Amanda Dardanis uncorks some of her favourite Athenian wine bars in which to indulge in hearty explorations of the grape. Wine Bars. Slowly but surely they’ve been stealth-bombing this city of ours. Century-old classics have been joined by atmospheric new drinking dens, run by well-travelled oenophiles banging the drum about c...
Read moreAthenians’ love affair with shopping malls still burns bright. Four self-confessed “mall rats” share their insider secrets to help you get the best from their favourite Athens shopping destination. Golden Hall Meg Cope Founder and creative di...
Read moreAmanda Dardanis joins the slow living movement and retreats from the mad whirl at one of these comfy-cosy and welcoming book nooks where you can easily while away a morning or afternoon, lost in a world of words. Poems & Crimes Art Bar A quaint and chameleon-like literary den that evolves with the hour. Walk into Poems &...
Read moreVegetarian restaurants and Greeks. They used to be about as popular a pairing as wet weather and weddings. But times they are a-changing, and now this nation of meat lovers is also embracing healthier, more energising diets, (as evidenced by the capital’s growing crop of vegetarian and greened up menus). If you like the sound of feta made...
Read moreA trip to the museum just became a much easier sell for families with young children in Athens. The Benaki has opened an exciting new public exhibit “Childhood, Toys, and Games”, housed in an impressive neo-Gothic tower in seaside Faliro. Today’s gadget-obsessed children will receive an illuminating glimpse into a lost world o...
Read moreEleni Zoe marks out the new infusion of fashionable foodie haunts and drinking dens that are cropping up in rapidly-evolving Koukaki. The charming area of Koukaki, sprawled at the feet of the Acropolis, has had many identities over the last century. But none are as cool as its current status as one of the most interesting neig...
Read moreAthens is waking up to the best meal of the day, writes Amanda Dardanis There was a time– not so long ago - when the Athenian breakfast of champions was a frappe, cigarette and koulouri. But brunch is the perfect fit for the late-to-bed; late-to-rise Mediterranean lifestyle, and we’re now spoiled for choice when it comes to th...
Read moreMoriah Meeks lounges on antique chairs, dials on rotary phones, flaunts floral skirts and sports Warhol-inspired jewellery as she scours her fave retro-haunts in the city Walking down Ermou Street is a shopaholic’s fantasia. From global giants like H&M and Zara, down to smaller Greek chains like Achilleas Accessories and F...
Read moreAs much as we all love hitting the beach, when there’s five months of “summer” to get through (cue the violin!) – sometimes, you’re just more in the mood for a pool. Take the plunge at one of the city’s wonderful summer leisure complexes, or make use of the open-door policy at many leading hotels, which means you can enjoy their swimming ...
Read moreSouthsider Amanda Dardanis heads down Kiprou Street in Glyfada – and finds a jazzy “feel good” precinct that’s a little bit SoHo … a little bit L.A. Luxe! If there’s one thing you can count on about Glyfada – that shiny happy hub of the Athenian Riviera – it’s that nothing ever stands still for long. New favourites emerge....
Read moreHalandri local Fokia Kitsou opens her address book to Insider readers and reveals a vibrant suburban oasis in the grip of exciting transformation. Back in the 1970s, the historic suburb of Halandri was little more than a modest village, best-known for its fulsome laiki and a calm demeanor. Now, this North-Eastern hub, home ...
Read moreYour cut-out-and-keep Insider’s guide to getting the most out of the new-look Athens Airport. My, what a difference a year makes. Did you ever think we’d be singing the praises of the Athens Airport as one of the best shopping and dining experiences in town? Now, with the dramatic overhaul of its passenger facilities, most not...
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