In the cities we travel we don’t only want to discover its cafes, restaurants and ancient sights, but also its vibe. You can feel this vibe well through its art – graffiti, theatrical performances and music that people who live in this city love to listen to.

Since May 2010 we have been running a web radio station that makes us feel really proud! We are 65 people with no radio experience who have managed to build all this by ourselves. We rented a beautiful house in the center of Athens, and started broadcasting from there. We take decisions together, and make this space like our home.

If you listen to us and would like to meet us, you can come and find us downtown. Just ring the bell and come to share coffee, music ideas and rythms!

65producers // 65 ways to music !

Stay tuned at www.musicsociety.gr

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MusicSociety WebRadio | Art & culture, Music | Free
8 Ktena | Syntagma
16:00 – 02:00 daily

I discovered Paul and his jewelery shop when a girlfriend was wearing a golden mustache! From the very first time I fell in love with this strange, special jewelery. After a while these “mustaches” became really famous as hipster girls of the town used to wear one!

It was about time to visit Paul and his jewelery shop! Not only for his “famous mustaches” but also to find out all these great handmade jewels he makes by himself! Since then I feel that I have to spread the news!

Paul has been running his shop since April ’10. He is passionate with “Sentimental jewelery” – something you can discover when you visit his shop. Earrings, bracelets – all with a tender, nostalgic feeling.

An ideal place for retro lovers! And also ideal if you are looking for a special present – I am a big big fan of his mustaches!

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Paul Sarz jewellery shop | Art & culture, Shopping | From € 30
Mavrokordatou 4 | Exarcheia
Mon, Wed & Sat 10:00 – 16:00

Located between Monastiraki and Omonoia metro station at Athinas street. Varkvakeios market is the most important market of the city. You can buy meat, fish, cheese, herbs, fruits, vegetables, second hand furniture, books and clothes. But most of all you will take a look at what a normal day looks like in this capital.

I always enjoy tasting olives there and taking the final decision of what to but after tasting kilos of them! I love its vibe that is really lively. Everything is mixed there. Pet shops, shops that sell very kitch things, bars, hotels, Arab supermarkets. And also galleries. Check the “Art tower” gallery that is located at the square of Varvakeios agora.

If you are interested in flea markets do not miss a walk at Varvakeios

P.S. It is better to make this walk during the day. You must not visit this area late at night as the neighborhood around starts to get rough when it is getting darker.

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Varvakeios Market | Art & culture, Relaxing, Shopping | Free
Athinas street | Monastiraki
Daily from 08:00

Have you ever tried “grandma’s hair”?

Maybe the translation from Greek to English not to be the ideal one, but I will explain it better later. But first a question: what does a traveler have to do? Of course taste the street food of the city he/she visits – the food you can taste while wandering around.

At Athens there are different kind of flavours that you can taste. So here we are:

1st step: “grandma’s hair”. This is the candy of our childhood! It is made only by sugar in a magical, special way.

2nd step: “a chicken-lollipop”. It is simpler than what you can imagine. It is a red lollipop which shape is a chicken. Really delicious and really bad for your teeth.

3rd step: Baked corn with butter and salt. You can find its special version decorated with a wooden, miniature flag. Really special during winter time.

4th step: Coconuts with sugar! Hidden between “fountains” – like on the picture!

5th step: Last, but not least. Our nights at the city mostly end up at a cantina. This is the place to visit after drinking & dancing the whole night. Cantina is a vehicle where its owners can make a sandwich or a hotdog with all ingredients a hungry stomach can ask for. They are spread around the big roads of the city. Some of the famous ones are at Mavili square and at Pireos street. You can find street food at central roads of Athens.

Bon apetit!

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Street food | Snacks
Ermou | Syntagma
24 hours daily

Glykis cafe is located in Plaka – the most touristic area of Athens. But what makes it not so commercial is that is hidden at a corner of two small roads. It is one of the most quiet and relaxed places all over the city. It can be a small urban jungle as there are plants and flowers around. Take a look also at its drawings that refer to traditional myths – like the mermaid that swims across the oceans.

I like it at lunch time. Their pies (cheese, spinach, etc.) are really tasteful. You can also taste “saganaki” – baked cheese or ask for a “poikilia”(like spanish tapas). And if you are in a mood for something sweet do not miss “ipovrixio vanilia” -a great candy that is ideal when you are really thirsty.

Plaka can be an interesting great neighborhood especially if you avoid the touristic traps and discover its secrets just by wandering around.

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Glykis Cafe | Coffee & tea, Snacks
Angelikis Chatzimichali/Geronta | Monastiraki
From 10:00 daily

The only reason travellers – even the residents of Athens – visit Piraeus is to take a boat and travel to the islands. But as I grew up at Piraeus I really love its special neighborhoods and mostly its open air flea market! Located really close to the central station it is worth a visit.

