Athens Insider 114/ March & April 2014

THE CITY MAGAZINE OF

March & April 2014 Year 13. Issue 114 €4.50 ISSN 1790-3114

insider athens

| March & April 2014

ATHENS

The Travel issue Greece’s retro posters / Kalavryta for all seasons / Lounging at Heathrow Interview with Michel Cottray, GM of Starwood’s Costa Navarino Complex Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom / Sea planes take-off in Greece Big, fat, Greek wedding planner / Grace Hotels invests in Kalamata Plus: NEON’s art initiative / An insider's Maroussi / Restaurant reviews PLUS: ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD & WINE, NIGHTLIFE, SHOPPING, NOVELTIES, MAPS AND MORE

Thank you

Sudha Nair-Iliades

By all accounts, 2014 promises to be a record year for Greek tourism with an estimated 18.3 million tourists expected to opt for Greece as their destination of choice.

publisher’s note While a much-needed source of positive news, it has also prompted the debate on whether Greece’s tourism infrastructure is equipped to meet the demands of growing volumes. Starwood’s Michel Cottray suggests that managed right, the market will react to demand, citing the example of Kalamata now being connected with direct flights to several European cities. In the same vein, sensing a real demand for their services, K2 SmartJets have decided to take-off with their seaplane project, and the Libra Group recently announced two new investments in the hospitality sector.

Buoyed by all this momentum, we, at Insider Publications have chalked out quite a busy year for ourselves too. March sees the launch of Insider Weekly, our new supplement with the International New York Times-Kathimerini every Friday. We hope it will fill a much-needed content gap in the market with news you can use, interviews, insider tips, film and book reviews and much more. Our interactive website in 5 languages, powered by a strong search engine, also goes on air towards the end of the month and March is also when Bonjour Athènes, our French magazine, celebrates its 10th anniversary.

It has indeed been quite a journey and we are proud to have made it this far. It goes without saying that we wouldn’t be here had it not been for the long hours put in by our very lean but talented team and the unquestioning support from our clients and readers. Thank you.

Kali sarakosti!

Sudha Nair-Iliades

Publisher - Editor Sudha Nair - Iliades Art Director Eliza Mouzenidou Administrative Executive Alexandra Bakalexi Photos Kostas Bekas, Marie-Irène Moschona Web Design www.studiozip.com

Contributors in this Issue Rebecca Hall, Marq Riley, Michael Sweet, Graham Wood, John Zervos Founder Steve Pantazopoulos Legal Counsel Christos Christopoulos Prepress, Montage and Printing Grafima

Distribution Hellenic Distribution Agency Subscriptions * Athens Insider published in English in Greece € 30, Abroad € 60 *B onjour Athènes published in French in Greece € 20, Abroad € 40 * Both magazines in Greece € 50, Abroad € 90 Also published in Chinese, Russian, Turkish and Arabic Prices include VAT and postage. info@insider-magazine.gr www.insider-magazine.gr www.bonjour-athenes.com Athens Insider is published monthly and its brand, logo and all editorial content is held worldwide by:

Insider Publications Ltd. located at Markou Botsari 16 A 117 41 Athens, Greece.

Telephone: 210.729.8634 Fax: 210.729.8634.

Tax: No. 099747145.

Email: info@insider-magazine.gr Reproduction in whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, is forbidden except with the express written permission of the publisher.

Although Athens Insider has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions it may contain. Athens Insider maintains a strict policy of editorial independence and preferential treatment is never guaranteed to advertisers.

Athens Insider: Monthly Publication ISSN 1790-3114 Code: 6548

insider athens | March & April 2014 1

contributors Marie-Irène Moschona

After studying theatre at the University of Athens and at Sorbonne, Maria-Irene obtained a Masters in Management of Cultural Activities from the Panteion University of Athens. She was an assistant director at Kappa Theatre, Media Assistant at Badminton Theatre and at the Half Note Jazz Club and editor at the cultural site Spirto.net. A keen photographer, Maria-Irene lets her roving lens capture the essence of her native city.

Graham lived and worked in the UK and Japan before moving to Athens in 2004 to cover the Olympics and Paralympics as a freelance journalist. Currently he writes about the Greek sports scene for the Press Association and UEFA and has contributed features on travel, leisure and the environment to publications such as the Athens News and Kathimerini.

Marq Riley

Marq was born in The Netherlands, where he graduated as a theatre director from the Utrecht School of Arts. He moved to Greece in 1999, working as a music events organiser. He is now a freelance writer, and as a concert photographer covers a wide selection of festivals and shows. Marq has covered everything from music to spa reviews and diplomacy for Insider and has been a regular writer with the magazine for the past four years.

Alexandra is a graduate of the Panteion University with a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomatic Studies. She has worked with the Greek Council for Refugees and at the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO in the Press and PR departments, before joining Insider Publications. Fluent in French and English, she loves travelling, theatre and poetry.

Rebecca Hall

Michael Sweet

John Zervos, President of the Athens Centre, is Athens Insider’s chronicler of the city’s history. Using his own brand of erudition and wit to weave in and out of the present, John Zervos recounts anecdotes, reminisces of smoky rembetika bars and elegant Kolonaki women brunching at Zonar’s and tells the story of Athens as few do.

Eliza Mouzenidou was born and raised in Athens. She studied Technology of Graphic Arts and graduated with the highest GPA amongst her colleagues. For the last six years she has been working as a graphic designer for prestigious publications, designing the corporate identity for art fairs and five star hotels. Her true passion is photography and during her free time she enjoys playing tennis.

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Alexandra Bakalexi

A British expat, after years of working and travelling, Rebecca finds herself settled in the unconventional country of Greece. She’s travelled to, lived and taught in various places around the globe—Sri Lanka, Cambodia and even helped teach English to the crew of a container ship travelling across the Atlantic Ocean! She recounts her adventures on her website, www.leaving cairo.com

A documentary producer for BBC Television in the 90s, Michael worked in broadcasting in South Asia before establishing his TV production business in Australia. He lived in Athens for almost four years before moving back to Melbourne and has continued contributing to Athens Insider and for the English language edition of Australia’s largest circulation Greek newspaper, Neos Kosmos. Michael combines his writing with producing independent documentary films.

John Zervos

Graham Wood

Eliza Mouzenidou

contents

10 12 24

Features

Departments

A Rorschach splash of colour 10 Christos Raftopoulos exhibits his watercolours at Morgan Art Space

A big, fat Greek Wedding 31 Avoid heartaches and amp up the romance while planning the big day

Education 8

Managing for success 12 Michel Cottray, GM of Starwood’s Costa Navarino Complex in conversation with Athens Insider

Taking off to new horizons 34 K2 SmartJets hopes to revolutionize the tourism industry with a new tourism product: seaplanes

Hospitality 12

Paradise lost?

36 John Zervos offers a glimpse of life in Maroussi behind the high-rises

Time Lapse 20

Chocolate indulgences 44 Chef Fragiskos Sozos suggests two mouth-watering recipes

Wedding planner 30

Restaurant Review 46 Four new Athenian hot-spots recommended by Athens Insider

Cinema 35

Kids and The Magic Kingdom 24 A first-hand account of two days at Disneyland Paris

Raw emotion 48 The Tudor Hall restaurant promises a raw advantage this season

Beauty 42

Gracious living 28 Grace Hotels announce their new investment plans in Kalamata

Rolls of Sweet Memories 72 An exhibition celebrating Greece’s favourite praline-filled rolls, Caprice

Restaurant review 46

Kalavryta: a town for all seasons 16 This Peloponnesian destination offers a range of sporting options Vintage posters 19 A retro look at the GNTO’s vintage posters on its 100th anniversary Lounging around Heathrow Heathrow Terminal 3’s No.1 Traveller’s business lounge is a perfect stopover

22

Art 10

Action hero 16 Tourism 19

Travel 22

Business 34

Cityscope 36

Recipes 44

Kaleidoscope 72

28 30 36 42 48 Find us on:

Cover picture: shutterstock

and at www.insider-publications.com

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Arts & events

01

02

19 march

716 march

03

10 march

Greek Film Archive

Astir Palace Resort

Onassis Cultural Centre

Melina Mercouri: A tribute 01 The Greece-France Alliance 2014, a bilateral cultural and educational programme organized by the French Institute and the French embassy in Athens on the occasion of Greece’s six-month presidency of the European Union, organizes a cinematic tribute to Melina Mercouri. The screening from March 1-9 at the Greek Film Archive coincides with the beloved actresses’ 20th death anniversary.

48, Iera Odos Str. & 134-136, Megalou Alexandrou Str. www.tainiothiki.gr/ www. ifa.gr

Turkish Festival 02 An evening of mystical dervish dancing by renowned performers on March 9 and 10 (open to the public) followed by a week-long gastronomic festival at the Astir Palace Resort. Two chefs from across the Aegean come down to the Astir Palace Resort to recreate flavours from the Bosphorous. For those who’d like to learn more about Turkish cuisine, two cooking workshops during the course of the festival teach you the secrets and the short-cuts to creating an authentic Turkish meal.

