By Manina Zoumboulaki

Many shops have courtyards, and many courtyards are decorated with lights, but no courtyard manages to create such a special atmosphere by combining the lights with the service, the food, the drinks, the music and the customers, making you feel welcome and automatically think “Oh, how nice it is here!” from the moment you step foot.

At the sparse tables, there are groups of all ages. The tables are “sparse” not because they are few, but because they are scattered in the comfortable courtyard, leaving room to stretch your legs or even lie down for a moment if you feel like it. The courtyard smells of evening primrose, mingled with very appetizing aromas coming from the kitchen.

The chef is called Apostolos Karaouzas and as you taste his specialties, you think that there is nothing pretentious in them, no dish imitates a fake European style, not even the European ones. We tried the black piglet with potatoes, capers and herbs, and it was delicious. It is served in a huge portion, enough for two. Tempura okra is a real masterpiece. We all craved to taste the first course with Greek tarama and smoked trout on a bed of beetroot and grated carob, and barely restrained ourselves from licking the plate. Also worth trying is the mix of legumes and greens with meatballs. For dessert, we shared a delicious cheesecake with various kinds of cheese, constantly looking sideways at each other, just in case one dared to take a bigger spoonful. In total, you can eat very well spending about 30 euros or even less, if you do not overdo it with drinks.

At the rooftop, there is also a lively cocktail bar, perfect for drinks on hot summer nights. But the courtyard with the bright lights, the smiling people, the cosy chairs, the comforting food and the floral atmosphere, this courtyard is magical.

To Lokali, Cup, Tap & Tavern, 44 Sarri Street, Psiri, tel. 6906103005. Open from 11.00 a.m. to 02.00 a.m., the kitchen closes at 00.00.