#Monastiraki Square, with the Acropolis rising in the
background
Ancient monuments may draw the crowds but night out in
lively tavernas and bars, sipping ouzo with meze, make for a memorable trip.
#Brettos began
distilling tis own ouzo, brandy and liquors in 1909
Brettos A Plaka
distric landmark, this delightful bar and distillery (the oldest in Athens) has
a stunning backlit wall of colourful bottles and old wine barrels, and an
old-fashioned character. It’s a quiet spot for a nightcap with a tempting range
of homemade wine, ouzo, brandy, and
other spirits (brettosplaka.com;
Kydatheineon 41; 10am-3am daily).
Barley Cargo This
fantastic bar offers more than 150 different beers, many of them from Greek
microbreweries, others from around the world, including Belgium, Germany, the
UK and US. Sip a Trappist ale at one of the wooden-barrel tables or as part of
the crowd spilling out on to the street – it’s conveniently located in the
heart of Syntagma’s bar-heavy area (facebook.com/BarleyCargo;
Kolokotroni 6; 11am-3am Mon-Sat, 7pm-3am Sun).
Nixon Bar More suave
than most local establishments in the district of Keramikos, Nixon Bar plays
host to film showings and premieres in its 60-seater cinema, plus live music
and evening shows. A young ,culture-hungry crowd lounges in the dimly lit bar,
complete with marble floor and impressive chandelier, and make the most of the
decent burgers and mean martinis on offer (Nixon.gr;
Agisilaou 61b; 8pm-3am Mon-Sat, 1pm-3am Sun).
Café Avissinia
Hidden away on colourful Plateia Avyssinias, in the middle of the flea market
in Monastiraki, this bohemian tavern specializes in regional Greek cuisine,
from moussaka to warm fava, and had a great selection of spirits .tehre is
often acoustic live music too. Snag fantastic Acropolis views upstairs (avissinia.gr; Kynetou 7; 11am-1am Tue-Sat,
until 7pm sun).
Kanella Homemade
village-style bread, mismatched retro crockery and brown-paper tablecloths set
the tone for this modern tavern in the Gazi neighbourhood serving regional
Greek cuisine. Friendly staf serve daily specials such as lemon and oregano
lamb with potatoes, and an excellent zucchini and avocado salad (kanellagazi.gr; Leoforos
Konstantinoupoleos 70; 1.30pm-late).
#Moussaka and tzatziki
are among the specialities at Paradosiako
Paradosiako For
great traditional dishes, you can’t beat this inconspicuous, no-frills tavern
on the periphery of historic Plaka neighbourhood, with a few tables on the
pavement. There’s basic menu, but it’s best to choose from the daily specials ,
which include fresh seafood, such as prawn saganaki. It fills up quickly wit
hlocals, so arrive early to get a table (Voulis 44a; from 10am daily).
Tzitzikas and
Mermigas This bright, cheery, modern mezedhopoleio (place serving meze)
sits smack in the middle of central Athens. It’s particularly popular for its
delicious and crative mezedhes, such as the manouri cheese wrapped in ham and
drizzled with honey (Mitropoleos 12-14, syntagma; open for lunch and dinner,
closed Sun).
Flistron It’s
wise to book a table on the rooftop terrace of this excellent Thisio
mezedhopoleio, which enjoys excellent views of the Acropolis and Lykavittos.
Specializing in regional cuisine, it has a great range of mezedhestry the
grilled vegetables with haloumi or the onions stuffed with rice and mince
(fillistron.com; Apostolou Pavlou 23
12pm-12am weekdays, until 1am weekends).
#Pastel shades and tiled floors characterize Yiantes’ courtyard
Yiantes This
modern eatery, with its plain tables and freshly cut flowers set in a lovely
garden courtyard, is an up market establishment in Exarhia, near the centre of
Athens, and the food is superb and made with largely organic produce. Try dishes
such as courgette croquettes, baby eel with chilli oil, calamari and stuffed
vine leaves (yiantes.gr; Valtetsiou 44).
Cecil Hotel is a
charming old hotel in a Neoclassical building on busy Athinas, with beautiful
moulded ceilings, timber floors and an original cage-style lift. The simple
rooms are tastefully furnished (cecilhotel.gr;
39 Athinas Street).
With views over the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the refurbished
Athens Gate Hotel is a great find.
Rooms are well equipped, staff are friendly and breakfast is served on the
rooftop terrace (athensgate.gr; 10 Syngrou Avenue).
Hotel Grande Bretagne
ranks among the grandest hotels of the world. Though its renovation is a few
years distant, it still retains and old-world grandeur. The rooftop restaurant
and bar are must visits (grandebretagne.gr;
Syntagma Square).
#ouzo
GREEKS eateries
like to specialize-you’ll find tavernas that only do pork or dedicated pita
stores or souvlaki hole in the walls. The tavern has many specialist
variations: a psarotaverna specializes in fish and seafood, a psistaria or
hasapotaverna in chargrilled or spit-roasted meat.
Greek like to eat late restaurants don’t fill up until after
10pml. Lunch is still the big meal of the day, and does not start until after
2pm. Greeks are generous and proud hosts. Try not to refuse a drink-it’s a
gesture of hospitality.
Greece’s aniseed-flavoured liquor, ouzo, has come to embody
a way of socializing, and is best enjoyed with mezedhes during and extended
lunch. It’s sipped slowly to cleanse the palate between tastings.
Aegean Airlines, BA, Cyprus Airways, easyjet, JAT Airways, Pegasus Airlines, SAS
and Swiss fly direct from various UK cities to Athens International Airport.
Half hourly blue-line metro trains run between the city centre and airport
(5.30pm-11.30pm), and the bus service X95 connects the airport to Syntagma 24
hours (every 30 mins; journey time approx 1 hr). Athens has an inexpensive
integrated public transport network of buses, metro, trolleybuses and a tram (oasa.gr). Metro tickets cost £1.20
and are valid for 90 minutes on all modes of transport.
Follow in the footstep of ancient athletes and run on the
track of the Panathenaic Stadium, home to athletics since the 4th
century BC. Discover more things to see and do in the city of Athens on the HotelTravel.Com.
