Athens has never been short of excellent nightlife options and this continues to be true throughout the city. Lucky for us, recent trends have brought incredibly designed interiors and even more specialized bartenders inspired by local Mediterranean flavors.

Here are a few bars that you may or may not know that are serving up some of the most interesting and delicious cocktails in Athens!


Drunk Sinatra


@drunksinatra_

Located near Syntagma Square, this fun and lively, yet cozy bar, with its alluring vintage style, is a great after-work meeting place if you want to enjoy a drink all while swinging to jazz and bossa nova rhythms. The drink menu features imaginative cocktails based on homemade ingredients. Don’t leave without trying the ‘Drunk Sinatra’, the bar’s signature cocktail!

Location: Thiseos 16, Athina
Telephone: 210 331 3733

Location: Katsoulieri 7, Halandri.
Telephone: 2106800390

MoMix Bar


@athenshotspots

The first Molecular Mixology Bar in Athens, MoMix is definitely one of the most creative bars in the city. The bar’s imaginative team plays around with foams, jellies, and powders to create some of the most original (and tasty!) cocktails in all possible forms!

Location: Voutadon 36, Athina
Telephone: 697 435 0179


The Clumsies


 @missmess.lazypippi

At The Clumsies, they tease Einstein and have come up with a list of drinks where "clumsy" restates the theory of relativity. Awarded first place in the Athinorama Bar Awards 2016 and ranked 6th in the list of the 50 best bars in the world, The Clumsies continues to grow at the speed of light serving specialty drinks like Clumsie Negroni, Above & Beyond Punch, and many more. 

Location: Praxitelous 30, Athina
Telephone: 210 323 2682

Tiki Bar


@tikibarathens

Located close to the Acropolis Museum, Tiki Bar is a charming bar that not only serves delicious cocktails sprinkled with exotic vibes but also mouthwatering food inspired by different cuisines. It’s the place to go if you want to relish refreshing cocktails prepared with seasonal fruits and imaginative Polynesian recipes!

Location: Falirou 15, Athina
Telephone: 21 0923 6908

A recent analysis of Kayak, the popular travel search engine, found that interest in flights to the Greek islands have increased by more than 300 percent from 2015. Crete was the most popular searched for destination with an increase of 345 percent. Corfu was popular as well with an increase of 238 percent in travel searches.

The islands were among Kayak’s Flight Index Top 50 for the most sought-after destinations. The interest was viewed as largely caused by the falling air fares, dropping by 62-67 percent in the past year.

With fares dropping compared to last year, the average price to the 50 most searched for destinations had dropped on average by 22 percent.

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

The expansion and modernization project of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum (EPMAS) in Athens is expected to be completed in early 2019, with a grant by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), totaling 13 million euros.

The new grant will lead to the completion of the gallery’s building B, which will be named “Stavros Niarchos Foundation Wing of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum” and will host permanent painting collections.

“We are happy to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, EPMAS and the Region of Attica to complete the expansion of the National Gallery, a project which is expected to place it on a prominent position, on the map of international cultural organizations,” said the co-president of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Andreas Dracopoulos.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Photo Credit: Greek Travel Pages

It looks like summer is getting closer! From travelers flying in to Athens reaching significant numbers already, to the Onassis Foundation offering scholarships and helping children with Autism learn all about them in this week's newsletter!

Pyroliki
This garden restaurant in Metaxourgeio offers traditional Greek food with a twist. Friendly and cozy ambiance, an atmospheric backyard, and flavors from all over Greece will travel your mind to Crete and the Greek islands. Start with delicious seafood appetizers along with a glass of ouzo, wine, or Cretan raki, and continue your meal with typical Greek dishes! 

Location: 117 Megalou Alexandrou, Metaxourgeio
Telephone: 210 3420293

Location: Valtetsiou 59, Exarcheia

Telephone: 210 3802725

Metaxou
Metaxou will make you feel just like home! Enjoy their delicious traditional greek appetizers, such as cheese pies, revithokeftedes, soutzoukakia, wine from the island of Ikaria, and occasionally live music.

