by AV Team
The heart of Athens has a thousand and one stories to whisper to you. Acropolis, Petralona, Thissio, cherished neighborhoods of the city, alive with movement, light and endless choices for every hour that passes. Explore the suggestions that follow and let even the simplest walk feel like a complete, layered experience.
Lokali: The Athenian summer in Psyrri
Hidden just behind Sarri Street, almost imperceptibly, a courtyard unfolds, one you would hardly associate with Athens at first glance. Jasmine spills everywhere, bougainvillea climbs and drapes itself freely and tables wait with the quiet sense that they were set out for you in advance. And then, just a few steps higher, a rooftop appears, woven with canisses and soft string lights, the kind of place that makes you instinctively lower your voice, as though you’ve already slipped away on holiday.
The menu, set to gradually evolve over the coming weeks, remains fresh and strictly seasonal (and will be updated frequently, following the rhythm of each period’s ingredients). It moves along Greek and Mediterranean lines, with a homely, comfort-driven spirit, always carefully prepared, always of high quality. Dishes arrive in the middle of the table, made for sharing, echoing the familiar abundance of Greek family gatherings. There is, of course, a children’s menu as well, while on Saturdays and Sundays brunch is served or, in other words, a slow, unhurried late-morning meal.
The bar continues to stand out. Cocktails are renewed every month, built around seasonal fruits and vegetables, executed with precision and ease. And if gin is your language, you will likely find what you’re looking for here, among a collection of more than 100 labels. Service moves with a familiarity that quickly becomes personal. Soon enough, you may find yourself being called by your first name. And just like that, almost without noticing, you become part of the place.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the music rises, and whether you are in the courtyard or up on the rooftop, you come to understand, not in theory, but in feeling, what an Athenian summer truly is.
Sarri 44, +30 6906103005
Ubuntu: Perfect coffee, color and good vibes in Thissio
The day brightens the moment you step through the door of this spot, set in one of the city’s most privileged locations -just a breath away from Gazi, Technopolis, Thissio, and the Acropolis itself- wrapped in that warm, familiar feeling of neighborhood ease that makes you want to linger a little longer. The space is filled with light, carrying a quiet sense of positivity and an unforced, effortless relaxation that lifts your mood without trying too hard. It is no coincidence it stands among the city’s most beloved specialty coffee destinations.
Behind the bar, Christos and Nikos carefully select their coffees from the Greek roastery Handpickers, known for its single-origin selections and consistent quality -each week bringing a new tasting experience waiting to be discovered. Alongside your coffee, you’ll find an enticing range of handmade savory and sweet offerings, prepared daily on-site with fresh ingredients. The vegan options have both character and depth: try the tahini and cranberry babka, or the cinnamon rolls that melt indulgently on the tongue.
Come by early for the first coffee of the day, wander over to the retail corner to take home your favorite blends (or pick up a thoughtful gift) and keep it on your radar for the events that often add yet another reason to return.
Nileos 58, +30 2103410566
Kayak: The new sweet temptation on Dionisiou Areopagitou Street
Dionisiou Areopagitou Street has just gained yet another reason to walk it slowly and unhurriedly. In the shadow of the Acropolis, where Athens reveals its most beautiful face, Kayak Ice Cream has opened its new boutique, bringing a fresh ice cream experience to the very heart of the city.
The store is housed in a historic building that still carries its own quiet aura, without ever losing its connection to the present. Minimal lines, understated elegance and that subtle feeling of being exactly where you’re meant to be, at exactly the right moment. This is not simply “let’s go for an ice cream”, it is closer to “stay a little longer.”
Kayak, already a strong name in the world of premium Greek ice cream (backed by 19 international Great Taste Awards), brings its full lineup here. Flavors crafted down to the finest detail, ingredients that speak for themselves and a balance that never overwhelms, only gently holds you there a little longer.
On our tasting round, we leaned toward flavors with a distinctly Greek character: anthotyro cream, pistachio with fig, mastiha with pink pepper and rose loukoumi. Also stepping confidently into the mix is the frozen yogurt, Greek, authentic and served exactly as you want it: topped with endless combinations that turn customization into something almost personal, echoing summers we find ourselves missing more and more.
If you find yourself in the city center, whether for a leisurely stroll or after a visit to the Acropolis, Kayak’s new stop on Dionysiou Areopagitou is one of those places you don’t necessarily plan for, but are glad you didn’t miss.
Dionisiou Areopagitou 1, +30 2109210400
Upupa Epops: Real fun has a location
Upupa Epops celebrates ten years of life and remains one of the city’s most cherished all-day bars. In Petralona, housed in an emblematic 1930s building, with an inner courtyard and small tables spilling into a flower-filled pedestrian street, it creates an atmosphere that gently disconnects you from the everyday. From morning until night, the rhythm shifts and reshapes itself. There is a delicious brunch, with fresh viennoiseries prepared daily, along with comfort-driven dishes for every moment of the day and flavors that pair effortlessly with wine or a drink, with the smash burger standing out as a quiet signature.
At the bar, Upupa enters a new phase of renewal, investing in a contemporary approach to cocktails. At the same time, it keeps its beloved classics alive, such as Miami Vice, Painkiller and Amnesia, which has remained on the list almost since the beginning. With daily DJ sets, it continues to be a living breathing meeting point for all. And it’s worth remembering: the space is also perfectly suited for corporate events.
Alkminis 7, +30 2121055214
Knack & Snack: The artistic pizza spot in Petralona
Knack & Snack, just a few steps from Technopolis, brings together creativity and flavor in a truly multidimensional space. On the lower level, it functions as a photography studio, art gallery and hybrid venue for pop-ups, workshops and events. Upstairs, however, the stage belongs to Neapolitan pizza baked in a wood-fired oven.
The dough, made with sourdough and 72-hour fermentation, meets carefully selected ingredients, with options ranging from fresh truffle and wild mushrooms to the classic queen Margherita. Drinks follow suit, craft beers from Greek microbreweries, spritzes, and thoughtfully curated cocktails, all unfolding to a soundtrack of ’70s and ’80s rock ’n’ roll and funk.
In May, the “Sto Saloní” stand-up events create a living-room-like experience with cushions and pizza, as if you were at home. The space also hosts stand-up comedy nights (8 & 29 May), pop-up markets (16 & 17 May) and the exhibition of visual artist Mari Iliadis (20 & 29 May).
Persefonis 7, +30 6979086915
Yavri: Good food and the warmth of good company
Homely and unhurried, Yavri welcomes you with the very best of Greek cuisine, prepared with excellent ingredients, care and genuine love. First introduced in 2014 as a meze café, it invites you in either its cozy interior space or along a relaxed pedestrian street where time feels just a little slower.
The kitchen promises abundance and flavor at every turn: rich daily home-style dishes such as stuffed vegetables, moussaka, cabbage rolls and more, alongside one of the finest hunkar beğendi you might taste, unforgettable soutzoukakia, beautifully tender lemon beef and grilled favorites like meatballs, kebab, sausages, pork belly, small steaks. And, as always, its signature roast suckling pig, served every Friday and Saturday.
Many of the flavors you’ll enjoy here travel from different corners of Greece itself -semi-sweet wine from Tyrnavos, sausages and cured meats from Xanthi, mizithra pies and fennel pies from Crete- a quiet map of the country drawn through taste. Open daily from early morning until 2 a.m.
Thessalonikis 170, +30 2155004343