Tickets: 30 euros, incl.show and reception To book, call: 210 890.1000 Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni www.astirpalaceresort.com

Contemporary Art Festival of the Independent Balkan Scene, The Last Days of the Ceausescus The images of the condemnation and execution of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena, on Christmas Day in 1989, are etched deeply in the collective subconscious of several generations. Exactly 20 years later, the famous show trial, re-enacted in a historically reproduced setting, interweaves the stage production with interviews conducted with eyewitnesses and archive material. Directed by: Milo Rau / Produced by: IIPM At 21:00, Upper Stage 107-109 Syngrou Avenue www.sgt.gr

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16

until

march

Benaki Museum-Pireos st.

Annexe Massimo Listri The Benaki Museum presents a selection of photographs by artist Massimo Listri with images of baroque palaces, neoclassical interiors and renaissance libraries. Listri, is based in Florence, and is quite clearly fascinated by the architectural legacy of his city, which reflects in the composition of his images. After years of classic photography, Listri rediscovers historical spaces and invites us to examine them afresh.

Tickets: 1,5-3€ Pireos 138 & Andronikou, Athens www.benaki.gr

On the town For location details see listings on page 61

04

05

07

06

14 march

Parnassos Concert Hall Ambassadors in Concert Ambassadors and diplomats get together for an evening of classical music to show solidarity and to raise money for the SOS children’s village in Vari.

All proceeds from ticket sales to go to the SOS Children’s village. The concert will feature performances by several ambassadors and Greek and international musicians. The evening will be followed by cocktails and light finger food.

Tickets: 15, 25 and 35 euros, incl. performance and reception Contact: SOS Village at 210.331.3661, sosathens@sos-villages.gr Parnassos Concert Hall, 8 Ag. Georgiou, Karitsi Sq

823 march

Michael Cacoyannis Foundation Cassandra and the Wolf 03 Cassandra narrates the story of her unusual childhood that floats between fantasy and reality. Laced with humour and empathy, the play based on Margarita Karapanou’s first novel, is directed by Enke Fezollari.

Tickets: 10€, available at the Foundation’s Box Office, on their website and at: 210 3418579 and at all Public stores in Attica.

On Saturday and Sundays at 21:30 Piraeus 206, Tavros, Athens www.mcf.gr

30

until

march

The Acropolis Museum Gallery Talks 04, 05, 06 The Acropolis Museum gives visitors the opportunity to participate in presentations of selected exhibits held by archaeology guides in English, French and Greek. To participate in lectures and special presentations held every Saturday, call tel. 210 9000900, ext. 405 between 9 and 10 a.m.

On Tuesday, Friday, Saturday & Sundays 15 Dionysiou Areopagitou str, Athens www.theacropolismuseum.gr

30

until

march

The Athens House of Photography Willy Ronis photo exhibition 07 The Athens House of Photography presents the work of the great French photographer Willy Ronis. Ronis is amongst the most important French photographers of the 20th century.

Together with Doisneau and Brassai (with whom he created the photo agency Rapho), he is considered the foremost photographer of Paris, and many of the most popular photographs of the city of lights are his creations.

His photography is humanist, with an emphasis on street photography, while later in his career he also devoted himself to depicting the female nude.

Zirini 23, Kifissia www.phototheatron.com

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Arts & events

08

09

14 2 19 2 march

april

march

until

april

april

Vive la France

French Film Festival

Golden Hall 08 Golden Hall takes on the colours of France during a two week extravaganza highlighting French brands at the Golden Hall. It will also be the venue for celebrating the ‘Week of Francophonie in Greece’ and the 10th anniversary of Bonjour Athenes, Insider Publication’s French magazine.

Kifissias Ave 37A, Maroussi www.goldenhall.gr

Now established as an important date in the cultural agenda of the city, the 15th edition of the French Film Festival, as every spring, brings the best of French cinema to Greece. Romance, action, drama, comedy, suspense and even bone-chilling horror – the French Film Festival in Athens and Thessaloniki promises all this and more. French actress Nathalie Baye will be this year’s guest of honour. www.ifa.gr, www.festivalfilmfrancophone.gr

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6

09

Benaki Museum-Pireos st.

Annexe Brides An exhibition that focuses on wedding traditions and fashions in Greece with a large array of clothing from the collections of the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation. Dating back to local traditional Greek dresses from the 19th century and going on to European bridal styles, ‘Brides’ is an exhibition that intends to showcase decorative motifs and sartorial influences on bridal wear over the years.

Ticket: 2,5-5€ Pireos 138 & Anronikou, Athens www.benaki.gr

26&27 april

Athens Concert Hall Antigone Among the theatre productions that will be staged both here and in France this summer in the context of the GreeceFrance Alliance 2014, ComedieFrancaise will stage “Antigone” directed by Marc Paquien at the Athens Concert Hall. Françoise Gillard who was awarded “The Best Actress Beaumarchais”, plays Antigone. Greece will be the only stop abroad of this representation of the ComédieFrançaise, on tour in France.

Vass.Sophias & Kokkali, Athens www.megaron.gr / www.ifa.gr

On the town For location details see listings on page 61

10

11

may until

may until

Theatre Workshop Mairivi

Museum of Cycladic Art

1st Annual International Festival of Puppet Theatre in Athens Away from my hands contemporary shadow theater Valeria Guglietti, Argentina A performance based on short stories, without words and accompanied by music. A pianist performs, two boxers fight, swordsman Zorro engages with his opponent and more. A collection of stories narrated with emotion through the unique art of puppetry.

Reservation: 6942420062 Sahtouri 4 & Sarri, Psyrri www.mairivi.gr

H Y G I E I A. Health, Illness and Treatment from Homer to Galen The Museum of Cycladic Art organizes a major exhibition on a universal subject providing an overview of the evolution of ancient medical practices: the transition from magico-religious healing practices to rational, scientific medicine.

Nearly 300 ancient artifacts from 42 museums in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, will be displayed in this exhibition which will be articulated in three sections: Health, Illness, Treatment.

Neophytou Douka 4, Athens www.cycladic.gr

1

until

june

B & M Theocharakis Foundation Konstantinos Parthenis 10, 11 Kostis Parthenis has been one of the most important artists of the last two centuries as he managed to mingle the morphological perception of the modern aesthetics with the Modern Greek perception of painting, which was dominated by the spirit of the “Munich School”. As a teacher in the Fine Arts School, he influenced decisively the moulding of the ‘Generation of the ‘30s” that combined Hellenism with contemporary aesthetic expressions.

Tickets: 3-6€ Vas. Sofias Av. 9 & Merlin 1, Athens www.thf.gr

july until

Benaki Museum Yannis Tsarouchis: Illustration of an autobiography.

The exhibition presents the history of Yannis Tsarouchis’ paintings, re-creating the environment in which he lived and investigating the manner in which he was influenced throughout his artistic progress.

The theme “Illustrating an autobiography” will be shown in two parts, each of which will last a full year. Viewers will begin in Yannis Tsarouchis’s childhood in Piraeus, Athens and Kifissia, and will traverse the artist’s era through his works, what he listened to, his acquaintances, his intimates, his collaborators and his teachers.

Tickets: 2,5- 5€ Pireos 138 www.benaki.gr

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Social discourse through

Valentina Karga

Nikos Navridis

art

Daniel Silver

by Andreas Larsson

Juan Munoz

Emilia Papafilippou

NEON announces a whole range of initiatives as part of its continued commitment to supporting contemporary culture and the fine arts Kostas Ioannidis

W

Diohandi

hen the Whitechapel Gallery hosted key art pieces from Greek entrepreneur Dimitris Daskalopoulos’s private collection in 2010, inaugurating a programme aiming to open up international private collections to the public, the seed for a similar endeavour in Greece seems to have been sown. In an interview to Athens Insider then, Mr. Daskalopoulos had insisted, “Art is both a subjective and collective endeavour which…appears as utterly natural and self-evident – yet also strangely enigmatic – metaphor for our shared existence. By putting different works of art in dialogue with one another, I attempt to find an analogy for the constant tension between life and death, between our desire for immortality and the futility of many of our daily struggles, an expression of what it means to be human with all its challenges.”

As the founder of NEON, Mr. Daskalopoulos hopes to highlight art’s role in the discourse of social change. The issue of owner-

ΝΕΟΝ Connect NEON and EMST announced a wide-ranging partnership with a view to bringing a range of seminal works into the public arena.

EXHIBITIONS Annual Commission Series for the EMST building roof gallery | Diohandi An annual event where international artists will be invited to create a work to be exhibited in the open-air roof gallery of the EMST building between May and September. The series will run for five years.

Major Installations at EMST The organization and funding of regular temporary installations at EMST of major works from the collections of international museums and the D.Daskalopoulos Collection.

