feature, not a minor detail. You will get the most from it if you treat it as a small lesson and bring a few questions.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date. Those details offer flexibility, but the more important decision is whether a concise tasting is what you want in the middle of an Athens day.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want a short, central activity that helps you compare four Greek extra virgin olive oils and understand how herbs pair with them. Brettos gives the tasting a memorable setting, and a good session with a guide such as Irini can make the 20 minutes feel personal and useful.

Skip it if you are hoping for a long, in-depth class or a meal at the ticket price. The pace can be brisk, and extra drinks or finger food cost more. For a compact introduction near Plaka’s sights, though, this is an appealing way to give Greek olive oil your attention instead of treating it as just another item on the table.

FAQ

How long does the olive oil tasting last?

The activity lasts about 20 minutes.

Where does the tasting take place?

It takes place at Brettos Bar in Plaka, Athens. The meeting instructions say to follow the step on the right-hand side and ask for the olive tasting booked in your name.

How many olive oils will I taste?

You will taste four types of Greek extra virgin olive oil.

Are Greek herbs included?

Yes. The tasting includes Greek herbs paired with the olive oils.

Is a glass of wine included?

A glass of wine is described as part of the experience. Extra drinks and finger food afterward cost more.

What language is the instruction in?

The instructor speaks English.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.