Location: 10 Pithodorou, Metaxourgeio

Telephone: 210 5229290

Kouvelos
Located in the area of Koukaki, Kouvelos serves traditional Greek food in a romantic garden. Start with the deep-fried cheese pie, a specialty from Skopelos island, and end your meal with homemade hazelnut liqueur. 

Location: Genneou Kolokotroni 66, Athina 
Telephone: 211 4052418

 
Karderina
This garden in the area of Petralona attracts many Athenians and foreigners for its exceptional greek food and mezes, its famous tsipouro, and, of course, its affordable prices!

Location: 67 Kallisthenous, Ano Petralona
Telephone: 210 3454000

 

Hollywood movie star and heart-throb, Matthew McConaughey, recently appeared on Jimmy Fallon's 'The Tonight Show' to promote his new film called 'White Boy Rick.' While they did talk about the film, what caught our attention was his mention of his love for Greece!

McConaughey and his family, including his mother, father-in-law, wife, and kids, as well as Woody Harrelson's family, recently spent 3 weeks in a house in Antiparos this summer, relishing the Greek lifestyle. In the funny clip below, McConaughey tells Fallon about how his family loved Greece so much, that they decided to extend their holiday. However, when his mom was prepared to leave as planned, it didn't take too much convincing for her to stay!

In response to the need to quickly map the spread of the new coronavirus in Greece, post-graduate students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have created an application for the general public to quickly and easily report their symptoms.

If You Have Symptoms - Here's What To Do

Only complete this online survey if you have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms and allow your device to share your location. The process takes less than a minute and your responsible response can help map confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Greece. 

The tracking system was developed as part of the MSc program "Environmental, Disaster, and Crisis Management Strategies."

Athens has surprisingly good running routes. Not just because of their beautiful locations, often surrounded by antiquities, but also due to their relative calm.

In the winter, you could be running in Athens’ “Central Park” of Philopappou, right below the Acropolis, with the historic hill all to yourself. What a treat!

 

Panathenaic Stadium
One of Athens’ best-kept secrets, this 500 metre racetrack on the rim of the Panathenaic marble stadium (home of the first modern-day Olympic Games) boasts some of the city’s most spectacular views. Accessible only from the rear, through a green gate on Archimidous Street, it is very much open and free to use, as long as you don’t enter the actual stadium. Although this wonderful track can get crowded in the afternoons, it is very quiet in the mornings and truly magical to run along, taking in the views of the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill, and the glowing white stadium below.

Philopappou Hill
The location of choice for serious runners and probably the coolest place to jog in Athens. Imagine running all by yourself amongst wildflowers and catching cinematic glimpses of the Acropolis through clearings in the pine trees. Start at the entrance on Dionysiou Areopagitou walkway and turn left into the trees just before the church of St Demetrius. Try to follow the route to the old quarry and from there past the rock-climbing area. Meandering along the wall of rocks you will get to the landscaped stone path of Dimitris Pikionis that leads up to the monument of Philopappou on the summit. Take the opposite direction and rejoin the main path leading right. You will reach the wooden observatory and the dramatic seat of the ancient Pnyx, from where you can almost touch the Parthenon. This is what it would feel like to run in Ancient Greece (minus the sandals!). 

Laimos Vouliagmenis / Ladies Run
Ladies Run, the first and only race exclusively for women in Greece, takes place every October. It has the added perk of following a breath-taking route by the sea, along Vouliagmeni’s pine-studded Laimos peninsula. Of course, you can enjoy the same route all year round, especially if you are staying in the southern suburbs near the sea. The Ladies’ Run starts in front of Astir Beach (Athens’ most elite beach) and moves up Apollonos Street as far as the tip of the peninsula, taking in some of the scenic promenades inside the swish new Four Seasons resort. Having enjoyed the splendid views, run back in the opposite direction to the marina. Follow the Ladies Run route along the marina, past the yachting extravaganza, and then retrace your steps back to the beach.

