by Katerina Vnatsiou

Not so long ago, a night out in Athens followed a predictable map: north (Kifissia), south (Glyfada), or downtown (Kolonaki). That was it. Over the past few years, though, I’ve been watching with growing interest as restaurants by renowned chefs and seriously impressive bars—the kind that dominate conversations (“Have you been?” – voice trembling with excitement)—have been opening outside the usual hotspots. In neighborhoods many of us might never have set foot in, had we not studied at Panteion University (Neos Kosmos), taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way (Kolonos), or grown up nearby (in my case, Ilioupoli—though for others it might have been Vyronas or Gkyzi).

Honestly? Long live the neighborhoods.

A hot spot in every district

One of the most talked-about hangouts right now is in Gkyzi (Argentina Social Club). Ilioupoli has an effortlessly cool all-day bar we’d all love to have just downstairs from home (Yesterday’s). In Pefki, you’ll find one of the best pizzas in Athens (Puff Daddy). In upper Pangrati, world-famous chefs have set up their own restaurant (Plyta), and a wonderful traditional café (Flaros) has just found its footing. Meanwhile, Kypseli has become a destination in its own right—practically overnight—and the same goes for Neos Kosmos.

If we have beautiful spots with everything we want right under our homes, why travel across the city, pay (outrageous) parking fees, sip a single drink—especially under the new, stricter road safety limits, which, if you ask me, are absolutely right—only to get stuck in traffic on the way back? Why not stay local, walk to the bar around the corner, and enjoy as much as we like (in moderation, of course)?
The map of Athenian nightlife is shifting—relocating points of interest, creating new hubs, and bringing exciting options closer to home.

And that can only be a good thing.