Autumn Brunches & Leaves
The golden hues of autumnal leaves have yet to appear in the city. As for Athens, Autumn tends to include all the seasons within the same week. Regardless of the random golf-ball sized hailstorms, swiftly followed by scorching afternoons worthy of the beach, this season calls out for lazy Sunday brunches. Hot, roasted artisanal coffee, fluffy eggs and a Bloody Mary or two, are the perfect accompaniment for the Sunday blues, Elena Panayides finds.
A Fine Mess
For heartier brunch fare, Kolonaki now has its very own Texan BBQ spot, with not one but two smokestacks that provide a hearty, smoky flavour to dishes such as spare-ribs with smoky beans, grain-fed Black Angus and Carolina style pulled-pork with fregola sarda and fig sauce. The gentleman’s mac and cheese with brisket tips and whiskey dressing, old fashioned cocktails and peach and cherry crumble are packed with flavour and belt-loosening effects!
Skoufa 73|Tel: +30211 1155725| fb: @finemessbbq
A Fine Mess
Harvest
For brunch with a Spanish twist, you can indulge in great huevos onthe rooftop of the Acropolis museum at Harvest. Beyond the exceptionally breath-taking view of the archaeological site, the all-day brunch involves perfectly roasted coffee accompanied by dishes like Huevos de Castilla – poached eggs with guacamole and jalapeños sauce on rustic whole-wheat bread or Huevos Cubanos, fried eggs on toasted rustic bread with chorizo sausage, spring onion and feta cheese. Their extensive wine list will also transport you to Spain, as you gaze at the Greek Wonder of the World.
Aiolou 64 & Evripidou, 21 3025 2284|Fb: @Harvestcoffeewine
Harvest
To Lokali
The former Cine Psyrri is now Lokali, an all-day hangout spot. Greek brunch with eggs, pancakes and sandwiches are the perfect excuse to stay right through till closing time at 03am, (3.30 am at weekends) with coffee, beers, cocktails and high-quality taverna-style food. Greek twists on old classics such as an Old Fashioned made with tsipouro, geranium and strawberry are served in a lush courtyard for those crispy fall nights.
Sarri 44| Tel: +30 210 325 0673|Fb: @tolokaliathens
To Lokali
Lucca
At Lucca in Holargos, as you sip on your Kudu Coffee Roasters espresso in a luscious boudoir-like space you can ponder whether the Nutella pancakes with caramelised banana or the burger in a freshly baked bun are calling your name. The all-day space transforms into the place to be, thanks to its divine cocktails, great people watching and welcoming ambience.
Mesogeion 250, Holargos |Tel: +30 210 6549002
Lucca
Mask
If you’re feeling like the King or Queen of the world, head to Mask, the restaurant and bar housed in one of the many homes of the first Kings of Greece, King Othon. The antique filled space with a 1960s edge, offers up brunch every day from 10am to 6pm and much more. Many of the brunch dishes are whimsically served in baskets such as the eggs with graviera cheese, turkey, mushrooms, baby tomatoes and mincemeat pies. We recommend you end your meal with the rice pudding with mascarpone and hand-made halva or maybe a signature cocktail is your preferred dessert, with over 50 choices you’ll be happily satiated one way or the other.
Kalamiotou 18 & Kolokotroni 55| Tel: +30 698 7454777
Mask
Fita
With a menu that changes daily, and its location in the residential area of Neos Kosmos and the pathway of the tram, Fita is unique in many ways. Chefs Fotis Fotinoglou and Thodoris Kassavetis select Greek produce, traditional recipes and then smask them up against world cuisine, resulting in dishes such as sushi made of skipjack and vineleaves. The simple, café like décor hides many a creative culinary adventure, as the tram whizzes by.
Ntourm 1, Neos Kosmos|Tel: +30 697 434 0034
Fita
Ovio
We asked you to keep an eye out for it in October and it has been well worth the wait! Masterchef host Panos Ioannides describes his cooking as ‘honest’ and it is authentic Milanese cuisine with risotti, pizzas and fiorentinas that you can expect at this new downtown destination. Nothing like exquisitely flavoured Italian carb overload that spells lazy Sunday brunch!
Apollonos 4, Syntagma|Tel: +30 21 1411 5755| Website
Ovio
