Image by Maria Porfyriadi

World-famous gallery holder Larry Gagosian, after having established numerous galleries of Modern and Contemporary Art in the United States, as well as Europe and Asia, recently inaugurated his very first gallery in Athens.

The exhibition I visited in December 2009 (as per the picture above) was “Leaving Paphos Ringed with Waves” by Cy Twombly, an American artist who is well known for his “painterly abstraction” but starting January 12th until March 10th, 2012 the gallery will be hosting another incredibly interesting exhibition by an English artist, Damien Hirst, called the Complete Spot Paintings.

Being just steps away from Syntagma (Constitution) Square and the Parliament, it can be a refreshing break from one’s strolling around the city. For more details visit their website.

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Gagosian Gallery | Art & culture, Festivals & events | Free
Merlin 3 | Kolonaki | +302103640215
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 18:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Marilena Salamanou

As small as a hava bean! And why hava bean?! Just because if you translate the name of the bar to Greek this is what it means!

Kouki bar features serves alcoholic drinks such as rakomelo, a combination of raki (an alcoholic drink from Creta island) with honey. And if you want to enjoy it completely ask to bring you “anthotyro”(a cheese served with honey and cinnamon). Really tasty! Also fresh fruit cocktails -my dearest one is “melon”with vodka But if you are laso hungry you can also taste “tostadas”- if you have visited Spain you know what this means!

Kouki bar is very small – it feels like you are in a cave house of Santorini island. As in Athens you can enjoy an eternal summertime. You can sit outside the cafe at the pedestrian area.

Take a look at its tables! They are all hand painted. The drawings bring at my mind “Alice in wonderland”. Let the rabbit run with a clock on its hand as you will relax relax among orange trees! Really close to Syggrou-Fix metro station. Just walk at Veikou street and after a while you will find the smallest square of the city Koukaki’s square. Turn left and you will find it. Ideal for an evening cafe under the orange trees

Kouki at Kouk-aki…So sweet!

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Kouki bar | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks
5- 9 G.olimpiou | Koukaki
From 11:00 – until late at night daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Marilena Salamanou

Kerameikos is not only a station on the blue line of the Metro. Kerameikos is the most important ancient cemetery of Athens that used to be the borderline of the ancient city. When you enter the site, time starts to move at a different pace.

You forget the noise of Pireos street where all these cars are passing by and you just relax looking at the turtles that take rest under olive trees. You can loose yourself among margareta flowers and ancient statues.

There is also a museum with interesting exhibitions – you can enter both Kerameikos and its museum for free. It is located really central at Ermous street close to Thiseio Station.

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Kerameikos | Art & culture, Relaxing
Ermou 150 | Monastiraki
10:00 – 15:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Marilena Salamanou

Everyone has walked on Ermou street as it is the most commercial street of the city.

But how many travellers have discovered Karageorgi Servias and Kolokotroni? Two really interesting parallel streets of Ermou. Bars, restaurants, pastry shops and bakeries are hidden there.

At the beginning of Karageorgi Servias there is Matsoukas store. Candies (I love the one with ouzo),”pastelia” and “chalvadopites” and alcoholic drinks like koniak or colourful liquors can be found there.

Walk straight ahead and you will find the chocolate paradise!

Keep walking and after a few minutes you can find all these small stores that sell buttons, fermouars and other knitting accessories.

Turn right at Aiolou and after a while you will find Kolokotroni -one of my dearest streets all over the city. I love its vibe! If you feel hungry on your left hand there is “Krinos “-a traditional restaurant where an old man cooks for you. I always feel like I’m at home there! Try the stuffed tomatoes with rice!

This walk can end if you turn left at Karitsi street. New places for night life – bars, theaters and galleries are located at Karitsi square .

Lose yourself in this neighborhood – it’s worth it!

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Kolokotroni & Kar.Servias | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing, Shopping, Snacks
Kolokotroni & Karageorgi Servias | Syntagma
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Marilena Salamanou

Manos Kafeneio! Leocharous street. You are at the center of Athens but when you enter this hall it is like you go back to the decade of 50s. And for what reason? This kafeneio(the traditional style for a cafe) is related to Stelios Kazantzidis.

Maybe you have never heard of him before! Kazantzidis used to be the most famous singers in the 50s. Not only in Greece but also in Greek communities outside of Greece. For that reason, when you visit that small, strange place, you can meet people that left Greece to live in Germany who take Kazantzidis’ tapes with them in order not to feel nostalgia for the lives they left behind.

