My favorite hometown of Nea Smyrni in Athens has been turning heads recently, as it surprisingly made it onto this article by The Guardian on the 10 best city neighborhoods in Europe (as submitted by readers). It’s been strange seeing the view from my balcony suddenly appearing on various Greek websites celebrating the news!

Anyway. Since Nea Smyrni will probably be more frequented by curious travellers (and other Athenians) from now on, I thought it’d be a great opportunity to add a few extra tips to my arsenal here on Spotted by Locals.

Aplika is a café/bar in an old single-family residence from the ’50s. I first visited it almost 15 years ago, when it was still Putumayo World Café.

Nowadays, it’s as beautiful as ever, and the decision where to sit inside it no less difficult: in the airy, sunny, warm gazebo? In the exterior? On the bed? — yes, here you can have your drink/coffee sitting/lying on a bed! The lighting, the colors of the walls, the wooden and mosaic floors… it’s all a feast for the eyes!

I come here sometimes to work on my laptop, or for a hot chocolate, cocktail or a beer with friends from Nea Smyrni and beyond.

There are also frequent live concerts and art vernissages on the top floor, but I’ve never been around for those.

It’s worth coming here from across the city for, as it’s close to tram stops Megalou Alexandrou and Agias Foteinis.