EDUCATION Since 2012, NEON has been supporting EMST with two annual programmes to enrich the Museum’s permanent collection with a grant of €50,000 each year to acquire works of its choosing at the international Frieze Art Fair. ΝΕΟΝ and Outset.Greece NEON funds the activities of Outset.Greece, a chapter of the international Outset Contemporary Art Fund, with the aim of supporting Greek artists and the creation of new works. In 2013, NEON provided Outset.Greece with €100,000 of funding. ΝΕΟΝ Paths EXHIBITIONS IN PUBLIC SPACES ‘A Thousand Doors’ – an exhibition at the Gennadius Library / The American School of Classical Studies at Athens in collaboration with the Whitechapel Gallery, 3/5 – 30/6/2014 NEON and the Whitechapel Gallery announce a survey of international public art in the gardens and interiors of one of the greatest libraries of Hellenic learning. ‘A Thousand Doors’ explores how sculpture can be a portal to time travel, to scientific and philosophical enquiry and to imaginative worlds. This exhibition brings together an international roster of artists, including: Michael Dean, Georg Herold, Susan Hiller, Hannah Höch, Cristina Iglesias, Giuseppe

8 insider athens | March & April 2014

Penone, Annie Ratti, Dieter Roth, Daniel Silver and Louise Wilson among others.

Free and open daily, the gardens will be filled with sculptures and sound pieces by artists offering visitors a place for engagement and contemplation.

First presentation in Greece of the work “This Progress” of Tino Sehgal September 2014 NEON has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Culture to present the work of the famous Berlin artist Tino Sehgal at the area of the Roman Agora in September, 2014. The project engages visitors on-site in a discussion on “What is progress?” with people from different generations and ages. “This Progress” was presented at the Guggenheim Museum, New York and the artist has been awarded the Golden Lion at the 55th Venice Biennale, 2013.

• Contemporary Art Exhibition in the National Garden NEON is working with the City of Athens and its Department for Green Spaces and the Environment to prepare the final implementation studies for the landscaping of eight areas and the placement of artworks in the National Garden, which will be submitted to the relevant authorities and the Ministry of Culture.

NEW PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS • COMMUNITY PROJECTS | May–Oct 2014 The Community Projects are a new NEON initiative for 2014, with two such projects to be funded annually. Their aim is to implement contemporary art programs in Athenian neighborhoods that rely on the participation of local inhabitants, groups and artists. These Community Projects will create lively pockets of artistic activity in the city, where artists will join forces with citizens to highlight issues that interest and concern their local communities. Two Community Projects will take place between May and October 2014 in the western Athenian neighborhoods of Egaleo (curated by Maria-Thalia Karra and Olga Chatzidaki) and Peristeri (curated by Elpida Karamba).

• CITY PROJECT | Public art commission First Commission: Aemilia Papaphilippou |

Paky Vlassopoulou

ship bears little relevance when weighed against the importance of making these works available for public consumption. Collectors and collections are a vital part of the varied landscape needed for art and artists to blossom. Works need to be taken care of and the task of doing so cannot be fulfilled by public institutions alone.

The question thus is not ‘if’ public and private should collaborate but ‘how’.

In keeping with that line of thinking, NEON announced its programme for 2014 to make contemporary culture an intrinsic part of the average Athenian’s life through a variety of projects organized throughout Athens, both in open public spaces and via a framework of partnerships with public and private cultural institutions.

The Organization’s activities for 2014 are focused on five main areas: NEON Paths, NEON Connect, NEON Learning, NEON Creativity and NEON Narratives.

September – October 2014 NEON will commission an artist annually to create a new work for temporary display in a public space. In 2014, NEON is collaborating with the Greek artist Aemilia Papaphilippou. Her work will be presented in the old town center of Athens, and explores the relationship between contemporary artistic creation and Classical civilization.

EXHIBITIONS AT MUSEUMS & FESTIVALS • Athens and Epidaurus Festival 2014 NEON will present a seminal work by the Turkish artist Kutlug Ataman to the Greek public for the first time – the large-scale video installation Küba (2004). Küba concerns itself with a neighborhood of makeshift dwellings that sprang up in an area of Istanbul in 1960 where Kutlug Ataman spent two years immersing himself in the lives of 40 of its residents and charting their physical and conceptual boundaries.

NEON Learning NEON’s focus on learning will introduce contemporary cultural practice to schools and establishes partnerships with institutions to develop ways of maintaining creative thinking in education.

• “Is it Art?” Educational Program | Co-developed with the Hellenic Children’s Museum This NEON initiative aims to bring 15-year-old students in contact with various forms of contemporary art and their creators. The program to be launched in Attica between March and May 2014, will be taught to around 2,500 students and concerns nine significant artists who have redefined the ways in which we see and define art today, including Marcel Duchamp, Joseph Beuys, Louise Bourgeois, Andy Warhol, Marina Abramovic, and the Greek artist Jannis Kounellis.

• Curatorial Exchange Program and Award, in collaboration with the Whitechapel Gallery These two initiatives will be organized in collaboration with the Whitechapel Gallery in London for a third successive year. They are aimed at young curators based in Greece and the UK, with a view to bringing them in contact

with their peers from other countries in order to exchange ideas and experiences.

• Partnership with the Athens School of Fine Arts • NEON has begun a partnership with the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA) with the “Adopt a Studio” program. The aim of this initiative is to bolster the activities of an ASFA workshop each year with €10,000 funding.

• Partnership with the IVEPE Centre for Vocational Training NEON is partnering with the IVEPE Centre for Vocational Training (overseen by the Hellenic Association of Enterprises) for the “Education Through Art” program. The aim of this program is to utilize art as an educational tool to nurture creativity, innovation and the development of critical thought.

NEON Creativity • NEON supports young students pursuing postgraduate studies abroad (Masters) in History of Art, Curatorial Studies and MFA (Master of Fine Arts) with four scholarships of €10,000 each and two scholarships of €10.000 each for the completion of doctoral studies in History / Philosophy of Art and Curatorial Studies.

• Six grants of €5,000 for solo or group contemporary art exhibitions of Greek artists, held in Greece or abroad.

• Four grants of €10,000 each for performances and dance productions.

• Four grants of €5,000 each for contemporary art publications: artist or art movement monographs, exhibition catalogues, studies, and catalogues raisonnés.

NEON Narratives NEON continues its platform for open discussions that bring society closer to contemporary ideas, movements and trends.

• Distinguished Speaker Series – one speaker each year NEON extends its activities in 2014 to include a “Distinguished Speaker Series”, inviting leading figures who are helping shape contemporary culture and thought.

For more info, please visit neon.org.gr

A Rorschach splash of colour “The colour like a thought that grows out of a mood.” —Wallace Stevens, “The Man with the Blue Guitar.” In Greece there is no hue more prominent than blue—from its temperamental sea to its infinite frame of periwinkle sky. The poet Wallace likened the colour blue to thought and intellect, something both beyond and inside us; green stood for nature and chaos, the corporeal earth. Just as we become the place we inhabit, the landscape occupying our soul and flooding our vision, these restless forms materialize the moments in which they were conceived as aftereffects of the artist’s fleeting reactions—to an opera aria, a feeling, a memory, a vision.

Their deceptive simplicity is a manifestation of the will to immediacy of expression.

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Art

Christos Raftopoulos, a Greek-Australian artist who studied art and design and pursued a successful career as a commercial photographer, before giving it all up to move back to his native Ithaca to pick up a paintbrush, exhibits his ephemeral essays at the recently opened Morgan Art Space. Cathryn Drake draws out the poetry in Raftopoulos’ compositions.

The monotone palettes privilege the purity of gesture with a nuanced command of textures and techniques for strikingly raw yet ephemeral compositions conveying a sense of instantaneous movement in midair. They could be embodiments of natural elements, or even weather reports. The shapes shift before the eyes as if portraying the transformations of human emotions, strains of music, or just soft, spontaneous explosions. In one, an erotic slash of deep purple is calmed by a gentle caress of light wash strokes, evoking the progression of passion from visceral to dreamy. Think of these capricious pictures as musical scores for air guitar. Listen only with your eyes.

Watercolours is on until 12 April 2014 at the Morgan Arts Space, Christou Lada 5-7, Platia Karitsi. Opening hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 12–6pm

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Managing for

Photos: Kostas Bekas

success

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Hospitality

Michel Cottray, General Manager of Starwood’s Costa Navarino Complex, uses his considerable personal charm and managerial acumen to achieve spectacular results in a challenging environment.

W

hen Michel Cottray decided to haul his elegant suits into a plane and head for Greece two years ago, he expected a stiff challenge. But even for a hospitality industry veteran, the prospect of turning around a fledgling property in an embattled tourism market was more than he had bargained for. Yet within the brief time he has been at Starwood’s The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, Michel Cottray has managed to do what most hotel GMs could only wish for: An increase in room occupancy and F&B revenues, a reduction in utility costs by 10% and, dearer to Mr.Cottray’s heart, being voted as one of the best workplaces in Greece.

Quick to diagnose that properties require creative solutions that keep momentum going, especially in a distressed economic climate, Mr.Cottray’s first priority was to inject new energy into his team.

“Generating that momentum is often the biggest challenge. I arrived in May 2012 when there were real concerns that the Greek economy would not be able to sustain itself. Your job as a GM is to give faith – to both panicky travel operators and your staff,” Cottray counsels.

