Not everyone appreciates winter, but we can all agree that, like every season, winter has its charm, too. It has something whimsical to offer to everyone, no matter where you are. If you find yourself in Athens this winter and feel like sipping a hot drink while cozying up next to a roaring fire, these warm and inviting Athenian cafes are the place to be! 



1. Yiasemi 


@yiasemi_bistrot

Located in the charming area of Plaka, Yasemi oozes with vintage romance. Its fairylight-decked exterior, climbing jasmine vines, and cozy interior give this place a magical feel, especially in the winter, when the fireplace burns bright. Once there, you can't miss out on the delicious orange pie and the cafe's specialty, jasmine tea! 

Location: Mnisikleous 23, Athina
Telephone: 21 3041 7937

2. Safe House


@evangelia.alexandri 

Located in Dionysos, this is without a doubt the ultimate winter hangout! If you visit during the colder winter months you may be lucky enough to see snow, while comfortable pillows and, not just one, but two burning fireplaces will make you feel like you are in a mountain lodge. Make sure to try the ginger cinnamon tea or a hot in-house cocktail!

Location: Vakchon, Dionisos
Telephone: 21 0800 5693

3. Arwma Plateias


@arwmaplateias

Located in the bustling central square of Nea Smirni, one of the coolest neighborhoods in Athens, Arwma Plateias is both trendy and cozy, featuring tasteful decoration and a laid-back atmosphere. You can choose between three main venues - each one with its own aesthetics. The fireplace is located in the lower bar, where you can drink coffee, try homemade pastries, and sip delicious cocktails, all while listening to relaxing jazz, Britpop, and funk-rock sounds.

Location: 25is Martiou, Nea Smirni
Telephone: 21 0935 7505

4. Plaka Cafe 


@cafe_plaka

With its distinctive pink exterior and beautiful terrace, this charming cafe is an all-time classic meeting point in the Anafiotika neighborhood. Its warm ambiance and cozy decor will make you want to literally hibernate in it all year long! Among its desirable traits are the cafe's extensive food and beverage menu, as well as the fact that our four-legged friends are more than welcome there!

Location: Tripodon 1, Athina
Telephone: 21 0322 0388

5. Paliatsos


@paliatsos_bar

Paliatsos is an all-day music restaurant in Penteli, reminiscent of a European bistro and filled with rare artifacts and furnishings from all over the world, collected by its owner during his travels. You can start the day with a mouth-watering breakfast or brunch, then sample the chef's refined delicacies, and end the day with a drink. There is also a venue especially for children with a fairy-tale-like setting that will impress both young and old. 

Location: Plateia Agias Triados, Penteli
Telephone: 21 0810 0889

In ancient Greece, temples were an important part of daily life and served as monuments dedicated to the beloved gods and goddesses. Many important ancient temples are located in Greece and other countries, such as Italy, which were then part of the ancient Greek world.

Let’s take a look at the ten Greek temples that you cannot miss!

Parthenon, Acropolis


Credit: @ankur.sinh_

The Parthenon, located on the top of the Acropolis, is dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom and the patron goddess of Athens. The Parthenon was built in the mid 5th century BC and was originally constructed to replace an older temple that was destroyed by the Persians. The statue of Athena which originally stood in the temple was made from ivory, silver and gold but was later stolen and destroyed.

Valley of the Temples


Credit: @hellenistichistory

The Valley of the Temples, which is located in Sicily, Italy, has some of the most outstanding examples of Greek architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and includes temples dedicated to Concordia, Juno, and Heracles.

Temple of Hephaestus


Credit: @photoohistory

The Temple of Hephaestus, dedicated to the god of metal-working and craftsmanship, is located in Athens, Greece. The temple was designed by Ictinus, one of the Parthenon’s architects. The Temple of Hephaestus is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple in the world.

