ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL

ATHENS RIVIERA

EXCEPTIONAL LIFESTYLE

the city and the sea

A comfortable escape from the ordinary; that’s your front-row ticket to the stunning beauty of the Aegean Sea.

Escape

Word of Mouth

Influence

Architecture

OWNER

ELSE AGENCY – SOPHISTICATED MEDIA LAB www.elseagency.gr

PUBLISHER – EDITOR IN CHIEF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Lia Galanou MANAGING EDITOR

Elsa Soimiri esoimiri@elseagency.gr SENIOR EDITOR

Vivian Vourtsa vivian@elseagency.gr

Despoina Sampson

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Patricia Garcia-Gomez Dimitris Antonopoulos T.C. Laurie Marina Benekou Nikoleta Dimitriou Sophia McConnell

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Christos Drazos, Tryfon Georgopoulos, George Bolbasis, Apostolis Koukousas

IMAGES Getty Images/Ideal Image, Shutterstock

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ISSN: 2944-960X

Follow us to a new journey into the Legendary Athenian Riviera

The athens riviera. Greece’s hidden gem. A mosaic of eras, from the past to the present and the future.

I remember myself as a child walking through the backstreets of Piraeus on my way to the reput ed Ionideios Model High School of Piraeus, still standing proud today in Sotiros Dios 17, diago nally across from the iconic Municipal Theatre of Piraeus. Going to my afternoon lessons at the Académie Française, a gorgeous neoclassical building by the water in Pasalimani. Looking for excuses to stroll along the promenade at Zea Marina. Fond memories of magical moments that fill me with joy. And here I am again, all these years later, in this place that has retained its individuality despite being the largest port in Greece and the East ern Mediterranean. A place that stands tall, rooted in history and au thenticity as it welcomes the future. Piraeus. The starting point of the Athens Riviera, a breathtaking filigreed coast dotted with a medley of marinas, fishing boats, tavernas, boutiques, entertainment venues and parks that stretches all the way to the port of Lavrio. A marvellous tapestry of history and heritage, vibrant culture, fantastic dining, and innate creative essence.

From the mid-20th century on, artists, celebrities, statesmen and busi ness magnates from around the world left their mark on the Athens Riviera with an exhilarating era of legendary parties and cultural hap penings. Today, that energy is returning to these shores, with numerous high-profile development and infrastructure projects breathing new life into the area. The past and the future are coming together, and a beguiling coastal paradise is emerging—bold, renewed, extraordinary. And just a breath away from the vibrant and cosmopolitan Athens. Irresistibly combining island flair and city chic, the Athens Riviera is an alluring coastal journey that begins at the busy Port of Piraeus, the beating heart of Greek shipping, and ends in the charming seaside

town of Lavrio, with so much to discover along the way: Faliro and Alimos, once resort destinations for wealthy Athenians, with their gorgeous promenades, waterfront recreation and Flisvos Marina. The Ellinikon, a world-class redevelopment project set to take coastal living to new heights with a mix of luxury housing, shopping and recreation set alongside Europe’s largest seafront park. Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, with their glamorous airs, luxurious hotels and boutiques and stunning swimming spots. Farther south, Lagonisi and Anavyssos, a stretch of coast dotted with countless little bays and beaches. Then

Cape Sounio, where the Temple of Poseidon towers magnificent at op the headland, shrouded in myth and history, and commanding breathtaking sunset views over the Saronic Gulf. And from there to Lavrio, famed in antiquity for its silver mines and beloved today for its relaxed atmosphere and typically Greek cafes and tavernas.

Featuring insights, interviews and bespoke cover artwork for its in augural issue by my longtime friend and acclaimed conceptual artist Caroline Rovithi, Athens Riviera Journal is our effort to showcase this captivating side of Athens—unknown to most, almost inconceivable to some, and alluring to all. A delightful beachfront destination that delivers breezy coastal glamour and Greek island lifestyle just a stone’s throw from the heart of the city, inviting travellers, whether leisure or business, and locals to explore it and discover it anew.

Let us take you on a journey into this new dawn of the Athenian Riviera, a world of sun-kissed elegance, promise and exceptional coastal living.

The story is just beginning…

Elsa Soimiri Publisher-Editor in Chief

The Jewel of Athenian Riviera

ATHENS COMBINES

THE URBAN ELEMENT WITH AN IMMEDIATE ESCAPE TO THE SEA, WHERE ONE CAN FIND ATHENIAN RIVIERA.

Paraphrasing the verse of the famous Greek poet Odysseas Elytis, who has been awarded the Nobel in Literature, I have to say, that I have never seen such a beautiful sea, such a blue sky and a such a magnificent, calming scenery. Greece’s history is a long one. It is a part of what we call European history. Ideas that define the European philosophy and politics, science and art, the way we think, the way we live, all go back to Greece. The words democracy, history, ethos and many others that one can understand in every language, derive from the ancient Greek. To make a decision is a rather hard process, in all aspects of life. Especially when it comes to settling on the perfect holiday destination. But the question “Why should I visit Athens?” has one easy answer: To see the place, where it all started.

Athens is a walking museum. It’s so much more than the sun and the good weather that Greece is famous for. In a few words, it’s just so much more. From the Parthenon to Zeus’ temple, from the historic city center to Sounio, Athens is a city with much to offer. It combines the urban element with an immediate escape to the sea, where one can find Athenian Riviera.

A UNIQUE JEWEL

Athens’ Riviera is a unique coastal zone of 70 km from Faliro to Sounio on the Aegean Sea with a new “city within a city”, which is Ellinikon, Greece’s most emblematic project and one of the largest projects of urban development in Europe. The 8-billion-euro investment will transform the 6,200,000 sqm of Athens’ former international airport into a mega complex that will include hotels and skyscrapers, casino, villas, a 400-berth marina, a pristine new beach, the first high-rise residential tower in Greece, office towers, commercial hub and above all the 2,000,000 sqm Ellinikon Park, which will be the largest coastal park in Europe. Through completion, the project is expected to contribute 2.5% to Greece’s GDP and create more than 75,000 jobs.

Our regeneration plan for Athens’ Riviera as a whole is based on four axes: nature, culture, sports and entertainment that will offer quality of life for everyone. We plan the construction of a 22km seaside pedestrian zone and a bike path that will connect the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Faliro with Vouliagmeni. Furthermore, the 48km coastal area stretching from Vouliagmeni to Sounion will also be revamped in order to provide residents and visitors with access to Attica’s coastal zone. An immaculate coastal zone with its beautiful sandy beaches, luxury hotels, amazing restaurants and numerous shops. The project is of great significance because it is fully integrated with Athens and the historical Attica region. Greece is moving forward, is moving green, is moving fast. The Athenian Riviera ensures the most memorable summers of our lives.

ADONIS GEORGIADIS

of Development and Investments

“I have never seen a homeland stranger and more beautiful.”

COSMOS, THESSALONIKI

WORD OF MOUTH

LEADING THE WAY

Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis has served as Governor of Central Greece

POWERED BY PASSION

Mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis discusses his thoughts on what makes

Athens special, challenges he has faced and the main priorities he has set on the city’s success.

2014

Mayor of Karpenissi, from

2014.

INTERVIEW

Elsa Soimiri

ATHENS’ HISTORIC MARKET

n an exclusive interview for the first edition of Athens Riviera Journal the “constant mayor” of Athens outlined his vision for the city that “wants to live its life, which is vital and growing, takes inspiration from the past and belongs unquestionably to the future.”

As Athens moves forward and becomes a stunning tourism destination with a modern seaside area, are you optimistic for the future?

Athens is back. After a decade moving from crisis to crisis, we are moving forward with confidence and dy namism. Athens has returned as a global destination, and we have established a reputation as a hotbed for creative culture and innovation. The city is coming back to life in an exciting way, and as proof I can point the 50,000 people and more who attended

performances and joined conversations about the city during the

This is Athens City Festival in May. Plus, we are seeing visitor traf fic hitting new records for the first time since 2019. Undoubtedly, this is the moment for Athens, and we are extremely proud to have a role in this great success story.

What wellbeing and livability objectives is the City of Athens fo cused on at the moment?

We are moving quickly to upgrade all our services as we have no time to lose. We are creating and upgrading parks and public spaces, clean ing graffiti and fixing sidewalks. This summer, we are completing a significant redevelopment project on Syntagma Square, and we are moving forward to the redevelopment of Panepistimiou. As far as our social policy concerns, during the pandemic we created an umbrella of protection for all Athenians regardless of whether they

are residents or visitors who will stay for only a few days. When we invest in the quality of life of our residents, we are also investing in Athens as a destination for visitors. We need to change our way of thinking and understand our city holistically. We do not want a com petition between tourism and the local economy; instead we need to treat our destination and our city as one place. In fact, we are already seeing the benefits of this approach in a burst of construction activ ity throughout the city that will make Athens more livable both for visitors and for locals.

For Athens, how big a concern is climate change as regards the health of citizens, for example, in relation to air quality?

Climate change is a concern for every city in the world, not only Athens. Almost every week I am talking with other mayors about the challenges that we face, many of which are the same on every continent. Together we are exploring ways to use our strengths as municipal authorities and we study the best practices to get the job done – to lower emissions and protect the health of our residents. Athens is leading the way on issues like urban heat. We were the first city in Europe to appoint a Chief Heat Officer, and we are proud that she has already been tapped as a global leader on the issue who will utilize lessons learned from Athens. For example, this year, we implemented a Heat Alert system that helps residents and visitors to be informed about hot weather, so that they can understand the risks of changing weather conditions in order to stay safe. Though Athens has always issues with traffic congestion, do you think that Athenians are prepared for the new greener era of their city? What are Mayor’s of Athens priorities on this area?

The discussion about traffic and congested streets started decades ago, and many of the solutions we are applying today have also been on the table for decades. The City of Athens is prepared to lead this discussion. In fact, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council has rated us as excellent for the work that is already being done to make Athens a sustainable tourism destination. That work encompasses green projects like parks and trees, but it’s also about equitable devel opment and making sure that our infrastructure and public spaces are accessible to everyone. It’s our priority to be talking about the whole City of Athens, all our 129 neighborhoods.

The Athens Riviera is returning to a world-renowned beachfront destination putting the Greek capital on the map, for the right reasons. How are you involved in all that?

Through our international brand This is Athens we are inviting vis itors to see a city that wants to live its life, which is vital and growing, takes inspiration from the past and belongs unquestionably to the future. The Athens Riviera is part of that strategy to promote the city as a visitor destination that has everything to offer regarding quality of life, and keeps moving forward.

Three times the size of Monaco, Europe’s largest urban regeneration project of the Ellinikon is Greece’s most significant private investment in a decade. Do you see the potential for more invest ment here after the plans regarding Athens Riviera?

The old airport at Ellinikon has remained an open wound for decades, and finally we are going to start the healing process. We desperately need large new parks to serve as our urban lungs, but we don’t have space to create them in the city center. Now we have the opportunity to create green parks in a few spaces that are not densely built, both at Ellinikon as well as at Votanikos where we will soon start creat ing a new athletics complex that will be surrounded by a large park.

Finally, these spaces will close the divide between Athens and the Western Suburbs, as well as Athens and the Riviera. We can connect all the pieces of the region together so that all Athenians will have access to a world class waterfront as well as cultural performances and museums that are spread throughout the city.

Athens Riviera would soon have what it takes to emerge as an in ternational hub of innovation, wellbeing, and culture, as well as one of tourism and commerce. Given this incredible development, which is the biggest challenge for the city of Athens?

We have spent a decade facing challenges. Today our goal is to stop losing time. We have a lot of catching up to do, but little by little the city is changing. The pandemic reinforced the need to move swiftly, and we need to be sure that we are utilizing our investments smart ly. We need to mark our achievements and keep moving forward. Let’s say a friend of yours was visiting Athens but only for 24 hours. What three things would you recommend, beyond the must-see attractions?

First, I should say that I want my friends to visit longer than 24 hours, and the same goes for all our visitors. Athens would be a good candidate to lead the slow tourism movement because so much of our quality of life is about taking time. We could choose one or two of our incredible museums to check out the latest exhibition. We could go to a great performance at a theater or an open-air cinema and spend the evening under the stars. Or, if we’re lucky, we could pass the whole afternoon with friends slowly drinking a coffee and eating some mezedes, until suddenly it’s evening and we find our selves at dinner under the Acropolis. Having in mind that now the majority of human population lives in cities, the importance of mayors’ roles is bigger than ever. In your opinion, how can more young generation leaders be attracted to engage more in local politics?

There are already many people engaged in local politics at all age levels, especially young people, and we are really grateful for their commitment. The key thing is to reverse the brain drain of the last ten years. We need to compete to retain and attract talent in the same way that we compete for visitors, and we can do that by investing in quality of life. That starts a cycle in which people will stay in Athens, invest in Athens, and engage with Athens. When residents see some thing nice happening on their street and like our efforts to repave sidewalks or make schools accessible, they become interested in the work and they may become inspired to stay in the community. 

ATHENS RIVIERA

"THE ATHENS RIVIERA IS PART OF OUR STRATEGY TO PROMOTE THE CITY AS A VISITOR DESTINATION THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO OFFER REGARDING QUALITY OF LIFE, AND KEEPS MOVING FORWARD."

Kostas Bakoyannis visiting the emblematic Varvakeios, the Athens Central

the shelters

BREATHTAKING

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL word of mouth

Visiting Athens in a flash? Here are some of the best ways to ex perience the capital of Greece this summer.

wander the streets of monastiraki and plaka Head straight to the very heart of the city. Much of the action is right behind the Monastiraki metro station. Expect live music and dancing in the streets in the afternoons. Every day, Monastiraki is a market area full of small shops selling antiques, art and records. Cross Ermou Street to find the picturesque Psiri, a neighbourhood full of cafeterias, bars and tavernas. For a dose of tranquillity, head to Plaka, on the other side. In its narrow cobblestone streets stand beautiful listed buildings, and there are endless alleyways to explore.

discover the acropolis and athens from above A favourite Acropolis spot is right next to flag, on the northeast corner, with views of Athens stretching out below. One can see the ceramic tiled roofs of the houses in the Plaka area, Hadrian’s Arch and the giant Temple of Olympian Zeus – as well as Zappeion, the National Garden and the First Cemetery of Athens. Make sure you take in this bird’s eye view of the historic Greek capital and marvel at all the monuments you can see from this spot. Is it too hot to visit the Acropolis? In Athens, that can certainly happen… So just head to the best spots to see it from afar. No matter where you are in Plaka, you are no more than a short walk away, and you can play hide and seek with this wonder of the ancient world behind the buildings. Alternatively, head to Philopappos Hill to enjoy stunning sunset views of both Athens and Piraeus. Once you’re there, you’ll watch the sun dive into the sea in an explosion of warm or ange, pink and red, and you’ll also get a chance to visit the 9th century Byzantine chapel of St Demetrios Loumbardiaris. Keep in mind that a number of great rooftop bars can be found all over the city – and they are great for watching the sunset too!

the past and the present of art

The iconic Acropolis Museum remains a captivating journey through time. Conceived as a living, breathing museum, not only does it house some of the most impressive finds from Ancient Athens and Greece but it interacts with its surroundings, inviting visitors to engage, experience and feel. The views of the Acropolis are breathtaking, while you’ll be enjoying glimpses into the excavations that unearthed these treasures through glass floors.

Located just behind Syntagma and the National Garden, the Museum of Cycladic Art is dedicated to the diverse, extraordinary ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus. Providing a different look into Greek history, its exhibits go all the way to the 3rd millennium BC. In addition to the remarkable permanent collection, this year the museum invites Amer ican artist Brice Marden to present his work in dialogue with selected antiquities from the Museum’s permanent collections. The exhibition

“Brice Marden and Greek Antiquity” will be held at the Stathatos Man sion and will run until August 29, 2022.

book a ticket for the athens festival

Greece’s foremost cultural festival and one of the oldest performing arts festivals in Europe (since 1955), the annual Athens Festival presents nu merous theatre, dance and music artists acclaimed in Greece and world wide, attracting large audiences from around the world. The Festival is held from June to August. The programme at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, also known as the Herodeon, stands out for its high quality and wide range. The Festival’s main performance venue stands right at the foot of the Acropolis. Throughout the years, it has welcomed some of the greatest stars in the world, including the likes of Luciano Pavarot ti, Frank Sinatra, Nana Mouskouri, Liza Minnelli and Maria Callas, to name just a few. This year, the Greek National Opera presents one of the best loved operas of all time, Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens Epidaurus Festival.

The work was first presented in Greece in 1942 by the GNO, with Ma ria Callas in the title role. Performing the lead roles are the internation ally acclaimed Greek and international soloists Kristīne Opolais, Cellia Costea, Ramón Vargas, Giorgio Berrugi, Dimitri Platanias, and Tassis Christoyannis. (Lead Donor of the GNO Stavros Niarchos Foundation).

a summer

the

of the Acropolis Museum’s restaurant with night views of the Acropolis, under the light of the Full Moon.

Head to Philopappos Hill to watch the sun dive into the sea in an explosion of warm orange, pink and red.

The Book Castle of the National Library of Greece (above). The Greek National Opera’s 2022 season will be brought to a close by one of the best loved operas of all time, Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, presented at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens Epidaurus Festival (below).

The

visit the stavros niarchos foundation cultural centre

If you are looking for proof that Greece is still very much a hub for arts, culture and innovation in Europe, give this place a visit. Designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, the SNFCC houses both the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera. But there’s also the 210,000 m2 Stavros Niarchos Park, a modern landscape architecture project that has been designed with sustainability and nature in mind. It is a welcoming open space of typical Mediterranean charac ter. The guided tour will let you in on this park’s secrets and wonders – keep in mind that it will take you up and down some steps, too. At the very end of the walk, you’ll be able to enjoy a panoramic view of the Bay of Phaliron and the city of Athens including the Parthenon and Lycabettus Hill.

The SNFCC is a public space, where everyone has free access and can participate in a multitude of cultural, educational, athletic, environmental and recreational activities and events.

ATHENS RIVIERA

MANAGING BRAND GREECE

Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL word of mouth

ATHENIAN DREAM

T

his year, Greece kicked off its tourism season early to soar ing demand from holidaymakers from around the world. As arrivals and revenue figures keep growing, the country is more determined than ever to showcase the immense variety and diversity of its landscapes, experiences and destinations—not least the capital and its marvellous seafront.

Looking at the data so far, how do things stand right now for tourism and how do you see the year evolving compared with the remarkable 2019?

In 2021, total tourism revenue was €10.6 billion, up from just €4.6 billion in 2020, which was the worst year of the pandemic. Achieving such revenue under the worst conditions in the history of tourism was quite an accomplishment, the result of a considerable collective effort led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Tellingly, last year we saw a 30% increase in per capita spending of visitors compared to 2019. We’re hoping for a similar increase this year, and based on Q1 of 2022, it seems the numbers are there. Most important for us now is to focus on revenues because that’s what generates income for local communities, which is what we want. The shift to high quality services and the increasing focus on sustainability are important factors in the effort to achieve growth not just in arrivals but also in revenues. 2022 is off to a good start, and we are working hard, in partnership with all tourism bodies and stakeholders, to ensure that this year is even better than the last—and I believe that we’ll succeed.

What makes Greece so uniquely appealing?

I think it’s our authenticity and distinctive character that charms visitors, and it is this unique allure that we set out to showcase with the GNTO’s latest campaign, You will want to stay forever It stars Otto, an Austrian man who visited our coun try one summer, fell in love with the magical landscapes, Greek way of life and authentic people, and decided to stay here forever. There’s just something about Greece, a uniqueness that makes it one of the strongest and most recognisable tourism brands in the world. And this uniqueness flows through everything: its nature, its history and architecture, its gastronomy, and its people. At the same time, what makes Greece so extraordinary is its diversity and variety of landscapes, the multitude of experiences that visitors can enjoy here and of course the warm hospitality, or as we call it in Greece: philoxenia—the virtue of hospitableness that is after all deeply rooted in Ancient Greece. Because when it comes down to it, All you want is Greece!

Athens is enjoying growing popularity as a must-do city break destination. What are some of your favourite spots that visitors absolutely shouldn’t miss?

Athens, Attica is a microcosm of Greece. The region’s natural landscape has it all, from mountains to beaches, and the city itself is a vibrant European capital. The juxtaposition of ancient monuments and modern landmarks is breathtaking. You can really find and do anything here. Beyond the main sights, I would recommend taking a culinary walk through downtown Athens and the central market, explor ing the mountains that surround the city, and wandering around the neighbour hoods of Piraeus and Kastella. But also a day cruise to the islands of the Saronic Gulf. While it may not be well known to visitors yet, Athens is truly a city by the sea, and I strive to highlight this interconnectedness through our work. Lastly, I would recommend visiting some of the city’s exceptional modern architectural landmarks and cultural attractions—such as the National Art Gallery, the Muse um of Contemporary Art and the cultural centres of the Niarchos and Onassis Foundations—because Athens is also the epicentre of contemporary Greek culture.

In terms of promoting the Athens Riviera, what are your priority markets?

The Athens Riviera is a fantastic, one-of-a-kind destination: 70 km of coastline in South Attica, stretching from the port of Piraeus to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio. It is one of Attica’s key assets and attracts investors, tourists, lead ing dining and hospitality brands, digital nomads, and people from around the world. The Ellinikon regeneration project will transform the Athens coastline forever and upgrade the entire area. Establishing the coast as an attractive tourism destination is a priority for the GNTO, and that’s why our Greekend city break campaign clearly showcases the allure of the capital’s seafront. We also support a range of key marine tourism happenings and other special events taking place in the area, and we are working closely with local government—the Region of Attica and the Municipality of Athens—to promote various kinds of city tourism. We have a lot to do still on that front, but I believe that we can effectively showcase Attica’s many extraordinary corners.

Which parts of Athens do you draw energy and inspiration from for a busy day at GNTO HQ?

The city centre is the heart of the energy that Athens exudes. I wander through the area often and see the emotion of visitors, who this year especially have arrived in droves. And when we see that our visitors are happy, we too feel satisfied with a job well done. Another area that’s really special to me is Piraeus, which has all the charm of a port city but is also developing rapidly, with important infrastructure and regeneration projects including the new tram and the renovation of Mikrolimano. To me, these two areas of Athens feel reenergising and inspiring. What’s your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?