And how exactly does one do that? You draw lessons from worse tourism catastrophes elsewhere. Mr.Cottray elaborates, “When deadly bombs ripped off two night clubs in Bali in 2002, leaving 200 dead and several injured, room occupancy on the island dropped from 80% to 5% overnight. I was the GM of The Westin in Bali at the time. Terrorism is vicious. It is far more difficult to turn around the business and convince tourists to come when you do not know when the next bomb might go off. In retrospect, it was easier to reassure people that the Greek economy would eventually pick up, as it has.”

If Mr.Cottray sounds like a management guru, it is because, he has not only transformed a four-year old luxury property into a success story in a challenging environment but has ensured that the success

is a sustainable one, one that enriches the local community and the destination. With postings that have taken him to various corners of the globe from Australia to more recently, Monaco, Michel Cottray has had a rich repertoire of professional experience to draw from – both in terms of diversity in geography but also in terms of understanding different cultures and the needs of discerning globe-trotting tourists.

Today, Kalamata airport is a busy hub attracting international flights from various European capitals. Michel Cottray, is visibly chuffed when he says that, “Soon, the airport at Kalamata will be too small. But then, that would be a positive problem.” Direct flights from Germany to Kalamata include: Munich and Düsseldorf with Aegean; Frankfurt and Stuttgart with Condor and Hamburg with easyJet. Flights from Germany via Vienna with Air Berlin and Fly Niki are from 6 different cities including Berlin and Nuremberg. New lines announced and bookable online include: a new direct flight from Paris CDG twice a week during July and August on Aegean, as well as direct flights Moscow, Rostov, St. Petersburg, Kiev and Stockholm on the same airline.

For 2014, Scandinavian Airlines will continue to operate a direct flight from Oslo every Saturday, starting 17 May. Building on the success of its operations from 2013, easyJet will operate direct flights from London Gatwick from April, each Thursday and Saturday, with an additional flight being added each Tuesday and starting May 3, Ryanair will offer a direct flight from Milano Bergamo twice a week, every Tuesday and Saturday.

“Proof of the growing popularity of Costa Navarino as a destination lies in the fact that airlines, such as easyJet, who operated flights from London Gatwick for a 3 month trial period in 2013 not only extended their flights till the end of November, but will be starting flights earlier this year. It is not because they’d like to do us a favour but because there is real demand,” Mr.Cottray asserts.

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Hospitality

The magic of Kalamata’s quaint little airport is not lost on international travellers. Some of the big draws of tourists visiting Costa Navarino have been golfers from Germany and the Scandinavian countries, taking advantage of the property’s designer golf-courses.

Across the spectrum of markets, most guests at Starwood’s hotels are repeat guests who have contributed to the increase in turnover by 35% compared to 2012. One of the reasons prompting guests to book again, other than the location and the amenities, has been the upgrade in service standards. “With a guest list that includes heads of states, royalty and Hollywood stars, the only thing that really differentiates a great hotel from a good one is service. You need to deliver the little touches. At Costa Navarino, the commitment was always there, but the skills sets and confidence have improved tremendously since we first opened. 70% of our 1050 staff is local. We provide them with a safe environment, stability and good facilities. We train and educate our staff consistently and even during the downturn, we did not cut benefits.”

Sometimes, all it takes is showing you care. The employees, in turn, echoed their appreciation by voting the Starwood hotels at Costa Navarino as the Best Places to Work. “There is corporate pride within the resort. And all of us have the same target – to have satisfied guests.”

Striving towards making his guests and staff happy is the idea behind

14 insider athens | March & April 2014

the weekly GM’s cocktail that Michel Cottray initiated. Hotel guests mingle with staff from departments they rarely have an interface with to add to their appreciation of their stay in Greece.” Staffers claim that the weekly cocktail is not the only place Cottray interacts with his staff. “He is everywhere,” they claim. “I just try to do the rounds,” says the GM, who casts his own all-seeing eye on details large and small. Running a top-notch hotel requires a large coordinated effort among dozens of managers and staff that even the most frequent travellers rarely get to see. Ensuring that the guest experience is smooth and seamless is a consistent objective.

Another one, is to enhance the guest experience by offering a range of sporting activities from scuba diving , tennis and squash , both for high achievers and amateurs. The idea is to make Costa Navarino a sporting destination with a detailed calendar of sporting events.

Guests can travel light and ‘rent’ sports gear, thanks to The Westin’s Gear-Lending programme with New Balance and even get to keep the socks, if they want to! Other plans include live music events, with international artists performing throughout the summer.

Starwood’s properties in Costa Navarino are a perfect example of how good management and long-term vision can have a positive impact on the local economy, the quality of life and the prospects of a whole destination.

ATHENS

weekly

One of the most breathtaking rail journeys on Earth, stunning natural beauty, enough outdoor activities to shake a hiking stick at, impressive monasteries, underground cave lakes, a historic past and a ski centre: Kalavryta just about has it all.

With such an impressive portfolio of options, fewer places in Greece can match the Peloponnesian mountain village and the surrounding region as a complete, year-round travel destination.

Most visitors head to Kalavryta via the Odontotos, or ‘tooth-train’ (rack railway) in English, which is widely

regarded as one of the most unique experiences in the country. Built by the Italians and completed in 1896 - the same year the first modern Olympics took place in Athens - Odontotos starts from the small railway station at the unassuming, chilled-out coastal town of Diakopto.

On boarding the humble little Decauville train, there is little hint of the spectacular journey ahead as you chug slowly out of Diakopto. I must admit, the first and only time I sampled this journey I was more than sceptical, having previously experienced a trip on

the well-known Burma railway close to the bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand. But this experience is more than a match, as the train winds its way through the Vouriakos gorge up into the mountains, through tunnels, over water-falls, along cliffs and through pine and oleander forests, arriving at Kalavryta within an hour after a distance of 22 kilometres, rising to 750 metres above sea level.

There are some great stops along the way, a personal favourite is the small village of Zachlorou, where you can grab a coffee and go for a wander to marvel

at the quaint stone houses and tavernas while listening to the aquatic sounds of the river below. If you decide to stay the night at one of the small guesthouses, it is also well worth taking a short hike up to the monastery of Mega Spilio (Monastery of the Great Cave) which is perched spectacularly on a cliff-face above the

town. For those not too keen on hiking the steep, rocky path, don’t worry, the monastery can also be reached by road.

Among many impressive finds exhibited at the monastery is an ornate cross, which took a monk seven years to make, and then the poor fellow went blind - so says the description. So what’s the first port of call once you arrive in Kalavryta?

After a quick amble around the rustic surroundings and cobbled streets close to the village square, most people head to the memorial which was built to honour the victims of the infamous Nazi massacre which took place

from

14 n o o s g n i m o C ! u o y r a e n k s o a kio March

t

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Kalavryta: a town for all seasons

16 insider athens | March & April 2014

Action hero It’s renowned for its spectacular train journey, but this historical Peloponnesian destination has so much more to offer than a day on the tracks. From skiing to hiking to caving, Graham Wood explores the region’s sporting options

O

ne of the most breathtaking rail journeys on Earth, stunning natural beauty, enough outdoor activities to shake a hiking stick at, impressive monasteries, underground cave lakes, a historic past and a ski centre: Kalavryta just about has it all.

With such an impressive portfolio of options, fewer places in Greece can match the Peloponnesian mountain village and the surrounding region as a complete, year-round travel destination.

Most visitors head to Kalavryta via the Odontotos, or ‘tooth-train’ (rack railway) in English, which is widely regarded as one of the most unique experiences in the country. Built by the Italians and completed in 1896 - the same year the first modern Olympics took place in Athens - Odontotos starts from the small railway station at the unassuming, chilled-out coastal town of Diakopto.

On boarding the humble little Decauville train, there is little hint of the spectacular journey ahead as you chug slowly out of Diakopto. I must admit, the first and only time I sampled this journey I was more than sceptical, having previously experienced a trip on the well-known Burma railway close to the bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand.

But this experience is more than a match, as the train winds its way through the Vouriakos gorge up into the mountains, through tunnels, over water-falls, along cliffs and through pine and oleander forests, Odontotos

Kalavryta railway station

arriving at Kalavryta within an hour after a distance of 22 kilometres, rising to 750 metres above sea level.

There are some great stops along the way, a personal favourite is the small village of Zachlorou, where you can grab a coffee and go for a wander to marvel at the quaint stone houses and tavernas while listening to the aquatic sounds of the river below. If you decide to stay the night at one of the small guesthouses, it is also well worth taking a short hike up to the monastery of Mega Spilio (Monastery of the Great Cave) which is perched spectacularly on a cliff-face above the town.

For those not too keen on hiking the steep, rocky path, don’t worry, the monastery can also be reached by road. Among many impressive finds exhibited at the monastery is an ornate cross, which took a monk seven years to make, and then the poor fellow went blind - so says the description. So what’s the first port of call once you arrive in Kalavryta?