Paestum


Credit: @photoohistory

Paestum, an ancient Greek city located in Southern Italy, contains three well-preserved Greek temples. Two of the three were dedicated to Hera, goddess of marriage and childbirth, while the third one, located apart from the temples of Hera, was dedicated to Athena.

Temple of Zeus in Cyrene


Credit: MM / WikipediaCommons

The Temple of Zeus in Cyrene is located in Libya and was built in the 5th century BC. The temple has been destroyed and re-built multiple times. I was destroyed in 115 AD during a Jewish rebellion and restored five years later under Roman order. The temple was again destroyed by an earthquake in 365 AD and restored in the contemporary era by British and Italian archaeologists.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com

What are the most beautiful places in the world? Well, there are numerous lists out there, and plenty of places all around the world are claiming the top spots - beauty, after all, is a subjective concept. It lies in the eye of the beholder, don't they say? 

A recent study by the Britain-based travel company Kuoni followed a more scientific approach to the above question in order to create an official ranking of the world’s most beautiful travel destinations.

In this scientific study, participants viewed a series of images from 50 of the world's most famous natural attractions, from the Grand Canyon to the Maldives. The research used eye movement recording technology to determine which images were the most attractive to the human eye, or, in other words, which captured the eye of the participants the longest. 

According to the results of the study, the most beautiful place in the world is Lake Peyto in Canada - a natural wonder in Banff National Park. The magnificent shade of the lake's waters is a result of ice melting on the surrounding dazzling mountains. The second most beautiful place in the world is the island of Meeru in the Maldives, which enchants travelers thanks to its white sand and crystal-clear waters.

From exotic islands to colorful lakes and spectacular waterfalls, these are the most beautiful places in the world!

1. Peyto Lake, Canada


@resul.gumus

2. Meeru Island, Maldives


@meeruisland

3. Jurassic Coast, U.K.


@thejurassictog

4. Yosemite


@california_matt

5. Lake Tekapo, New Zealand


@lachiou

6. Niagara Falls


@thereal4koj

7. Mount Snowdon, Wales 


@jo_fallows

8. Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines


@lydiajaneiballjones

9. Marble Caves, Chile


@tillotoro

10. El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico 


@evo_photography_pr

11. Aurora Borealis, Iceland


@eddiekruger7

12. Iguazu Falls


@kcakduman

13. Lake Matheson, New Zealand


@michalzborovjan

14. Phang Nga Bay, Thailand


@thefreedomcomplex

15. Grand Canyon


@ryanresatka

Athens has joined major metropolitan cities like Paris, New York, and London, to come third in the list of most beautiful night-time cities around the world as ranked by Instagram, reports Daily Travel News.

According to the report, 'when looking at the most popular night-time cities across the globe, it’s the city of love that emerges as favorite amongst users of the social media platform, with over 1,000,000 hashtags for pictures of Paris by night. Following Paris is London, followed by Athens, Rome, and Warsaw.'

European cities dominated the list with only a few countries making it from outside the old continent, such as Dubai, United Arab Emirates with 71,500 hashtags, New York City, USA with 50,000 hashtags, and Tokyo, Japan with 42,700 hashtags.

The Greek capital of Athens ranked third with 182,000 hashtags.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

Main image: trikaliotis_giorgos

The transformation of Athens into a smart and sustainable city, where citizens enjoy living and working in it, is one of the top priorities of the Municipality. In the last two years, the Municipality of Athens has developed a series of bold interventions, creating new digital infrastructures and services that make the daily life of the citizens easier.

The Municipality of Athens has already created 118 easy-to-use digital services, which cater to the needs of both citizens and local businesses. Thousands of citizens can now receive certificates and documents online, thus avoiding the need to visit state services and helping prevent overcrowding.

In the past month, the Municipality of Athens took another important digital step, enabling residents and visitors of the capital to enjoy free internet access in 11 parts of the city. Available in some of the city’s busiest neighborhoods, these free wifi hotspots allow citizens to save internet data and money.

