1. Arte Gelato, Savouring delectable Italian ice cream in the most beautiful neighbourhood of the city.
As you stroll through the beautiful area of Anafiotika in Plaka, on the picturesque Tripodon Street, the oldest street in Athens, a corner gelateria offers a sweet respite with flavours that will take you back to your childhood. This was the philosophy of the people behind Arte, who made their childhood dream come true. Right next to the Gelateria, there is even a dedicated area for “hopscotch”, the well-known game we used to play as children, which adds yet another element that takes us back to that beautiful age of innocence.
Especially in the summer, one of the best ideas is to momentarily escape the summer heat and enjoy a scoop of creamy, delectable Italian ice cream made of pure and fresh ingredients. Here, you will taste flavours that tempt every palate, including refreshing sorbet made of seasonal fruits. At this time of the year, the ideal choice is basil lime. At Arte though, the honorary flavour is chocolate that does not only flow out of the two impressive fountains in two delectable toppings, milk chocolate and bitter chocolate, but is also served in various flavours based on Italian chocolate. Our favourite is the amazing Twix, while there is also a plethora of options, including chocolate sorbet, choco chips, and milk chocolate. You should definitely try them all!
16 Tripodon Street, Plaka, Tel. 213 0100700
2. Contrabando, the atmosphere here will take you within seconds to the distant Caribbean
In one of the most famous neighbourhoods of Athens, you will find a cocktail bar whose philosophy and aesthetics will transport you within seconds to the distant Caribbean. Exotic plants hang from the glass ceiling of Contrabando, while the “colonial” ambience is complemented by the wooden decoration, the Arabic patterns and the brightly-coloured stained glass – the decoration has been curated by Aristotelis Karananos and Alexandra Siafkou. Here, you can enjoy your morning coffee, as well as after-office drinks and refreshing cocktails which have made Contrabando so famous. Among the signature cocktails that bear the signature of the bartender, Spyros Vlachopoulos, our favourite one is “Let's Talk Tea!”, a clarified cocktail that is based on vodka, homemade pineapple syrup and citrus, and is topped with apple ginger tea and passion fruit foam. If you're a fan of lemon pie, you should definitively try “No Lemon So Sweet!”, while “Mexican Springs” does exactly what its name suggests, transporting you to Navajo lands. You can also enjoy classic cocktails made with modern techniques and enriched with Latin American touches. Most cocktails here are made with rum. Salud!
Extra tip: in the evening, the party mood takes off with lively house and mainstream music by the resident DJs, while some thematic events and parties will get you dancing all night long.
12 Taki Street
Tel. 6971644525
3. Kalos Likos, a tavern in Psiri that takes you back in time
When flavours take you back to your carefree childhood and the “villains” of your favourite fairy tales become friends who set the table to treat you to the most delicious food, then you find yourself at “Kalos Likos” (The Good Wolf). Contrary to the mainstream gastronomic map of the city, in the traditional neighbourhood of Psiri, this corner tavern opens a door to the past and transports you to a cosy Athenian tavern of old times. In its hospitable environment that is dressed in wood and stone, flavours remain simple and unpretentious, yet so authentically tasty that they awaken images and emotions from bygone but still unforgettable eras. Traditional Greek appetizers, such as spetzofai (spicy sausages with peppers and tomato sauce), kagianas (fresh tomato and feta egg scramble), spicy meatballs, bougiourdi (spicy baked feta cheese with tomato and peppers) and cheese croquettes, will tickle your taste buds before revealing the secrets of authentic Greek flavours in generous portions of meat or seafood, while constantly filling your glass with quality wine, chilled beers, tsipouro or raki. The joyful colours in the details of the minimal decor and the pleasant music contribute to the euphoric atmosphere and, somewhere in the back, the two iconic “grandpas” of your favourite childhood show – daily regulars here - will cheerfully raise their glasses on all night long.
Tel. 6974 320286
4. Mint, all day fun in Agion Anargiron Square, Psiri
Imagine a sunny day when you just want to leave the office and hang out in a Square, under the shadow of trees, gazing at people who go by or simply staring at infinity. One such place is Mint in the cool and chilled-out Agion Anargiron Square in Psiri. Of course, there is no need to leave the office, you may as well go there immediately after or even much later since Mint opens at 11 in the morning daily and stays open until very late at night! Here, you can enjoy well-made coffee, various beverages and selected dishes, such as bagels (try the one with Beer Salami & Mustard) and pizza (a proper Margarita, with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella and cherry tomatoes). As the day goes by, the place increasingly feels like an authentic and vibrant cocktail bar. Daily, different DJs choose music from the widest range of rock and hip hop, while the bartenders prepare their famous house cocktails, such as Cucumber Divorce with gin, lime, sugar syrup, cucumber and ginger, and Rose Delight with vodka, sugar syrup, lime and rose spoon sweet. Thanks to the friendly people and the cosy environment, Mint can easily become your next hangout spot.