When Prime Minister Mitsotakis asked me to head up the GNTO, it was a great honour and responsibility. I grew up in one of the country’s most popular tour ism destinations, Chania, and I have first-hand experience of the development of Greek tourism in that area from the 1980s to today—development that essential ly followed the country’s upward growth trajectory. I’m glad that I was given the opportunity to serve in this role for the past three or so years, even though, due to the pandemic, we experienced the worst crisis in the history of Greek tourism. There was a lesson there: We Greeks can achieve anything when we are united! 

"ESTABLISHING THE COAST AS AN ATTRACTIVE TOURISM DESTINATION IS A PRIORITY FOR THE GNTO, AND THAT’S WHY OUR GREEKEND CITY BREAK CAMPAIGN CLEARLY SHOWCASES THE ALLURE OF THE CAPITAL’S SEAFRONT."

THE ELLINIKON

THE ANATOMY OF THE MEGA PROJECT THAT WILL TRANSFORM ATHENS RIVIERA.

As we all impatiently wait for the grand unveiling of the Ellinikon, the project has already made its debut with the stunning Ellinikon Experience Park, a 70,000 sq.m. area including a spectacular interactive fountain, an outdoor fitness area, a modern playground and a Zen garden. It welcomes thousands of visitors every day to enjoy unique experiences close to nature. An outstanding first taste of the Ellinikon, the Experience Park has already impressed the public and created high expectations for the 6,200,000 sq.m. site we used to know as the former Athens international airport and the adjacent coastal front. The innovative and meticulous to the slightest detail plan of the world-re nowned firm Foster + Partners aims at highlighting the values of the unique location and the extraordinary size of the project. Three times larger than Monaco, the immense Ellinikon will set new standards for the future of Mediterranean coastal development regarding sustainable living, iconic placemaking, smart infrastructure and new business po tential spanning from tourism to innovative commercial properties. A short drive from central Athens, the Piraeus Port and the Athens Inter national Airport, it has been designed to exceed every futuristic dream placing Athenian Riviera on the map of the most successfully evolved cities. The architectural office has envisioned a unique ecosystem com prising several distinct communities, each with its own character. The

southern edge of The Ellinikon site covers more than 3.5 km of coastline upgraded and enhanced for high-rise living and public enjoyment, while the leading role is about to be undertaken by the 2,000,000 sq.m. Park, one of the largest coastal public parks in the world and a showcase for Greek heritage and biodiversity.

All buildings will meet the highest sustainability standards, where cli mate-positive design will reduce energy use, increase energy efficiency and minimize carbon emissions throughout the project. It will also in clude a citizen-centred approach as the districts will be connected with walkable, bikeable pathways and electric vehicle facilities will be available throughout the development.

The multi-dimensional development on the Athens Riviera stands as the Lamda Development’s flagship project forming a unique opportunity for investors, businesses and property owners. The Ellinikon will also in tegrate the most advanced ‘smart city’ technologies delivering improved safety, more efficiency and a better quality of life. Set in the heart of an established commercial market and blessed with the captivating ambiance of the Athens Riviera, this mega project is destined to become a magnet of international travelers and at the same time a contemporary heaven on earth with premium services. “Success is a project that’s always under construction”, said Pat Summitt and we paraphrase that “Success is a project that’s always under development”, as it functions like a living entity. 

The architectural office has envisioned a unique ecosystem comprising several distinct communities, each with its own character.

LEAD WITH CARE AT FOUR SEASONS ASTIR PALACE HOTEL ATHENS

Health and safety remain the first priority here. To offer a safe environment for guests and employees, Four Seasons properties across the globe are implementing Lead With Care, a full-scale health and safety enhancement designed in collaboration with leading experts.

MATCH POINT

WORLD-PRO COLLABORATION BRINGS

ELITE TENNIS COACHING TO THE ATHENS RIVIERA.

What fundamentally unites the worlds of luxury hospitality and elite tennis? Great service. It’s this belief that has prompted Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens to partner with Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis to offer world class tennis coaching, fitness retreats, tennis clinics, boot camps, wellness events and more – all within the sophisticated surrounds of a revived modernist landmark hideaway, just 30-minutes outside the historic capital. With its three 23.77m (78ft) floodlit hard-surface tennis courts – in

cluding seating for up to 250 spectators – and spectacular beachfront setting, the elegant facilities are perfectly placed to host the exclusive tennis coaching company.

“Precision and professionalism are cornerstones of both high-end hos pitality and first-class tennis,” explains founder of Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis and former world no. 8, Janko Tipsarevic. “I’ve personally tai lored the unique program to inspire every guest to enjoy their time on the court. To be able to offer that experience alongside world-renowned Four Seasons care is, to me, a grand slam.”

Hotel facilities hit straight down the line with tennis equipment available for rental and a Tennis Club Lounge, refreshment area and shop alongside the spacious changing rooms and lockers. Guests receive every advantage through training with Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis, including wellness and nutrition support, sports massages at the Hotel’s Hippocrates-inspired Spa, and uplifting gym sessions to elevate their game. With tennis as much a mental game as a physical one, being in the com pany of professional coaches and guides helps guests improve on every level. “Our coaching team is the main strength of the company,” Janko continues, “and upholds a goal of making every player, regardless of age and level, better.” Throw in a backdrop of a 30-hectare (75-acre) pineclad sanctuary with three private beaches and coves, and the experience becomes much more than hitting the perfect shot. Other onsite activities led by Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis will include tennis socials and an annual exhibition of either former or active players

from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) or Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Giving guests and local Athenians the opportunity to train year-round, tennis and boot camp activities will continue to run through the October to April off-season.

Commenting on the new partnership, the Hotel’s Senior General Man ager, Philippe Roux-Dessarps said: “Since opening we’ve focused on delivering the epitome of contemporary elegance and service excellence to international visitors and Greeks. We’re delighted to now be able to extend those elements onto the tennis court and very much appreciate the dedication and passion of the Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis team.” The tennis programme is the latest in a long line of wellness and fit ness-focused offerings at the Hotel, which also includes an expansive spa sanctuary, Fitness Centre with yoga and core training classes, water sports, outdoor pools, basketball, jogging trails and nearby golf. The tennis program is available to hotel guests and local residents alike. 

“Precision and professionalism are cornerstones of both high-end hospitality and first-class tennis,” Janko Tipsarevic

RIVIERA

HOUR

RED SEA

Escalating to a passionate red colour, the sunset in Alimos area gives a breathtaking rendez-vous with its visitors.

URBAN HORIZON

Piraeus, the sunset tends to "remind"

that nature

every cityscape.

LEGENDARY PROMENADE

THE LANDMARK

multifaced riviera, a surprising coastline, a seductive time of the day. From the vivid port in Piraeus with the promise of a magical island hopping and the panoramic view of the sea from Kastella to the architectural “jewel” of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and from a seaside ride through Vouliagmenis Avenue all the way till the grandeur of Sounio archaeological site, the sunset has as many different pictures and qualities as the Athenian Riviera itself. A prominent and unique seascape embrac es experiences that no other European capital has to offer combining an active business center, an energetic shopping destination, a rich history, an exemplary tradition in culture, as well as premium quality in hospitality. Stefanos Orestis Addimando has managed to highlight all these variables and faces through the prism of sunset. Talented and with a great sense of view, he has showcased with the same passion the diverse of great Greek destinations through his pictures and videos on his Ins tagram page @stef_greece, while he is running the family’s small hotel on Serifos island, where he’s a member of the Tourism Committee of the Municipality of Serifos. His partners include Visit Greece, Marketing Greece, the Region of Epirus, Costa Navarino, Hilton Hotels, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, Aria Hotels, Aegean Airlines, Seajets and The Hellenic Initiative. 

Stefanos Orestis Addimando, a Luxembourg-grown travel photographer based in Athens of Greek and Italian descent, has captured masterfully the golden hour through the Athenian Riviera (portrait taken in Alimos area).

CURTAIN DOWN An Athenian Riviera lover would end a well-spent day treasuring the golden hour at Kastella area.

CULTURE

Greece as Art

From large statement pieces to art jewellery and accessories, everything Caroline Rovithi creates begins with joy, empowerment and boundless love for Greece.

Interview by DESPOINA SAMPSON

Left: Created during the darker days of Greece’s decade-long economic crisis, Crying Greek flag represents the pride and resolve of the Greek people; it was the beginning of Caroline’s turn to conceptual art.

Below: Ticket to Greece and Greece Street commemorating 200 years of Greek independence.

Opposite page: All You Need Is Greece is Caroline’s latest book, celebrating the country’s beauty, spirit and strength.

When it comes to her passion, conceptual artist and designer Caroline Rovithi wears her heart on her sleeve, never shying away from an opportunity to express her profound love for Greece and its inimitable, vibrant spirit. For the past 20 years, she has been channelling this passion into her art, building on a background in advertising and publishing to create unique pieces that bring together elements of pop art, illustration, street style and iconic Greek symbolism. Caroline has exhibited in Europe and the United States, has taken on commissions from major global brands, and has published six books. Her first short film, avail able online, was filmed on the shores of the Aegean Sea, and she is currently working on a second short, >

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL culture

filmed on the slopes of the majestic Mount Olympus. Your love for Greece is at the heart of everything you do. What message does your art communicate about the country that we live in, love and are inspired by?

Greece is a work of art, a masterpiece that I am bless ed and privileged to experience every day. It is an ide al place in every sense. This country has everything! Beauty, colour, history, culture, people, feeling, soul. The message that I want to convey is simple and I believe in it wholeheartedly… All you need is Greece!

What are the challenges for female artists in Greece?

How hard is it to get your work shown, express your self and keep up with obligations while also finding inspiration and creating?

Daily life is anyway demanding enough for every woman who works and is a mother, partner, friend, daughter. So many women face truly challenging con ditions, and I am deeply grateful that I get to do what I love, that my job lets me express myself, helps me evolve, fulfils me. No matter how many hours I put in, how demanding my day-to-day is — because I’m also mother to a six-year-old girl — when everything quiets down and I sit in front of my canvas, dozens of images emerge as if by magic and take shape through my brushes. To me, every day is an inspiration.

With bold motifs and bright colours, your work evokes feelings of happiness, yet you’re not afraid to address some of the difficult subjects facing the world. How do you do this through your art? These are unprecedented times and things are chang ing constantly and at a staggering speed. I’m always thinking about how I can contribute. So I take to my canvas and create images that incorporate empow ering symbols, images that evoke strong feelings of optimism and faith. Some of my favourite symbols, that I keep coming back to, are the thunderbolt and the Greek flag.

When Greece was in the throes of its crisis, I painted the “Crying Greek Flag,” with our flag’s iconic blue and white stripes weeping. The idea was to show the flag standing strong and proud, despite the pain and tears. And those very same attributes, that strength and resolve, are shared by Greece and the Greek people.

Left:

Rovithi

her studio.

Avgolemono

"GREECE IS A WORK OF ART, A MASTERPIECE THAT I AM BLESSED AND PRIVILEGED TO EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY."

Clockwise from top right: We are happy to show you Greece, Caroline’s take on the iconic NY coffee cup; Olympic Games 2004 and Take a treat a gumball machine full of Greece’s wonder ingredients.

Agenda 2022

Caroline Rovithi΄s art pieces will travel to Mykonos island this August for a solo exhibition at Skoufa Gal lery in collaboration with the Mamush Gallery. During summer, more of her work will be presented at Oia Τreasures on Santorini island, My Crown Art Collection on Hydra island and at the Designers Room on Kastellorizo island. In Athens, the “All you need is Greece” collection will be exhibited at the Skoufa Gallery located in Syntagma and at the Mamush Gallery in Kifissia area. September has even more travel in store for her with an imminent Monaco event and a small film being produced on Olympos Mountain. Waiting for all that, you can now stream the small “All Υou Νeed is Greece” film on Youtube.

We have the power within us. We just have to believe. What is it about Greece, as a country but also as spe cific areas and destinations, that inspires you most?

The Greek sea, the sun, the light in the Cyclades, the traditional whitewashed houses, the ancient temples, the winding paths of Mount Olympus, the sunsets, which are so incredibly different from place to place across the country. Living in Greece and raising my child here gives me the strength and the motivation to continue using my brushes and my paint to make art that inspires and rouses and showcases the beauty of my country.

carolinerovithi.com / allyouneedisgreece.gr / @caroline_rovithi

An Ode to Maternity

C

ollaborating for the first time, NEON and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SN FCC) aim to bring contemporary art closer to everyone, while fulfilling their goals of revitalising public space and improving citizens’ daily life.

Maman, standing at over 10 metres tall, was created for the Tate Modern’s first Turbine Hall commis sion in 2000, and was subsequently cast in an edi tion of bronze, stainless steel, and marble. Bourgeois stated that the work was symbolic of her mother, a weaver and tapestry restorer. With ten eggs in its abdomen, the sculpture embodies ideas of mater nal protection. However, the artist’s relationship to motherhood was ambiguous, contradictory, and complex. Dominating its surroundings and teetering on rangy, segmented legs, Maman also evokes fear and suggests entrapment. Bourgeois’s art was informed by her life, particularly her child hood years. She first made drawings of spiders in the late 1940s, and nearly 50 years later created the giant three-dimensional spiders for which she has become well-known.

After studying geometry at the Sorbonne, Paris born Bourgeois changed her focus to art. In 1938, she moved to New York with her husband Robert Goldwater, an American art historian. In the mid1940s, she began her first sculptures, the Personages a series of anthropomorphic but abstract figures carved out of wood. In the 1970s—after her hus band’s death—and via the work The Destruction of the Father (1974), she reinvented herself as a pi oneer of installation, an artform she explored fur ther from 1991 until her death in her series of Cells Today, her work is in the collections of the Muse um of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, among many others. In 2022, an exhibition of her paintings will be on view at the Metropoli tan Museum of Art in New York. 

Maman | Louise Bourgeois | 31 March – 6 November 2022. The Esplanade, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

"WE HAVE THE POWER WITHIN US. WE JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE."

Louise Bourgeois’s Maman (1999) has been brought by NEON and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center at SNFCC’s Esplanade.

Louise Bourgeois, Maman (1999) at The Wanås Foundation, Knislinge, Sweden, 2006.

In Dialogue

s part of the exhibition series “Di vine Dialogues”, this year the Museum of Cycladic Art invites American artist Brice Marden to present his work in dialogue with selected antiquities from the Muse um’s permanent collections. The exhibi tion “Brice Marden and Greek Antiquity” is being held at the Stathatos Mansion and will run until August 29, 2022. This is the first museum exhibition devoted to this renowned artist to be held in Greece, and is organized by the Museum of Cycladic Art in close collaboration with Marden and curator and artist Dimitrios Antonitsis. Marden, now in his eighties with a career that spans six decades, continues to fascinate with the gestural simplicity of his paintings and draw ings. His work draws from art’s long history, com bining elements of Minimalism, Abstract Expres sionism, as well as ancient calligraphy and poetry. For 50 years, the artist has drawn inspiration from the Greek landscape and antiquity. His relationship with Greece dates back to 1971. Enchanted by the Greek light he and his wife and fellow painter, Hel en, bought their first house on Hydra. Since then, they have spent a portion of almost every summer there together. The purity of Hydra’s landscape deep ly affected Marden, who observes nature and creates. The exhibition at the Museum of Cycladic Art will include artworks from a wide range of Marden’s ar tistic output, revealing a resonance with the meta physics of ancient Greek heritage. Paintings, draw ings, and notebooks that highlight his sharp obser vation and unique abstract gaze, will be presented in dialogue with selected antiquities from the Mu seum’s permanent collections, inviting the viewer to interpret the visual vocabulary of this great artist. 

A

“Brice Marden and Greek Antiquity” Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens | 20 May - 29 August 2022 | cycladic.gr

Brice Marden and GreekAntiquity is the new exhibition of the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens.

DIALOGUE

Stories Drawn in Light

Master storyteller and photographer Christos Drazos talks about light, process and the multitude of reasons to be completely enamoured with Greece.

THE AEGEAN ISLANDS Discover the magic of everyday life

this

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL culture

Interview by DESPOINA SAMPSON

culture

FACES

People at the Aegean islands are so warm, gentle and creative. Their love for life is shown through the colors of their boats, their smiles, and of course their amazing mood.

ATHENS RIVIERA

THE AEGEAN WAY

People of Amorgos go from one village to another following traditional trails that their ancestors had been using for centuries.

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL culture

OVER THE YEARS, CHRISTOS DRAZOS HAS RETURNED TO THE CYCLADES AGAIN AND AGAIN, FOR WORK AND PLEASURE, TO EXPLORE THE ARCHIPELAGO’S DIVERSE LANDSCAPES AND REVEL IN ITS CLEAR, BRILLIANT LIGHT.

hero shot. You can sit at a desk and think about it all you want, but it doesn’t reveal itself until you’re actually there at the hotel. That’s why when I start a new project, I like to arrive at the hotel a day early and take the time to wander and explore, to spend some time there and connect with the place. Then shooting is about capturing that experience, conveying those moments to other people. Thinking back to your projects to date, which do you think has been the most challenging?

I didn’t get into photography to make a living. I got into photography because it was what I always wanted. Some projects I take on because they pay the bills and some because they clear my head. As photogra phers, we are observers, and it’s good to take the time to turn that observation inwards, to your heart and your soul, and then bring that resulting ease and that energy to your commercial work. The truth is that there’s no routine in my line of work. Every new project is a unique challenge. My work takes me from the Baltics to the Red Sea, shooting back-to-back assignments across continents. How could I not be excited about it? I’ve been doing this for long enough that there’s no stress involved anymore. It’s all about the thrill in the challenge. So the bigger the challenge, the bigger the thrill. After more than two decades of photographing hotels in Greece and abroad, what do you think it is that sets our country apart as a destination?

The ancient Greeks believed that every time a child was born, the three Fates would spin the thread of its life and weave its destiny. Maybe they were on to something. It would certainly explain the singular draw that Christos Drazos has always felt towards his craft. Fascinated by the idea of capturing the best aspects of any given moment and distilling that reality into a visual essence that speaks directly to the heart, by the time he was 13, Christos had resolved to become a professional photographer. He launched his career in the mid-90s and gravitated naturally toward hotel photography, a niche he was destined to con quer. Some two decades on, and having worked with over 250 of the finest boutique hotels and luxury hospitality brands in more than 10 countries, Christos is one of Greece’s most accomplished hotel pho tographers, renowned for his unique eye and a strong storytelling style that transcends form and light to capture the essence of his subjects. You are known for your ability to capture each hotel’s unique char acter. What’s your process? Do you plan the images in advance? A photograph is an open invitation to potential guests. It must promise and enchant, make the viewer want to live in and experi ence the moment the image depicts. You have to capture the holiday dream, and the photograph that most fully encapsulates this is your

Greece’s biggest competitive advantage is its diversity. I’ve dedicated much of my life to photographing around the Aegean, and I’ve come to realise that no two islands are alike. The local culture and way of thinking differ from island to island. The cuisine can also vary dra matically, even though the islands are so close to each other. Some islands are arid, some show strong influences brought by those who migrated from the coast of Turkey, and some still carry the heritage of the period of Venetian rule. Greece is very diverse. It’s a small country but also many countries in one, depending on what you’re looking for. This wealth can never be taken from us, and we must build on it. There’s so much to discover that no one can just visit the country once, cross it off the list and move on. Greece is a challenge, an invitation to come back again and again and revel in all the different experiences. What about the light? The Cyclades have been known for it since antiquity. Have you ever seen anything like it during your travels abroad?

A geologist once told me that there’s a scientific explanation for the light in the Aegean. It has to do with the large number of islands and the strong summer winds that keep humidity in check and give Ae gean light its distinctive clarity. The only place that even comes close in terms of quality of light is the southmost region of Italy. As a pho tographer, I consider myself extremely lucky to have been born here. The light in Greece is sublime. It is such a joy to live in a country that is bathed in sunshine for more than 260 days a year.

Photographer Christos Drazos started his career in Hotel Photography in 2000.

FREE SPIRIT

As Christos says at his blog aegeanpan.com, living on an island somewhere in the Aegean Sea is like living on a star; it’s the strange feeling of being part of a constellation, yet disconnected at the same time.

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL culture

ESCAPE

Sandy Glories

Lapped by the Aegean, Athens is blessed with a coastal line that every European cap ital is jealous of. Visitors who expect to be impressed by the cultural and gastronomical grandeur of the city, they surprisingly find themselves thrilled by the fascinating beach hopping.

Starting from Phaliron with the landmark of Stav ros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center where the first beaches emerge the alluring blue of the sea, the coastal line embraces the area of Glyfada, Varkiza and Vouliagmeni with its unique lake all the way to the all time classic, Astir beach, only to continue towards the beach complex of Anavyssos and Lagonissi to meet the breathtaking sunset at Cape Sounio.

Grand Beach

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS BEACHES OF THE ATHENIAN RIVIERA KEEPS ALL THE NOSTALGIA OF A GLORIOUS ERA ON ITS CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER.

Another timeless gem of the Athenian Rivi era, the golden coast of Grand Resort Lagonissi would have been the most instagrammable place in summer Athens, if social media had been 70 years old. Nowadays, the Grand Beach of Grand Resort Lagonissi still remains a beauty adding the small beach of Mediterraneo restaurant to its assets.

Fervent lovers of the beach may benefit from the Grand Beach cards and have a free entrance all summer long along with free delicious meals from the Grand Resort Lagonissi chefs, free parking at the Grand Beach, auto button service on their um brella for orders and 15% discount on water sports. This is a wonderful way to spend the day next to the beach.

As for those who prefer the proximity to the Mediterraneo Restaurant, they should have in mind that an umbrella can be found upon availability.

GREEN LINE

You will be amazed by the crystal clear, almost emerald water

in front

ATHENS

SEASIDE COCOONING

Astir Beach

THE GLAM AND THE GRANDEUR, THE BEAUTIFUL BEACH AND AN EXCELLENT LOCATION, THEY ARE ALL STARRING AT THE " JEWEL " OF THE RIVIERA.