During the first three months of its operation, the program has offered free wifi access to over 100,000 users with almost 300,000 unique connections recorded so far.

The areas where free internet access is provided are the following: Syntagma Square, Lycabettus Square, Iroon Square (Psyrri Square), Kotzia Square, Seraphio of the Municipality of Athens, Central Library of the Municipality of Athens (Domokou 2), Cultural Center (Akadimias 50), Liosion 22, Karamanou Square, 1st Cemetery of Athens, and KEP Victoria.

Athens’ citizens and visitors can access the WiFi4EU network from the list of available wifi hotspots on their mobile devices. By selecting “WiFi4EU” and pressing “Login”, they gain free internet access for the next 12 hours, without having to enter any personal information to use the network.

"This initiative marks the beginning of a new era, in which free digital services, focusing on citizens, are being developed every day. Our goal is to extend the program to all 129 neighborhoods of Athens, so that every citizen and every visitor of the city has the opportunity, within the framework of equal opportunities, to use the internet. Athens has entered dynamically into the new digital age.", emphasized the Mayor of Athens, Costas Bakogiannis.

Developed as a hobby project in 2008 by Athens-based visual effects artist Dimitris Tsalkanis, the Ancient Athens 3D website presents a series of digital reconstructions of the city through time, from the Mycenaean Bronze Age (1600 BC) to the Early Modern period (AD 1833).

The project’s latest video, launched in November, showcases Classical Athens at the height of its power in the late 5th century BC, in the years before its defeat by Sparta and their allies in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC).

The 12-minute video, rendered in spectacular detail, takes the viewer on a fly-through of the city’s neighborhoods, circling its famous monuments, temples, civic buildings, and marketplaces. Each monument is accompanied by a short description.

The 5th century BC was a time of unparalleled change in the history of Athens. Partly destroyed by the invading Persian army in the years 480-479 BC, the extensive rebuilding program that ensued, accelerated by the great statesman and general Pericles in the second half of the century, made it the center of the Greek world.

During this period, dubbed the “Golden Age of Pericles,” the arts, sciences, and philosophy flourished in Athens, laying the cultural and political foundations of Western civilization.

Ancient Athens 3D was developed to present photorealistic digital reconstructions of the city and all of its monuments from 1600 BC to AD 1830. The project began with the first experimental 3D models of the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, based on published archaeological and architectural data from scientific journals.

As the digital technology evolved, further reconstructions were added, and the site’s popularity grew. Great attention has been given to historical and archaeological accuracy in each of the videos, successfully communicating the development of urban planning through the ages.

In his work, Dimitris Tsalkanis has collaborated on projects with the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, as well as museums and local municipalities. His 3D reconstructions offer a superb educational platform, bringing ancient Athens to life for a wide range of audiences, from school children to academic researchers.

For more information about these projects, visit the Digital Heritage Creations website.

Christopsomo, or “Christ’s bread,” has been an indispensable part of the Christmas Day table in every Greek household throughout the centuries.

If you are ever fortunate enough to spend a Christmas in Greece, you will be certain to become enchanted by the enticing aromas of baked bread, pastries, cookies, and other foods during the holiday season.

Greek Christopsomo

Some Greek holiday goodies are steeped in ancient regional traditions, while others you will find throughout the entire country, but perhaps with a local twist.

The bread is traditionally baked on Christmas Eve and served on Christmas Day at the table when the whole family gathers to eat together. It is believed that this sweet bread brings blessings to the family during this holy season.

The dough for Christopsomo is divided into two pieces. The first portion, the largest, forms the main base. The somewhat smaller portion is made into a large cross with curled and split ends and several other symbolic shapes.

In the past, symbols represented aspects of the family’s life and professions as well. For example, if the family were fishmongers, images of fish would be shaped and added to the loaf.

In more agriculturally-based times, the surface of the bread would often be covered with flowers, leaves, or fruits, indicating the family’s hopes for a good harvest and healthy herds of animals.