Alsos Syngrou
This large, under-visited park is on the way to the northern suburb of Kifissia (and close to the business hub of Maroussi if you are travelling to Athens for work). Apart from the fragrant pine trees that cover most of the park, Alsos Syngrou has other attractions such as a small pistachio grove, a vineyard, a theatre, a small lake, sports courts, and the city’s only Gothic Orthodox church, designed by the renowned Saxon architect Ernst Ziller. It is also a must-visit if you are training for the Athens Marathon: A full swing around the park is a tenth of the classic route, or 4.2 kilometres—ideal for clocking in long runs.

National Garden
Your best bet for an easy run in the city centre, especially if you are staying around Syntagma and Kolonaki. The National Garden has many paths that are clearly mapped near each entrance. Attractions include ancient Greek columns, a Roman mosaic, rare century-old trees from around the globe, and a small animal enclosure. The best thing about running in the National Garden, apart from the downtown location, is that you never get bored with the routes on offer: an abundance of promenades, alleys, cul-de-sacs and lawns for stretching guarantee variety, though the layout is not ideal for those craving speed.

This content was originally published on This Is Athens

Written by: Anthony Grant

Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! 

Although most famous for its beaches and islands, 80% of Greece is mountainous, meaning that a wide variety of nutritious and delicious herbs can be found growning in the country's slopes. 

Used all across the country in traditional cooking and get-well home brews, these herbs not only smell and taste great, but also have a number of healing attributes.



Fliskouni


Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Also known as mountain mint, fliskouni has been known as a natural aphrodisiac since the ancient times, while ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Arabs also used it as medicine. Among others, it is believed to stimulate the nervous system and promote the strength of the respiratory system, battling respiratory diseases such as asthma. It can also be used as a flavoring in cooking and confectionery and if you ever catch a cold, it's the perfect frangnat hot drink!

Marjoram


Credit: SKsiddhartthan/Wikimedia Commons

Marjoram has been cultivated in Greece since the ancient times and it's used extensively in Greek cuisine as well, paired with meat, salads, cheese, and bread. It's a natural tranquilizer and has numerous therapeutic properties. It's commonly used for runny nose, cough, common cold, other infections, and various digestion problems, while the steam produced by the hot infusion of this herb is very helpful for the human respiratory system.

Sage


Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Known for its strong aroma and earthy flavor, sage is also packed with a variety of important nutrients and strong antioxidant properties. In ancient Greece is was considered a holy herb and women used to brew it for their husbands as a fertility-tonic. The herb is thought to stimulate brain function, boosting memory and preventing various congitive disorters, while it's also known to reduce blood sugar levels, support oral health, and protect against certain cancers. 

Mountain Tea


Credit: Lemur12/Wikimedia Commons

Mountain tea is the most commonly found Greek herbal tea and, thanks to its mild and sweet aroma, it is deliciously drunk both hot or iced. It's also called Sideritis, a name given to it in ancient times, to describe its capability of healing wounds caused by iron weapons during battles. It has a number of antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal properties, while it's used to help cope with stress and various inflammations of the respiratory system. 

Dittany


Credit: Aqua1975/Wikimedia Commons

Originating from the island of Crete, dittany, also known as erontas, meaning "youthful love" is considered an aphrodisiac. It has been widely used for medicinal purpose and even Hippocrated had acknowledged is healthy properties, as he used it to treat stomach aches and facilitate digesting process. Tea made from dittany is used to relieve headaches while its essential oils have antiseptic and anti-fungal properties and can be used to treat burns.

The British magazine "Conde Nast Traveller" has highlighted the Greek islands of Lipsi and Patmos as must-do destinations that should be at the top of every international traveler's list, underlining their spiritual aspects that promote well-being.

Patmos, with its unspoiled landscapes and its cultural heart, is a real pleasure for the body and soul, the article said, pointing to the additional glamour provided by Unesco world heritage monuments such as the Cave of the Apocalypse and St John's Monastery, or the pretty central village of Chora, while providing everything that the modern tourist requires.

A few miles away, the island Lipsi offers a 'castaway' experience and seclusion, with Conde Nast describing it as the "ultimate switch-off destination" for enjoying the simple pleasures, such as swimming in its blue-green waters, hiking, and dining in traditional restaurants.

Originally published on: tornosnews.gr

Main image: @pascalidou