After a quick amble around the rustic surroundings and cobbled streets close to the village square, most people head to the memorial which was built to honour the victims of the infamous Nazi massacre which took place during WWII. Kalavryta undoubtedly has its place assured in the hearts of all Greeks for its association with that atrocity as well as for its role in the national struggle against Turkish occupation in 1821.

The massacre was Nazi retaliation for the execution of some German soldiers by the Greek resistance. Around 1,200 boys and men from the ages of 13 to 70 were executed on that December 13, 1943, and then the entire village was burned to the ground.

A further poignant reminder of the tragedy is found in the shape of an old schoolhouse which has been converted into a museum dedicated to the memory of those killed which is well worth a visit.

Another important part of the area’s history is the Monastery of Agia Lavra, which is just a few kilometers outside Kalavryta set in beautiful

insider athens | March & April 2014 17

Action hero Take a short hike up to the monastery of Mega Spilio, perched on a cliff-face above the town. Among many impressive finds exhibited at the monastery is an ornate cross which took a monk seven years to make

Kalavryta

Kalavryta Ski Centre

18 insider athens | March & April 2014

Memorial to victims of the 1943 massacre

available to rent from around 30 euros, depending on the itinerary of your choice. Fewer experiences could be better than whizzing around scenic routes through the forests around the base of the mountain.

Round off your trip with a visit to the area’s final ‘must-see’: the Cave of Lakes. Situated a few kilometers west of the ski centre, the cave’s promotional literature boasts of being “a rare creation of Nature”, and the string of cascading lakes and labyrinth of stalactite formations are truly a sight to behold. The cave is essentially an old subterranean river which visitors can explore up to 500m courtesy of specially constructed metal walkway. On meandering through you’d be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled onto the set of Star Trek in its heyday, as you pass through dark passageways and gawp at the oddly-shaped rock formations. Thankfully there are no weird monsters lurking under the icy-cold waters; at least not to my knowledge.

Visitors are invited to leave their comments in a guestbook at the exit and as I flicked through the pages one message in particular from an enthusiastic visitor seemed to aptly sum up not only the cave lakes but the Kalavryta experience: “I have seen so much of Greece’s well-known beauty, but I never knew this country had such hidden wonders.”

Inside track

surroundings on the side of a pine-covered mountain. It is here where the first flag of freedom was raised by Bishop Germanos of Patras when the Greeks rebelled against the Turks in March of 1821. There are a plethora of guesthouses and small hotels to accommodate most tastes in Kalavryta, but if one in particular stands out it is the Hotel Helmos, the village’s only four-star hotel.The charming 1922 listed building was fully refurbished and reopened in 2005; it has 28 rooms and offers a great base to explore the area.

After you’ve taken your fill of Kalavryta’s history and culture, the ski centre is a great place to inject some adrenaline if you are of the winter sports persuasion. Kalavryta offers great on- and off-piste runs with 12 trails in total, accounting for a range of difficulty from beginner to the very difficult Stiga 1 and 2 trails from the 2,340-metre summit - where on a clear day skiers are treated to a sea view - offer exhilarating powder runs among clusters of pine trees.

Kalavryta has free lifts for beginners as well as student discounts, while the always-lively chalet at the base of the mountain hosts memorable parties in the evening. Equipment can be rented on the mountain but there are several rental outlets in and around the town where prices are more reasonable.

Accommodation can be found via the website, while those seeking a more luxurious option can look to the recently opened Castle Resort perched above the town. Also, for those keen on imitating everyone’s favourite spy James Bond, Kalavryta has the bonus of snow-mobiling.

The operation is run by Christos Panagopoulos, with snow-mobiles

Monastery Of Mega Spilio

• Info on Kalavrita: www.kalavrita.gov.gr, www.ekalavrita.gr • Hotel Helmos: www.hotelhelmos.gr • Ski and Accomodation: www.kalavrita-ski.gr • Castle Resort: www.castleresort.gr • Snowmobiling: Tel: 26920 24532, 6973 395916

Tourism

Greece through its vintage posters A

s Greece gets ready to welcome a record 18.3 million tourists in 2014, in what is considered the 100th anniversary of Greek tourism, Athens Insider takes a retro look at the Greek National Tourism’s vintage posters, often inspired by Greece’s finest talents. More art than advertising, these posters captured the magic of an era when travel was an elegant, exotic event. From the thermal baths of Edipsos to urging Europeans to discover Greece by car, these posters evoke memories of a bygone era.

insider athens | March & April 2014 19

Time An idyll of serenity She returns to the same spot later in the evening. The lights have just come on, bathing Ag. Georgios in an ethereal light.

The stillness and beauty draw you in. The promise of a scented evening lies just ahead.

20 insider athens | March & April 2014

9.32 pm Ag. Georgios Iraklia

Time Lapse

6.06 am Ag. Georgios Iraklia

BB

A hidden Cycladic gem A sleepy island, just south of Naxos, Iraklia is home to just 150 islanders, a few donkeys and a dozen stray dogs. Its busiest part is the quaint port of Ag. Georgios from where occasional boats take you to the nearest islands of Schinoussa, Amorgos and Naxos.

Here is an island to experience Greece at its timeless best. Maria-Irene Moschona wakes up early to capture the beauty of the harbour as the early morning sun washes the island in a golden hue while the night lights are still on.

lapse insider athens | March & April 2014 21

Lounging around Travelling to Athens? Heathrow Terminal 3’s No.1 Traveller’s business lounge is a perfect fit for those with champagne tastes on a beer budget.

Mike Sweet reports.

F

lying economy via Heathrow Terminal 3? If you’re looking for an alternative to the terminal’s standard ho-hum hospitality - No.1 Traveller’s business lounge - which offers business class treats for a modest open-to-all fee - may be just what you’re after.

With entry costing less than €40 per adult for elevated creature comforts - along with complimentary drinks and snacks - the chances are that not only will you find No.1’s lounge more relaxing than battling to buy your beverages with the throng, but there’s every chance you’ll not be paying a lot more for more privileged surroundings.

I spent a pleasant two hours there before a recent flight to Dubai and then on to Melbourne. With my ten-year-old son it was the ideal spot to while away an hour or two before such a challenging journey, and avoiding the tedious traipse around T3’s retail outlets was a serious plus.

Once inside the lounge (don’t be put off by the somewhat industrial lift to get there, things go cosily upmarket when you get there) my son disappeared to the games room for table football against a new-found friend. I repaired to the

22 insider athens | March & April 2014

Travel

Heathrow well-stocked bar. I went for my usual flight-mode tipple - a long G&T, and was offered a choice of three gins.

One hot snack is included in your entry. We had the vegetable curry with rice, and fish and chips. Modest portions, but if you’re still hungry there are complimentary cold bites in abundance - cheeses, fruit, salads, and biscuits.

Located ‘air side’ after security, the lounge also comprises a spa which offers massages, and for the girls - luxury pedicures and manicures, and an array of mind-boggling waxing options.

If you need to get your head down, there are single, double and triple bedrooms available which cost extra. Bedrooms can be booked on a per hour basis for stays between 6am and 10pm Heathrow Terminal 3 is used by Aegean Airlines and British Airways for all their flights to and from Athens. Entry fees to No.1 Traveller booked online are: Adult: £30. Child £15. Infants are free.

The lounge is open daily from 4.30am to 10.30pm and can be accessed up to three hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time.

Guests from a wide range of member schemes can access the lounge for free. Cardholders of Airport Angel, Priority Pass, Diners Club, Privium, TTT MoneyCorp (privilege), Lounge Club and WEXAS can all access No.1 Traveller’s lounge at Heathrow, Gatwick – North and South Terminals, Stansted and Birmingham at no cost.

insider tip

Mike Sweet was a guest of No.1 Traveller.

Ask for a private room. There aren’t many and they’re not always available as they’re used by airlines that have contracts with the lounge to host their own business class passengers. Bagging one of these makes a big difference. insider athens | March & April 2014 23

Kids and The

M gic Kingdom

For mums and dads planning to treat your family with an excursion to Mickey and Walt Disney’s fantastical world, here’s a first-hand account of two days at Disneyland Paris with a four-person entourage aged 3 to 39. Whether you go for one day or choose to stay several nights, a little preparation is worth the effort. Marq Riley reports.

There are seven official themed Disney Hotels at the Paris resort; the luxury Disneyland Hotel (located above the actual Disneyland Park entrance gates and facing the castle), the New York Hotel, the Sequoia Lodge, the Newport Bay Club, the Santa Fé Hotel, The Cheyenne Hotel and the Davy Crockett Lodge.

Book early When deciding on when to visit Disneyland Paris, you might need to take school holidays and work leave into account, but it will most certainly pay off to get in early with your booking. If possible, make sure your trip does not fall within a major French or European holiday to assure a minimum length of lines at rides and restaurants. Choose off-season weekdays in early spring or late summer and waiting times will be negligible.