The cosmopolitan and emblemat ic Astir Beach in Asteras Vouliagme ni has been awarded for the 23rd year with a Blue Flag. The summery meeting point of prominent personalities for many decades, it still offers a full range of high-quality services; from exclusive shopping and water sports to a high-quality gastronomic ex perience. Spend the day at the beach and stay until dinner time for the brand new Beefbar Athens. A culinary myth is to be revealed in front of you with the backdrop of the seductive beach. Remaining the ultimate holiday destination in Athens, it promises all visitors a top seaside expe rience of relaxation, enjoyment and luxury. With new proposals and collaborations, as well as up graded services giving the possibility of electronic reservation of their place since last year, visitors can easily and quickly book the place of their choice. Visit Asteras beach and browse for summer shop ping at Salt Water, MC2, Vilebrequin, Dirty Laun dry, Ma Cherie, R, Summer Stores and Prime Timers. Do not miss a refreshing wellness and beauty experience on the beach at Assai Seaside Spa. Choose the Astir Ski Club for sports and water skiing lessons. For those who wish to have unlimited access to both the beach and the luxu rious facilities of Astir Beach, they can become a member by obtaining the Platinum Card.

summer, the flavors, the music

the dreamy design of Asteras Vouliagmeni,

an

experience

relaxation

luxury.

Cape Sounio

DEVOTED TO PLEASURE AND FAITHFUL TO HISTORY, THIS BEACH IS A DESTINATION IN ITSELF.

What really sets this swimming spot apart is its fantastic view of the Temple of Posei don that makes you feel like you are soak ing up ancient Greek culture even as you sun yourself on a comfortable sun lounger of the impressive hug-like beach of Cape Sounio Grecotel Exclusive Resort.

Visitors can enjoy summer exactly as they dream it: always in the water!

Two fairytale beaches in the Aegean, one with sand and the other with pebbles, both boasting crystal clear shallow waters, ide al for children. The beaches are accessible through tunnels. Free amenities include sunbeds with comfortable mattresses and umbrellas, beach towels, showers, changing rooms and toilets.

Do not miss the Full Moon Parties and the water gym exercises, as well as the gastronom ic delights of the five restaurants.

Aegeon Beach

LIKE A PILGRIM, THIS BEACH STANDS BELOW THE HISTORICAL SITE AND IN AWE OF ITS GRANDEUR LOOKING AT IT ON ITS LEFT.

U

ndoubtedly the claim to fame of this small beach at the farthest reaches of the Athens Riviera is the Temple of Poseidon on the cape overlooking the beach. The gleaming marble columns above the sea are one of the county’s most inspiring coastal sights, and sunset here is always fascinating.

In complete harmony with the natural environment of the area, with simple lines and warm colors, the Aegeon Hotel is considered the ideal accommodation for those who want to combine luxury with a calm and peaceful stay in direct proximity with the sandy beach just below the historical site of Sounio.

HISTORY GAZER

Feel the energy of the Temple of the Poseidon staring at it while you swim.

Agios Nikolaos Beach

EMBRACE THE ATHENS RIVIERA’S VERSION OF THE "BLUE LAGOON".

t is also known as the “Balos of At tica”, the secret diamond at the area of Anavissos is a huge sandy beach that in some places is “embraced” by rocks cre ating a magical landscape. On the beach of Agios Nikolaos you will enjoy crystal clear emerald waters, while the landscape is an ything but reminiscent of Attica.

At a first glance, it makes you think that you are on an island and more specifically in Crete, since its resemblance to the famous beach of Balos is amazing. At the second, it unfolds in front of you the comfortable beach with the characteristic rock island and the small church creating a magical scenery. Let yourself wander. Are you still in Attica?

Harakas Beach

IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO KNOW ABOUT IT, THEN YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO VISIT IT.

I

t is a short straight coastline with green pure water and brown sand. The sharpness of entering the water is quite normal and that’s why this beach is suitable for everyone. Discovered by those who know where they can take a nice swim in Attica, it is the ideal solution if you are looking for an alternative and relatively nearby beach.

It used to be a well-kept secret off Souniou Avenue also featuring a traditional settlement. In addition to a wide sandy beach, it also has shallow waters and considered particularly safe for playing and swimming. What is certain is that you will enjoy your bath in an idyl lic environment that you did not imagine existed so close to Athens.

KAPE Beach

WE PRESENT YOU THE BEACH OF THE ATHENIAN RIVIERA THAT WILL INSTANTLY MAKE YOU FEEL, AS IF YOU WERE ON AN ISLAND.

Mavro Lithari Beach

YOU MAY THINK THAT ITS NAME HAS A MYSTERIOUS STORY BEHIND IT, BUT THIS BEACH IS ALL ABOUT HAVING FUN AND ENJOYING THE SAND.

Named after a dark rock emerging from the sea, the beach of Mavro Lithari is situated in the area of Ana vyssos, around 1 hour away from the center of Athens by car. The seashore is covered with sand and pebbles and the sea waters are usually calm making up for the distance.

It is a fully organized beach with fine pebbles and mostly sand in and out of the water -an important element, that’s true-, although the waters are smooth but deep. The characteristic feature of the beach is the massive black rock in the middle and a chance to create an ins tagrammable moment. Not that the area lacks of it. Beach bars with music and straw umbrellas make up the beach scene.

Named after the acronym for the nearby Center for Renewa ble Energy Sources, the KAPE beach is one that can really give you that island feel only an hour’s drive from Athens; the minute you set foot on the beach, you’ll be taken aback by the view of the Aegean. With seafloor that is covered with small pebbles and crisp clean waters that get abruptly deep, you can have some truly magical swims here. It is also called Legrena. The important thing is its location, as even the drive to get there is wonderful, while with eleven more minutes you can reach Sounio.

ATHENS

escape

WILD NATURE

Mykonos is the famed island of the winds because of the northern winds called “meltemia” – which keep us cool in the heat of summer.

RIVIERA

Mykonos Beyond Time

THE STORY OF THIS ISLAND STARTS ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE ANCIENT ERA. MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THESE CENTURIES FOR THE ISLAND AS MYKONOS HAS BLOSSOMED INTO A BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION FOR TRAVELERS THE WORLD ROUND.

Text by DESPOINA SAMPSON

Travelers and wanderlusters fell in love with Mykonos in the ‘60s, when it became a fa vorite spot for lovers of art and of nature from, mainly, Europe. Soon, more and more people heard about it. The ‘60s was when the visionary founder of the Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts, Mykonos native, George Daktylides started taking care of visitor to the island too, via bus service and later the first MC hotel. Just a stone’s throw from world-famous Mykonos, Delos was once the center of commerce in the Mediterra nean and a multicultural, vibrant community. Completely uninhabited today in order to preserve its spectacular antiq

uities, it is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. According to Hesychios, Mykonos derives from the word Mykon, meaning heap and themonia; heap of stones on ac count of the impressive granite boulders that seem to have been heaped by some supernatural hand. Ancient Greeks had created the myth that under the island’s rocks were buried the giants killed by Hercules, who came to the aid of his father Zeus during the Gigantomachy. Archaeological finds on Mykonos indicate the existence of a significant civ ilisation on the island, dating back to to the Late Neolithic period (5th & 4th millennium BC). Later, Ionians settle on Mykonos, colonising it after expelling its previous inhabitants.

CHRISTOS DRAZOS

Later on, when Delos was highly populated, Mykonos became very important as a signif icant port for supplies and transit. It was also an important cultural and religious centre, and many travelled frequently between the two islands. During the time of the Roman occupation and the Middle Ages, Mykonos was part of the Roman Empire and then the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines defended it against the Arabs in the 7th century and maintained control until the 13th century, when it came under the control of the Ghizzi dynasty in 1207 and was eventually handed to the Venetians in 1390. In 1537, still un der the Venetians, Mykonos was attacked by Hayreddin Barbarossa, a legendary admiral of Suleiman the Magnificent. The Ottomans took over, imposing a system of self-govern ance which consisted of a governor and an appointed council of syndics. After centuries of foreign rule, the Mykonians took over a leading role in the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottomans, spearheaded by ac claimed national heroine Mando Mavrog enous. Mykonos was part of the free Greek State since the first day of its independence in 1830. Sailors and merchants quickly re vived the island’s economy, consolidating trade relations with South Russia, Moldavia and Wallachia. However, after the opening of the Corinth Canal in 1904 and with the beginning of the First World War, Mykonos’ well-developed economy started to decline and, consequently, many locals left to find work in mainland Greece or abroad – espe cially in the United States. Yet, it wasn’t long before tourism rose as the answer to the problems of the local economy, starting with significant archaeological exca vations taking place in Delos in 1873, which brought fascinating Ancient Greek artefacts and structures to light. As a result, lovers of Greek history and mythology began taking an interest in the region and, along with the ancient ruins, started to explore the island of Mykonos and partake in the celebrated Greek hospitality. In the 1930s, Mykonos started to become a popular destination for famous art ists, politicians and wealthy Europeans, who had already noticed the island. Those were the first days of Mykonos as a hotspot for the international jet-set. After the dark years of World War II, Mykonos came back to life to blossom into the stunning cosmopolitan destination of the rich and famous – and not only – that we know it as today. 

THE ISLAND WAS A WELL-GUARDED SECRET BEFORE THE YACHTS AND CRUISE SHIPS OF THE SIXTIES BEGAN TO DROP ANCHOR ON THEIR WAY TO VIEW THE MAGNIFICENT ANCIENT RUINS OF DELOS.

CLASSIC FUSION CHRONOGRAPH

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL escape

FIRST-ROW SEAT

Astonishingly beautiful at any time of the year, the island of Santorini, the southernmost in the popular Cyclades islands in the Aegean, is truly a sight to behold.

Ode to Santorini

SANTORINI’S CHARM HIDES IN ITS HISTORY. THE UNIQUE LANDSCAPE HAS EXTRAORDINARY STORIES TO TELL, WHICH IT WHISPERS TO TRAVELERS EAGER TO TRULY EXPLORE THE ISLAND.

Known for its iconic caldera, unique and color ful sand or pebble beaches resulting from solidified la va, whitewashed houses and deep indigo sea, nowhere on earth quite compares with the wild natural beauty of this infamous volcanic island; an island steeped in the legend of the lost Atlantis that has captivated so many imaginations through the decades. Drawing visitors from all four corners of the globe who flock to the island to view its monumental sunsets, awe inspiring views, cuisine and wines, it is no wonder that Santorini has been voted one of the most beau tiful islands in the world time and time again.

The island’s incredible beauty is evident before you even arrive. An astonishing sight from the air – with its collection of five islands floating on the endless blue of the Aegean Sea almost like pieces

Text by DESPOINA SAMPSON

HOLIDAYS IN SANTORINI ARE THE DREAM OF A LIFETIME

FOR MANY PEOPLE, WITH THE ISLAND FAMOUS FOR ITS IMPRESSIVE CALDERA, VOLCANO AND ROMANTIC SUNSETS.

of a jigsaw puzzle, it’s hard not to feel drawn to the magical legend of Atlantis – everything below seems to have a story to tell while the flat glistening blue sea hints at hidden worlds lost deep down below. As the airplane prepares to land, a dazzling mosaic of colors gradually becomes visible, from the grey and red rock face of the crater – Calde ra from the Greek for “cauldron”, studded with windmills, the island’s trademark blue-domed churches and terraces of sugar-cube whitewashed settlements that seem to run along the rim of the Caldera almost like a ribbon. Probably San torini’s most famous image, these whitewashed settlements with Caldera views in Firostefani, Fira, Imerovigli and Oia are built into the rock face from ancient cave dwellings to now boast ex clusive hillside hotels showcasing infinity pools and luxury spas, accompanied by boutique shops, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Today, the aftereffects of the dramatic earth quakes of the past represent the island’s two main sources of wealth, namely tourism and agricul ture, with the latter owing its success to the is land’s unique and very fertile volcanic soil and perfect climate allowing it to give birth to ex cellent produce such as its fava beans, cherry tomatoes, capers and famous goat’s milk cheese known as chloro. What Santorini is best known for, however, is its wine production which in cludes indigenous white grape varieties such as Assyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani, while other wines produced are using international varieties as well as its unique reds made from its indigenous red grapes known as Mandalieria and Mavrotragano.

With approximately 1,200 hectares of vines scat tered around Santorini, the wines are stored in traditional kanaves (cellars), the most well known being at Megalochori, Mesa Gonia, Messaria, Pyrgos and Oia.

Naturally, any mention of Santorini has to include its magical sunsets. As one of the best places to view majestic, awe inspiring sunsets, few destina tions in the world can match the sheer beauty of Santorini’s sunset views. With many incredible vantage points along the edge of the Caldera, visitors agree that sunsets from Santorini make for a truly surreal experience which sees the skies of the Aegean turn into a riotous symphony of pinks and reds as the day slowly comes to a close, beckoning the arrival of the night ahead. 

New Technologies. New Services. New Performance.

CHOOSE THE TOUR OF YOUR LIFE

TO THE VERY BEST OF WHAT THE ISLAND HAS TO OFFER, WITH TAILOR-MADE, DIVERSE AND FASCINATING EXPERIENCES YOU WON’T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.

Treat yourself to a taste of the true essence of the most popular island destination in the world with Blue Shades of Greece. These talented travel experts organize and personalize for you a series of private, semi-private and fully tailor-made Santorini tours that have been so well received they have earned multiple Travel Awards –and won the hearts of hundreds of visitors through the years. Their mission? To make each visitor’s experience special, immersing them in the island’s spirit, history and unique aura in a way that works in tandem with each person’s unique preferences and interests. From the most magical landmarks of this sun-kissed volcanic oasis to private wine rituals paired with exceptional gastronomy, your time with Blue Shades of Greece will be unforgettable. This tour operator’s strongest point, and what really makes them stand out, is the unique way they can adapt and adjust every aspect of your tour to what is important to you. These choose your own path experiences are stress-free, whisking you away to those nooks and crannies of the island that will speak to you –including its best-kept secrets that only locals know. From traditional wineries to picture-perfect, soul-affirming seascapes, this is the tour of a lifetime, and the people of Blue Shades of Greece will make it happen for you, with their professionalism, knowledge and contagious passion for Santorini.

If you are lucky, you will run into a street procession in honor of a patron saint, or a candela parade (a joyful Oaxacan parade that traditionally kicks-off weddings, graduations and other community celebrations).

Six Senses of Oaxaca, Mexico

MOOD FOR FIESTA

Oaxaca is a place whose soul lives in the in-between spaces. And whose beauty reveals itself as you let your eyes and heart adjust.

As i sit to write about oaxaca, Mexico, I am thinking about the things that don’t change. The things that are not fleet ing. To travel, we need not go somewhere with our body. We can go there with our mindset, with our senses, with words, with a sound or song, and, of course, with an image. We can go there with a smell, or a food, a story recount ed from a friend.

To me Oaxaca is all of these things. It is both a mind set and a place bursting with flavors, aromas, songs, and stories to be discovered. It’s people, the generous keepers of all these wonderful things they are so happy to share with you.

It is a place you don’t want to read too much about before you go. Oaxaca is not a place to experience by moving from point a to point b, or restaurant to restau rant (although you could, and it may even be extraor dinary). It is a place whose soul lives in the in-between spaces. And whose beauty reveals itself as you let your eyes and heart adjust.

Set out on walks without purpose. Start higher up on the hill and wander down toward the cathedral of Santo Domingo (go inside) and Calle Alcalá (the main pedestrian street). Take any side street. It is very likely that you will run into a street procession in honor of a patron saint, or a candela parade (a joyful Oaxacan pa rade that traditionally kicks-off weddings, graduations and other community celebrations). If you are so lucky, stay with it. Follow the song, the smell of incense, the reverent voices, the cheers of the crowd. Celebration is one of Oaxaca’s most powerful charms. Make (daily) pilgrimages to its markets. The 20 de Noviembre market sprawls with treasures, and the small, organic and super cute La Cosecha market is a great place try Oaxaca’s much loved and hearty cacao drink called Tejate (recognized by the large vats of chocolaty liquid that women are stirring). My favorite is getting lost in the magical chaos of the Tlacalula market on Sunday, a melting pot of people from the surrounding pueblos. In the air, the fragrance of roasting corn, the sweet-tangy-pepper of local chilis, ripe fruit waters, and richly colored moles. The women of Tlacalula had me spellbound, with their elegant waist-length braids, tied in colorful ribbons, their woven baskets sometimes balanced and carried on their heads, and their exquisite ly-embroidered dresses. …From the markets, fill your room with fresh flowers, because you can. Venture into the nearby pueblos. Oaxaca state has seven each-entirely-different regions,16 indigenous groups, and an uncountable number of master arti sans. As a starting point, visit the masterful weavers

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FOLLOW THE SONG, THE SMELL OF INCENSE, THE REVERENT VOICES, THE CHEERS OF THE CROWD. CELEBRATION IS ONE OF OAXACA’S MOST POWERFUL CHARMS.

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL escape

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL escape

of Teotitlán del Valle. See how they make a deep red-purple dye from the cochineal insect that burrows in cactus, or a deep indigo from the anil shrub. Or, forage for mushrooms in the Sierra Norte after hiking the forest that is rich with wild orchids, vibrant mosses, and larger-than-you agaves. Discover the designers, makers and vibrant creative culture. Some are making things just as they have been done for centuries, and some are modernizing deep-seated traditions to create entirely new expressions. Here are a few of my favorites - you can travel to their stores from your homes: Paz Home (candles hand dipped in 100% beeswax and natural dyes, pazhome.com; Lanii (gifts and artisanal crafts, lanii.com.mx); and, colectivo 1050 (artisanal ceramics, 1050grados.com).

Picnic on top of the world at the petrified cascades and mineral pools of Hierve el Agua. Take with you… homemade sourdough from

Pan Con Madre or Boulenc, mushroom pate from Suculenta, chocolate from Mama Pácha.

Last but not least, drink mezcal. If there were a national spirit of Oaxaca it would be mezcal a distilled alcoholic beverage not unlike tequila, also made from the agave plant. Originating in Oaxaca, “mezcal” is a Nahuatl mexicalli word that means “oven-cooked agave.” You can drink mezcal in town, or you can travel with Mezcounting (mezcounting.com), who runs rural artisanal gastronomic tours throughout Oaxaca, and sip it amongst the agaves with the artisans who make it. Why not both.

And, as an extra a bonus, be inspired at IAGO (Oaxacan Graphic Art Institute), a one-of-kind art library created by Oaxaca’s beloved artist, Francisco Toledo. The library’s entrance is free. Settle in, pick any book. Sit in the courtyard. Collect new stories. 

REMARKABLE VIEWS

Miami Star City

BOASTING AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION OF MUSEUMS AND ART SPACES IN ADDITION TO PROMINENT ARCHITECTS, CHEFS AND DESIGNERS, MIAMI IS GOING THROUGH A CULTURAL REBIRTH.

Miami has been redefining itself as a destination in recent decades. Its one-dimensional ‘90s image of the summer and endless parties is long gone. Of course, en tertainment remains a defining aspect of Miami’s character, but for every party around one of its charming pools there is also a museum or an interesting gourmet restaurant. A lively community of artists, designers and chefs as well as visionary entrepreneurs are elevating the city to a multidimensional des tination of international caliber.

The start of Miami’s new path came in 2002 with Art Basel, then direct ed by Sam Keller, which brought together art from 160 galleries from 23 countries, attracting 30,000 visitors to the city. The initiative evolved from a “private party” to a contemporary art institution with global ap peal and in 2015, under Noah Horowitz, it featured 267 galleries from 32 countries, welcoming more than 77,000 visitors – collectors, curators, trustees and patrons from more than 200 museums and institutions from all over the world. Today, the once two-day celebration of art lasts a full week, stretching across the city. It takes place every December, as does Design Miami – the forum started in 2005 by visionary entrepreneur and real estate developer Craig Robins and design consultant (of Greek origin) Ambra Medda. It is the most important event on the collectible design calendar, with furniture, light fixture and design object exhibitions from the 20th and 21st centuries that are fit for a museum. Robins was also the man who shaped the Miami Design District about 15 years ago – and who also contributed in the improvement of Art Deco District in the early ‘90s – through buying and renewing properties in the area that

would become a fashion Mecca. Its evolution was further boosted when Robins’ company, Dacra, joined forces with L Real Estate, an investment company owned by LVMH Group. Christian Louboutin, Marni, Mar giela, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Céline and Tom Ford all operate architecturally interesting flagship stores in the Design District, right next to installations and sculptures by Urs Fischer, Xavier Veilhan, Zaha Hadid, John Baldessari and art spaces such as the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, with its characteristic futuristic facade made of glass and metal.

At the other end of the spectrum is Wynwood, transformed by entre preneur and art patron Tony Goldman from a mass of industrial ware houses to an open-air street art museum, attracting retailers, restaurants and, of course, housing developers. The “Wynwood Walls” are walls full of colorful graffiti created in 2009 and co-curated by Goldman and art dealer Jeffrey Deich. Wynwood boasts the biggest concentration of street art in the United States, with more than 50 artists from 16 countries hav ing covered 7,500 square meters of wall. At the same time, the area hosts galleries, artists’ studios and private collections such as the Rubell Family Collection, which features pieces by Basquiat, Haring, Koons and Kus ama. Wynwood’s creative energy attracts startups as well as established companies like a magnet. It’s also blossomed into a foodie destination with restaurants like Joey’s, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, Asian KYU by Michael Lewis, as well as cult eateries Zak the Baker, Coyo Taco, Fireman Derek’s Pies and Salty Donut.

Brickell is markedly different but equally stimulating. Miami’s financial center is one of the largest of its kind in the US. Known as the Manhattan

WHEN IN MIAMI

SUMMER IN MIAMI IS YEAR-ROUND AND SOUTH BEACH IS THE MOST EXCITING BEACH IN THE WORLD.

of the South, Brickell has the most international banks in the country. Its residents enjoy a lively, friendly area with luxurious buildings and remarkable views. Brickell and Miami Avenue, the main road arteries, are packed with stores, restaurants and clubs, while new arrival Brickell City Center complex has already completed the first stage of its construction, featuring office buildings, residential towers, a hotel and a large commercial and entertainment hub. It’s all very impressive, but let’s not forget South Beach. After all, summer in Miami is year-round and this is the most exciting beach in the world. From the Art Deco architecture that put the city on the map in the ‘30s to the relaxed energy of Ocean Drive, the endless kilometers of white sand, and the turquoise waters, the Miami hotel scene includes icons like the Delano, designed by Philippe Starck and featuring one of the most impressive pools in the world.

