An important day on the Kolonaki calendar is when Vangelis and his gang of merry whiskey whisperers throw open the door of Jazz in Jazz. This year the magical day was 1st of September and the more astute Lycabettus locals found the route of their evening stroll altered accordingly. In this confusing modern era when we are all ...
Read moreThe global Glastonbury of the amber liquid, Oktoberfest, returns to Athens this week for four days of beer swilling, sausage chomping and foot stomping fun. The association is well timed as Greece’s beer scene is buzzing at the moment with breweries and taprooms making and serving delicious beers from across the taste spectrum...
Read moreWith discerning Athenian restaurateurs honing in on the perks that come with dining at the counter, many spots are now letting solo diners and first daters have a ringside view of their open-plan kitchens, making the drama more immersive. Tom Hall predicts that Athens' counter culture scene is here to stay! There are many imp...
Read moreTom Hall celebrates the resurrection of rosé wines from gimmicky to respectable and recommends a bit of island-hopping when it comes to stocking up on your Greek pinks. I attended a fascinating talk recently titled The Age of Average. The argument of the talk was that, contrary to the seemingly endless options before us, moder...
Read moreA Real Cream come True: In hipsteria lane, on Archelaou, Vicky and Igor’s cool little, ice-cream shop keeps it real. They bring their gelato expertise – along with lightness and joy to Maraboo. You know they're on to something by the steady stream of regulars that throng to it, even in the winter! The best antidote to sweltering weather, Marabo...
Read moreThe electrifying This is Athens-City Festival kicks off on May 1 and keeps the party going all the way until June 2. This isn't just an event; it's a movement. A gathering of like-minded souls coming together to celebrate diversity and the rich tapestry of our Athenian community. Whether you're a local or just visiting, the This is Athens C...
Read moreCelebrated chefs Jerome Serres and Yiannis Baxevanis come together at Mykonos Theoxenia's Apanemi restaurant to add a little bit of shine to the island's dining scene. It is a scientific fact that magnums make meals more fun, so I was primed for a good experience when I arrived at the Mykon...
Read morePangrati has now firmly established itself as the destination for creative chefs, and Adam Kontovas' culinary lab Ex Machina on Empedokleous street is a celebration of fusion food done right. Audacious cuisine, great value-for-money, and attentive service. Chef Adam Kontovas demonstrates his culinary prowess combining unlikely...
Read moreAthens Insider's wine connoisseur Tom Hall continues in his quest to explore less-known Greek grape varieties and culls three wines that should take you beyond your ‘assyrtiko’ comfort zone. I understand of course that the pursuit of novelty is a fool’s quest. Apart from anything else newness is no guarantee of quality and oft...
Read moreNestled in the vibrant heart of Athens, in a Stadiou arcade (stoa), Wild Poppies emerges as a beacon of pulsating musical delight, drawing both locals and travellers alike. Its vivdly-hued, inviting ambiance, bathed in blood reds and verdant greens, sets the scene for an exquisite pan-Asian dining experience. [gallery ids="121...
Read moreIf you’re new to Greece you might be confused by the sight of locals everywhere tucking into plates of “bakaliaros skordalia” – fried salty cod with garlic sauce made of potato and olive oil – on Greek Independence Day, March 25. Aren’t they supposed to be smack in the middle of the Greek Orthodox Lenten period where eating an...
Read moreNikos Karathanos reclaims his exalted place in the Athenian culinary pecking order with inventive comfort food at Ateno, a restaurant-deli housed in a stunning 19th century building in the old commercial district. Ateno feeds our rekindled love for childhood favorites and homey foods with sophisticated “newstalgia” and transports us to o...
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