You will also be able to find very attractive deals on the adjacent Disney Hotels, which are not only within walking distance from Disneyland, Walt Disney Studios and the Disney Village but also include entrance tickets to the parks. Depending on which hotel and room class you choose, you can even get early-morning access to the parks before official opening time—known as Magic Hours—as well as special Fast Pass cards that allow you to bypass the long queues at popular attractions. It is well worth considering an upgrade to one of the higherclass Disney hotels for these bonuses, especially in high season.

24 insider athens | March & April 2014

We booked a Montana Room in the Sequoia Lodge, styled after a U.S. National Park resort, surrounded by large pine and Sequoia trees, and the natural stone-and-wood interior giving it a very intimate mountain-retreat ambiance, despite its 1011-room capacity. Included are park tickets for the days prior and after your stay, use of the indoor swimming pool, with a very fun waterslide for the kids, the gym and a buffet breakfast. The cheaper standard rooms are located in lodges outside the main building, but if you can afford the upgrade it is worth getting a room on the Golden Forest floors, which guarantee a separate breakfast lounge without the need to book a specific breakfast

Travel

time, as well as free afternoon tea, coffee, refreshments and cake and a special Fast Pass for each member of your family.

You can also pre-book a Half Board or Full Board meal plan, which makes good sense as you’re likely to want lunch and dinner, and these

plans offer up to 15% discount on normal menu prices. In addition you can also book a VIP Fast Pass if your hotel or room class doesn’t include one, which for about €60 per person gives you the same quick access to popular rides as the Hotel Fast Pass.

Getting There and Checking In Paris is well-served with multiple daily flights by Aegean Airlines, Air France and Easyjet, and as Disneyland Paris is located at Marne-LaValee, east of the French capital, you can get a direct transfer from

Charles de Gaulle Airport by either the high speed TGV or a shuttle bus. From the centre of Paris you need to take the RER A train from Nation station. Marne-La-Vallee station is conveniently situated right between the Parks and the main Disney Hotels.

If you’re on a single-day trip, simply walk to the parks, pass the security check and collect your tickets at the main Disneyland Park entrance.

If you’ve booked a hotel then you first need to make your way to that hotel’s reception where you will be given your park tickets. To get to your hotel either take one of the free yellow or pink-coloured Hotel shuttle buses outside the station (unless you’re staying at the Disneyland Hotel), or walk through the Disney Village past the lake if you’re not too baggage-burdened. The advantage of walking is that you will not arrive at the same time as a busload of other guests, reducing your check-in queuing time. For higher-class rooms such as the Golden Forest in the Sequoia Lodge there is a separate check-in area where you can sit down while formalities are handled. Check-in with your passport and you will be given all the park tickets for your family for the duration of your stay as well as any extras you may have booked such as Meal Plan vouchers and Fast Pass Tickets, as well as a ticket for the breakfast time slot you have chosen. If you want to make use of the early morning magic hours before the gates open to the general public, make sure you book breakfast an hour before.

It is also advisable to see the hotel’s concierge to reserve a table at one

insider athens | March & April 2014 25

of the restaurants for lunch and/or dinner, especially in high-season and national holidays. We had done so for lunch at the Blue Lagoon restaurant but thought we’d wing it for dinner. However both hotel restaurants had queues of people with reservations, so we just ordered a hearty snack at the Redwood Bar instead.

That’s it, now you’re off to the parks, either on foot or by shuttle bus.

If you think your kids will be too impatient for this whole procedure on the first day of their visit, you could also go to the Express Service check-in on the first floor of the train station, pick up your tickets and for a small fee leave your bags, which will then be taken to the hotel for you, freeing you to go straight to the parks. The Express Service is also available on your last day, as you check out of the hotel before 11:00 in

the morning, you can pay €11 per bag at the concierge and your luggage will be delivered to the station for you to pick up when you leave the park in the afternoon or evening.

What to see and do in Disneyland First survival measure: bring a pushchair or buggy. If you don’t have one, go to the stroller rental kiosk (€15 per day) on the right side after going through the ticket check at the park entrance. Your kids, legs and shoulders will thank you. If you have two kids, ask for a stroller with a special standing board at the back for the big kid. It makes the transits from ride to ride so much smoother. As there will be walking and waiting, it is also a very good idea to have one or two small bottles of water, cartons of juice and some snacks like cereal bars, or fruit for the kids in your handbag or backpack.

If this is your kids’ first visit to Disneyland, there is no better introduction to the Magic Kingdom than Main Street, USA with its magnificent view leading up to Sleeping Beauty’s iconic castle. Designed by Walt Disney himself back in 1955 for the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California, Main Street was meant to transport the visitor to the innocent beginnings of an ideal American town in the in the early 1900s. It has become the hallmark of each Disneyland built since.

A walk down Main Street with its sights, sounds and scents of freshly baked cakes are a joy to the childhood senses of any age, and catching a glimpse of a favourite Disney character will only further enhance the magic for toddlers.

Exploring and discovering the park for themselves is part of the ad-

26 insider athens | March & April 2014

venture, but for the first time it may all become a bit overwhelming. If you head straight through the castle into Fantasyland and turn right, you will eventually arrive at the most relaxing and enchanting ride to introduce your little ones to this world of attractions: It’s a Small World.

Even if you think the song will stick in your brain for the rest of the day, which it will, the boat ride past cute puppets depicting children across the globe will have them bright-eyed and smiling widely, pointing excitedly at every little detail that catches their eye. After that you might head over to the Casey Jr. Circus Train ride, the only toddler-accessible thrill ride in the parks, a mini-rollercoaster if you like.The free map of the parks, which you are given with your tickets, makes a very good distinction between attractions that are Fun for the Little Ones (blue), Family Adventures (pink), and Big Thrills (orange) and even indicate

which attractions might be a little scary for your smallest kids (yellow exclamation mark.) Do take a note of this, as something that may seem harmless to you will most likely be rather frightening to a 3-year old.

The combination of a darkened tunnel and sound effects make everything very real for them, just like Mickey, Minnie and all their friends certainly are. An encounter with these popular characters is therefore another must, even if there is a queue, just to see your kids’ reactions.

After waiting in line patiently for 20 minutes our son went straight for a long hug with Mickey, whose Meet & Greet is located under the Fantasyland Railway station, one of the stops of the Disneyland Steam train, another children’s favourite.

While in Fantasyland don’t miss the Mad Hatter’s Teacups and Peter Pan’s Flight, a very popular ride indeed considering its somewhat ageing animatronics. Lines can get very long on this one, so be sure to get a fast pass when available. These can also be obtained by going to the Fast Pass dispensers next to the ride’s entrance and swiping each person’s park tickets to get one Fast Pass per person for a specified time slot when you can return and bypass the normal line.

Moving on into Adventureland you enter a world of explorers and Pirates of the Caribbean, where you can discover the secret Blue Lagoon cavern-tavern inside a lush tropical night setting. Through Skull Rock or over the suspended walk bridge of Adventure Isle you will also find Robinson Crusoe’s Tree Cabin with a great view of the surroundings and the castle. Another meal option is the Agrabah Café, which offers an oriental and Moroccan buffet.

Frontierland is next with its Wild West-themed attractions around Thunder Mesa town. Take the Molly Brown Riverboat for a relaxing

Travel and surprisingly authentic trip around the lake, even if you do hear shrieks and screams emerging from Big Thunder Mountain. If you feel like taking that roller coaster ride, have one parent mind the kids in the adjacent Pocahontas Village playground and do the switcheroo while they’re still playing cowboys and Indians.

The final destination is Discoveryland, where an absolute must for Toy Story fans is Buzz Lightyear’s Lazer Blast, even toddlers love it. Autopia is the other kids’ favourite where they can drive a 1950s-style futuristic car around a large course. Futuristic thrills here include Orbitron for toddlers, Nautilus and Star Tours for kids of Star Wars appreciating age and the unmissable Space Mountain: Mission 2 if you’re over 1.32 meters tall, and if you dare get hurled rapidly in loops through the

What to expect in 2014: The Ratatouille Dark Ride!

From what began as EuroDisney just over 20 years ago, Disney’s first and only park in Europe, has now become the continent’s number one tourist destination. Recently significant investments have been made to refresh rides, refurbishing hotels, reaffirming high standards in safety and expanding attractions. 2014 will see the unveiling of an exciting new attraction, one that will be unique to Disneyland Paris, Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy (Ratatouille Kitchen Calamity). Based on the Oscar-winning Pixar animation feature film, this new, €150 million project is rumoured to feature a trackless ride technology, 3D projections and comes with a complete Parisian fountain courtyard incorporating adjoining shops and a restaurant, most likely introducing French cuisine to the resort’s menu. Which surprises it has in store will be kept a tight secret until opening day, probably this summer, but is sure to be yet another major reason for Disney fans to visit the park.

Watch this space!

Conclusion

darkness of space. After all this excitement a quick bite can be found at Pizza Planet or Hyperion Cafe where the kids can watch classic Disney cartoons on a giant cinema screen while they munch a burger.

For more substantial dining with table service try Walt’s in Main Street or Inventions at the Disneyland Hotel. The latter also has the added attraction of Disney characters mingling with the kids. Character dining is also a feature at Cafe Mickey in Disney Village.