A walnut is placed in the middle of the cross, symbolizing life as well as fertility. The walnut shell can also be interpreted as representing the cave in which the Christ Child was born.

Baking the most elaborate possible Christopsomo is an unspoken challenge for bread makers in Greece. In many parts of the country, “Christ’s bread” has truly become a piece of timeless art, with incredibly beautiful, intricate decorations.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com

Founded in 2019, the Athens English Comedy Club is the first, and only, purely English comedy club in Greece! 

Is the Athens comedy scene “all Greek” to you? Are you on the lookout for English language events which do not require you to read surtitles? Do you want to try your hand at stand up in English? We are here for YOU! 

The Athens English Comedy Club brings you local and international comedians, right in the heart of Athens. 

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About the comedians: 

Dimitri Doukoglou is a Greek-Canadian comedian and illustrator based in Athens. He has been performing stand-up professionally since 2007. He has co-produced and hosted the humorous D&D web series 'Once Upon a Dice' (Μια Ζαριά κι Έναν Καιρό). He is also a science communicator and has produced and hosted several live science comedy shows, as well as the YouTube series 'Sex with Doukoglou' which explores human sexuality. He often forgets to eat. 

Dimitris Dimopoulos is a comedian, librettist, director and translator. He has been performing stand-up comedy since 1996 from “Comedy Nights”, Greece’s first comedy-club, and has since presented three solo shows including “Kafrokrema” which is currently running. He has written librettos for the highly satirical operas “Twilight of the Debts”, “AirRossini”, and “Yasou Aida!”. His passion for comedy and musical theatre culminated in the creation of the show "Stand-Up Symphony" in cooperation with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra. 

Blink Mike has been performing stand-up since 2013 and stands out for his creative and sharp jokes. In 2013 and 2014 he took part in the Stand Up Comedy Festival competition where he won 2nd and 1st place respectively, while in 2018 he made it to the final of the nationally aired TV program “Greece Has Got Talent”. His first solo show “Technically Forbidden” completed its first country-wide tour this year. 

Odysseas Deniz Ürem is a stand-up comedian based in Athens, Greece and he performs regularly in theaters and comedy clubs in Greece such as the Athens English Comedy Club, Mic Drop Comedy Club and Losantzele Comedy Club. He performs in Greek and in English, his act revolves around subjects such as death, sex, family, racism, religion and among others it also consists of many surrealistic takes on every day life. 

Athina Kefalopoulou, a Greek raised in Russia and Norway, is an actress, arts producer, and sociologist. She delved into performing stand-up comedy in 2019, taking part in the science communication show ‘Science+Comedy’, while she has taken part in numerous productions in Greece and the UK including within the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Athina is the founder of the Athens English Comedy Club. 

Mariem Chaari has the kind of life that qualifies her to be a comedian. Or a serial killer. Never short of content, she found herself one day on the stage of Athens Comedy Club making jokes. Since that day, she realized that making people laugh is the cheapest form of therapy. And strives for more. She likes to explore subjects that have to do with body image, sexism, and her own special way of seeing things (you don't say). On the side she's a successful single mother of two ginger cats, a foodie, and an Artist. 

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We also offer 3 free tickets per show to persons with disabilities or unemployed persons (phone reservation required, and the relevant card/proof will be checked at the box office). 

The theatre is wheelchair accessible. 

Upon entry you will need to provide a vaccination certificate or a valid proof of recovery/antigen test. 

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The Cafe will Feature Seasonal Menus and Holiday Happenings!

This holiday season, Hard Rock Cafe® Athens invites guests to gather ‘round the table and celebrate this glorious time of year together in true Hard Rock style. Throughout the month of December, there will be a limited-time, multi-course holiday menu featuring some of Hard Rock’s most popular culinary options. From the original Legendary® Burger to a full rack of baby back ribs or lighter fare such as grilled salmon or Moving Mountains® Burger for our vegetarian friends. Hard Rock Café Athens has something for everyone in your family.