THE INSIDER VIEW

About a decade ago, Anastasia Koutsioukis – AKA Mrs. Man dolin – left a successful career in New York to launch Mando lin restaurant with her husband, Ahmet. This Aegean bistro in the Design District used to be somewhat of a secret spot for creatives of the city who would enjoy the wonderful am bience, Mediterranean flavors and the company of the owner herself, who stands out with her style, glamorous personality and cosmopolitan air. “Ten years ago, Miami was a completely different city. The beach and its matchless beauty were there, but it wasn’t developed. Some parts were almost derelict, even depressing. In the past five years, developers have seen Miami’s incredible potential, and the city’s skyline has been constantly changing”, she explains. Luxurious residential buildings such as the 57-floor The Jade Signature on Sunny Isles – completed last spring by well-known architects Herzog de Meuron – or high-rise One Thousand Museum by Zaha Hadid Architects at Brickell, and investments exceeding $10 billion are reshap ing downtown Miami at light speeds. “The city has an excit ing art, culture and culinary scene. To get a good taste of its multifaceted character, start by walking South Pointe Park all the way to the end of the pier, the southernmost edge of the beach. It’s ideal for picnics, or for champagne, steak and lobster at Smith & Wollensky restaurant. Visit the Perez Art Museum Miami, which houses an exceptional collection of 2,000 piec es by American and Latin American artists. It is designed by Pritzker Prize laureate architects Herzog & De Meuron and

ATHENS

Designed by Oscar-winning duo Baz Luhrmann and wife Catherine Martin, Faena Hotel Miami Beach is as fantastical, glamourous and Hollywoodesque as you’d imagine.

offers excellent vistas of Biscayne Bay and beautiful hanging gardens. Make sure you also add Bass Museum on South Beach and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens at Coconut Grove to your list, too. Rent a boat – the best way to discover the multiple sides of this city’s beauty is by sea. Spend your morning on the beach but leave early to explore the center. Design District, Wynwood and Brickell are only a 15-minute drive away. Think like a local, because there are many hidden gems that have lasted the test of time. For shopping, wander around the Design District or Bal Harbour, and dedicate your Sunday to Lincoln Road. Head to The Webster, a multibrand store housed in a three-floor Art Deco building, to Bal Harbour Shops – an open-air mall by Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Ave – and En Avance, which specializes in emerging high end designers. Also visit Bossa Concept – a multibrand fashion boutique focused on Brazilian designers – and Kith Miami for collectible sneakers and streetwear. For books and publications, the independent Books & Books and Taschen Store Miami on Lincoln Rd stand out. For children’s clothes and toys, opt for Genius Jones. If you’re looking for homeware, the Design District is perfect, while there are wonderful antiques at Antique & Design Mall Miami on Biscayne Blvd and at Gary Rubinstein, Gustavo Oliver and Stripe

Vintage Modern on 125th St. For beauty and wellness, choose Gee Beauty, Emena day spa and IGK – a hair salon in the Design District.

The Four Seasons Surf Club spa is excellent, while Faena hotel’s spa offers interesting treatments and hamam. It’s difficult to single out one of the restaurants, but if I had to choose I’d say the Surf Club by chef Thomas Keller at the iconic Miami Surf Club, which dates back to 1930. This restaurant serves excellent food and pays tribute to historic cocktails and vintage spirits from the ‘50s. Another excellent choice is Azabu Miami Beach, the sibling of Michelin-starred NY restaurant, and, finally, Cecconi’s in the courtyard of Soho Beach House – a great place for pizza, pasta and Sunday brunch”.

Nikos Nanou and Egidio Guerreri, owners of the successful Bakalo & Catari in Mykonos, fell in love with Miami at first sight. Citizens of the world and bon viveurs with an interest in gastronomy, archi tecture and art, they would return often to spend at least one week of holidays in the sun as part of every single one of their voyages to the United States or Latin America. In 2014, they decided to start spending their winters in Miami. “The weather is fantastic, just like the beginning of summer in Europe. The city has developed at a great rate, and it’s the second biggest financial center after New York. Dy

WYNWOOD BOASTS THE BIGGEST CONCENTRATION OF STREET ART IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH MORE THAN 50 ARTISTS FROM 16 COUNTRIES.

namic and international in character, Miami has residents who work in banking, business, real estate – not just tourism.

Almost every other weekend there are festivals and opportunities to stay involved – Art Basel, food festivals, boat shows – attracting visitors of many persuasions from all over the world.

Miami’s culinary evolution has been immense in the past decade, especially after 2010. On one hand, you have international names – Nobu, Hak kasan, Cipriani – and on the other, up-and-coming local chefs presenting novel ideas. There are still some small, amicable neighborhood restaurants, but these are not what defines this city. The hotels attract much of the at tention with their extraordinary restaurants, from renovated ‘50s motels on South Beach to concept hotels such as EDITION, The Standard, or

newcomer EAST, which has an excellent pool bar. Hotel bars also draw in much of the nightlife, as it tends to happen in the United States more than in Europe. For example, LIVING club at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach. There is also a great cycling route for visitors looking to get to know Miami: Ride through Venetian Causeway, passing through the islands and heading downhill to the beach, and then from Lincoln Rd to South Point Pier. It’s also worth spending a few hours to explore the history of Art Deco, and of course to visit Wynwood, which has also developed an interesting culinary scene. If you’re into sports, take a kayak or canoe to Keys while, in addition to the shopping spots above, you can also head to the new Brickell City Center mall, whose eateries – in addition to the retail brands and new designers – are fascinating. 

ZAHA HADID’S FINAL MASTERPIECE

Thousand Museum is one of the most gracious luxury condos in Miami and Miami Beach.

Song Saa Private Island

Green Paradise Found

The koh rong archipelago off Cambodia is home to a veritable vacation gem: the private island known as Song Saa. Visiting the island in 2006 and enchanted by its natural beauty, then in decline, Rory and Melinda Hunter decided to buy it from the Cambodian gov ernment, setting three goals: restoring the natural envi ronment, helping the local community and creating a unique hospitality property, which would offer an authentic ex perience of the area. The couple proceeded to erect facilities where everything is designed around sustainability, local potential and indigenous resources. The furniture and textiles that adorn the island’s elegant, striking over-water villas are made from natural or recycled materials by local craftspeople. With a private pool and sea view deck, each villa has its own, unique style, inspired by Cambodia’s traditional fisher villages, which guests can vis it to witness traditional fishing, coral farming and agriculture methods. These initiatives are supported by the Hunters’ Song Saa Foundation, which works with volunteers, investors and supporters from around the world. songsaa-privateisland.com

North Island

n north island, one of the most popular destinations for premium travel, North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort, manages to stand out by offering a high quality stay experience crafted around both comfort and sus tainability. Under a similar moniker, North Resort in the archipelago of the Seychelles can satisfy guests of different profiles but always high expectations. Couples look ing to experience an unforgettable honeymoon, professionals in need of relaxation and de-stressing, and families with children can all find what they are looking for at North Island, which offers unsurpassed wellness and fine dining services just a breath away from the green-blue waters of the Indian Ocean. If they so choose, guests can reserve the entire island to enjoy its charms in full privacy. Having conquered the very first place in the ranking of the 100 “greenest” resorts in the world in 2019, North Island ensures guests’ activities are fully compatible with the aims of No ah’s Ark, the environmental program which works to rescue en demic animal species and their natural habitat. north-island.com

Pikaia Lodge ECUADOR

he location of pikaia Lodge, on the Ecuado rian island of Santa Cruz just a few miles off the Galapagos, made sustainability one of the essential requirements for the creation of this Relais & Châ teaux resort. At the top of the crater of an inactive volcano, Pikaia Lodge was built exclusively with eco-friendly recyclable materials. Cast in volcanic lava, the luxurious baths in every room are impressive, as is the teak and bamboo furniture from organic Ecuadorian farms. The cleaning and hygiene products used are biodegradable, while all water used on the premises is heated using solar panels. The resort is an ideal destination for lovers of nature, as it offers a wealth of activities around the Galapagos ecosystem, which is unique in the world. Surfing, trekking, mountain biking, catch-and-release eco-friendly fishing, and diving are all recommended to the more adventurous visitors while those looking for relaxation can charge their batteries at the giant turtle refuge that envelops the hotel. pikaialodge.com

T

HEALTH IS THE NEW BEAUTIFUL

There are no gimmicks behind SYMMETRIA’s success story: Dr Nikolaos Metaxotos, MD, PhD , unveils his philosophy that’s led the brand to international expansion.

tive and less invasive options. We focus on providing a holistic approach that deals with one’s individual needs and place emphasis on treatments that quickly, efficiently and painlessly correct the signs of ageing”, Dr Metaxotos stresses. “Gravity, a drop in hormone activity, age and local fat deposits are bound to leave their marks on the face and body. Tech nological developments and modern methods enable us to intervene in a bloodless, painless, incision-free manner, without the fear of any com plications that may occur in the operating room, with the extra bonus of not needing any recovery time”, he adds.

The Latest Technology for Best Results

SYMMETRIA® remains on the innovative front, armed with the latest technology when it comes to non-invasive and minimally invasive aes thetic procedures, weight management, and medical well-being. Inspired by the future, SYMMETRIA® has always strived to pave the path hand in hand with the latest technological advancements that prioritize safety, patient satisfaction, and amazing results. As a brand, we always conduct thorough market research to bring forth praised technologies that yield innovative solutions that match every patient’s needs”, says Dr. Metaxotos.

SYMMETRIA® offers innovative treatments for the renewal of the face and body, with the most advanced technologies, the most innova tive products, and a passion for aesthetics. Providing the most complete range of services, treating customers as individuals each with their own bespoke needs, conducting the procedures by highly specialized person nel and state-of-the-art equipment and techniques are the key qualities of SYMMETRIA®.

International Recognition

Focused on minimum intervention procedures that enhance the ageing face and body, Dr Nikolaos Metaxotos, MD, PhD, is one of the most sought-after international plastic surgeons. His story began with the birth of SYMMETRIA®, a multi-awarded health and beauty center, but his vision was greater than that. Motivation, persistence and all the right collaborations led to the international recognition that SYMMETRIA® enjoys to date, as well as an array of other ventures that fall in line with his passion for placing health and beauty in the spotlight.

Minimum Intervention, Maximum Effect ®

“Our motto is: “Minimum Intervention, Maximum Effect ®” – an op erational model whereby optimum results are achieved through alterna

It is no wonder that the international press has branded SYMMETRIA® as one of the top aesthetic clinics worldwide, whilst also being awarded with a significant number of awards; among them the Best Clinic Award, the European Quality Award, The Best Medical Practice Award, Best in Non-Invasive Treatments and the Gold Medical Beauty Award.

A Sensorial Experience

Your visit at SYMMETRIA® is a sensorial experience. Aesthetic treat ments today are more of an experience rather than just a service. With this in mind, SYMMETRIA® operates under carefully selected protocols to ensure smooth operation and increase patient satisfaction.

A New Era in Health & Beauty

“I am more than thrilled to announce that we are launching our latest venture; The SYMMETRIA SPOTS, with Athens and our collaboration with BIOIATRIKI as our starting point – strategically chosen for the

fruitful relationship we have already build via the PRIME AGE DNA protocols we offer”, says Dr.Metaxotos.

The SYMMETRIA SPOTS are compact, practical spaces that offer targeted treatments in a fast, efficient and safe manner with the same standards of a high-end brand and excellent value-for-money services.

The Same Day Beauty Boost

As a health and beauty hub whose scope is to create unique, tailor-made experiences for each customer, SYMMETRIA® brings together be spoke services and cutting-edge technologies. The Same Day Beauty Boost protocol gives you the opportunity to address all your needs with a tailor-made program of a series of minimally invasive rejuvenation and anti-ageing facial treatments that are carried out in just one session. The initial consultation can be carried out online through 3D simulation. SYMMETRIA® also offers concierge services and exclusive rates at lav ish hotels, such as the Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso, strategically dispersed across Athens.

The aim of single-day sessions is to tackle all your needs in a tailor-made fashion, without the need for multiple clinic visits as all treatments have been carefully designed to only require a single visit - whereby the initial consultation is conducted as a virtual consultation. When you decide to

go on with your planned non-surgical or minimally invasive treatments, you will have a consultation with the specialist doctor who will perform the procedures to make your final choice of the various options that will be offered to you.

This is a highly popular solution for those who live out of town or for our international travelers who visit us.

International Collaborations & Partnerships

The fact that SYMMETRIA® has been able to create trends and an ticipate and meet patient needs is what has led to its expansion in the Middle East and plans to further expand to new locations very soon.

At the same time, it maintains a strong presence in: SYMMETRIA® Athens, SYMMETRIA® SPOTs in Athens, SYMMETRIA® Bahrain, SYMMETRIA® Saudi Arabia, the distinguished Ion-Kavouni clinic in London, Praxisklinik Urania in Zurich, Instituto Javier de Benito in Barcelona, Clinique Delmar in Antibes as well as Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso in Vouliagmeni, Athens. All partner-clinics share the same philosophy and brand values as SYMMETRIA® when it comes to ser vices and patient care. •

For more information please visit: www.symmetria.com

Your visit at SYMMETRIA is a sensorial experience. Aesthetic treatments today are more of an experience rather than just a service. With this in mind, SYMMETRIA operates under carefully selected protocols to ensure smooth operation and increase patient satisfaction.

Your visit at SYMMETRIA is a sensorial experience. Aesthetic treatments today are more of an experience rather than just a service. With this in mind, SYMMETRIA operates under carefully selected protocols to ensure smooth operation and increase patient satisfaction.

A REVOLUTIONARY OF BUSINESS

His business moves were the stuff of legend. The thinking be hind them? “We must free our selves of the hope that the sea will become calm. We must learn to sail in strong winds”. Clandestine audiences and missions. At just 16 years old, Aris totle Onassis arrives in Greece as a refugee from the Asia Minor Catastrophe and in August 1923 he takes the leap and travels to Argentina with 250 dol lars in his pocket. He worked odd jobs washing dishes, in construction and as a night guard until he was hired as a nighttime telephone operator at British United River Plate Telephone Company. It was there, that he took advantage of the conversations he eavesdropped on and decided to found a small tobacco import and cigarette manufacturing company with the help of his father who sent him tobacco – often smuggled – from Turkey. “The secret in business is knowing something that no one else knows”, he used to say later in life. The first oil tanker in the world and contracts with ships still being built. His cigarette business is going quite well and Onassis, having already set significant capital aside, takes advantage of the financial junc ture created by the 1929 crash and turns to shipping in 1932. He was one of the first to anticipate the new opportunities created by the industrial revolution and

the role oil was set to play in it. He commissioned the first oil tanker in the world with a capacity of 15,000 tons, naming it “Ariston”. Shipping grew with leaps and bounds and Onassis continued to purchase larger and larger oil tankers, while he even signed deals for the transportation of coal and oil with ships that had not yet been built. Thus, major oil companies such as Mobil, Socony, and Texaco preferred steady long-term deals with him instead of having to deal with the head aches caused by smaller players. Into the shipping elite: marriage to the daughter of the patriarch of shipping. During World War II, Onas sis left London, where he had settled in the meantime, for New York. That was where he met Athena (Tina), the 16-year-old daughter of top Greek shipowner Stav ros Livanos. They were married in 1946, opening the door to the world of shipowners for Onassis. Domination in Monaco and in the skies, and a mon ster deal with the Saudis. Aristotle Onassis continuous ly built new oil tankers while he also turned to whalers, picking Monte Carlo as the base for his business. In 1953, he came close to owning all of Monaco, while that same year in Hamburg he christened the largest oil tanker in the world with a capacity of 45,000 tons; he called it “Tina Onassis”. In 1954, he closed a mon ster deal with the Saudis to transfer their oil. In 1957, with the encouragement of Konstantinos Karamanlis, Onassis took over TAE, a small airliner that was los ing money, for $2,000,000, and renamed it “Olympic

"IN ORDER TO SUCCEED, YOU NEED TO GO BIG, THINK BIG AND TALK BIG."

Airways”. Olympic Airways was soon an international airline; its glory days had begun. By then, the entrepre neur already had 70 companies all over the globe and was at the epicenter of attention and in touch with all of the world’s economic and political figures. The Suez Canal closes, the opportunity for wild profits opens up. After taking over Olympic Airways, Onassis orders the construction of the magnificent luxury yacht “Christina”, on which he hosted global personalities such as Winston Churchill. Through his friendship with the English politician’s son, Ran dolph Churchill, Onassis learned about the Suez crisis and – as the only independent shipowner at the time –used this information to make more money than he had imagined even in his wildest dreams. In 1967, the Suez Canal closes once again due to a new conflict between the Egyptians and the Israelis, and shipping

rates skyrocket. Onassis orders six new supertankers in 1968 – as a result, the total capacity of his tankers alone reaches 2,500,000 tons. His triumphs, his success and the worldwide admiration of his person would con tinue for another four years until 1973, when Onassis’ son Alexandros was killed in an airplane accident at El linikon airport. To honor his memory, Onassis created the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation.

The last oil tankers and his final acknowledgement.

Despite the fact that his fleet already consisted of more than 100 ships including 15 supertankers each with a capacity of 200,000 tons, Onassis commissions six more oil tankers, two of them with a capacity of 400,000 tons each – the largest in the world. However, the end was near. Shortly before his death, Aristotle Onassis was forced to confess: “In the end, money may not always be what people need in their lives”. 

“I’m the only one who knows how to get as rich as me”, Aristotle Onassis used to say, and his legendary talent is a special, perhaps even unique chapter in the history of international business.

Aristotle Onassis used to be a big fan of the Athenian Riviera. After all, his first asset after he returned from Argentina was the ‘‘Villa Onassis’’ in Glyfada area.

THE HOSPITALITY TRAILBLAZER

Elia Kentrota sets the rhythm for the innovative era of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens.

R

especting the natural beauty of the Athenian Riviera and having a flair for soft diplomacy, the Director of Commu nications and Public Relations of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens creates the path leading the area to a year-round glory.

As data suggest Greek tourism recovery to pre-pan demic levels, with Athens already reaping the benefits, how do you think this summer season in Athens will fare?

Actually, this season is even better than expected. With international travelers from all over the world arriving to Athens especially the US ones, craving to travel to Europe and other summer destinations, we see a huge demand that will establish Greece as the ultimate desti nation not only for the summer season but year around.

Regarding the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens ethos, what is your vision and philosophy of hospi tality for our national tourism product?

Everything we do is connected to our founder’s simple moto «Treat others as you wish to be treated». It goes to both guests and employees. Each and any of us is the ambassador for its country so we are all tied up with our national tourism product.

Interview by ELSA SOIMIRI

What do you believe is the greatest asset that the ex perience offers, and what makes it stand out?

Beautiful buildings can be found, settings can be found, but it is the humans that make the difference and the way you made them feel while their stay. The personal touch, recognizing a familiar face, genuine smiles and impeccable service are what make the difference.

How does Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens harmonise its plans with the environment, and what initiatives have you foreseen in sustainability?

As the whole planet harmonises with a more ecofriendly system, sustainability is a big part of our transforma tion. At FS, we have the plastic zero policy, solar panels, food waste management and recycling in everything we do as part of our everyday life. We have a long path to cross until we get to the ideal point but we are getting closer and closer every day.

How do you view Greek tourism as a whole? Are there any brands that stand out overseas which you consider hospitality industry benchmarks?

You can see the sifting on Greek tourism as a whole in every aspect. From small family business to top tier lux urious brands, Greece has so many experiences to offer to all inbound guests. Four Seasons was the first brand

that opened its doors to Athens and many hospitality brands are following such as One&Only, Mandarin Oriental, W and many more to come. How do you think the amazing landscape of the Athenian Riviera will change in the coming years as a result of the new projects at Ellinikon?

This is a unique project with many aspects and a great opportunity for the Greek market. Lots of new job openings, local vendors and business will be a great ben eficial for the whole community. New investments are happening and we need to be smart enough as a country to maintain our authenticity, and honest hospitality that made us popular over the past years, as well as be respectful with the nature “kallos” of the area. Do you think the transformation of the Athenian Riviera will lengthen the tourist season?

Absolutely. This is one of the biggest challenges we are facing during shoulder months. While summers are ex tremely popular for both locals and international guests, winters are very quiet. There are many opportunities to expand our season as incentive trips, culinary experienc es and promote the Riviera as a wellness destination. What secrets would you share about the Athenian Riviera and Greece overall with a foreign visitor?

Most of our guests are not even aware that Athens is surrounded by sea. Imagine that this location is 20 minutes away from the Airport, 35 min from the city center and you can return to the Riviera and have the absolute island feeling!

What gives you the most satisfaction in your day-today running of the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens projects?

We start by heart and we continue with passion! Every

"Most of our guests are not even aware that Athens is surrounded by sea. Imagine that this location is 35’ from the city center."

Elia Kentrota loves this location of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens even more during winter where the colors are brighter, the sunset is purple and pink and the coast is full of surfers!

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL influence

single day differs from the others and as I always say “As hoteliers, our role is mainly based in soft diplomacy”.

If you could invite three famous guests (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you choose?

Melina Mercouri for her passion and brio. Aristotle

Onassis for his sharpness and charm and Elvis Prisley since I am a little bit influenced from the movie I recently saw. Wow what a fun party this would be...

What do you love most about working in this amazing coastal area of Athens?

I love this location even more during winter where the colors are brighter, the sunset is purple and pink and the coast is full of surfers!

Do you have any travel goals for 2022?

I am staying in Greece for the summer; exploring a new island or mainland-hidden gems. 

"We start by heart and we continue with passion! Every single day differs from the others and as I always say ‘As hoteliers, our role is mainly based in soft diplomacy’."

THE LEGACY KEEPER

Vangelis Daktylides, one of the owners of the Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts group, invites guests to the unique sophisticated experience of Mykonos island.