Multi culti meets exotism! Everything can be found there, from snails to exotic fish that are imported from Iceland. You can find all cds – or even tapes! – at its record shops. You can also enjoy a lunch at its restaurants – that mostly serve great meals with meat and then take a look at exotic fruits and vegetables. Ideal time: a Saturday morning.

The best way to end your walk at this flea market is to visit the port of Piraeus that stands opposite the market. There are some nice “kafeneia”(the greek style of a cafe) inside that you can enjoy a glass of ouzo while gazing the huge boats that are ready to sail.

And you never know! Maybe you will decide to book a last minute trip a beautiful island around. Why don’t you check an on day excursion to Argosaronic islands – Aegina, Poro, Hydra or Spetses? It takes from 30 minutes to 3 hours. You can just take a boat in the morning and come back at night. My favorite one is Hydra! Really scenic, really beautiful, really aristocratic.

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Piraeus | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks
Piraeus | South suburbs
Daily & Saturday (the market)

Lacandona is an area of rainforest which stretches from Chiapas, Mexico into Guatemala and into the southern part of the Yucatán Peninsula. But if this Lacandona is a bit far away for you, why don’t you visit our Lacandona? And what is all this about?

Lacandona is a  cafe – grocery located in the center of the city. Its main characteristic is that all the products are based on the fair trade market. This means that the products are bought directly from the producers, making for better trading conditions and promoting sustainability.

You can buy traditional products from Greece but also products from Latin America Asia and Africa. Biscuits from Kythira island, tea and chamomile from the mountains, merenda from Mexico (this is my favorite one ) but also handmade soaps and African musical instruments. But as it is a cafe also you can enjoy a double espresso from Ethiopia, a fresh pomegranate juice and many more tasteful things !

Although it is 5 minutes on foot from Syntagma metro station it is a bit complicated to find it – just check our map and you will discover our secret  colourful place.

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Lacandona | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | Juice from € 1.80
Ipitou 4 | Syntagma
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 21:00, Sat 09:00 – 15:00

Hey all you fashionistas out there! Welcome to shoe land.

Lemisios is one of the oldest shoe shops in Athens. Since 1912 this store is designing shoes for all the ladies whose feet can’t fit in the regular footwear. There you can find a wide scale of sizes (from 20 to 46) or make your personal order. Everything in this store is handmade and the quality of the raw material they use is excellent.

What I like the most in this family business is that they take the procedure of shoemaking very seriously. They pay full attention to the order and they respect the needs and, even the craziest and the most eccentric, wants of every costumer.

So if your feet are too big or too small or even too elegant to wear the same shoes with other millions in the world go to Lemisios and materialize the shoes of your dreams, without paying the cost of a famous brand.

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Lemisios | Shopping
Lukabhtou 6 | Kolonaki | +302103611161
Mon, Wed & Sat 08:30- 15:00, Tue, Thu & Fri 08:30 – 21:00

A small classy bistro located in the most controversial neighborhood of Athens. You should definitely give it a try and enjoy excellent coffee, wine or liqueur from a wide variety accompanied with delicious snacks. First of all, as a coffee addict, I love it for the quality of coffee they serve and then for the great atmosphere that is created from the retro style and the jazz sounds. Aleksadrino combines excellent quality with reasonable prices, inside that scenery inspired by French movies of the 30′s.

However you should be prepared! Most of the time is crowded and is difficult to find a place to sit. Even if that happened to you there are many other nice bars and restaurants just next to it.

I highly recommend this place for any occasion and at any time of the day or night. All that cozy, Paris, jazz feeling that this place provides will make you feel like belonging in another era!

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Aleksandrino | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Coffee € 3
Emmanouil Mpenaki 69 | Exarcheia | +302103827780
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 02:00

Take the tram and get off at “Parko Flisvou” station. Or even better, stroll the promenade from as far as you can (Alimos, Edem, Batis are all within walking distance from the park) till you reach the Marina.

The way this Marina has been transformed over the last few years is something else! Let’s not even begin to mention what it used to be like… But nowadays? Oh now it’s like a playground for grown-up kids (and the real ones as well!).

- Yes; it is a bit Disney-like- Can also seem a bit corny to the Greek standards- You might as well encounter yacht-owner faces that won’t necessarily make your day . But if I must be honest, I reeeeally do enjoy visiting as often as I can!

Kids riding their bikes, teenagers roller-skating, adults wandering around with an ice-cream cone or a corn stick at hand…

The place has had a full facelift, having being converted into a picturesque, pedestrian, island-like haven. I don’t feel like I actually am within a noisy city! Attentively decorated gardens, low-rise buildings with red tiled roofs, cheerful colours… Where am I? To hell with the commercialization! I love this place!

And at night… the view is truly majestic when everything is lit up as far as the eye can see! Take your friends and a couple of beers and pop to the breakwater located right behind the Ciné Flisvos! Not Disney-like anymore, huh?

There are often various happenings taking place; even outdoor ice-skating every now and then.

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Marina Flisvos | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping
Flisvos Marina | South suburbs | +302109871000
Shops Mon – Sat 09:00 – 23:00