Who are we? Yonathan Hirschfeld and Anat Lessem, parents to...
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After an eventful summer in the Greek islands, which is one of our favourite destinations (and we will come back to them, as we still have so much to explore) we decided to start our series of blog posts about destinations in Greece, with the Greek capital, Athens.
So what do you do in Athens? With a combination of Mediterranean climate and European vibes, the Greek capital has a lot to offer – it’s full of historical sites and relics of the ancient Greek civilization.
We asked Sirtaki to point out his favourite things to do in town, as someone who loves the city’s urban, colourful side, and prefers experiencing the city like a local. For example, you can often find him sitting in one of the many cafes located on the sidewalks in Monastiraki neighbourhood with an amazing view of the Parthenon, enjoying a delicious Kataifi Pastry, or wandering around the flea market (only early on Sundays, just before it starts getting too crowded for him) browsing for souvenirs and all kinds of interesting items.
Koukaki and Kolonaki are less touristy parts of town. Koukaki is one of the trendiest neighbourhoods at the moment but still remains less crowded with an abundance of taverns and cafes dotted on the squares and sidewalks. Sirtaki loves exploring the streets, especialy since not many people have yet discovered the area.
You can find him trying local cheeses at the farmer’s market at the southwest end of the neighbourhood every Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
We have already mentioned that there is nothing Sirtaki likes more than to connect with the daily life of the locals, so if you arrived in the city during autumn, he will most likely send you to eat a hearty soup based on local goat’s meat at the well-known Oinomageireio-Epirus tavern, located in the main market of Varvakios. A tip from Sirtaki: try to arrive early so you don’t miss this popular soup which is a must! Sometimes you can arrive just before noon and find that it’s already sold out ☺
Oinomageireio-Epirus
Regardless, don’t miss this crowded, noisy and lively market, where you can find almost any food or exotic item your heart desires. It’s open every day from early mornings to late afternoons.
If it’s fish you’re after, Sirtaki suggests the local’s favourite combo – fresh fish and ouzo. One of his regular places for this combo is:
A place which offers an abundance of Mezze platters – Greek “small dishes” with an exciting variety of fresh fish and seafood, alongside 16 (!) different types of ouzo. No wonder he doesn’t always remember his way back home…
Even though Sirtaki spends quite a lot of time in the local taverns (including getting drunk on ouzo) he also loves treating himself to a more high end meal from time to time, and Athens has a few of those to offer. A restaurant that he especially loves is Nolan, which is located a few steps from Syntagma Square. This is a chef’s restaurant with an urban-cool atmosphere and a fusion menu that mixes Asian and Greek cuisines.
Sirtaki is known to have a sweet tooth, and although he was told to stop eating so much sugar, he can’t help himself when it comes to the mouth-watering traditional Greek pastries: kadaifi, baklava,or galaktoboriko filled with sweet creamy cheese dripping with honey…. Yummy! Sirtaki often finds himself visiting the amazing bakery
The problem is, he has a hard time choosing between all the pastries the place has to offer – so don’t blame him if you leave with more than what you planned on having.
Psirri is an area that Sirtaki likes to spend time in – and is considered the centre of Athens’ nightlife. The area is full of cool bars, unique shops and a vibrant vibe. The neighbourhood was renewed in the nineties and since then it’s one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Athens, thanks to the street art and colourful murals that cover many of the buildings – an integral part of the neighbourhood’s vibe.
Sirtaki actually fell in love with this authentic area while strolling around it during the day. He especially relates to the fact that the whole area is still working class, with artisan workshops, neoclassical buildings that were abandoned in the past, renovated and turned into hotels, galleries, taverns, cafes, clubs, small vintage shops, original artwork, local spices, records and much more. This is where Sirtaki feels right at home, especially because the area is less touristy and more of a locals hang out – just the way he likes it.
You can find him drinking tsipouro (Greek grappa) or mastic liqueur at the trendy restaurant bar To Lokali which is open all day, but its shaded courtyard and lively bar really come to life after dark. Sirtaki likes to feel extra trendy sitting with all the busy Athenians who come to unwind after work with the best gin and tonic in town.
Don’t tell anyone, but Sirtaki is not exactly a party animal… so after spending such a great day in the city, he is actually looking for few moments of peace. After all, he is in Greece! So for him, the perfect place to return to is one of the exclusive villas he has partnered with on the Athenian Riviera, just a short drive from city centre, he can unwind from a full day of activities by dipping in a pampering jacuzzi overlooking a breath-taking view of sea and mountains.
If you would like Sirtaki to plan the perfect trip in Athens for you, and arrange a luxurious villa, there’s more where that came from- get in touch – and let us know
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