What constitutes a perfect day in Athens? Many things contribute to a perfect day like restaurants, bars, shopping, and sight-seeing. A new marketing campaign, ‘Speak Athenian. Be an Athenian,’ is promoting Athens as a hybrid city that blends past and present and is a unique and multi-faceted city with an urban center and a beautiful coast. ‘Hipstorical,’ the term used to describe the new campaign, is defined as ‘An Athenian paradox, über-hipsters that fit right in around the 2,500-year-old Acropolis.’

Some of the best spots for local brews, grain bowls, flea markets, brunches, fine delicatessens, and beard balms can be found in downtown Athens, around the streets of the Parthenon, known as the historical triangle.

Born in Athens, designer Christina Economou, takes us on a tour of her favorite places and describes what makes a perfect day.

Starting the day early with coffee, Economou then takes a morning walk through the National Garden, a beautiful place filled with inspiration for a designer.

Additional Bakeries and Cafes

Takis Bakery: Open since the 1970’s, this family-run bakery serves delicious Greek and international breads, cakes, and pies. Popular sweets include a lemon drizzle pound cake, carrot cake, or the double-decker daily special.

Lotte Café-Bistrot: An adorable anachronistic café situated to the east of the Acropolis, was started as a side project by the owner, Theodora Athanasopoulou, about a year and half ago. This café is a gathering for the Athenian creative class, who like to drink organic Greek wine and signature cocktails while eating Greek pies, cakes, and homemade sweets that are made by Theodora’s mother.

Before heading to work, Economou stops at the sea market of Plateia Avissinias, which has anything from vintage chairs to a tiny curiosity box.

A nice place to eat lunch, according to Economou, is at the Cycladic Museum or a restaurant called Alfiere, that serves sandwiches with truffles. If you’re craving Italian food, Capanna has a great lunch menu.

At the end of the work day, Economou meets with friends for an evening dinner and drinks at RATKA or Freud in Kolonaki, a place for sushi and a great atmosphere. If dinner is not on the agenda, Economou will try to catch an interesting exhibit at the Gagosian Gallery or the Benaki Museum.

If Economou feels like more drinks and dancing, she will head to Cinderella, a new discotheque, or Jazz in Jazz, a small bar close to home.

Additional Bars and Clubs

Alexandrino in Exarchia: A chic place, perfect for unwinding with a glass of wine.

Kitty Cat: What was once an old Chinese restaurant, it is now a nightclub with a hipster vibe and a great place to have drinks and dance until 4 in the morning!

Barrett: On the border of the Monastiraki flea market and Psyri, Barrett is a new alternative rock bar. There are different DJ’s every night and the crowd is filled with artists and musicians. The drinks are affordable and they have a great selection of beers and music. There is also a gallery upstairs with new exhibits every month or two.

Couleur Locale: With multiple levels serving different things, the 3rd floor has a great night scene. It is open air, has stunning views, and an extensive cocktail menu.

Top Spots for Shopping

Greece Is For Lovers: Offers attractive contemporary products with a signature aesthetic, combining kitsch and luxe. Many of their pieces are one-of-a-kind, designed by local craftsmen, Thanos Karampatsos and Christina Kotsilelou.

Forget Me Not: A gift shop in the heart of Plaka, which features products an designs from more than 150 Greek artists, architects, and graphic designers.

Iliana Makri: Offers local, handmade pieces as well as international and Greek jewelry designs.

Luisa: Great for high-end designer clothes.

Attica: One of the best department stores and carries Economou’s collection.

For more suggestions on Top Things To Do In Athens, please visit: Harper's Bazaar and Vogue

The historic race The Authentic Marathon Swim revives at Artemision 2,500 years later. The interest of swimmers from all over the world, to participate in the authentic marathon swimming route and other swimming activities, is gradually peaking, as the date of the great sporting event approaches, occurring on September 4-6, 2020, at Pefki, Evia, of the Municipality of Istiaia - Edipsos.