I love its authentic love they have for the singer. You can understand it if you look at the posters on the wall. Nothing else than Kazantzidis.

You can enjoy a glass of ouzo and a beer while listening to… ? Guess!

It is a top secret place!

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Manos kafeneio | Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks
22 Leocharous | Monastiraki
10:00 – 19:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Maria Porfyriadi

Brazilian cuisine at its best! You might need a magnifying glass to find it, as it is buried in a maze of small alleys and pedestrian streets in the eastern part of downtown Athens, but once you’re there (provided you’ve managed to obtain yourself a parking space) all that awaits will definitely compensate your efforts.

Not necessarily a budget dinning destination but if you can confine yourself in a traditional Fesuada (the most typical Brazilian dish, consisting of black beans served with four different kinds of meat, rice, spinach with orange and farofa, served in a ritual process) and a couple of Caipirinias (typical Brazilian cocktail) you wouldn’t need to exceed €30.

Needless to say, salads are a must, though. The one I always go for is the Salad del Caribe. A heavenly combination of lettuce, pear, emmental cheese and mushrooms, all dressed with a magnificent mango sauce that will guarantee to make your mouth water as soon as it reaches your table.

Their desserts wouldn’t be the main reason I’d visit them, yet they have acquired a famed reputation. Milky textures with lots of syrups and coconut flavours… Again; not my cup of tea but apparently having their own extended fun club!

The place is tiny so it would be advisable to reserve a table, especially on Friday evenings, weekends and public holidays. Staff are as welcoming and pleasant as can be!

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Kitrinos Skiouros | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Brazilian) | Per person € 27
Dimitressa 21 | Syntagma | +302107211586
Till 00:30 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Petros Sideris

This is one of my latest most frequented restaurants, serving affordable, delicious traditional Asia Minor-inspired dishes.

A charming ambiance in a single dwelling building made of stone, with a beautiful garden. Customers can be seated either in the garden in warm days, or in their lovely homely-feeling interior.

Everything seems to be very carefully chosen; their food ingredients, the presentation of their dishes, even the waiters’ appearance.

Their cooking is melt-in-your-mouth heaven. They make the best T-bone I’ve ever had. Also, their sofrito (beef cooked with lots of garlic and vinegar) and “bekri meze” (a delicacy made of wild boar) are truly worth trying!

On the whole, a highly recommendable restaurant, offering incredibly satisfying but uncomplicated dishes.

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Bahari | Snacks, Restaurants (Asia Minor)
Athanassiou Diakou 12 | North suburbs | +302108055695
From 12:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Maria Porfyriadi

This nice little cosy cafe-bar with interesting snack selections and home made pastries located on a small terrace between the back yards of office buildings.

Try one of their freshly made tarts; my personal favourites are either the one with the mushrooms or the one with tomato-basil-pine nuts and goat cheese.

Absolutely love their pasta & cheese souffle, as well as their Boheme Salad, a mixture of fresh greens, with blue cheese & a Greek smoked cheese called Metsovone, green apple, walnuts and a balsamic & honey dressing

They also bake different pies every day so it’s always a pleasant surprise.

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Menta | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Greek) | Tarts from € 7.50
Agion Theodoron 10, Kifisia | North suburbs | +302108080173
Daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Maria Porfyriadi

Whether it’s warm or cold in Athens, the seaside is always a choice for the residents of this versatile city.

This spot is located away from the centre, right on the shoreline, at the far end of the peninsula of Vouliagmeni, inside the marina by the same name. Anywhere you look… it’s blue you see!

Day & night, year round… this place soothes your mind at the view of the endless blue. Just visit to take in the experience or even stay either for a beverage, a quick snack or even a full meal which could be rather pricy but totally worth it!

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Moorings | Bars, Music, Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.)
Marina Vouliagmeni | South suburbs | +302109670659
10:00 – often till after midnight

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens

Image by Petros Sideris

A café / bistro right under the Holy Rock of the Acropolis, with a lovely cuisine of simple, earthy tastes.

A big fireplace indoors and coffee tables placed in an amphitheatrical manner… outside.

Have a coffee, a jasmine tea, a glass of warm wine or one of their hand-made pastries; them alone can be more than a satisfying experience with their creamy, chewy fillings!

It’s a great people-watching spot. A calm place to relax and enjoy the conversation with friends in the middle of such a busy area! Unexpectedly peaceful…

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Yasemi | Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks, Restaurants (Bistro)
Mnisikleous str., Plaka | Monastiraki
Daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Athens