Siesta, sun and spritzes.
Here at Fashion Journal, we want to unearth the hidden spots in Australian cities that only the locals know about. There’s no gatekeeping here – this is a breakdown of the best bits of our cities. We want the underrated date spots, favourite restaurants, treasure trove op shops and the bars people will always want to go back to. We also want to sniff out the best spots people find overseas.
This week, 27-year-old Melbourne local Monica Palad takes us through her short stint in Athens, Greece. The fashion marketing and PR professional stayed in Greece’s capital city for two nights between her time in the Greek Islands and Albania. “Athens was never on my bucket list, however, it’s a must,” she says.
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“The best part of visiting Athens was the people and atmosphere. The city is full of people from all parts of the world embracing the warm summer air, eating on the streets and enjoying a glass of wine,” Monica says. “The architecture and streets have a unique blend of ancient history with modern touches that feel nostalgic [and] inspiring.”
Armed with her self-proclaimed “foodie” background, an affinity for Aperol spritz and Up, her trusty digital banking app, Monica’s trip to Athens proved to be an unexpected favourite in her Euro summer adventures. “Up’s travel mode made it so easy to fight the struggles of currency confusion during my travels as it displayed my spending balance in both Australian dollars and Euros.” Below, Monica shares some of her favourite places to visit in Athens.
Eat and drink
Central Hotel
Thea Terrace on top of the Central Athens Hotel offers one-of-a-kind views of ancient Greek monuments and sweeping city views. “It has a gorgeous rooftop overlooking the Acropolis and the best Aperol spritz,” Monica says.
Plaka
Monica recommends you visit “anywhere near Plaka” for food and drink. Her tip? A spot near the stairs will lead you to rooftops with city and Acropolis views. “Plaka is bustling yet people are still calm. You will also hear local musicians playing the bouzouki which adds to its magical setting,” she says. “Plaka is filled with lots of local tavernas so you really can’t go wrong.” Her favourites included Anafiotika and Restaurant Scholarhio.
tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Scholarhio-Athens
The Clumsies
For celebrations, Monica suggests visiting The Clumsies. It’s “a nice yet cosy place with quirky delicious cocktails,” she says. “Cocktail flavours were quite unique, there was a Greek salad one (of course)… It was ranked 47 out of 50 best bars in the world [last year].”
Pastries
When you think of Greece, you might not think of pastries, but Monica asks you to think again. “Greece has renewed my love for pastries,” she says. “My current favourites are Overoll Croissanterie [and] Nancy’s Sweet Home.”
@instagram.com/overoll.croissanterie
Shop
Monastiraki Flea Market
“For authentic handmade crafts and local trinkets head to Monastiraki Flea Market,” Monica suggests. It opens every Sunday and is packed with antiques, souvenirs, secondhand wears and eclectic goods.
Kolonaki
Monica recommends Kolonaki for boutiques. The neighbourhood is at the bottom of Lycabettus Hill, and is known for its designer shopping, cafe culture and picturesque streets. “For modern shopping and if you are looking for global brands, head to Ermou Street,” Monica adds.
“Quick tip – make sure to have a travel-safe debit card such as Up, especially when withdrawing cash (quite a few places are cardless), then you don’t have to worry about spending trillions on transaction and withdrawal fees.”
Date
Athens is a bustling city for independent and trendy wine bars and small plate eateries. Monica’s pick? “Wine is fine – it’s such a cute cosy spot for a date.”
Lsandsia
“For something a little more fancy, I love Lsandsia,” she says. Last year, it was added to the Michelin Guide and for good reason too – the place is known for its innovative use of fresh produce.
R&R
Zoumboulakis Galleries
“Athens is filled with such amazing art and culture. To escape the hustle and bustle of the streets, I would head to one of their art galleries,” Monica says. “My favourite is Zoumboulakis Galleries.”
The perfect day
“I would start the day with a pastry at Overoll Croissanterie, head to Monastiraki Flea Market for a browse, and pick up a gyors at Tylixto for lunch. It is no secret that everyone loves a siesta in the middle of the afternoon in Europe to escape the heat, so I would have a little nap before heading back out onto the streets of Plaka for dinner and a spritz.”
For more Athens recommendations, head here.