3 Agion Anargiron Square, Psiri
Tel. 215 5457386
5. To Giavri,nothing beats mom’s cooking!
Here, you can enjoy the best Hünkar Beğendi (Sultan's Delight) in Athens
FYI: “Giavri” is an affectionate salutation in Greek that comes from the Turkish word “giavru”, which means “baby”, “little one”
There is even a song about this famous and traditional tavern: it is called “To Petralona I will go (To Giavri)”. People from every corner of Athens have listened to the advice of the lyrics and, over the years, this little secret tavern has been spread from mouth to mouth. Located next to the Petralona railway station since 2014, Giavri has become a hot spot for people of all ages who come here every day to enjoy its delicious mom-made food. Mouth-watering dishes, such as cabbage rolls, soutzoukakia Smyrneika (Smyrna style spicy meatballs), moussaka, pastitsio and various vegan stews are made daily with care from high-quality raw ingredients that come from every corner of Greece! Here, you will taste traditional kavurma and Karamanlidika beef sausages brought from Xanthi, as well as dishes based on the cuisine of Constantinople, like for example the best Hünkar Beğendi in town, the proper traditional kebab and flavourful stuffed vine leaves. Moreover, every Friday and Saturday, the kitchen prepares the now famous whole roasted suckling pig! Every Sunday you can also taste one more special dish, lamb kleftiko, slow-cooked braised shank or pork spit-roast kontosouvli! You can enjoy all this feast of flavours daily, from 9 in the morning (they also make nice coffee for those who wake up early) until 2 after midnight in the beautiful interior space or at the cosy tables that are set on the pedestrian street.
Extra tip: ask the staff about the fine wines and traditional Greek spirits, and try the wide range of ouzo and tsipouro labels.
170 Thessalonikis Street, Kato Petralona
6. Klouvi, one of the oldest hangout spots in Petralona
You know those days when you want to go out and wonder where to go? You think to yourself, “Will there will be people there, will there be good music, will there be a cheerful vibe?” Klouvi (which by the way means “Cage” in Greek) is the hangout spot that has all of the above and even more, it's the party spot par excellence. This place has been writing its own history since 2009 in Petralona, with people coming from every part of Athens to enjoy its cheerful atmosphere. Music is selected daily by different DJs, at times funky, at other times ambient or electro, but is always perfectly suited to the mood of the crowd. Here, you will meet people who come to have fun, socialize, get to know each other and have a good time. And that's exactly what they do. Thanks to the welcoming staff, the high-quality drinks (you can even enjoy some special labels) and the delicious classic and signature cocktails that are made from the best seasonal ingredients, you can be certain that here you will enjoy an unforgettable night. Useful tip: even though Klouvi stays open every day until 03.00, it opens relatively early in the morning, at 11.00. So, you can very well drink your morning coffee while chatting about last night or you can come by in the afternoon to enjoy delicious Thai finger food from the famous nearby Blue Bamboo.
Extra tip: don't miss the famous parties that start early on Sunday afternoons.
57 Dimofontos Street, Petralona
Tel. 210 3479998
7. Chez Lucien, a typical French bistro like the ones we see in the movies.
We love Chez Lucien, this small, cute, authentic French bistro, as the ones you would find in a typical Parisian neighbourhood. Loyal to the more than 20-year history of the restaurant and at times adding a few new touches, the owners offer a small variety of dishes prepared to perfection, by following the authentic French recipes and often enough reaching a high art-de-la-table level. Rest assured that everything, from the deeply flavoursome Terrine Maison avec Salade (i.e. homemade terrine made with beef, duck, pork and chicken livers and served with green salad), to the unbeatable Filet Mignon au Poivre (beef fillet with pepper sauce and potatoes dauphinoise), the Steak Tartare (classic steak tartare with salad and French fries), as well as the exquisite Crème brûlée, will taste like authentic French cuisine. After all, the French take their food seriously and believe in savouring each bite and appreciating the flavours. You can enjoy all the above accompanied by a selection of fine French wine. The attentive and knowledgeable staff is always ready to guide you through the menu, suggesting wine pairings and answering any questions you may have. Dining at a French bistro is an art form in itself and, here, you will always have the feeling that you are in a quiet neighbourhood of Paris, in a typical French bistro like the ones we see in the movies.
32 Troon Street, Petralona
Tel. 210 3410590
