Rick Steves’ Europe: The Sips and Sounds of a Greek Taverna

When Greeks really want to show hospitality, the drinking shifts from ouzo to its wilder cousin, tsipouro.

Greek tavernas are often humble at first glance. But after a few laughs and a few drinks, you realize how rich they are in heritage, character, and charm. Rick Steves, Rick Steves’ Europe

Whenever I’m in Greece, I don’t let a sun go down without enjoying a nice glass of ouzo. It’s funny, because I don’t even like the taste of that licorice-flavored firewater when I’m back home in the United States. But you can’t experience Greek culture without really tasting it—from olives at breakfast to ouzo after dark.

You don’t drink ouzo straight; instead, you add ice or water, which turns the ouzo from clear to milky white. When my waiter brings my glass, I give him a melodramatic little show—artfully trickling a few drops of water into my ouzo, magically giving it a milky swirl. It’s a performance in a glass and suddenly, to him, I’m not just another tourist. I’m a cultural chameleon, mastering a little slice of the Greek life—indicating I’m ready and rarin' for more.