For most kids the highlights of the day are the parades. It is unlikely however that after a full day of excitement they will manage to stay awake for the ultimate show at park closing: Disney Dreams. This amazing mixture of lights, fountains, projections, music, laser show and fireworks on and around the castle is a perfect way to end the day.

What to see and do at Walt Disney Studios The second park is dedicated to another kind of magic, namely moviemaking and Disney’s classic motion pictures. The other big hits for little people at Walt Disney studios are the dizzying Cars Rally, the fantastic Animagique show, the Flying Carpets, Stitch Live and the informative Art of Animation, in which a cartoon artist playfully demonstrates how he crafts his art to create Disney classics.

Older kids and parents will also enjoy the Cinémagique show, the Studio Tram Tour and the very popular Crush’s Coaster (which doesn’t have Fast Pass access, so get in line early.) There was no time left for Aerosmith’s Rock’n’Rollercoaster or the Stunt Show Spectacular, but the Stars & Cars Parade will certainly bring a smile to your children’s faces, and yours in return.

The main question anyone has when going to Disneyland Paris for the first time is “How long should we stay”? In the case of a family, it pretty much depends on which period you go and how old your children are. Yes, it’s possible to “do” both parks in one day, if you have small queues, athletic shoes and unlimited energy, but in reality two days is a much more enjoyable way of taking it all in. Having said that, our kids of 3 and 5 years old were so exhausted on the first day that they had to miss the Disney Dreams show at park closing. On the second day you just have to make use of those early Magic Hours as the rides which are open have little to no waiting times. Staying two nights with three days at the parks is an ideal balance, if you can spare the time and expense. Keep in mind that there are many temptations in the shops, and there will be quite a few items of merchandise coming back with you, so keep some space in those suitcases.

Insider Info • Legend has it that at the top of the Disney Castle, there is one room where each night one lucky couple or family staying at the Disneyland Hotel is chosen and allowed to stay, although we can neither confirm nor deny this fact. • There is even a working barber shop at Disneyland Paris called Dapper Dan’s in Main Street. Book an appointment at City Hall and have your hair cut in authentic 20’s style and surroundings. • Wi-fi is being rolled out across the resort, with hotels starting to offer free coverage for its guests, and possibly soon the parks too. Download the official Disneland Paris App for iPhone and iPad to have a digital map on you and up-to-date schedules of parades, shows and appearances. • A very detailed, clear and up-to-date resource of information about Disneyland Paris is DLRPmagic.com. • Single-Day Ticket prices are: €74 (Adult, both Park) €68 (child over 3, both parks)

insider athens | March & April 2014 27

Gracious living Affirming its faith in the recovery of the Greek economy and its commitment to providing quality hospitality services, the Libra Group’s Grace Hotels announce their latest investment in a premium venture at Kalamata. Lena Livanidou, Head of Grace Hotels for the Mediterranean & Africa, in conversation with Athens Insider 28 insider athens | March & April 2014

Hospitality Following its foray into the Greek hospitality sector 7 years ago with 2 hotels in the Cyclades, Grace will have two more hotels - one in Kalamata and another in Kea. Is this validation of the Libra Group’s faith in the Greek economy?

The Libra Group is active worldwide in the field of tourism with three hospitality companies: Grace Hotels, Aria Hotels and US Hotels. Grace Hotels began operations in Greece in 2007, with the opening of Grace Mykonos and Grace Santorini followed. Aria Hotels currently has a presence in four Greek destinations, and consists of boutique hotels and villas.

Alongside investments on five continents, we are interested in our expansion in the Greek market, as exemplified by our forthcoming investment in Kalamata which we announced recently. We believe that the Greek economy is firmly on its path to recovery and we have faith in the efforts made to enhance tourism. Tourism is a powerful and vital sector of the Greek economy with significant benefits to local communities. So we should support every effort being made in the development of the hospitality services industry.

With direct flights from several international cities to Kalamata, is Kalamata poised to become the next all-season destination for discerning travellers?

Grace hotels offer an authentic local experience yet throughout our diverse collection we aim to offer our customers excellent and wholly consistent service. Our hotels are always in harmony with the regions they are located in. In terms of Kalamata and Messinia, although a region of exceptional beauty, only in recent years has it become widely known as a holiday destination for Greeks

and foreign tourists. Of course the upgrading of the Kalamata International Airport has played a key role in promoting Messinia, with frequent and direct connections to European capitals. Similarly, investments in its infrastructure have put Messinia on the tourist map, both domestically and internationally, making it a very attractive destination.

It was in view of the above factors, as well as the unique beauty of the region that Grace Hotels decided to invest in Kalamata.

How is Grace’s offering unique compared to other players in the industry?

Although Grace Hotels’ properties are a relatively new to the luxury boutique sector, our collection has already gained international recognition for its distinctive aesthetics, unique architecture and high quality services.

In terms of design, we ensure that all our hotels have share an ‘elegant simplicity’ yet retain a character of their own that is appropriate to the destination. Thus each Grace Hotel is in complete harmony with its location. We respect the characteristics of each vicinity, and these are reflected in design accents at each hotel. We have accomplished this objective through partnerships with leading professionals in architecture and design.

When it comes to services, we pay great attention to detail. Each guest can create a unique holiday experience by pre-selecting aspects of their stay before their vacation has begun: the ‘Bespoke by Grace’ service can be provided by phone or via a simple online selection process.

Grace Hotels, as its name implies, stands for grace, elegance and simplicity, and a lot more. Guests who stay with us enjoy services and experiences that exceed their expectations.

insider athens | March & April 2014 29

A big, fat Greek

Wedding G

reece has always been a natural choice for the big day not only because it is one of the last bastions of a sensual and relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle characterized by bountiful sunshine, a limpid sea, flavourful food, and late - (and we mean late) night stories, but also because Greeks still know how to enjoy good life, giving pride of place to friends and family and blending a healthy respect for tradition with a voracious appetite for the present. What better place to have your wedding and honeymoon! But as many a bride behind a vintage veil will admit, there is no such thing as a simple wedding. A round- up of some noteworthy names of people and companies providing excellent wedding services in Greece, mainly for upmarket clients and destination weddings.

2Link Events Vanessa and Panagiotis designed the first wedding I was asked to shoot photos and video at (Rallis & Eleni in Paros) and their beautiful decorations really helped shape that first video for me. We have been working together ever since, going to places like Mykonos, Kinsterna in Monemvasia and, of course, Athens. It actually turned out that I had met Vanessa two decades ago on a boat coming back from Naxos and still have her card from then. She is also very much into animal welfare and frequently takes left-over food from a wedding buffet to give to stray dogs. We have brainstormed about one day setting up an affiliation of wedding vendors that organise such postwedding collections and redistributions in a regular basis for couples who are interested in having the “left-oversâ€? of their weddings not go to waste. This might also include decorations, flowers and wedding dresses. • Vanessa Souravlia, 210 7255690, http://www.2linkevents.com, Info@2linkevents.com

30 insider athens | March & April 2014

Wedding planner

Getting hitched in Greece?

Marq Riley gives you the lowdown on how to avoid heartaches, negotiate red-tape and amp up the romance by letting the professionals take over

Tonia Andronikou Concierge This young lady is based with her team in Mykonos and provides all kinds of concierge services to visitors and seasonal inhabitants of the island, including weddings and events in all formats. Mykonos is a big destination wedding favourite as well as a wedding party destination for many Lebanese and Arab couples. For example, last summer I shot a non-disclosed event of a Middle Eastern prince who shall remain nameless, but it did involve a mega yacht, a pirate ship and a private villa.

• Tonia Andronikou, 2289 027160, www.ta-concierge.com, info@ta-concierge.com

SP Weddings From the island of Rhodes, British-educated Sara Pavlatou organises destination weddings for couples coming from abroad, always in a very calm and organised fashion, making everyone around her feel at ease. It all started out from her other business of chartering yachts, when clients would ask for more and more extras like parties, events and eventually weddings. I shot the Chania wedding at Metohi Kindelis with her, an exclusive hotel that never allows any weddings, with the exception of Sara. She’s that good.

• Sara Pavlatou, 22410 01048, sp@spweddings.com, http://www.spweddings.com

By Mimmika (Cardeia Weddings) Mimmika Liakou-Papousaki hails from South Africa, so she has of course cornered the market of South Africans who want to have a special island wedding in Greece. Based on Paros, she specializes in creating an authentic island experience for her couples, complete with live nisitoiki musicians to accompany the couple to and from the ceremony sometimes even on a kaiki.

• Mimmika Liakou-Papousaki, 6944 701743, mimmika@cardeiaweddings.com, http://www.bymimmika.com

insider athens | March & April 2014 31

Wedding planner

Fooolish Designers These three young graphic designers created my new identity, and they really put their heart and inspiration into it. For anyone looking for a special save-the-date or invitation or any kind of wedding related designing, they have a fresh look at things. Highly recommended.