Interview by ELSA SOIMIRI

of people I grew up with here on Mykonos. And I take every opportunity to enjoy this magnificent island we call home. Mykonos might be small, but there’s always something new to discover, see and do. That is partly thanks to the incredible people of this island, those who were born here as well as those who chose to make it their home, who contribute to Mykonos’s vibrant cultural life, with art, happenings and, of course, an amazing food scene! But it’s also thanks to the island itself, to the enchanting way its nature and landscapes change with every season. This connection we have to the land, to each other and to the community here is precious, and we strive to pass a little bit of that feeling on to our guests, through the personalised hospitality and authentic experiences that we offer.

You place a lot of importance on the term “sustain ability. What does this concept in hospitality invest ments mean to you?

yconian col lection’s Van gelis Daktylides discusses their key priorities for this year aiming at the strong emotions summoned by Greek authentic hospitality. What are your expectations this season?

Greece is set to have a bumper tourism season in 2022, with better than expected outcomes across the board. The country is expecting a huge number of visitors and the offering is better than ever. At Myconian Collection, we already welcome guests from around the world at our 11 outstanding luxury properties, including the brand new O by Myconian Collection and Panoptis Escape.

Located in four of the island’s most coveted destina tions—Mykonos Town, Elia Beach, Ornos Beach and Platis Gialos—our properties combine breathtaking locations with exquisite interiors to provide the perfect backdrop for discerning travellers to enjoy unbeatable summer holidays.

After these past two years, we all deserve a bit of sunshine in our lives—literally and figuratively—and that’s at the heart of what Myconian Collection aims to offer each and every one of our guests: An opportunity to relax and recharge, to celebrate their authentic self, and to experience joy and togetherness in the best company, in the best possible setting and with a world of bespoke luxury at their fingertips. Our team has worked hard to ensure that the experience is nothing less than extraor dinary, and guests can expect to enjoy a full range of bespoke activities, authentic encounters with local cul

Mture, gourmet dining and chic bars, spa and pampering opportunities, glamorous events, and the stellar service that Myconian Collection is known for. In a nutshell, we are committed to delivering the kind of attention to detail that elevates a fantastic holiday into a heavenly experience… memories to be cherished forever. What is the greatest asset about working in the trav el industry?

It’s the people that make it all worthwhile. The people we work with and the people we welcome as guests. The opportunity to create meaningful experiences at every step, from offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime luxury hospitality experience to providing opportunities for our team to grow and to excel and, of course, to sup porting local businesses and the local community so that Mykonos can continue to be the unique, authen tic, wonderful place that it is.

As Mykonos natives, we love everything about this is land, and we’re driven by a genuine passion to show the world just how exceptional Mykonos is. That’s what inspired Myconian Collection. From the opening of our first small hotel in 1979 to the thriving enterprise we are today, Myconian Collection has always been a family-owned and family-managed business, built on the back of hard work and grounded in a tradition of genuine Greek island hospitality. Our father dug the foundations for our first four hotels with a wheel-loader he picked up second-hand, and our mother was in charge of breakfasts and housekeeping. We’ve certainly grown a bit since then, but the whole family still works hard every day to make sure that this isn’t just a successful business, but a legacy to pass on to the next generation.

Where do you dedicate your free time?

When it comes to free time, I put my money where my mouth is. I try to spend as much quality time as possible with my family and with my friends and the community

In our family, we all have at least one thing in common: our love for Mykonos; its light and its truth, its sea and tradition, its history and its unique spirit. Mykonos inspires us and we continue to take care of it as much as we can, with everything from donations like this one to beach cleaning and more. To us, Mykonos is more than a place. We believe that much of our success is be cause of this very real, very genuine connection to this land. It’s a source of endless inspiration which, even after all this time, still brings new experiences, ideas and opportunities. This is why every passing year we discover new ways of communicating our love to it.

Recently, this has included the complete construction from scratch of a fully functional Gymnasio second ary school in Ano Mera – complete with classrooms, workshops, sports courts, yard, staff accommodation, and recreation and multi-purpose spaces. Specifically, the new Gymnasio high school serves students between the ages 12 and 15 – the first leg of secondary education in Greece – from its location in Ano Mera, the second biggest settlement on Mykonos Island. The ambitious project by our family set the goal of providing a fully functional, disability-friendly building consisting of 13 spacious and bright classrooms making use of cut ting-edge smart tech, each of which can accommodate up to 20 students. In total, the new facilities already serve 200 students and dozens of teachers. Eco-friendly and designed with the particular demands of the community of Mykonos firmly in mind, the new school is fully in line with sustainability considerations and innovative energy-saving technologies, as well as fully integrated with the traditional architecture of Mykonos. It adopts several technological breakthroughs and features tech and information science workshops, natural sciences laboratories, basketball courts, as well as a large, multi purpose space for assembly and events, among others. Moreover, the facilities include accommodation for teaching staff, with 18 homes built to this end alongside

the school – a useful, practical feature providing peace of mind and convenience for educators.

If you could invite three famous guests (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you choose?

Melina Mercouri, of course! Melina was one of a kind, a woman of extraordinary passion and spirit, who em bodied in so many ways the spirit of Hellenism and be came a sort of ambassador of Greek culture to the world. Also Tom Hanks, who has long proclaimed his love for Greece, and the renowned Greek composer Manos Hatzidakis, whose songs have been the soundtrack to the lives and summers of people around the world. Which book and/or TV show attracted your full attention?

Trends and seasonal hits aside, I keep coming back to a Greek author and writer, one who often exalted Mykonos and who has long been my all-time favourite: Nikos Kazantzakis. Of all his works, the novel Zorba the Greek is the one I keep re-reading most, and no matter how many times I’ve read it, I never tire of the writing or the lessons the story holds. Kazantzakis is truly an extraordinary writer. His work is timeless. What is your main goal in 2022?

After everything we have all been through over the past two years, it is time to let go and relax, to embrace the joy

of travelling and of sharing moments and experiences.

2022 must be a year of reconnecting with ourselves and finding happiness in togetherness. This is going to be a year of trying new things, visiting new places, and dis covering new ways to live life to the fullest. And that’s also our goal at Myconian Collection.

This year we’re debuting two new properties: the beach front O by Myconian Collection, which brings sublime luxury and cosmopolitan chic to Ornos Beach, and the ultra-luxury Panoptis Escape, which draws inspiration from Zeus himself to offer an exclusive holiday experi ence from its hilltop perch above Elia Beach. So, with 11 fabulous Myconian properties in total, we’re look ing forward to welcoming guests to a world of barefoot luxury, authentic Greek hospitality, unforgettable ex periences and legendary personalised service on iconic, inimitable, sun-kissed Mykonos.

And, what’s next for the Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts?

In addition to our two new entries, there is even more in the works. 2023 will see the launch of our most up scale, top-tier property yet at the striking Agios Vasilis, very near to Mykonos Town – yet far enough to de liver privacy and exclusive luxury made for discerning VVIPs. Stay tuned! 

Vangelis Daktylides invite us to try everything that’s new at the Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts’ exquisite portfolio.

"THE WHOLE DAKTYLIDES FAMILY STILL WORKS HARD EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ISN’T JUST A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, BUT A LEGACY TO PASS ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION."

Although she spends most of her time in Cyclades, Kalia Konstantinidou remains an Athenian lover as a South of Athens native.

THE AUTHENTIC HOSPITALITY GUARDIAN

Fond of unity, Kalia Konstantinidou, co-owner of Kanava Hotels & Resorts, sets the pace to recreate the Greek authentic hospitality.

Interview by ELSA SOIMIRI

With the vision of creating lifetime memories, Kalia Konstantinidou aims at redefining the notion of a summer destination forging a bond between the Kanava Hotels & Resorts and their guests. An integral part of their DNA, this bond is transmuted into the “joy of life” and respect for the locality. What motivated you to create Kanava Hotels & Resorts and what are the goals and vision behind it?

From the day that my husband, Antonis Iliopoulos, had the idea to turn a rustic vineyard to the first five-star hotel of Santorini, the now renowned Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, our vision was clear; we want to redefine destinations as the leading luxury hospitality brand of Greece. Our goal is to offer unique experiences to sophisticated travelers, in order to create lifetime memories and elevate Greek hospitality. Our sole purpose is to act as the bond for our guests to connect with the destination, while we encourage them to fully disconnect and create their own story, embracing the authentic Cycladic lifestyle and carefree state of mind. How would you define the DNA of Kanava Hotels & Resorts which has been preserved to this day?

Each of our properties represents a part of our company’s DNA and ourselves – each feels like our child with a very distinctive character and personality. Even though we have expanded significantly over the past few years, our DNA has successfully managed to preserve the unique character of our brand. It consists of our values which are the backbone of the way we operate in everyday life. We strongly believe in the “joy of life” both for our guests when they visit our proper ties, but also for our people who make everything possible, from their inner soul. Another important aspect of our DNA is no other than passion for what we do,

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL

which is the fuel that inspires us individually and collectively and drives our com pany forward. Last but not least, we value innovation and distinction; we do things in our own distinctive way by being the destination authority, while always striving for continuous improvement.

What do you believe is the greatest asset that the Kanava Hotels & Resorts expe rience offers, and what makes it stand out?

At Kanava Hotels & Resorts we aspire to offer our guests the Greek essence of distinc tive hospitality. Except from the exceptional five-star service our teams offer to our guests, and our commitment to refined gastronomy, holistic wellbeing and authentic culture, I believe the greatest asset of our hotels is the respect for the locality of each destination. Our properties embrace the local architecture, traditions, rituals, con nect with the local community and most importantly, offer guests the opportunity to do the same, while enjoying an elevated and sophisticated hospitality experience. What is your vision and philosophy of hospitality for our national tourism product? I would love to see our local brand emit to the world the sophistication we live and breathe. In an international context, there tends to be a false perception that Greece is all about the sea, the sun and the fun. Our guests at Kanava Hotels & Resorts are beyond overwhelmed to learn that as a country we have so much more to offer in gastronomy, music, art and culture. We always strive to promote this elevated side of Greece, disseminate Greek values and heritage, and in doing so to propagate Greece’s new message to the world.

How do you think the landscape of the Athenian Riviera will change in the com ing years as a result of the projects at Ellinikon?

Undoubtedly the transformation of the Athenian Riviera will upgrade the area, add to the city’s prestige and attract high-end investors and tourists. As an Atheni an lover and a South of Athens native, I am looking forward to seeing the end re sult-undoubtedly striking- as I strongly believe that Athens has immense potential and I am so excited to see it flourish!

Do you think the transformation of the Athenian Riviera will lengthen the tourist season?

I believe that slowly but steadily Athens is gaining its proper position among the Metropoles of Europe and I see it becoming a year-round destination attracting a diverse crowd that will contribute to its sensorial transformation.

How do you view Greek tourism as a whole? Are there any brands that stand out? Greece has immense potential and I believe we can achieve great things if we invest in synergies between destinations, hotels, and all different business related to tour ism. Looking to the future, we need to follow the need for the tourism sector to implement green policies, incorporate new technologies and create products and infrastructure that cater to traveler preferences towards sustainability, learning some thing new, volunteering, living an adventure, or nomadic sabbaticals, among others, that will in turn prompt the tourism and travel industry to adapt and transform. Working collectively towards a goal can create far greater results than each of us on our own. Among the Greek brands that I love and stand out are Phāea Resorts for their passion, environmental consciousness and humancentric approach and Temes for their vision, commitment and innovation.

What gives you the most satisfaction in your day-to-day running of the Kanava projects?

Every time that I visit one of our properties, what satisfies me the most is the energy I receive immediately, that brings a big smile on my face. What we are most proud

of is the calming ambience we have managed to create in all of our hotels. Every cor ner is imbued with a sense of serenity and as soon as I step in, I can disconnect from everything else and enjoy the vibe, while carefully observing how this same energy flows from our associates to our guests.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge that you’ll face this year?

I think that our biggest challenge this year is to accommodate the high demand, as people are so eager to travel, without adequate human resources. We have struggled to find the right people for the growing needs of our guests, and I understand that this is a global challenge. I feel that the most important aspect is that all of us in tourism need to change the general perception and communicate the message that Hospitality is not an industry, but a profession. We have to create engagement ener gy in our properties, so that we generate the hospitality professionals of tomorrow. What is the first place that you would go to in order to relax and rejuvenate?

This is a very difficult choice, as I am deeply connected with each one of our prop erties, but if I had to choose one then it would probably be Parīlio, as the energy of this place is truly unique and has a transformative power that rejuvenates. However, the place that has stolen my heart and has made me feel almost like I was born there, is Oitylo village at Mani peninsula, where we have created a lovely cottage house and I cherish all memories I am creating with my family and friends there. What do you love most about working in the travel industry?

The opportunity to search and showcase the authentic side of a well-known desti

nation. I always try first the experiences we then curate for our guests and I research a lot to discover local hidden gems and learn for myself, before I blend them with the destination and hotel offering. That has offered me the opportunity to meet wonderful people coming from different paths of life and see life through their eyes. For me, it always comes down to the human factor, whether it is meeting with locals or seeing the joy in our guests’ eyes, through our hero associates that are the wind beneath our wings. 

"We strongly believe in the ‘joy of life’ both for our guests, but also for our people who make everything possible."

"I believe that slowly but steadily Athens is gaining its proper position among the Metropoles of Europe and I see it becoming a year-round destination."

GREEK TOURISM FLYING HIGH

Beginning his career at Gol dair S.A. in 1986 to become Goldair Handling’s CEO for Greece and Bulgaria in 2010, we caught up with Dimitris Papamichail for an in-depth discussion about the developments on the Athenian Riviera, air tourism and how Greece has performed despite the many challenges it has faced.

Goldair Handling has a strong presence in many air ports in Greece as well as Bulgaria and Cyprus, and continues to be the first privately owned ground handling company in the country. With leisure travel now shaped by emotional criteria with travelers seek ing memorable rather than consumer-based experi ences, can you describe the experience that Goldair Handling offers visitors?

We pioneered by being the first privately owned com pany in Greece, following the end of the monopoly regime in 1999, whilst also paving the way for Greek ground handling companies to expand overseas. The success of both ventures continues to be based on the quality of services, or if you like, on replacing “pro cess” with “hospitality”, which as Greeks, is our em blematic and traditional characteristic. I will tell you, by way of example, that just 2 years ago (in 2020) we won the international tender for exclusively servicing passengers with disabilities at Zurich airport, in which, the company that had provided this service for the last 12 years was also bidding for the contract. So we were overjoyed when we were informed that in the recent Skytrax awards for the provision of services for the disabled worldwide, Zurich Airport was voted the 1st European airport and 5th globally. This distinction is particularly important for us as it is the passengers themselves who vote in the process.

What does Goldair Handling offer premium travelers? Services provided to passengers, both by the airlines and by ground service operators on the ground are expand ing every year, based on the one hand on technology, and on the other, on the airports’ infrastructures. In regards to infrastructure, Greece was at a comparative disadvantage for many years, which initially improved with the opening of Athens International Airport “El.

Venizelos” in 2001 and more recently, with the 14 re gional airports now managed by Fraport Greece. In both cases, significant investments have been made, both in terms of the overall passenger experience and the premium offering. Regarding the latter, our com pany consistently invests, among other things, in lux ury premium lounges, with the opening this year of two premium lounges at AIA “El. Venizelos”, one in Mykonos and one in Heraklion, Crete, all offering upgraded hospitality and fine dining services before passengers board.

Is there anything that has remained high on the priori ties of Goldair Handling’s management over the years? Sustainable development and extroversion continue to be are our main priorities. A healthy company has to be able to provide sustainable employment opportunities. We have progressed from being a company with a few dozen employees 23 years ago to currently employing almost 4,000 people. In Greece, we currently employ 3,200 employees, which is especially significant in light of the 2 difficult years of the pandemic, but also in an institutional sense, as we recently concluded the collec tive labor agreement with the employees’ association.

What are the Greek aviation sector’s prospects now that tourism is once again gaining momentum?

The data are extremely optimistic, regarding tourist traf fic in general, and airline passenger traffic in particular.

We are seeing a significant recovery in air traffic, com pared to the record year in 2019; we expected to see this recovery in 2023 or 2024 and not this season. Demand

Interview by ELSA SOIMIRI

for Greece is strong, aircraft load levels are high and we find that the loss of tourists from Russia and Ukraine has already been more than covered by other markets. Although we are definitely going to have a busy sum mer season, we are extremely wary of the problems the airline industry is facing, there are flight delays or cancellations due to lack of airport security staff and cabin crew and lost luggage due to the lack of ground staff at key European airports. What is Goldair Handling’s strategy for the next ten years? How do you envision ground handling in the future?

Regarding the domestic market, our goal is to transition our operations to the “green” era, using technological applications that will simplify the daily lives of users as well as strengthen the competitiveness of our services. At the same time, and in collaboration with the Greek air port operators (AIA, Fraport Greece), we are preparing significant investments in “green” ground equipment, with a 7-year horizon, with the end aim of assisting the airports’ zero carbon footprint goals by 2025. Regarding our international presence, we are excited about our recent expansion into India, a market with excellent growth prospects that solidifies our transition from a regional company to an international ground handling organization, which allows us to transfer our know-how as well as the principles of Greek hos pitality to developing airports in Asia. Our further ex pansion into additional Indian airports, but also our firm belief that we can contribute substantially to the

development of airports in the Balkans (Croatia, Ser bia) are some of our strategic plans for the next decade. With the search for quality forms of tourism develop ment at the forefront, air tourism undoubtedly con tributes to attracting high-income tourists. What are the goals in this regard, and how do they relate to the current development of major infrastructure projects such as the Ellinikon or the Vouliagmeni marina? We have seen quality tourism consistently developing in our country in general. This has taken place in Athens in particular, which has resulted from the coordinat ed efforts of many private and public agencies such as Municipality of Athens, AIA “El. Venizelos”, Aegean Airlines, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterpris es and other agencies promoting Athens, not only as a city-break destination, but as a 12-month destination. However, as you also know demanding tourists want more than just flying business or first class or upgraded airport services. They want to live the travel experience to the maximum, with good transportation, quality ac commodation, cultural experiences, gastronomy and a feeling of security that will not only make them want to re-visit the destination, but render them actual ambas sadors of Greek culture and hospitality. In this context,

"WE ARE EXCITED

ABOUT OUR RECENT EXPANSION INTO INDIA, A MARKET WITH EXCELLENT GROWTH PROSPECTS

THAT SOLIDIFIES OUR TRANSITION FROM A REGIONAL COMPANY TO AN INTERNATIONAL GROUND HANDLING ORGANIZATION."

the Ellinikon and Vouliagmeni marina mega-projects as well as the wider development and improvement of the infrastructure of the unique Athenian Riviera, will holistically strengthen the high demands of these types of tourists. This will result in Athens being on a par with other global tourist destinations that have already adopted this type of tourism.

What steps have already been made towards develop ing the new type of air tourism in Greece?

Greece has progressed rapidly in recent years in attract ing high-level air tourism. A key pillar of development was obviously the development of the airports, namely Athens and the 14 regional airports. The improvement of the facilities came about due to the airlines’ capacity increases as well as recent investments that Greek air lines have made in new aircrafts. At the same time, the international alliances that the country is building give a vote of confidence to the “Greek” tourism brand, re cently resulting in a significant increase in direct flights from the US, and an increase in flight frequencies from France, and other markets such as Austria, Poland and Israel. Powerful investments groups making large in vestments in the hospitality have resulted in new 5-star hotel facilities in several destinations, which if nothing else, contribute decisively to this type of tourism, lead ing to Greece ranking 5th place this year in the “Tour ism” category.

In an intense and ever-changing economic as well as social environment, what personal motto do you rely on?

The environment we have been operating in for many years is not only dynamic, but I would dare to say a kind of risky, for the reason that the ten-year economic crisis in Greece was succeeded by a global health crisis which is ongoing. We are also already heading for the next geopolitical crisis which has brought with it an ex plosion in energy costs, the negative effects of which we can’t even measure just yet. As a result, crisis manage ment has become the new norm for many companies, which of course isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it forces a company to shield itself from unforeseen situations, through prudent management, avoiding high risk and continuously adapting. Therefore, adaptability and realism are my two main “beliefs” in the times we are going through.

Is ‘thinking outside the box’ part of your manage ment style?

This business doesn’t really allow for that. The reality is that we operate within strict institutional and oper ational frameworks that are defined by Community directives and implemented by the competent domestic authorities. We have to fully comply with EU and domestic law which limits several thoughts and practices that may initially sound innovative and pioneering, but in practice are not supported nor provided for by the current legislation.

The CEO of Goldair Handling , Dimitris Papamichail, gives us his perspective on Greece’s air industry, ground handling and how tourism is progressing.

HER WAY

High-end style visionary. Success story. Female entrepreneur. Marie Zacharaki’s approach to swimwear made her mark on the Greek fashion scene –and the future remains bright.

GEORGE

“I brought Pin-Up Stars to Greece. I did everything to get them on the market, even put leaflets through people’s doors.”

Marie zacharaki’s vi sion has transformed the Greek resortwear scene and market, also embracing everything from ready-to-wear to accesso ries and home brands. Salt Water was founded in 1995, when she identified a gap in the domestic market. Why should swimwear be confined to lingerie stores? Why can’t it be a fashion statement? And indeed, it could. Marie Zacharaki’s iconic company brings some of the most premium fashion brands to Greece, from Camilla to Orlebar Brown and MC2 St Barth to Melisa Odabash.

Today, Marie is one of the most successful and unique figures in fashion. Salt Water’s mono-brand and mul ti-brand boutiques feature luxury footwear and acces soriess by Cult Gaia, uplifting clothing by Camilla, the posh toiletries of The English Soap Company, glamor ous swimsuits by Pin-Up Stars, coveted pieces by Bal main, stylish Stella McCartney creations, and ethereal resortwear by Temptation Positano – among others.

In fact, her company’s retail and wholesale network reaches 1 in 5 locals and visitors.

She set off on this glamorous journey young but nev ertheless set the bar high and strived for what she loves.

Having studied fashion in Italy, she earned a Master’s in Design and speaks four languages. Marie Zacharaki has an inherent passion for creation. Self-made, she worked with determination and decisiveness to even tually direct a company that boasts three monobrand stores (Orlebar Brown in Mykonos, MC2 Santorini and MC2 Astir Palace Beach (Vouliagmeni)), four multibrand stores (three in Attica and one in Paros) and two multibrand corners in Athens. We met in her stunning boutique inside the Four Sea sons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, in Vouliagmeni. Talk ing with Marie revealed a magical world of fashion, inspiration and resolve.

