This November 2016, the Hotel Grande Bretagne has been included for one more year among the Best Hotels in the World according to the well-known publication of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, as voted by its readers. The King George Hotel is also an honoree in the 2016 list for the first time.

The distinguished publication of Condé Nast Traveler has selected the two most luxurious and historical hotels in Athens among the top hotels in Greece and Turkey. The renowned ‘Reader’s Choice Awards’ has honoured 1,396 winners, which were selected by 300,000 readers taking part in the 2016 Reader’s Choice Survey, voting for the best cities, islands, hotels and transportation in the world. The awards have been published in the November 2016 issue of the famous magazine.

Having received these important distinctions, Hotel Grande Bretagne and King George are committed to continue delivering exceptional, indigenous experiences for their guests. Both Hotels have the best location in the heart of Athens with spectacular views to the Acropolis and set a significant example in the international hotel industry, offering exceptional services and memorable experiences.

For more information on Hotel Grande Bretgane and Kind George, please visit: Starwood Hotels

Blogger Elena Sergeeva from Passion For Greece feels that once in a while we should become tourists in our own city and spend a day exploring the hidden gems, interacting with others who definitely know something that you don’t and opening your eyes to new surroundings and learn. Elena recently spent the day in Athens with Discover Greek Culture learning all about Athens’ Art and Culture. Here, she describes her experience!

Our meeting point was the Syntagma Square which is the main square of Athens and the one that received its name from the Constitution that the first King of Greece Otto was obliged to grant. Here you will find the Greek Parliament building which initially served as a palace of Kings Otto and George I. From here we headed down to the Ermou street which is the central shopping street of Athens and is one of the first three streets that were designed in modern Athens.

The name Ermou or otherwise known as Hermes in English was named after the ancient Greek God Hermes who was the God of trade; therefore it is quite common that many of the commercial streets in Greece carry the name of Ermou. The street was very busy as all the Athenians were rushing to buy Christmas presents just before the holidays.

Our next stop was at the Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea which is found right in the heart of the Ermou Street, and impressive monument dated to the Middle-Byzantine period. In 1834, the building was in danger of being demolished as the newly-established Modern Greek State decided on the new layout for the Greek capital with the plans of having the Ermou Street extend straight forward and exactly aligned with the Palace’s central entrance, thankfully the destruction was avoided thanks to the father of King Otto. What is unique about this church is that it stands one level below the main street of Ermou and the dome is held by four uniquely decorated columns.

To read this article in full, please visit: Passion For Greece

Black Friday in Greece will be this Friday, November 25th. Many stores will celebrate the day with discounts, special offers, and events!

Black Friday is a commercial holiday that follows the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. Thousands of people shop on this day to take advantage of the great deals.

Many countries around the world also participate in Black Friday including England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Poland, and Finland.

In Greece, Black Friday first appeared on the scene in 2015 in mostly clothing stores, while this year, various shops will participate. Some stores will have longer shopping hours - many opening their doors at 8 am - while others advertise their sales days in advance and lasting through the weekend!

*Note, to find the best deals and to see what stores are participating in Greece, we recommend searching 'Black Friday Sales + Your Location' on Google or Facebook.

Article Source: Huffington Post & Imerisia

Translated by XpatAthens

In Greek, Mana’s Kouzina-Kouzina means Mother’s Kitchen. Greeks love memories of their childhood and the experience of waiting for home cooked food at the kitchen table, savoring the aroma and the tastes of traditional slow-cooked, oven-baked dishes prepared with love and care by their grandmothers and mothers. Mana’s Kouzina-Kouzina is successfully bringing back these dishes called magierefta to the forefront of Greek cuisine.

At Mana’s Kouzina-Kouzina, guests will be taken back to their roots to celebrate the techniques, tastes and the flavors of traditional Greek cooking. Their meals are prepared fresh each day and the menu changes every few weeks. Each menu is a researched collection of local and ‘forgotten’ recipes hailing from all over Greece.

Address: Aiolou 27
Telephone: 210 325 2335
Email: manaskouzinakouzina@gmail.com

To read this article in full, please visit: Living Postcards

In an effort to help refugee children who are currently stuck living in migrant reception centers in Greece, the non-profit, The Smile of the Child, has been overwhelmed trying to help these children who are most vulnerable.

The Smile of the Child’s plight in helping refugee children is not in a solitary cause as Canada’s former Ambassador to Greece, Robert Peck visited the Greek island of Lesvos last summer and after seeing the refugee hotspot firsthand. Now, The House of Canada and the Americas (HOCATA) will become part of The Smile of the Child network of homes in Greece, helping refugee children on the island of Lesvos.

HOCATA will be located in a former mansion donated to the NGO on the outskirts of the capital of the Greek island of Lesvos, Mytilini. Once renovated, The Smile of the Child expects to house upwards of 25 children in a safe, secure and loving environment.

HOCATA will target children vulnerable to exploitation, especially unaccompanied refugee minors, who are living behind barbed wire or in make shift shelters on the island. These children are innocent victims of the refugee crisis who find themselves in very dire circumstances, often lacking adequate shelter, food and health care.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is funding the reopening of Atticon and Apollon, the two emblematic Athens movie theaters. Atticon and Apollon were burnt down by protesters during riots that took place in May 2010, after it was announced that Greece was entering a bailout program that would entail harsh austerity measures.

President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Andreas Drakopoulos, recently gave a comprehensive account of the foundation’s work of the past twenty years, culminating in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) which now houses, among others, the National Library and the Greek National Opera.

“It is better to give more and let people call us stupid than do injustice to some and appear arrogant,” Drakopoulos said from the National Library building, speaking of the countless donations of the foundation.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

With the holidays just around the corner, now begins the wonderful season of Christmas bazaars and festivals!

