East Meets Feast: Chef Margarita Solovyeva Reimagines Silk Road Flavours at Insider Terrace
Ahead of her Silk Road-inspired supper club with the Athens Insider Collective on May 22 and 23, Chef Margarita Solovyeva takes us on a tour of her eclectic Exarcheia neighborhood, offering a taste of Central Asia through her rich culinary lens.
What do you do?
Sometimes I ask myself—what don’t I do?
My work is a colorful mix: I’m a private chef, a sole chef on a yacht, and I host supper clubs where I introduce people to the rich flavours of Kazakh and Georgian cuisines, along with other dishes from across Central Asia, including one coming up soon at Insider Terrace!
What do you see from your balcony?
I’m incredibly lucky to have a full view of Mount Lycabettus. It actually reminds me a bit of Montjuïc in Barcelona, where I lived from my teenage years onward. It gives me that “homey” feeling—with a touch of home.
Your take on the Athenian food scene…
I find it super curious and exciting—there’s so much happening! The scene is growing fast and fusing all kinds of influences. New places are popping up constantly. But deep down, I’m still a taverna girl. And honestly, discovering a good souvlaki spot that serves a solid Armenian soutzouk just makes my day.
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- Exarcheia: Images by Nikos Karanikolas
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- Exarcheia
About your neighbourhood (Exarcheia):
Your favourite thing about it. And your worst thing about it.
Exarcheia is raw, real, and full of contradictions. I love how it has a pulse of its own—gritty, political, artistic. I am just worried that gentrification is slowly sanding down the edges that make Exarcheia what it is. I just hope that between the residents, the artists, and everyone who truly loves this place, we’ll manage to keep its unique spirit alive.
Can you describe a quintessentially Athenian sight, sound and smell?
The sudden loud shouts of vendors at the laiki (street market), mixed with the smoky smell of chicken kalamaki grilling nearby—that’s Athens in a nutshell.
Your favourite picks: Shops in your local hood you’d recommend:
- Yannis Butcher (Kallidromiou): Great selection and top quality meats.
- ΡΩΣΙΚΟΝ: Tiny place for freshly baked pirozhki—comfort Eastern European food at its best.
- Strange Attractor (Valtetsiou): Vintage books and vinyls, selected by the owner. Not everything is up for sale. That depends on the owner’s mood – and what he’s willing to part with – making the shopping experience here all the more personal and fun!
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- Strange Attractor for vinyls and nostalgia
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- O Yiannis Kreopoleio for the best meat cuts
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- Rosikon for authentic piroski
Your fave weekend activity:
Mediterrenean life is all about simple pleasures. Spending the day in nature—swimming at Limanakia beach or hiking around Hymettus, Kesariani, or Vyronas park. Later, checking out a gallery opening, and ending with wine at a new cozy bar like Lou.
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- Eleonas Flea
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- Taverna Ton Filon
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- Kulinaristan in Plateia Amerikis
Athens’ best kept secret?
I’m not sure if there are any secrets left in Athens, but I love wandering around Eleonas. It’s full of unexpected vintage treasures—like ’70s table décor—and places like Taverna Ton Filon or the quirky Kulinaristan that still feel like hidden gems.