How does a career woman combine success and fam ily life?

I set the bar high. Had plenty of experiences but I was in it for the long term. My years living abroad matured me and gave me a vision, but I never lost sight of my

goal: building a beautiful, close-knit family and expe riencing the serenity that can only come from creating something of your own and then sharing it with the people you love.

What motivated you in your professional path?

I wanted to travel the world. I had a vision and an af finity for creating. I also wanted to be independent. Growing up, I traveled a lot with my parents because my father was a pilot with Olympic Airways. This opened my horizons and fueled my ambition.

Back then, it was difficult for a Greek woman to move abroad. How was it for you?

I was incredibly enthusiastic. Afraid of nothing and taking nothing for granted. I wanted to finish school, move on, discover, experiment! But I also worked hard. I chose to study in Italy – which was fortunate because I met lots of illustrious people in fashion. I worked for Fiorucci, who collaborated with Jean Paul Gaultier. Gaultier was a huge name at the time – we made clothes for Madonna. This was my introduction to high quality in fashion design. And it gave me an unwavering vision and standards.

Did you visit Greece in the six years of your absence?

Often, even on weekends. We took our vacations in Mykonos, at a very authentic era. My friends and I would rent locals’ houses, ride vespas, swim, dive…

Authentic fun in a still virgin landscape. You had a unique, key influence on the swimwear scene in Greece. How did you get this idea?

In our country summer lasts several months. Back in the day, swimsuits only lived in lingerie stores and were utilitarian, not beautiful! Same in Italy. So, I got the idea to design swimsuits. I was studying marketing and business of fashion at Domus Academy, but there were also fashion design courses available which I followed, and among the instructors was the iconic designer Ferré.

There was a swimwear shop in Kalogera, Pan, which agreed to stock our pieces. We made amazing swimwear featuring gems, colors, beautiful double-sided Lycra tex tiles. They said, “Girls, come sell them yourselves!” And we took a leap of faith, heading there to work! And we discovered Mykonos behind the scenes. Louisa, Vanda Katoutsi and I – the bohemian, the iconic women and I, with a more relaxed attitude. Three strong personal ities, so different. But we were so enthusiastic. Others would go to Caprice; we would work. Because we were incredibly passionate about swimwear. We toiled, stayed up all night, fell ill, but rose to the occasion. It taught us so much: responsibility, tiredness, teamwork, lim its… It was Vanda’s first-time wearing shoes decorated with Swarovski crystals.

How do you see yourself today, looking back?

It was no laughing matter. I fought every day. I’m so proud when I think about it. I learned self-confidence.

I found my footing. I had no qualms. I was creating my collection, and that was important to me. I was on a mission.

How did Ralph Lauren come into the picture?

After Italy, I was invited to the US – a tempting offer that nevertheless did not tempt me. I’d made up my mind. I had built a strong network and wanted to return to Greece. I missed my friends. Today, I might have chosen differently. So, my sister calls me and says Ralph Lauren are looking for someone for their Kolonaki store – the first one. I was hired within a day. In Italy, at Gaultier, I learned about design and pattern. We would follow his mood board and do the test drive. At Ralph Lau ren, I learned about retail. VIP customers, amenities, luxury. At 24 years old, I was managing seven people. And what about your passion for swimwear? I never stopped marketing swimwear but I was pressed for time. I managed three floors at Ralph Lauren, for three-four years. I would return home at 11. But it had run its course and I wanted to move on. I started my own swimsuit business. As I was looking for a store, Alexandros Manos approached me with a new concept in marketing and media. I joined him for two years. But I would still sell my swimsuits to friends – at Poros, at the water ski centers. I’d never stopped traveling and searching for amazing swimwear all around the world. So, I brought Pin-Up Stars to Greece. I did everything to get them on the market, even put leaflets through people’s doors. Where do you think your secret to success lies? It’s essential that you do what you love. It’s important to travel to find stimuli. To see things. I think out of the box. Once, for a winter collection, I hired Dionys os restaurant near the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and flooded it with Styrofoam snow. It was a modern, rev

olutionary show in a classical setting with an incredi ble view. The media saw I was unique and supported me. My network and friends helped – and vice versa, as people fell in love with the products. They sold out right away.

When did you feel you made your dream a reality?

With the Astir Beach concept store – Salt Water Bou tique. When I traveled with my parents in Miami, New York, Paris, Caribbean, where there are a lot of resorts, I observed what people wore. I saw how they dressed and didn’t like how commercial and boring the stores were. I was determined to do things differently if I had the chance. I was lucky enough to choose brands that took off. I introduced new names such as Camilla, Agua Bendita, MC2 St Barth. I also brought to the market no brand companies that grew alongside myself – such as Melissa Odabash who now has incredible brand aware ness This was where all my ideas took form. I created a relaxed store. I wanted a different experience – to have it be part of the customers’ vacations. When my Salt Water multibrand store opened at the Four Seasons, it was a dream come true: a slow-living resort boutique. It had a sitting area, spacious fitting rooms, large till area that gives you a sense of comfort, like being at home. It was a success!

What do you feel is your reward?

When I see that the realization of my dream brings smiles to other people’s faces.

What’s next for you?

To keep evolving my company and bring freshness and innovation to the local fashion industry, and why not, take my retail concept abroad. I have always been careful and conservative in my ventures. I continue to dream but my children and my family take priority. They give me balance and make me feel alive and happy.

Marie Zacharaki in her stunning boutique inside the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, in Vouliagmeni.

"OTHERS WOULD GO TO CAPRICE; WE WOULD WORK. BECAUSE WE WERE INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT SWIMWEAR. WE TOILED, STAYED UP ALL NIGHT, FELL ILL, BUT ROSE TO THE OCCASION."

GEORGE

The

PICTURE PERFECT GREECE

of

Hailing from a well-known ship owning family, super talented, globetrotting photographer Marina Vernicos explains what makes Greece and photographing it so distinctly special.

Having traveled around the world since she was a young child, internationally renowned, award-winning Greek photogra pher, Marina Vernicos knows a thing or two about capturing nature in all of its glory, especially when it comes to her own country - evident through her thousands of astounding images of Greece.

Traveling has been a way of life for you since you were young which you continue to do now with your own family. Have your travel choices changed over the years? Are the travel experi ences that you are looking for any different at this stage of your life?

No, they don’t change, they just intensify. Right now we want to travel as much as we can togeth er with our children before they go off to study at university.

Nature-based photography requires not only be ing able to capture an image but to also convey a message about its susceptibility in terms of nat ural or geopolitical disasters – such as the recent war conflict. What are your thoughts on this?

As a person I’m very optimistic. I will always pho tograph our planet in term of its beauty. I love beauty and avoid focusing on disasters. Is there a spot along the Athenian Riviera, which stretches from Piraeus to Sounio, that you would like to capture with your camera?

>

I have captured it all. The Athenian Riviera is beautiful. All the way from Piraeus to Sounio! Are there beaches and stretches of water in the Cyclades that have particularly impressed you?

" AS A PERSON I’M VERY OPTIMISTIC. I WILL ALWAYS PHOTOGRAPH OUR PLANET IN TERM OF ITS BEAUTY."

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL influence

Would you say that there are spots to where you can es cape to on popular islands such as Mykonos, for example?

For me, the Cyclades islands are the most beautiful part of the world. The waters in Koufonisia, Polyaigo and Mylos impress me every time I visit them; they never fail to amaze me. Mykonos also has beautiful beaches. There’s a reason why it’s one of the most famous islands in the world. The 5th CREAID auction is in its preparation stage. What are your plans for the next project?

I still haven’t thought of the next project. I’m anxious for this to go well, that we have a successful auction so that we can help as many children in need as possible. 

"THE CYCLADES ISLANDS ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE WORLD; THEY NEVER FAIL TO AMAZE ME."

THE COMMUNICATION KEY HOLDER

The new Marketing & Communication Director of notos Department Stores

Division explains how the historical brand follows an innovation highway focusing to omni-channel strategy.

Interview by DESPOINA SAMPSON

A

s the new Marketing & Communication Director at notos department stores, she knows that in order to open the door to the future, you should treasure the past and evolve it into your new route.

You recently became Marketing & Communication Director at notos department stores, one of the largest and longest-running department store chains in Greece in fashion and beauty. What challenge do you face with a traditional shopping destination like notos?

I take particular pride in joining a team and a company that runs one of the most historical retail multi store businesses in Greece. Becoming a member of notos Department Stores’ Division at Notos Com Holdings S.A, I have realized that along with a fully capable team around me, the key milestones we need to build on are our history while taking advantage of our credentials in order to move on to a new era:

a. Build on a distinctive shopping destination based on an already existed and well-established portfolio and clientele but at the same time setting new trends in both fashion and beauty, rep resented by new, upcoming brands with high awareness and affinity penetration to new Gens. b. Elevate customer experience and paths online/offline in order to further enhance brand proximity. c. Making Omni channel Strategy, in terms of flawless cross channel service, developments, as sortment and synergies, the core of our business effort.

The historic flagship department store is located in the heart of Athens on the corner of Sta diou and Aiolou. In the shop window, passersby can scan QR codes upgrading the shopping experience from a physical to a digital experience. What type of consumer are you aiming at with this type of dual strategy?

Building on Omni channel recruitment, retention and conversion are two of our primary busi ness focuses. Beyond a specialized product strategy, key contributors in the acceleration of omni strategy will be UX developments aiming at enhancing traffic across our business channels – notos existing or potential new customer, no matter demographics, will be communicated across all potential brand touchpoints either at physical stores or notos.gr. QR codes in the physical shop windows of Athens and Thessaloniki trigger exactly this business point of view – we give the chance to a customer passing by our store in Athens or Thessaloniki to scan and explore our collection exposed on the windows. Therefore, in any time of his/her convenience, he/she would be able to look around online, shop or return back to the store in order to try on or see more collections. What does the shopping experience have in store for visitors shopping at notos and how would you like it to take shape over the next few years?

Experience is a mix of products, convenience and service. These are the pillars we target to keep always relevant, updated and accelerated in the period to come. In terms of assortment, our fo cus will be on a portfolio consisted of established brands in fashion, beauty and home but with additions from upcoming brands representing new trends in the main businesses we commer cialize at. Service and well-trained teams, that are willing to help our customers, can advise based on their personal style making the customers’ visit smooth and pleasant. That had always been and will continue to be our priority. Customer instore shopping paths will be further refreshed in order to contribute to a flawless, easy to go around customer journey.

As infrastructure projects along the entire coast al front of Athens have begun to take shape aimed at boosting the capital’s tourism product and extending the tourist season to 12 months, do you believe that the landscape of distinctive shopping destinations in the capital will be affected?

On the contrary… Any infrastructure taking place in Athens, center or coastal, will further enhance our capital’s image as a destination to-be all year long! They will create visiting triggers on an an nual basis that both shopping destinations in the city center or in the coastal part will benefit from. New hotel openings, new experiential projects and occasions, along with a really well-organized effort on behalf of all involved stakeholders that already takes place in order to communicate Ath ens and all our distinctive districts, will accelerate tourism growth which is our country’s USP re sulting to a commercial growth which we count and waiting for.

As a southern suburbs’ lover, what would you suggest to a work colleague visiting Greece that he should see and visit on the Athenian Riviera?

I will not be referred by name but definitely our coast starting from Faliro till Sounio offers a great pool of choices in terms of really well-organized all-day beach projects and hotel experiential ven ues where you can spend well the whole day! Tra ditional tavernas with our distinctive cuisine, bar restaurants with Mediterranean or international choices and world class cocktails are one-of-akind in our Athenian Riviera. My favorite area is Vouliagmeni, therefore every choice close to Lemos area is highly recommended!

Where would you recommend a visitor to notos go after shopping at either of the department stores in the center of Athens or Piraeus to gain the most from their experience in these two im portant parts of the capital?

A day well spent would be a day that she/he can feel the vibes of our high street life in Athens. Walk in the historic center, definitely Plaka, going towards Aeropagitou and Makriyianni streets where a lot of cultural, food and drinks’ “gems” are to be found and then head to Voulis & Mitropole os area but also towards Voukourestiou for even more shopping (and many more…).

Piraeus in my mind is so much connected emo tional-wise to escapes; on the top of mind, it can create such good memories! I can be a tourist in Piraeus wandering and losing myself in unex pected nice places that maybe I cannot recall next time I would be around. I miss Mikrolimano and Kastella’s view – therefore a day well spent for me would be exactly there! 

Zoi Pitharouli has recently joined the notos Department Stores Division at Notos Com Holdings S.A., a company that runs one of the most historical retail multi store businesses in Greece.

"QR CODES IN THE PHYSICAL SHOP WINDOWS OF ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI GIVE THE CHANCE TO A CUSTOMER PASSING BY TO SCAN AND EXPLORE OUR COLLECTION."

"On the top of mind, Piraeus can create such good memories! I miss Mikrolimano and Kastella’s view –therefore a day well spent for me would be exactly there!"

ARCHITECTURE

Myconian Collection Hotels

Resorts’ Panoptis Escape

the landscape

hospitality project with

signature

interior designer, Antonis Kalogridis.

Despite his work in hospitality, he still sees himself as primarily a theatre director. He stages experiences and explores the roles peo ple take on in their lives. Working on the new, amazing hotels of the Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts on Mykonos is his way of bringing about the spaces he has always wanted to have available to him; spaces as the ones he designed for Panoptis Escape at Elia beach and O by Myconian Collection that can take their surroundings and their guests further. What are the key ingredients of true luxury in travelling?

The greatest privilege has to do with the destinations – not about choosing the place but about choosing what that place means. Any place you find yourself can be a finish line or a starting line – compensation or inspiration. The defining moment of luxury in travel is bringing the two to gether, about turning your travels into a revolving door, an experience so strong that it moves you to any direction you choose. You might be travelling to celebrate an achievement, or because you are gathering up the strength to go after one. Ideally, the two should not feel different, because you will always be getting ready to reach a higher peak, and you will always deserve to be rewarded for it.

How does interior design affect a traveller’s experience?

It has to do with that revolving moment. Interior design must make it easier for people to see clearly in all directions, to choose their path among many. At the same time, it must help them to be inspired by what is unique in the specific time and place they find themselves. It is a fine line, like the horizon. Interior design must make you feel good about where you are, but also remind you not to stay still. It has to be the perfect match between the real and the possible, and it must allow guests to break on through to whichever side works best for them.

You’ve done a lot of high-end hospitality work. What do you consider most important in such projects?

Interior Designer Extraordinaire

HIGH-END TEAM

Antonis

I think of space as a body. You know, nobility has always been symbolized by the body – think “blue blood”. That is luxury, and how I see hospitality. It is the blue blood running through the veins of a living organism. It can accommodate a noble mind and a restless soul. So I make up hospitable spaces that allow luxury to run wild in their veins. I make up bodies. When guests live in them, I want them to feel like they are being reborn into the royalty of leisure, that they can bring together their own kingdom. Sure, it is also about objects, placement, colour, patterns, textures – all the things that make up an aesthetic. But to aestheticise literally means “to feel”. So it is ultimately a kingdom of the senses. That is what my spaces, my bodies, are for: To be felt, to be used as the senses that explore and arouse the possibilities of space and the people in it.

How did you combine the architecture of a Cycladic is land with your contemporary style to bring them together into reality?

The Cyclades are unique in that nature here dominates through subtlety. Elytis, the Greek Nobel laureate in Liter ature, has said that if you were to deconstruct Greece, you would be left with an olive tree, a vine and a boat – “which

the way forward,

what

means it takes as much to put it back together”. Beauty in the Cyclades is always raw and therefore always present. If you ap proach it with respect, it is always amenable. My style is equally raw. If it is about luxury, it is a raw luxury. Nothing is superflu ous. There is no luxury in something you can’t or don’t need to use. So I break down reality and find the best ways to express it. For me, that is the definition of being contemporary.

What were the main challenges in your recent projects, Panoptis Escape and O by Myconian Collection, in terms of optimizing spaces or views from the rooms?

At O by Myconian Collection located at Ornos bay on Mykonos, the challenge was to triumph in creating a luxury beachfront resort where there was an evident dialogue between design and nature, where guests are free to feel what they want, to be serene and quiet or joyous and celebratory, so the challenge here was to create an ambience that allowed for that through the architectural language and design. For Panoptis Escape above Elia beach, on Mykonos as well, we wanted the property to offer 360 views over the Aegean and to work through all of the constraints that arose. Generally though, the main challenge was how to translate the landscape into a hospitality project. For me, interior design is all about helping people be inspired by what is unique in a specif ic time and place, it has to make you feel good about where you are, but also remind you not to stay still. It has to be the perfect match between the real and the possible.

How are they similar and different from the other properties in the Myconian Collection’s portfolio?

I would say that O by Myconian Collection and Panoptis Escape are similar in how they are expertly run and their level of service but differ in terms of their holistic concept and nature-based phi losophy. O by Myconian Collection really is the type of property where you can comfortably wonder around barefoot from your suite to the beach and back again, while Panoptis Escape almost lifts you up into the sky due to its high location, it’s so quiet even though it’s only a few minutes away from Mykonos Town. Where do the materials that are used come from?

We source a lot of our materials locally so they are in touch with the local vernacular – such as unprocessed woods, stone, rocks, raffia textures and plants. The design for O by Myconian Col lection relied very much on marble, while a greater emphasis was placed on using wood for Panoptis Escape - both materials were used in large quantities. All of the design details and furniture were crafted by Greek craftsmen exclusively for the hotels, mak ing them totally unique in that sense.

What has been your most memorable travel experience that you classify as true luxury?

Despite my work in hospitality, I still see myself as primarily a theatre director. I stage experiences and I explore the roles people take on in their lives. Working on these amazing hotels is my way of bringing about the spaces I have always wanted to have available to me; spaces that can take their surroundings and their guests further. These resorts, this Villa Collection, my quest to bring out the Royal, the Imperial element of luxury and to challenge the Avaton of privilege, they are products of my own identity as a Panoptis, as someone who strives to see more and more of what is out there, and to bring it all in my work. It is challenging, but such is the task I choose.

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL architecture

THE O VISION

"AT O BY MYCONIAN COLLECTION LOCATED AT ORNOS BAY ON MYKONOS, THE CHALLENGE WAS TO TRIUMPH IN CREATING A LUXURY BEACHFRONT RESORT WHERE THERE WAS AN EVIDENT DIALOGUE BETWEEN DESIGN AND NATURE."

For its interior designer Antonis Kalogridis, O by Myconian Collection guests are free to feel what they want, to be serene and quiet or joyous and celebratory.

challenge here was to create an ambience that allowed for that through the architectural language and design.

To Great Heights

A NEW WAY OF LIVING

Blending Athenian energy with elegant coastal living, the Riviera Tower reimagines sustainability.

Located surfside in the Agios Kosmas marina area near Athens, Riviera Tower is the much anticipated residential development that will transform the capital’s waterfront. Set to be completed in 2025, the tower will rise to 200 metres above sea level—almost double the height of Greece’s current tallest building, the 103-metre-tall Athens Tower 1 in the city centre—becoming the country’s first true skyscraper and claim ing the title of first green high-rise building in Greece and tallest green beachfront high-rise on the entire Mediterranean coast.

Destined to become an instant architectural landmark, Riviera Tower is part of

The Ellinikon, a unique in scope and scale development project led by Lamda De velopment. With a masterplan developed with world-renowned architects Foster + Partners, The Ellinikon will see the transformation of the 6,200,000 sqm site of Athens’ former international airport into a unique ecosystem comprising worldclass sustainable residential developments, exceptional hospitality and retail hubs, business areas and sports facilities as well as the 2,000,000 sqm The Ellinikon Park, which will be the largest coastal park in Europe and a true landmark of 21st-cen tury Greece.

The Ellinikon’s signature structure, the 45-storey Riviera Tower introduces a new kind of reimagined, sustainable living and marks the beginning of a new era for the Athens Riviera. Its more than 200 private residences are impeccably crafted with premium natural materials and finished with elegant detailing, while generous balconies offer panoramic views of the coast, the sea, the park and the mountains, with select residences even enjoying views to the Acropolis. Incorporating green design principles from the inside out, Riviera Tower is an ode to contemporary sustainability and offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to embrace an exclu sive coastal lifestyle at what will undoubtedly be one of the Mediterranean’s most coveted addresses.

ARJ spoke to Antoinette Nassopoulos-Erickson, Senior Partner at Foster + Part ners, to find out more about the project.

Riviera Tower harmoniously combines Athenian and Mediterranean charac teristics with a pioneering green style. What are the pieces of the architectural puzzle that you wanted to put together?

Riviera Tower will be one of the greenest high-rise buildings in the world. A mod el of sustainable design, the tower will incorporate best environmental practices and cutting-edge international safety protocols. All apartments will have pioneer ing services and amenities, construction materials that are locally sourced and the specifications of a smart building.

Tell us a bit about the interplay between the location, environment and design. The design draws inspiration from the ecological and cultural elements of the Mediterranean landscape and from Athens’ vernacular architecture to create an innovative design approach. The tower’s massing has been designed from the inside out to celebrate its unique location, immersed in nature. Most apartments have dual aspect and enjoy unobstructed panoramic views of the coastline and incorporate naturally ventilated interiors.

How does the tower’s green design philosophy translate into sustainable living? Biophilic design will be incorporated throughout the building, enhancing connec tivity with the natural environment. A green spine of lush terraces runs through the heart of the tower, encouraging outdoor living and creating a pleasant micro climate. The organic design of the staggered balconies provides solar shading to reduce the need for mechanical cooling during the summer months. The tower will utilise passive solar design and use minimal energy by working with the environ ment, while also making sure that the materials and components are sustainable and have low embodied carbon.

What signature amenities can future residents expect?

Creating a sense of arrival, the elevated drop off offers spectacular sea views framed by a double volume lobby, while accommodating car parking below. Reflective pools enhance the connection to the sea and cool the drop off and arrival spaces.

“THE TOWER’S MASSING HAS BEEN DESIGNED FROM THE INSIDE OUT TO CELEBRATE ITS UNIQUE LOCATION, IMMERSED IN NATURE.”