During the Festive season, there will be various activities available in order to spend these holidays with as much Rock mood as possible!

Christmas Eve

More specifically, on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. There will be a Live Dj set on the ground floor - in the beautifully decorated main area of ​​the Café - and guests will be able to try the Festive menu of 2 dishes with 1 glass of wine/ beer at €29.95, but also at 9 p.m. the rock band Jitterbugs will play Live and the guests will be able to taste the wonderful Festive menu of 3 dishes, with 1 glass of wine/ beer at €35.95. A children's Roxtars menu with ice cream as dessert is also provided at €15.

New Year’s Eve

At the same time, for New Year's Eve at 8 p.m. there will be a Live Dj set on the ground floor with a Festive menu of 2 dishes with 1 glass of wine /beer & 1 glass of sparkling drink at €32.95 and at 10 p.m. will play Live again the Rock band Jitterbugs with a Festive menu of 3 dishes with 1 glass of wine /beer & 1 glass of sparkling drink 39.95€. A children's Roxtars menu with ice cream as dessert is also provided at €15.

Breakfast with Santa

Finally, for two consecutive Sundays on December 12 & 19, Breakfast with Santa is waiting for its beloved little friends together with the whole family to spend a unique Sunday afternoon (12 pm - 4 pm), to take photos with Santa Claus and to engage in creative activities such as drawing and face painting. Entrance for each child will be 15 € including the children's meal.

The Full Holiday Menu

Sensational Starters:

• Caesar Salad Bruschetta - crisp artisan bread topped with fresh romaine tossed with classic Caesar dressing, candied bacon & parmesan crisps, finished with a sweet balsamic glaze
• Blue Cheese Chopped Salad - chopped mixed greens tossed in a blue cheese vinaigrette with pickled red onions, red peppers, and Roma tomatoes, finished with crispy shoestring onions and blue cheese crumbles

Mouthwatering Main Courses:

• Mushroom Swiss Burger - signature steak burger layered with Swiss cheese, roasted mushrooms, garlic aioli and leaf lettuce, finished with shoestring onions
• Surf and Turf Burger - signature steak burger topped with One Night in Bangkok Spicy Shrimp™ on a bed of spicy slaw
• Original Legendary® Burger - signature steak burger, with applewood bacon, cheddar cheese, crispy onion ring, leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato
• Moving Mountains® Burger - 100% plant-based 170gr patty, topped with cheddar cheese and a crispy onion ring, served with leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato. Served with seasoned fries
• Grilled Salmon - seasoned & grilled then topped with garlic herb butter and served with fresh vegetables
• BBQ Grilled Chicken - grilled chicken layered with signature spices and our signature barbecue sauce, served with seasoned fries and fresh vegetables
• Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs - seasoned with a signature spice blend, then glazed with house-made barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection
• New York Strip Steak with Marinated Mushrooms - USDA Choice 12 oz NY strip steak, grilled and topped with mushrooms marinated in a smoked bacon and bourbon sauce

Desserts and Drinks to Satisfy a Sweet Tooth:

• Holiday Brownie - warm chocolate brownie topped with caramel and chocolate sauce, served with whipped cream
• Chilled Espresso Martini - Grey Goose Vodka, Kahlúa, fresh-brewed espresso shaken until frothy and chilled

Whether you choose to dine in or take out, Hard Rock Cafe Athens wants to be part of the memories families make this holiday season! Those wishing to dine at Hard Rock Café Athens can make a reservation by visiting hardrockcafe.com or by calling 210 324 5170. Not dining in this year? No problem! These mouth-watering limited-time menu offerings are available for fast and fresh delivery via Wolt App straight to the dining room table by visiting Wolt. 

For more information about the Holiday Menus and Reservations, you can call 210 3245170 or send an email to athens_salescoordinator@hardrock.com.