We've created a single article so that you have one stop for all of the bazaars happening in Athens this season. If you know of a bazaar and it's not below, send us an email with detailed information at ideas@xpatathens.com.

Are you organizing a holiday or new year event and want to let everyone know about it? Create an XpatAthens Profile and upload your event today!

Join us and celebrate a day of fun, while doing some holiday shopping, sharing smiles and cat-stories with the family of Nine Lives! Let’s say goodbye to 2021 by helping cats in need.

Grab the chance to get your hands on the new 2022 Nine Lives calendars! A perfect Christmas gift for any cat lover. You will also find other seasonal goodies and selected Nine Lives merchandise.

All bazaar proceeds directly benefit stray cats in Athens through food & vet care.

Donations of cat food are welcomed with open paws!

When: December 4th, 2021
Time: 16:00 - 20:00
Where: Yoleni's Greek Gastronomy center, Solonos 9, Kolonaki

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"Friends Of The Child" Christmas Bazaar

The Charitable Association "The Friends of the Child", wanting to support children in need, will be holding its established International Christmas Bazaar. In a Christmas decorated space, locals and visitors will have the chance to purchase homemade sweets, Christmas decorations, clothes, books, toys and unique gifts.

Our goal is to support and secure all the required monthly needs for children until their adultness, whose families (single-parent or nuclear families) face financial and social problems. Specifically, “Friends of the Child” covers food, clothing, rents and bills for families in housing risk, psychological and counseling support, entertainment, and medical care. Children with health problems are a high priority for our social program.

When: December 4th & 5th, 2021
Time: 10:00 - 20:00
Where: Old OSY Depot

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St Paul's Anglican Church Christmas Bazaar 

After a Hiatus of two years St Paul’s famous Christmas Bazaar is back at a new venue.  Many beautiful stalls inside, everything from Books to Bric-a-brac, gifts, Preserves and Jewellery, as well as delicious refreshments.Don`t forget to try your luck at our Christmas raffle. Bring the kiddies along to see Father Christmas.Bring family and friends and spread the word!

When: December 5th, 2021
Time: 11:00 - 16:30
Where: Amphitheatre Foyer, Athens War Museum

Stay tuned for more!

While many of these are well-known bars and clubs, it’s always nice to be reminded that Athens’ has a buzzing nightlife. Many of these popular venues are in the city centre within walking distance of Syntagma Square. Here is an insider’s guide to the best bars and nightclubs in Athens!

Brettos

Best known for its lovely interior, with shelves of beautiful coloured bottles lit from behind, creating a warm glow, cosy Brettos has been on the go since 1909. The owners make their own liqueurs in more than 30 flavours, including cherry, lemon and mastiha, as well a classic ouzo. Take a stool at the bar for a convivial nightcap.

Address: Kidathineon 41, Plaka

Telephone: 210 323 2110

Hours: Daily 10:00-02:00
Website

A sound choice for after-hours drinking, young professionals come here for expertly shaken cocktails, served by barmen dressed in black with white aprons, plus an eclectic choice of music – think Rolling Stones, Waterboys, Klaus Nomi and Ella Fitzgerald. It’s small and often packed, with a long narrow polished wooden bar, walls decorated with oriental tiles and memorabilia, subtle lighting, plus a few tables out front.

Address: Voulis 7, Syntagma

Telephone: 210 321 9225

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-05:00 & Sunday 21:00-03:00
Facebook Page

Next to Monastiraki metro station, on the sixth floor of a small hotel, this rooftop cocktail bar is now one of Athens’ top after-dark venues. Outrageously popular with locals and visitors alike, it has a stylish open-air lounge terrace with amazing view of the floodlit Acropolis. Expect loud music and clubby atmosphere on Saturday nights, when you’ll probably have to queue for the lift (which only takes 3 people at a time). Alternatively, use the stairs. To avoid the crowds, come in the early evening for a sunset aperitif.

Address: Miaouli 2-4, Monastiraki

Telephone: 210 324 4244

Hours: Sunday-Thursday from 11:00-02:30 & Friday-Saturday 11:00-03:30
Website

To read this article in full, please visit: The Telegraph

For more suggestions on cocktail bars in Athens, see our 'Top 10 Cocktail Bars' article.

The Solidarity Cities initiative was recently announced at a press conference in Athens in October 2016, following a closed political session gathering 23 mayors and vice-mayors of the EUROCITIES network. The Mayor of Athens, Georgios Kaminis, and Vice-Mayor of Barcelona, Laïa Ortiz, presented to journalists the concept of the initiative and the main demands of European cities in terms of direct funding for refugee reception and integration, as well as better involvement from cities in the shaping of migration policy at the European and national level.

Solidarity Cities embodies a humanitarian response to the refugee situation, advocating a fairer sharing of responsibilities among EU member states. EUROCITIES published an open letter on World Refugee Day 2016, calling to refocus the debate on the refugee situation in Europe so as to reflect common European values of solidarity, humanity and dignity. Many cities are already taking steps to ensure the safe reception and passage of refugees through their territories, as described in the April 2016 report, ‘Refugee reception and integration in cities.'

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda

 

Please click HERE for more information on Solidarity Cities.

Among the many languages offered on Facebook, Ancient Greek is now a choice.

 

When you save Ancient Greek as a language, from then on messages will be ‘Aγγέλματα’, Facebook will be asking you ‘Tί δοκείς;’, friend search will be ‘Φίλους ευρίσκειν’, the main page will be called ‘οίκος’, while under each post you will see the indication ‘Σχόλιον γράφειν.’

To change your language settings to Ancient Greek, go to Settings - Language - Select Your Language - Ancient Greek - Save Changes.

Source: Greek Reporter