Arranged around the main lobby and opening directly onto the gardens, the busi ness centre, gym and spa are easily accessible. In response to lessons learned from the ongoing pandemic, all circulation areas have been designed to be naturally ventilated while the core has been split to reduce occupancy.

How would you measure Riviera Tower’s success? Might it be perhaps about introducing a new reimagined way of living?

The project aims to create an exemplarily sustainable building. The sustainability strategy is aligned to LEED certification as well as international best practice strat egies from wider sustainable design, including the WELL Standard. Riviera Tower aims to achieve LEED BD+C: New Construction Gold and set a new standard for contemporary sustainable living.

Athens is a melting pot of architectural styles, from ancient temples and el egant neoclassical mansions to concrete brutalist apartment blocks. Which stand out to you and which have influenced the design of Riviera Tower?

Athens has vibrant urban complexity. The ancient Acropolis rises above the city, which contains a diverse range of neoclassical and art deco landmarks and signifi cant modernist buildings such as Emmanuel Vourekas’ Hilton Athens hotel. Zig gurat-like penthouses characterize the Athenian roofscape and have influenced the design of Riviera Tower. Their deep wrap-around balconies are often large enough to accommodate a full-sized dinner table and walls of plants. In the coastal sub urbs of Athens, apartments also have deep, wrap-around balconies that seamlessly connect the interior and exterior spaces.

Modern references that have informed the design of Riviera Tower include Alex andros Tombazis’ Difros apartment block, with its stacked, concrete volumes, and Constantinos Doxiadis’ One Athens. Early examples of polykatoikia apartment blocks by Takis Zenetos and Nicos Valsamakis were also important references—par ticularly the open plan layouts and connections between inside and outside spaces. Valsamakis’ Lanaras weekend house, in the suburb of Anavyssos, is the ultimate expression of connectivity, including the relationship to place. 

Effortlessly blending green design and exclusivity, Riviera Tower introduces a new era of contemporary sustainable living to the Athens Riviera.

Crafted Architectural Experience

In between projects that span across continents, K-Studio’s Dimitris and Konstantinos Karampatakis talked about contemporary design trends.

One of the fundamental principles of architecture is Louis Sullivan’s “form follows function”. According to this maxim, spaces are designed so as to fulfil the functions they intend to serve. For K-Studio, the client’s personal expression is added to this equation. “We are intrigued to see the client in the mood to create some thing that expresses them through a process they will enjoy”, says Dimitris Karampatakis who, alongside his brother Konstantinos and their team, is cur rently designing and bringing to life restaurants, hotels and private residences. The most challenging part of communicating with clients is establishing trust, according to Dimitris – “getting someone who has a specific need or wish to trust someone else to carry it out”. In order to achieve that goal, K-Studio have

EFFORTLESS FLOW ΑΤ SCORPIOS, MYKONOS

In collaboration with Scorpios project’s creative director Michael Schickinger and interior designer Annabell Kutucu, K-Studio looked for an holistic approach that would bring every element together harmoniously in a re-invention of the ancient socio-cultural concept of ‘Agora’ or ‘gathering place’.

developed an analysis methodology that responds to the client’s requirements “without imposing the design identity of the office”.

One of the first questions is about whether this methodology can result in the cli ent’s requirements clashing with K-studio’s requirements. “If their requirement has a pronounced personal element as part of a project with authentic character, we follow it very closely, even if it doesn’t fall in line with the aesthetic of our work. After all, this process is fascinating to us”, stresses Dimitris.

What kind of briefs they receive from clients when they take on the design of pri vate residencies in Greece and abroad? “For winter homes, one main consideration is the location of the ‘hearth’ – in other words, the source of comfort and heat, and the place to cook. In summer homes, connecting interior with exterior spaces is our clients’ most common request – ensuring the interior is experienced as a con tinuation or extension of the exterior. For example, placing a bedroom, a kitchen or a bathroom outside. Connecting these spaces is a characteristic, in essence, of residential architecture design.” But what do customers look for in a luxury home?

What do they enjoy the most? “Our clients are looking for personal expression”, Dimitris comments. “This is the real luxury when you are building your house: to make it bespoke, customized to your needs. A strong design viewpoint and high standard of aesthetics, when applied repeatedly, cannot be considered exclusive or premium. Personalization, designing something exclusively for someone specif ic, constitutes real luxury.” Dimitris stresses that these customers’ choices aren’t driven by costs but by how much a proposal expresses their vision. This discussion of luxury naturally leads us to privacy – a once underrated concept which social media and the speed at which everything moves now has brought to the fore as an imperative need.

“The idea of isolation as an expression of luxury is something we have been work ing on a lot lately. Sometimes, in order to have the luxury of privacy, you need to be in the middle of nowhere. It is impossible to have privacy where you can be easily found. Therefore, luxury to some might mean a place in the middle of the desert”. As for dining, an area where the evolution of design through time is easy

to take note of, privacy is expressed as choice – having the luxury to choose when you will be among others and when you will be alone. “In the dining projects we currently have underway, we aim to offer both isolation and connection with oth ers”. In dining, in general, the most noticeable difference to the previous decade has to do with the product itself. “A bar or a restaurant doesn’t just offer food or drink anymore. To patrons, the complete experience of the venue is important. The experience of being there and listening, smelling, seeing, feeling”, says Dimitris Karampatakis. “It is a holistic process. Instead of designing a menu in order to add it to the space, you design the space alongside the menu, the sound, the details…” Beyond materials, colors, textures and forms, what is the biggest trend in design at the moment? “We are all beautiful”, Dimitris replies. “Access to social media and the sheer speed at which culture and aesthetic can travel from one place on Earth to another bring out a polyphony”, he remarks, adding that what stands out is personal style. “Everyone has value, and everything is valuable”.  k-studio.gr

"Personalization, designing something exclusively for someone specific, constitutes real luxury."

YIORGOS

OPEN PLAN

Awarded private residence Plane House was built on the island of Skiathos. K-Studio’s design aimed to take advantage of the typical Greek summer by merging internal and external spaces.

BOHEMIAN LUXURY

AHEAD awarded as Best Resort in Europe, Domes Zeen Chania, a Luxury Collection Resort, Crete, was described by the judges as a ‘standout project with a true sense of place’.

Green Interventions

Acclaimed

Greek cities are in considerable need of green zones. In densely built Ath ens, in Thessaloniki and almost every city in the country, green architecture has been called upon to provide solu tions that are eco-friendly and improve daily life. When we founded Greenways in 1997, the value of landscape architecture was not widely known in Greece yet. It was a huge challenge for us to demonstrate in practice why this sector is nec essary, and to change perceptions. Combining the knowledge and know-how of architects, engineers, landscape architects, designers, agronomists and specialized technicians, the landscape is significantly improved today.

There are now several examples of the improvements that green interventions bring to the urban fabric. At the heart of this approach is the element of nature. Neither a building nor a small or large cluster of buildings, such as a city, exist in a vacuum. The way a building adapts to its environment does not only change its aesthetic and financial value but can bring about significant benefits for local residents. Tradi tional or innovative in its form and infrastructure, the garden constitutes an extension of the building and ought to constitute a sustainable extension of its interior. From the creation of eco-parks to green atri ums and green walls, multiple opportunities exist to add more greenery to our everyday urban life. Today, we see new methods for plant cultivation on balco nies, green paving and rooftop farms. For example, vertical gardens are one of the most popular trends in architecture, and they continue to be adopted in our country too. We completed such a project on behalf of a downtown Athens business. We planted approximately 1,000 herbs and plants of 80 differ ent species and lawn vertically on the approximately 40m2 façade. This project made use of my personal patent, based on a real-life natural landscape reminis cent of plants growing through rocks in places such

as the mountains of Crete. Unlike with other vertical gardens, these plants do not need to be in water con stantly. Even in the heatwaves of the Greek summer, the garden in question requires only three minutes of watering in the morning and three at night. Thanks to this system, in addition to a green oasis in the very limited space of the capital’s center, the application is friendlier to the environment.

It is important to note that green architecture and landscape architecture are not a luxury and do not have mere beautification as their primary goal. On the contrary, even on a small scale, such projects bring immediate benefits to the environment and the health of local residents. The urban heat island phenomenon is observed when urban areas – usually at the center of a city – consistently record higher temperatures than rural areas of the same city due to building ma terials, energy usage, emissions and anthropogenic activities. The city does not “breathe,” the air does not flow, and heatwaves are more intense. If we add greenery to these neighborhoods by creating roof gardens or planting trees in the sidewalks, we increase evapotranspiration levels, helping the temperature to remain lower. Even small green lungs help lower carbon emissions, contributing to the fight against global warming.

Green architecture and landscape architecture also provide opportunities for people to work together with their neighbors via creating groups who tend to green spaces, and via community gardens of ornamen tal or edible plants. It is telling that the World Health Organization calls urban green spaces “a fundamental component of any urban ecosystem” and highlights that access to green spaces can reduce health and men tal health inequalities, contribute to citizens’ well-be ing, and aid in the treatment of mental illness. 

Greenways Hellas Iridanou

Athens

Karolos Chanikian is a National Technical University of Athens architect, landscape architect MLA and founder of Greenways.

architecture

Designing Life F

The story that the Cosset Design entrepreneurial duo tells revolves around style, creation and art, and is inspired by the light of their country in which they love to live and work.

Interview by DESPOINA SAMPSON

or the two brilliant designers who collective ly go by the name Cosset, everything in life is an inspiration. Passionate and articulate, they explain how they bring out their customers’ personality and individual style to a space, through inspired choices. Spending their time between their two stores at the southern suburbs of Athens, close to the Athe nian Riviera, and their favorite island, Mykonos, they create spaces of unique identity. With innovative ideas, elegantly minimal philosophy and inspired creativity, they upgraded not only the Athenian but the Mykonian aesthetics, as well.

With signature pieces, unique art and excellently constructed objects and furniture, the Cosset pair stamps the epitome of island design.

How would you describe the world of Cosset Design? What materials comprise it?

High quality, luxurious simplicity and warmth are at the heart of Cosset. These are the essence of the way we create spaces, enabling each to tell the story of its owners.

Where do you draw inspiration for your next steps?

Travelling to all corners of the planet, socialising with people from all corners of the earth, unusual materials and the dif ferent points of view each person has when viewing a work of art are for us an endless source of inspiration. All these come together and create a multifaceted mood board which points the way to the future.

Are there certain clichés in interior design that you would like to see abolished?

In the past two decades, we have seen radical changes in the way people express themselves through the decoration of their personal space. We avoid overburdening a space for reasons of ostentation – a stereotype we are happy to see disappearing. When we design a cottage, for example, we avoid focusing sole ly on the building itself and ignoring its surroundings, which would result in a non-harmonious combination.

How do you approach a new project, say a holiday residence?

Every space and every project is unique. It is the owner’s aesthet ic that we respond to in order to design it. But there are some values that permeate all our work. Our design philosophy does not allow for excess and meaningless displays of opulence. On the contrary, we aim to harmonise each building with its sur roundings in order to enhance the beauty of the general area. What is the greatest challenge to the new generation of design entrepreneurs, of which you are part?

Maintaining the passion for creation with no loss of momen tum. Not sacrificing innovation and ideas no matter of the signs of the times. 

Cosset Athens

- Vouliagmenis Avenue 44-46, Voula

Tel: +30 210 8950207

- Laodikis str. 30, Glyfada

Tel: +30 210 8945836

Cosset Mykonos

-Argyrena – Dexamenes

Tel: +30 22890 78146 cossetdesign.com

Objects of desire curated from all over the world create a unique and contemporary atmosphere.

COSSET SIGNATURE

Makers of Dreams

Precision and creativity are not easy to combine in furniture design, yet Furniture Gallery CEO Vasilis Karafotias seems to have found just the right balance.

At the helm of a tight-knit team of creative craftspeo ple, Vasilis Karafotias does not hide his passion for the world of furniture and interi or design, taking on the chal lenges of designing and manufacturing cus tom-made pieces for commercial and private spaces. Furniture Gallery was established in 2004 and, in these 18 years, Vasilis has led it to a well-deserved prominence powered by out-of-the-box thinking, teamwork and dedication. He spoke to us about his close ties to Mykonos in a short but insightful interview.

Design-wise, what befits Mykonos?

For us, every new project is a story waiting to be told. In the case of Mykonos, of course, the island is already full of interesting stories, so when we are invited to take on a project based here, we will take into consideration not just the typical Cyclades architecture, but the functionality of the space we are designing for, as well as its personality and that of the owner. One type of project more and more clients entrust to the Furniture Gallery in recent years involves upholstering, adapting and generally updating well-loved older pieces of furniture, often antiques with a lot of sentimental value. That is what Mykonos would be to me if it were a piece

of furniture: A traditional piece – maybe an armchair or table – that has been given a new, very trendy and luxurious twist, in the same way that the island combines the best of both worlds.

You’ve already completed projects on the island. What can you tell us about them? It was very exciting to work alongside the director, set designer and interior designer Antonis Kalogridis on several of the Myco nian Collection Hotels & Resorts at Elia Beach. You wouldn’t believe the amount of thought, inspiration and planning that went into each of these spaces. In the case of the Myconian Avaton resort, we com bined classic with contemporary high-end aesthetics, adding country and indie ac cents to the interiors for that extra effect. A challenge we faced was combining timber with fabric and LED in couches, armchairs, chairs, and other items, but everyone was elated with the result. At the Myconian Imperial, the goal was to exalt the Greek summer, placing the focus on the light of the sun and the elements of the sky and the sea. The brief here asked for luxurious minimalism with references to nature. I’ll also mention the work we did for the My conian Villa Collection because it was so fulfilling despite its challenges. This pro ject revolved around the art of hospitality,

and our made-to-measure constructions included long plush couches, comfortable beds and many more pieces. Of course, all of these designs had references to the Cy clades landscape that we made sure were free from clichés. Instead, we chose to mirror and pay tribute to the silhouettes of church domes and buildings, and the textures found inside traditional homes. Our colors were both inspired by and com plementary to the famous Mykonos land scape and architecture. What is Mykonos to you?

Mykonos is iconic, but creating for it is a challenge. There is such a high level of hos pitality and services in general at properties such as those of the Myconian Collection, and since it’s such a popular destination, the expectations are very high. We always give it our best – all our energy, attention to detail and motivation. This is how we tackle challenges and bring new designs to life. This is how we shape stories. Fortu nately, working on Mykonos projects also means getting to visit this breathtaking is land, which is a blessing. 

Furniture Gallery Eleftherias 11 & Parnithos, Ag. Ioannis Rentis, Athens

Tel: +30 2105776745

furnituregallery.gr

Interview by DESPOINA SAMPSON

Having an active role in the field or Real Estate for over three dec ades on Mykonos island, what was the greatest change you have ex perienced?

Every year, on the altar of develop ment, the great demand for pur chase or rental of real estate brings about radical changes, spatial, urban and traffic related. Mykonos is among those top five islands of the territory that are champions on these changes. We would rather like all Greek islands to remain as they were 30 years ago. Unfor tunately, this can’t happen and as a result we see significant changes every year.

What are the prospects of premium real estate on Mykonos in five years’ time?

Mykonos is now one of the most famous tourism destina tions in the world. It is no coincidence that multinational catering and clothing companies, clubs and international brands have been established here. The island’s prospects are mostly referred to the hotels, concierge services and suppliers. I strongly believe that these sectors will contin ue to take central stage and embrace the arrival of inter national brands.

Dealing with the circumstances of the last two years, what is your biggest challenge?

As a matter of fact, the tourists’ traffic fell by 50%, a per

The Forward Thinker

As a classical optimist, John Revithis can always detect the silver lining in every circumstance and as an experienced Real Estate specialist, he can foresee the grand development that lies ahead.

Interview by DESPOINA SAMPSON

centage lower than on other international islands. How ever, this reduced influx of tourists and investors brought forward better priced opportunities for some who did not miss this opportunity.

Regarding villas, what are the characteristics of the most sought-after investment?

The characteristics can be summed up in privacy, easy access, sea view, large pool, gym and spacious interiors. What are the characteristics of a residential property either on the Athenian Riviera or on the islands that attract the investors’ interest?

Good architecture, careful construction, design layout, spacious rooms and remarkable outdoor living, many electrical facilities and prime location: these are the prime advantages of a sought-after property.

Is Greek Real Estate competitive compared to the ones of Western European countries?

Of course, it is competitive due to the excellent prices we offer in Greece and comparatively we are hospitable with excellent quality, natural agricultural products, amazing natural clean beaches and exceptional Mediterranean climate.

According to you, in what terms will the Ellinikon de velop Real Estate around Athens Riviera?

The Ellinikon, along with the casino, stands as one of the largest construction developments in Europe, including skyscrapers, houses and many more buildings, due to its excellent location.

John Revithis, the Real Estate Specialist on Mykonos island with an exquisite portfolio of supreme luxury properties.

The renovation was undertaken by Stavros Papagiannis, Creative Director of Stage Design Office.

Timeless Elegance

Deloudis is celebrating its 50 years with the complete interior renovation of its showroom in Alimos.

The recently renovated facilities of the impressive building in Alimos, fully incorpo rate the modern aesthetics of today, showcasing the latest trends of high-end interior design, while maintaining the absolute feeling of elegance which springs from the timeless classical pieces. Following the company’s vast tradition of five dec ades, the showroom hosts a selection of collections from the most famous design houses such as B&B, Cassina, Flexform, Edra, Poliform, Giorgetti, Porro,

MDF Italia, Acerbis, Arflex, Tom Dixon, Moooi and Thonet, amongst others. The dark colored grey shades which dominate onto the walls merge with the industrial concrete on the floor, creating a dramatic and almost theatrical dimension. The mesmerizing walls stand out and give elegance and flexibility allowing the furniture to stand out masterfully. The architectural lighting of Flos was applied with particular intelligence and a multidimensional way so that the space is divided into individual rooms, especially lighted according to their

use; the “living rooms” are drowned in natural light which is diffused from enormous openings, whereas the bedrooms are isolated from the rest of the space in a discrete way, creating a familiar atmosphere. This friendly aesthetic order directs and inspires the visitor effortlessly in order to realize every wish or working need that he/she has dreamed of.

Deloudis Showroom

Alimou Avenue 5, Alimos Tel: +302109851378

White gold and diamond earrings, white gold and diamond bracelet, white gold, diamond and emerald ring and white gold and diamond ring, all by Georgios & Co. Fine Jewellery.

Treasure the Moment

Gold necklace with diamonds and lapis lazuli, gold ring with diamonds and lapis lazuli and gold ring with diamonds and malachite, all from the Happy Hearts Collection, Chopard, Chopard Boutique.

Luxury meets aesthetics in carefully curated precious jewellery.

Photos: APOSTOLIS KOUKOUSAS

Fashion Editor: MYRTO KRITSOTAKI

White gold earrings with diamonds and black enamel, Nikos Koulis. White gold ring with diamonds, white gold ring with diamonds and ruby and white gold ring with diamonds and rubellite, Gofas.

Photographer: APOSTOLIS KOUKOUSAS

Stylist: ANNA ZINCHENKO

Hair & Makeup: DIMITRA ALTANI (D-TALES)

Assistant photographer: NIKOS GKOKAS

Assistant stylist: NATALIA DIMITRIEVA

Models: KOTRYNA, ADRIAN (ACE MODELS)

THE PERFECT ESCAPE Whenever the Athenians wanted to dream, they would escape to the waterfront. Today, Athens Riviera has been transformed into the coolest destination for its constant source of Greek elegance.

This page, Kotryna: Diane Von Furstenberg dress, Attica Citylink. Celine sunglasses, Tartaras Eyewear. Kurt Geiger shoes, Attica Citylink. Adrian: Jacket, sweater and trousers

all by Z Zegna, Attica Citylink. Garrett Leight Kinney sunglasses, Tartaras Eyewear. Steptronic shoes, Kalogirou.

page, Dress, overcoat and mules

all by Vassilis Zoulias. Saint Laurent sunglasses, Delux Hellas.

Kotryna: See by Chloe dress, Attica Citylink. Zeus+Dione handbag, Attica Citylink. Gucci sunglasses, Delux Hellas. Mango hat. Elvira Di Gaia x Kalogirou sandals, Kalogirou.

Adrian: Polo shirt and shoes –both by Lacoste, Notos. Gant trousers, Notos. Saint Laurent sunglasses, Delux Hellas.

This page, Jacket, shirt, trousers and pocket square – all by Brooks Brothers, Brooks Brothers Βoutique. Montblanc sunglasses, Delux Hellas. Opposite page, Kotryna: Kiton dress, Mah Jong Βoutique. See by Chloe handbag, Attica Citylink. Earrings in K18 gold with tourmalines and diamonds, Myrto Anastasopoulou

Adrian: Jacket, shirt, tie and trousers – all by Kiton, Mah Jong Βoutique.

Tailored

own it

Made to Measure

Ciro Palestra, head tailor of Neapolitan haute couture garment house KITON, reveals the secrets of true elegance.

Asecond-generation head tailor at KITON and an admirer of Greece and its people, Ciro creates handmade garments drawing inspiration from the aesthetic tradition and timeless elegance of Italy.

KITON as in chiton, the Ancient Greek garment?

Precisely. The word comes from Ancient Greek and it is a reference to the greatness of the Greek civilization. The founder of the Napoli brand loves the country dearly, admires the Ancient Greek language and

found the word “chiton” very fitting for his company. A chiton/kiton is a fluid piece of fabric that you wear – it doesn’t wear you. KITON is sculpted on you, almost flowing on your body. What is KITON’s biggest strength?

Our exceptional textiles that ensure elegant results – and of course our tailors, who work only by hand. These people love the fabric, respect it, caress it; they know it like the palm of their hands and treat it with reverence. Their garments are their children. This isn’t machine-made clothing. Every piece is bespoke; made for a specific client

Made-to-measure shirts for the connoiseurs of handmade creation.

man’s shirt is like his skin; you do not simply admire it, you feel it. It is part of a man’s personal history and has much more to say than what its appearance reveals. Such a shirt is usually handmade, hiding within it technique, knowledge and time-honored methods of (design and) tailoring.

