INDULGING CORNERS
Good taste hunting
RARE ATHENS
Philos
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Forget the tourist maps, ask the locals. Here is a flavour packed note for the foodies. Or just some mouthwatering ideas and grab a bite and have a drink.
The Handlebar, credit: Anastasia Vasilakopoulou
Tromero Paidi, credit: Nicolas Economou
The Handlebar / “Parked” in an alleyway, this little café is a cyclists’ meeting spot. Here the modus vivendi is delicious food, brunch on weekends, interesting beer labels, drinks, super music and friendly prices. @TheHandlebarAthens
Tromero Paidi / One of the first boutique bakeries that launched the new bread trend in Athens. In less than two years it made Papadiamantopoulou Street a landmark that attracts lovers of aromatic bread with sourdough. The two “terrible kids“ behind the business are continuously kneading different breads, puff pastries, buns, tarts, éclairs, cakes and buttery croissants, all inside the workshop, inspired by the French art of baking and respectful of the ingredients. @tromeropaidi
Kafeneio Louis / A quaint, small, corner neo-café, with a hearty outlook and a lively young atmosphere. Honest and interesting snacking, with well-cooked snacks and fine tsipouro spirits. You’ll be lucky, especially on sunny weekends, if you can find a table. +30 21 0347 6926
Coupepe / Considered by many as the best pizza in town. It’s definitely one of the first places in Greece that popularised authentic thin crust Italian pizza. Using fresh, quality ingredients, handmade dough and local products, Coupepe attracts people from all over Athens, who go up to remote Penteli, just to try the famous pizza. coupepe.gr
Philos
The Handlebar, credit: Anastasia Vasilakopoulou
Madame Fraise
Mple Souvlakia
MPLE SOUVLAKIA
INDUSTRIAL SPACE, NEON LIGHTING, FUNKY TOUCHES, A STRONG DOSE OF "GREEN ETHICS" WITH PLASTIC AS AN ELEMENT BEING ABSENT: THE NEW SOUVLAKI RESTAURANT IN NEA SMYRNI MAKES A DIFFERENCE. ITS INSPIRATION IS SAKIS VENETIS, EXECUTIVE CHEF OF THE ELECTRA METROPOLIS HOTEL, BUT WITH AN UNDENIABLE LOVE FOR GREEK STREET FOOD. SAKIS ALSO PLAYS WITH HANDMADE CHICKEN SOUTZOUKAKI, KERKINI BUFFALO BURGER AND ROOSTER SAUSAGE. DON'T LEAVE BEFORE YOU TRY VEGAN CELERIAC GYROS WITH SEASONAL VEGETABLES AND MARINATED EDIBLE ROOTS. @MPLESOUVLAKIA
Philos / The mansion was inhabited in 1937 by Euripides Koutlidis, a businessman and art collector. Philos is now a cluster of several rooms on three floors, which are connected by an internal wooden staircase leading to a hidden courtyard on the roof. The immediate goal is to gradually open up all the rooms and serve more “friends”. The first private room on the mezzanine floor of the building has already been opened, where a group of 6 people can enjoy the space privately. @philos.athens
Madame Fraise-Noble Pastry / Greece’s first ghost pastry shop, with no window, no sign and no physical store, but with a passion for sweets. Two young pastry chefs, Eugenios Vardakastanis and Yannis Kikiras, play a creative… hide-and-seek with the skilled making of pastry and develop techniques and flavours with a focus on originality. Although everyone worships the panettone, the Amande cake is also worth its calories. @madamefraise
Lacandona / Lacandona is a jungle in the Chiapas province of southern Mexico, in the heart of Zapatistas territory. The eponymous cooperative grocery-café is located on Ipitou Street in Plaka and supports small producers and cooperatives from Greece and around the world, while promoting the idea of solidarity trade, as well as respect and protection of the environment by adopting mild and organic farming methods. Try the coffee from autonomous “Zapatista” communities in Mexico. lacandona.gr
Tromero Paidi, credit: Nicolas Economou
Tromero Paidi, credit: Nicolas Economou
Landandona