World-class athletes will be present eagerly

The number of participating swimmers listed among the elite of marathon swimming is enriched with major names on a daily basis. Further to the confirmation of the first two hall of famers, the silver Olympic medalist Spyros Gianniotis and the Hungarian swimmer Attila Manyoki, the swimming Olympic champion Petar Stoychev is the third consecutive hall of famer to confirm that he will be taking part in The Authentic Marathon Swim. The Bulgarian champion has participated in 4 Olympics, has 11 consecutive titles in major international open water marathon swimming FINA series and holds the impressive achievement of being in the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame. The race will also be honored with the participation of the Japanese Olympic champion in Rio, Yasunari Hirai. Top names from Greece will also take part in The Authentic Marathon Swim. Specifically, the open water masters’ world champion, Vicky Kouveli and the bronze medalist in 2011 world open water swimming championship, with 4 participations in Olympics and 37 gold Greek championships, Marianna Lymperta will also compete in the event, together of course with the elite of the Greek national open water swimming team.

In the afternoon of Saturday, September 5, the action will begin with the 3km and 1.5km open water swimming races. Respectively, on the morning of Sunday, September 6, the event will culminate with the revival of the authentic 10km marathon swimming route, while at the same time the 800m children’s race will be taking place. All swimming routes will be executed with absolute safety at Pefki, Evia, of the Municipality of Istiaia - Edipsos. The Authentic Marathon Swim will be held with the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, according to FINA regulations.

---

---

Accommodation packages & offers at the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos

The Authentic Marathon Swim already collaborates with more than 30 hotels in the region, with the aim of revitalizing the sports tourism industry of Northern Evia and strengthening the Greek tourism product. Up to this point, this year’s event is enormously supported with special offers and prices starting from 40 euros, by the following hospitality sponsors: Maria Louiza Apartments, Hotel 40 Platania, Altamar Hotel, Ellaeon Throesma, Artemision Hotel, Galini Hotel Edipsos, Ilios Studios, Villa Anastasia, Κochili Apartments, Hydna Studios, Island, Irene Studios, Aidipsos Hotel, Aktaion Hotel, Aenaon Studios, Alex Spa Hotel, Anesis Pefki, Artemis Rooms Pefki, Arethousa Hotel, Avli Hotel, Dimitra Apartments, Ermis Spa Hotel, Evia Dream, Galini Hotel Pefki, Kallithea Hotel, Katerina Apartments, Lito Hotel, Mitho Hotel, Jenny Studios, Papadioti Αpartments, Rodon Hotel, Drosia Studios, Garden Studios Pefki.

Participants and visitors can take advantage of the special offers, providing reduced accommodation prices and late check out while discovering beautiful hotels in the areas of Pefki, Loutra Edipsos, Artemision, Istiaia, Kanatadika, Neos Pyrgos, Orei and Agiokampos.

---

Discover accommodation packages & special offers!

---

Website
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Twitter Account
YouTube Channel

I had a friend visiting over the holidays – a Canadian-Greek buddy who was looking to escape frosty Toronto for a few days… He has been here many times before, but only in summer. So this was a chance to see what I promised him would be a very different city to the sweating, heaving Athens of July & August.

And he loved it. He said the city felt ‘real’ and ‘authentic’. We explored the usual spots (and some new little places!), and the whole time he kept saying ‘wow!’ around every corner… One day, after walking up to Philopappou hill for the gorgeous view of the Acropolis, we went to a little hidden part of the city called Anafiotika. While many of us have heard of Anafiotika, it seems most have never ventured into this tiny neighbourhood of Plaka. Anafiotika was first built in the 19th century to house workers from the island of Anafi, who came to Athens to work on the construction of the king’s palace. The neighbourhood was built in a cycladic style and today feels like being on the islands, in the heart of the city. It’s worth the stroll up the northeast side of the Acropolis hill – camera required.

Smog notwithstanding, my friend was struck with the ‘green’ of the city. Philopappou, the National Gardens, even the bright green grass and trees around the Acropolis hill – this was a welcome surprise and a change from the usual summertime look of the city.

I hope you find the time to explore the city over the coming months – while it still feels green and local and real.

Kali xronia! Until next time,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

In a quiet quad in the Halandri district of Athens, not far from the Olympic Park, is the sort of place you never want to leave.