ExperienceThe Probonas brand, founded in 1970 by Michalis Probonas, has its own story to tell, which started with the import of fabrics for high quality attire. Since 2000, Menelaos Probonas – the founder’s son – turned to tailoring made-to-measure shirts using traditional somatometry cutting techniques and perfecting the fit on the body. Showing as much attention to detail as humanly possible, the results are acclaimed for their impeccable design. He uses textiles sourced from the top European factories, made to high quality standards. At Menelaos Probonas’s studio in Kifisia, every creation is tailor-made to the customer’s personal wishes. Fabrics are selected from an excellent range of patterns and colors, while there are genuine factory sample books from famous manufacturers including Monti, Granti & Rubinelli, Canclini and Erba, as well as what is perhaps the oldest factory producing shirt fabrics – Switzerland’s Alumo. The shape of the collar and the cuff is adapted to the use of the shirt, also taking into account the proportions of the customer’s face and neck. Customers can opt to monogram the shirt with their initials in Greek or Latin script, at a visible or concealed spot, a feature also available in an equally wide range of colored silk threads. For special occasions, the brand even offers the option of different silhouettes for the shirt, as well as buttons that are truly unique in their appearance.

Menelaos Probonas, Agiou Tryfonos 8, Kifisia, Tel: +30 210 3230078, menelaosprobonas.gr (Menelaos Probonas offers his services in his studio by appointment, at any day or time).

Interview by ELSA SOIMIRI

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL

“A CHITON/KITON

IS A FLUID PIECE OF FABRIC THAT YOU WEAR – IT DOESN’T WEAR YOU. KITON IS SCULPTED ON YOU, ALMOST FLOWING ON YOUR BODY.”

and a specific purpose, specific seams, every single detail. Our founder has deep love for the craft, he’s dedicated his life to it. He started with ten tailors forty years ago. The company now has 200 craftsmen who complete every order by hand, as well as an entire school. Structural quality, quality textiles and family tradition are the cornerstones of KITON. I’m part of the second generation of tailors and my son is in the third. He just graduated from school and he’s already in training at a company that knows how to progress while upholding its tradition.

What are your Greek customers who want a bespoke handmade suit like? What makes them stand out?

It’s been three-four years since I started following the Greek market and I’m impressed by how important it is. Greeks have taste and elegance. How old are Greeks who are drawn to KITON?

We have customers as young as 25 and as old as 75. In fact, they are not just from society’s upper class but they’re also highly educated.

their choices or do they dare to go, for example, for less traditional colors?

When I started working, Greeks used to go for the classics. However, nowadays, after the trunk shows and our frequent presentations, they turn more and more to more distinct options. Without betraying their aesthetic, they turn to personal style, dare to wear new colors and shapes – always remaining elegant. After all, elegance does not mean wearing gray suits exclusively. You can be very, very elegant in denim trousers paired with a well-tailored blazer and shirt. Casual can also be elegant – but even then, a sur mesure jacket is always necessary.

Is a tie always necessary?

In Athens, I always wear a tie – even to a restaurant. It’s part of KITON dress code and all executives wear ties. When I’m at the seaside, I won’t wear a tie...

Do Greeks have strength of opinion or do they leave choices to you out of insecurity?

They know what they want to create, but they’re very happy, of course, to hear my suggestions. When they want a bespoke item of clothing, each man has

a plan: they know their options, they’ve studied catalogs and fashion trends but they are still faithful to an elegance that is confident and not loud. This specific value is shared by the rest of the KITON collections…

KITON always made some blazers and suits for the women who share our philosophy. Now, however, we create complete collections of womenswear as well as a high quality sportswear collection, which starts with denim and swimsuits and goes all the way to shirts, belts, handbags, shoes and of course, a full pret a porter range which might not be sur mesure but is still very carefully crafted in its choice of textiles and details, such as buttons and seams. I’ll give you an example. At the moment, we use Japanese denim textiles, which are of incredibly high class and have exceptional qualities. Thanks to their technology, they stretch only in width and not length and remain exceptionally thin. They are made for younger people who prefer more elastic textures and want their trousers to be like their workout clothes. After all, comfort is elegance, and that’s what makes us stand out as a brand. We want you to feel comfortable, not be afraid to move just because you’re in expensive clothes. You travel the world to satisfy your be spoke orders. Apart from Italy, which country have you found to stand out in terms of style?

Although Americans have stepped up their style, Europe boasts depth and culture of fashion. Greece follows after Italy and third, in my opinion, comes Germany. Many would expect me to say Great Britain, but I think they’re just too traditional. Germans have evolved. They try to take the best they can from Italians, from wine and food to clothing and style. What type of person wins you over?

I like clients with whom I can develop a relationship of mutual trust, which means I can create with them. Those who open up to me and have an active role in the process so I can make a piece of clothing that will satisfy them fully. 

ΚΙΤΟΝ, Pret-a-porter and by special appointment at Mah Jong, Kanari 14, Kolonaki, Athens, Tel: +30 210 3622860 mahjong-boutique.gr

Bespoke Tales

Bespoke Athens does not merely specialize

in hand sewn suits. Since 2004, it is exclusively dedicated to sewing together sophisticated moments of style.

Bespoke athens is a sartorial “gem” located in the center of Athens, on Anagnostopoulou 15-17 street in Kolonaki Square; the upmarket shopping center of Athens. It has long been a favored residential and boutique district in Athens surrounded by art galleries, cafes and restaurants. The square is the most popular place of resort for everybody visiting or living in Athens. Bespoke Athens was created on Christmas Eve of 2004, by Vassilis Bourtsalas, after he decided to change his corporate career and do what he really loved.

“I believe that everything “true” and “genuine” is beautiful and that when you do things you love, miracles happen. I embody my passion and convictions for these values by dressing men like they’ve never been dresses before. People may say I’m an entrepreneur with Bespoke Athens, but I feel more like a “tailoring/style researcher”, who loves to share his findings afterwards. I’ve devoted my heart and soul on researching the craft of tailoring and on finding the finest craftsmen of the industry. It is my privilege to share my findings with my clients, by offering true craftsmanship with the finest cloths. To me, Bespoke Athens is not just a store. It is a tailoring lab and a gallery of style; a place for men who are looking for something exceptional, unique and rare, a private gallery of artists”.

At Bespoke Athens when a suit, jacket, trousers or shirt is made the focus spreads on the quality of the cloth, the materials

(buttons, linings, threads, canvas, etc), the fit of the garment, and the line as well. Of course, the quality of the craft will transform the garments into a piece of art, but what really makes the difference is the goal for a garment with “character”, and unique identity. Others call it style, but for Bespoke Athens “character” or even “personality” is even more than just style. There are no constraints and limitations. They love to break the rules! After they deliver one garment, they have already begun the process to make the next one even better. Various styles are available from various international talented tailors and Made to Measure houses, but with Bespoke Athens’s added spirit they become works of art. Bespoke Athens offers a complete collection for men to dress with distinctive and classic style. Their suppliers are carefully selected artisans from all over the world and are leaders in the “hand-made” category. Their talent and skill in beautifully creating stylish, hand-made suits, shirts and accessories separates them from the mainstream and place them in a category of their own. Some of the brands and tailors that you can find in Bespoke Athens are: Albert Thurston, Anna Purna, Chiaia Napoli, Chato Lufsen, Dolcepunta, Calabrese, Giusto, Jan Leslie, Robert Talbott, Saint Andrews, Sciamat, Simonnot Godard, Turnbull & Asser, and others. Fabrics range from Loro Piana, Drapers, Holland & Sherry, Huddersfield and the unique super prime English mill of Moxon. 

Vassilis Bourtsalas, founder of Bespoke Athens, draws inspiration from the classic aesthetic tradition and timeless elegance.

GOURMET

When Gastronomy Blossoms in Slovenia

From a remote corner of Slovenia, self-taught chef Ana Roš propelled her restaurant, Hiša Franko, to No. 34 on the list of the World’s

Best Restaurants 2022. A brave new gastronomic world is dawning.

Ana

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL gourmet getaway

In the last five years, female chefs who have managed to exceed the confines of their kitchens to claim their place on the international gastronomy map find themselves in the epicenter of discussions around good food and the trends it generates. However, one of the most unique cases is –the almost unknown until 2016 – Ana Roš, who conquered with her restaurant in Kobarid, west Slovenia a spot among the 50 best restaurants in the world! In 2017, she was proclaimed World’s Best Female Chef by World’s 50 Best Restaurants while, in 2020, the World Tourism Organization pronounced her Ambassador for Gastronomy Tourism. It was not easy at all back in 1999, when this restaurant was taken over by Ana and her husband, Valter, an accredited sommelier and maître fromager. Ana, who used to be a ski champion, left behind a diplomatic career in Brussels to live with Valter. She eventually decided to take on the kitchen. She made one mistake after the other, but remained steadfast. She traveled, sampled the great restaurants of the world to advance her skills in flavor, and she made it. The big boom happened when, in May 2016, Netflix’s Chef Table released an episode about their restaurant’s story. One day, things were calm – and within an evening came a typhoon of ceaseless phone calls... Their website was suddenly hit with an avalanche of ten thousand visitors a day, until it collapsed. Once they had realized exactly what had happened,

they regrouped – and today, Hiša Franko is recognized as one of the best restaurants in the world.

I visited her space and was left speechless as I discovered a beautiful new world of gastronomy I could not have imagined inside an old two-story building, a small house in a beautiful prairie surrounded by wild, towering mountains – Hiša Franko (which means “House of Franko”). Beautifully bathed in daylight, its open-air seating has a modest elegance. There are pink flower prints on the white tablecloths and dinner napkins. The brick-red walls of the interior covers artwork by Slovenian painter Rudi Skocir. In her father-inlaw’s old eatery, which has grown into a fine dining restaurant, Ana creates a cuisine we have not seen before. It is mainly based on local products and ideas from Slovenian culinary tradition which, most of the time, walks completely unusual paths – where the sea breeze emerges from the juicy flesh of steamed mussels with fennel and from their broth that has been made into a jelly, unexpectedly paired with the almond-rich chlorophyll of roasted asparagus, and reaching its peak in the flavor of a bitter orange dense like saxophone notes; they are all crowned with an edible silver leaf –a decoration decision indicative of quality and artistry. And how could you imagine that one can make cuttlefish lard able to mimic the delicatezza of the renowned lardo di Colonatta, served with a velvet sauce from its ink and pine nuts... it comes on a perfectly

fried bread – a memory of grandma’s baking – and accompanied with the vivid sharpness of young wild garlic.

tonight we improvise

All the above was nothing but the first dish in the indefatigable improvisations of a self-taught chef who manages to hit inner chords with some of her dishes. Here is one of the greatest: You break a crust of August hay that envelops a potato cooked inside it, and an elegant aroma of chamomile tickles your nose along with a different, earthy, imposing smell that, completely supernaturally, makes you imagine that you are one of the titular potato eaters in Van Gogh’s painting. Add next to it a small bowl of cool from the appetizing acidity of a ricotta that has been curdled twice, and then receive your ticket to hyperspace with a cream of smoked chocolate that completes this atavistic psychedelia in an incredibly familiar way. I could come to Hiša Frank for this dish only, but the chef is bored with repetition. “I do not keep my dishes on the menu all the time. I take them off,” she tells me. “Recipes are saved in books and photographs. A specialty is created in a specific moment and reflects your evolution at that time. I want there to be vivacity and renewal in the kitchen.” I already know that the chocolate in the previous dish became a tahini sauce on the next menu.

Ana Roš with her team creates epicurean improvisations based on local ingredients, at the elegantly minimal Hiša Franko ((opposite page, far right).

"I VISITED HER SPACE AND WAS LEFT SPEECHLESS AS I DISCOVERED A BEAUTIFUL NEW WORLD OF GASTRONOMY I COULD NOT HAVE IMAGINED INSIDE A SMALL HOUSE IN A BEAUTIFUL PRAIRIE."

the evolution of epicurean tradition

When I ask her what creativity is, she underscores this: “Creating an exhilarating dish starting with a mundane, maybe boring, ingredient. Very often, I see in my dreams the creation of new flavors and, once I wake up, I go to the kitchen and try them out. Also, when I go running, I think about new recipes and shout out ‘Eureka!’ It is impressive how out there in nature, its sounds, colors, smells stimulate the mind and make it create continuously.” Do you want more wonderful dishes like the previous one? It might sound completely odd, a croquette fried with clockwork precision, filled with a delectable cream of lamb brains, sour forest fruits and... chocolate, but I will confirm that it constitutes liquid gold, with fascinating flavor contrasts. Or even one of the most beautiful combinations of surf and turf I have tasted, in the form of dry aged mountain veal and wonderful sole fish along with a delicately garlicy pil-pil lotion – all accompanied for freshness by tomato water spheres, unripe green tomato and a foam from risotto of tomato and spicy habanero pepper. The dish that was named (r)Evolution of Kobariški Štruklji was a spectacular representation of the level of postmodernism in flavor which reigns supreme at Hiša Franko. They have adapted this traditional walnut-filled dessert from Kobarid, transforming it into a singular, ethereal dumpling (reminiscent of steamed Chinese masterpieces) that, filled with pork, apple and walnuts, gravitates between sweet and savory; next to it they had placed a completely expressionistic, original, sweet and savory and piquant crème brulee made with smoked pork, horseradish and sun-dried plums!

the lesson of sustainability

I ask the chef to describe her gastronomic style. “It is almost excessively connected to the soil and my country, and very personal. I would not call it feminine, because I know many male chefs who cook with a lot of sensitivity. I have always liked strong flavors, but I look for balance. I want my cuisine to tell a story, not by preimposing it on people but by letting flavor speak. The fact that we are confined to this little corner on Earth gives us great freedom at the same time.” With fashions and trends now proliferating at lightning speed on the globalized culinary scene, I asked her how she foresees the future of flavor. “Many chefs I appreciate around the world do deep research into their tradition. We cannot all be Scandinavian just because it is trendy... The motto is ‘ask your mother and your neighbors about traditional recipes.’ Today, we move ever-closer to personal expression, to progressing tradition, to local and seasonal raw ingredients and this is an answer to gastronomical homogenization, which is now a big problem. Many see chefs as rock stars, and we ought to make use of this immense prominence we have. In order to set an example and influence those who trust us, it is important to eat local and sustainable as much as possible in our daily life. To do everything we can not to destroy the planet. In fifteen years, we will have a huge hunger problem, so we should be very careful not to thoughtlessly waste food. For this reason, we should make the most of foraging in nature, of vegetable patches and gardens, and support small producers and farmers.”

Ana’s epicurean style is linked to the soil, and embodies

"THE FOOD IS MAINLY BASED ON LOCAL PRODUCTS AND IDEAS FROM THE SLOVENIAN CULINARY TRADITION, UTILIZED WITH IMAGINATION."

Open-air Dining

Located on the 10th floor of Athens

Capital HotelMGallery Collection, Mappemonde Restaurant, Bar & Lounge is the absolute all day destination in the heart of Athens.

Overlooking the magnificent panorama of the city, the recently renovated Mappemonde Restaurant Bar & Lounge is a leading all-day restaurant destination that takes guests to new delicious horizons. From the first moment of its operation, the restaurant excited the Athenian public with its gastronomic position, presenting the creative dishes of Executive Chef Dimitris Boutsalis, inspired by Mediterranean and international cuisine. The Mappemonde Restaurant Bar & Lounge terrace with the pool and the unrivaled view of the Acropolis and Lycabettus is also an ideal setting for pre or after dinner drinks, hosting a careful list of aromatic cocktails and

The rooftop of Athens Capital Hotel-MGallery Collection and the Mappemonde Restaurant Bar & Lounge are a perfect solution for a breath of fresh air in the heart of Athens, both for summer dinners with wines, premium cocktails and sushi, as well as for lunch breaks for short lunches that will relieve you of the rhythms of Mappemonde Restaurant Bar & Lounge Eleftheriou Venizelou 4 & Kriezotou 2, Syntagma Square, Athens Τel: 21 4444 2000

Athens has many faces, and Mappemonde Restaurant Bar & Lounge of the Athens Capital Hotel-MGallery can introduce you to the most fascinating ones.

A Sea of Flavors

Awarded one Michelin star, Pelagos Restaurant draws inspiration from the Mediterranean Sea.

At the restaurant of the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, Chef Luca Piscazzi disrupts seafood cuisine with a menu that is exhilarating: Inventive appetizers accompany fish in unexpected combinations, while baby lamb and Wagyu beef complete the roster with a punch. Light, cool desserts conclude the flavorful experience, with an emphasis on fruit and flowers. Chef Piscazzi has an inherent culinary ethos which defies bells and whistles and opts instead to invest in making familiar dishes with instantly recognizable components that aim to highlight the rich flavors, aromas and textures of seasonal ingredients. Keeping a low profile but full of innovative ideas, and a lover of experimentation, he finds flavor to be the most important element of a dish. “I wanted to find a way to use pure mastiha from the island of Chios. So, I thought I could encrust a whole fish in mastiha, as part of the traditional process of dry aging,” notes Piscazzi. “We source most of our raw ingredients from local suppliers – mainly fish and seafood that has been sustainably fished, while we also make sure nothing goes to waste,” continues the chef. Visitors can select from the signature dishes the sardines (Lesvos) with black olive & lardo, cherry gazpacho, almond and eucalyptus or the Octopus Ink (Kalymnos) with carnaroli risotto, bergamot, octopus lardo or enjoy one of the two degustation menus. On the wine list, the shores of the Mediterranean are the order of the day, with highly sought after labels from Bolgheri to Burgundy, including unique Greek varieties and vineyards.  Pelagos, (Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens) Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni, Athens Tel: +302108901190 pelagosathens.com

The Taste of Excellence

Beefbar Athens is the ultimate summer destination, featuring original flavor combinations and unique signature cocktails.

Beefbar Athens welcomes summer and invites you to a world where fine dining takes on a new dimension, with delicious experiences full of contrasts and an ideal setting for pre or after dinner drinks.

The lounge on the first floor of the restaurant is the perfect place for a drink, and Beefbar Athens invites drink aficionados to discover its renewed list of premium drinks and delicious cocktails.

Peach Spritz with the irresistible combination of peach and bergamot, fragrant Apple Martini and Summer Mezcalita, a twist of the classic margarita with mezcal, promise to offer you immediately the summer vibes.

The terrace of Beefbar Athens with the unbeatable view of the Saronic Gulf, is ideally combined with the comfortable sofas and the decoration of the space that draws inspiration from the natural elements of the area, and becomes the most idyllic place of this summer to enjoy signature cocktails and premium spirits.

At Beefbar Athens, fine dining goes beyond the simple experience of good food and the renewed dinner menu proves it in the most direct way.

A cosmopolitan journey of flavors, signed by chef Panagiotis Retzis, starring high quality meat and different cuts, will satisfy even the most demanding palates. Beefbar Athens all time classic dishes such as beef rib eye ham, signature carpaccio and tartare & tartine, meat KFC (Kobe beef tallow fried chicken), Quesadillas with Braised Wagyu and Calamari Crunch, just a few of the new additions to the dinner menu that promise to fascinate every guest. At the same time, the leaf menu is dedicated to those who want light, meatless options. 

Beefbar Athens

(Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens) Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni, Athens

Tel: +302109670700

beefbar.com

Luca Piscazzi is the Head chef of Pelagos restaurant awarded with one Michelin star.

Providing an overwhelming selection of food and drink options, guests at Beefbar Athens of the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens will be completely spoilt for choice.

The Constant Italian Chef

The all-time classic Sale Bianco initiates us to what the food lovers call “mangia bene”.

Athenian Gastronomic Delights

oasting a gracious manorial style and a menu that pays homage to the Italian cuisine, Sale Bianco is the sole proof that classic can be timeless. For 12 delicious years, its kitchen is the scenery where knowledge is married to tradition and combined with high quality of raw materials. No matter how many times you may visit it, the experience is always an ode to Italian gastronomy. The soul of Sale Bianco, chef Salvatore Andolina, has a flair for truffle which is demonstrated beautifully in the menu. It makes perfect sense, if you consider that every strong memory you may have from Italian tastes is blessed with a touch of truffle! And yet, it will not surprise us if that memory was created inside the atmospheric interior of Sale Bianco. This is the precious corner to enjoy delectable dishes made of the authentic love to stir emotions. How is that materialized? Through very selected products and fresh ingredients that upgrade the taste of a genuine pizza or a hearty risotto, not to mention the irresistible carpaccio. A pasta lover or not, one is certain once you pass the entrance of that gastronomic myth in Glyfada and taste the handmade tagliatelle of Salvatore Andolina. You will definitely become one!  Sale Bianco

B

Markou Botsari 10, Glyfada

Tel: +30 2108986301 salebianco.gr

cknowledged as one of the hottest dining destinations in Athens, this outpost of the globally renowned Nobu restaurant network offers a spectacularly beautiful seaside setting. Located within the Astir Palace, Matsuhisa Athens, designed by New York’s famous Rockwell Group, is purely magical, whatever the occasion, be it a business lunch or dinner, an anniversary, birthday, a romantic dinner for two or simply fine dining with friends. Minimal and organic in design, and surrounded by abundant greenery, magnificent views overlooking the Saronic Gulf during the day, overwhelmingly beautiful sunsets and dining under a blanket of stars as they shine bright in the night sky, provide the perfect backdrop for a truly wonderful gastronomic journey. At the helm of the kitchen, Executive chef Tony Vratsanos and Head Chef Thomas Kourakos re-create the magic of the legendary cuisine fusing Peruvian and Japanese flavors that encompasses chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s classics known all over the globe. With a wide-ranging menu packed with peerless dishes originally conceived by the legendary chef, diners can expect sashimi, sushi, entrees, starters as well as exemplary desserts with curated wine lists and phenomenal cocktails completing the perfect dining experience. Finally, the UMI Bar is a great place to unwind and meet friends for Martinis and expertly mixed cocktails crafted by Matsuhisa’s bartenders alongside a delicious variety of Nobu tapas dishes.  Matsuhisa Athens, (Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens) Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni, Athens Tel: +302108960510 matsuhisaathens.com

Executive chef Tony Vratsanos re-creates the magic of the legendary cuisine fusing Peruvian and Japanese flavors.

Enjoy never-ending sea views as you dine on inspiring Japanese fusion cuisine at Matsuhisa Athens.

Ambrosia’s menu features sea food brought daily from the market at Fira, as well as traditional vegetarian dishes.