• Giannis Ampelas, 215 215 2308, Fooolishdesigners@gmail.com, https://fooolish.squarespace.com

Shot and Echo Having planned all the details of their wedding, couples then often turn to the question of who will capture their big day’s memories for them, especially when it’s in the beautiful light and scenery of Greece. Like with the designers and planners, choosing a wedding photographer is a personal matter, one that matches your style and personality, and the market has an abundance of photographers catering to all tastes. A new international trend has also become hiring a wedding cinematographer, as opposed to the traditional videographer, who will create a finely edited film highlighting the key moments of wedding. Many couples however feel that having four or more camera people running around intrudes on the wedding’s intimacy and spontaneity. Shot and Echo, a small collective of photographers and filmmakers based in Athens and Naxos Island, have found a solution to these reservations by shooting in a low-profile photojournalistic approach.

I would go to wedding we were invited to and see the photographers virtually take over. They would be constantly directing the bride and groom saying ‘Look here! Smile! Don’t step out of the car yet!’ as if this was their shoot and the couple merely models. I think a wedding photographer’s job is to document the magic and the story of the day, so when we, at Shot and Echo, were asked to shoot a wedding, our approach was to let the couple, their families, friends and guests enjoy their big day as it happened, with very little interference from our side. And once they forget you are there, that’s when the stories really started to unfold, where emotions build up and the most precious moments emerge in all authenticity.” From then on Shot and Echo have become highly sought after in Greece, Cyprus and Southern Italy, especially for destination weddings, and all through word of mouth. Their secret? “There’s only two of us shooting both pictures and movies alternatively with our DSLR cameras, so nobody knows when we are shooting what. When guests see our galleries and wedding films afterwards the reaction is always ‘how did they do this?’. We also like to blend in and can frequently be found jumping around on the party dance floor, where you can shoot the craziest things. It’s a passion and a privilege.”

• www.shotandecho.com, info@shotandecho.com

32 insider athens | March & April 2014

Turkish food & culture week

Astir Palace Resort 7-16 March A ten-day extravaganza of Turkish flavours and traditions Turkish cuisine from March 7-16:

• Two Turkish guest chefs create authentic flavours from the Bosphorous at the Grill Room restaurant from 7 pm to midnight daily. • Live music daily • Turkish cuisine workshops on 8 and 15 March for € 25 per person including cooking lessons and lunch.

A unique show on March 9 and 10 at Alexander Ball Room:

• Dance of the Whirling Dervishes • Traditional music concert with qanun, oud (stringed instruments) and ney (wind instrument) • A fashion show with traditional costumes from Adana. • The show will be followed by a reception with Turkish flavours. Tickets will be sold at € 30 per person. (The price includes food.)

Exhibitions from March 7-14:

• An art exhibition featuring artworks by Prof. Devrim Erbil • Calligraphy on silver by renowned artist Mr. İsmet Özer

For reservations, please contact: 210.890.1000 or check www.astirpalaceresort.com The Arion Resort and Spa, Astir Palace Resort, Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni

Business

RCD

Taking off to new horizons K2 SmartJets hopes to revolutionize the tourism industry by providing hassle-free last-mile connectivity with a new innovative tourism product: amphibious aircrafts to make far-flung destinations more accessible.

W

hether it has been a lack of infrastructure, appropriate legislation or political will, we will never really know why it has taken so long for new legislation allowing for efficient, viable and sustainable seaplane operations throughout Greece. It seems like the most obvious mode of transport, given Greece’s geography, its myriad islands and the numbers of tourists it attracts every year.

A few attempts to launch seaplane services had been launched and subsequently shelved in the past decade and any suggestion of a fullfledged service has been dogged with controversy.

But that hasn’t deterred new investors. In April 2013, K2 SmartJets that own and operate VIP business aircraft purchased 50% of Water Airports, one of the two companies in Greece engaged in the licensing, construction, and management of seadromes in Greece. So far, Water Airports have been awarded 11 of the 12 seadrome licensing contracts in Greece and expect several more over the coming months.

Constantin Tzembelicos, General Manager of K2 SmartJets, points out that his company is poised to operate the first seaplane flights in Greece starting in the summer of 2014 on de Havilland and DHC6 Twin Otter floatplanes.

34 insider athens | March & April 2014

“Greece’s landscape is without any doubt ideally suited to embrace seaplanes and such an operation will step in and play a new and fundamental role in a new-age transport network with vast possibilities and an essential presence in the tourism sector.”

With an estimated 18.3 million tourists expected to visit Greece, 660 cruise ships docked at 889 ports, 51 marinas and 15,000 mooring places and over 220 luxury resort hotels, tourism industry professionals consider seaplanes a “good way to open up Greece for the rest of the world.”

“The long journey from the airport to tourist destinations is often a serious disincentive to many tourists,” Mr.Tzembelicos points out.

The seaplane will take tourism to remote locations. The success of the project will undoubtedly also depend on factors like pricing and the schedule of operation.

Elaborating on the unlimited possibilities of their seaplane operations, Mr.Tzembelicos states, “We can maximize our potential by securing the most attractive destinations and end-users. Apart from scheduled routes, K2 SmartJets hope to support new market sectors such as cruise ships, religious, and archaeological tourism as well as assist in fire-fighting, medevac and other civil protection roles.”

Once the Greek operation takes off, K2 SmartJets hope to cater to other emerging markets in the Mediterranean region including Turkey, the Adriatic Sea, Cyprus, Northern Africa, and the Black Sea. Citing the example of the success of seaplane operations in the Maldives, Mr.Tzembelicos points out that the business model extends far and beyond tourism by offering increased accessibility for more than 11 million local residents; giving a boost to economically laggard regions with severe transport deficits and by Increasing economic productivity and creating new markets.

Get ready to take to the skies above Greek waters.

Cinema

A Greek Odyssey Rebecca Hall interviews film-maker Lance Nielsen on his new project, The Journey, a moving drama inspired by true events, that deals with love, loss and bereavement

A

scriptwriter and theatre director from London, Lance Nielsen directed The Victoria Climbie Inquiry and The Marchioness Disaster.

His latest project, The Journey is a very fictional account inspired by an event in Lance’s life that brought him to Greece—and making a feature film on a £13,000 budget, plus shooting in a foreign country, to quote Lance, is ‘pure insanity!’ A majority of The Journey is filmed in Greece and as a Grecophile myself, I relished the opportunity to interview and get to know more about him.

Lance, The Journey is an incredibly personal project for you to be investing in. It’s about a man who suffers a combination of great losses and comes to Greece to overcome the recent events in his life. What made you decide to make this film?

Whilst spending time in Greece, I found I wasn’t the only person there under such circumstances and several people had made the same journey as me and found peace in the country. I didn’t want the story to be biographical, so I changed as much of it as possible, brought in new characters, but they all seem very real because parts of them were all

taken from people I met on that or subsequent trips to Greece.

The film is about loss and how people deal with it in difference ways. But it’s also about learning to listen and heed advice. I think in the modern era it’s quite hard for someone to reach even the age of thirty and not have been faced with some kind of loss or another. And bereavements and grief take many forms. Greece has been a cathartic process for me.

Who do you think can relate to The Journey - who will it appeal to?

It will appeal to a fairly wide demographic. This film covers not just the main character dealing with a loss, but other people too. Someone else is going through a divorce and another man feels he has lost his country.

So everyone in a way is trying to heal from something, as well as trying to help each other—that’s the core message of this film: that certain people are put on this earth to help you. They do it not for rewards or personal gain, but because they want to, and because they can.

Who are the stars of this - anyone we may recognise?

The stars as far as I am concerned are everyone who worked on this production both in front and behind the camera to help me get it made.

However if you’re talking about known faces, then Jason Flemyng, who

plays Ozzy is probably the most high profile. He is always lending his support to independent British Film. We need more actors like him lending their talent and power to projects like this. Lindsey Coulson is known to most people as Carol Jackson from Eastenders and this is her first feature film role which is a real coup for us. Our lead Duncan Pow has previously been in Holby City for some years, and more recently Waterloo Road. Tasos Nousias and Stelios Kalaitzis are actors Greek audiences will be familiar with and Shirin Mannian who is not only an actress but an Opera Singer from Athens. We also have a couple of new comers as well: Velile Tshabalala who people may recognise from Doctor Who and Charlene Collins who has worked with me in theatre a few times before.

What challenges have you faced making the film?

From the word go the biggest problem was money. We did everything we could to try and raise money for the film. The story wasn’t typically commercial nor did it easily fit into a single genre, so this made it hard for us.

It got to the point where we realised we could either shoot half of it, or cancel the whole project. I knew if we cancelled we’d never have got this

off the ground, so we took what savings I had and shot as much as possible. Other issues were the complexities of actor’s schedules and making that work when everyone is basically working for free. We face these same issues again as we gear up for the second part - and as we still can’t find anyone to sponsor the project, it’s all down to Kickstarter. If we fail to hit our target, it all will have been for nothing and there isn’t a minute in the day at the moment where that doesn’t weight heavily on my mind. More than anything, it’s really important for me to finish this film, because it’s a dedication to my friend Angela that people have a realistic chance of being able to see and although the film isn’t about her per se, the essence of who she was will definitely come through in the material.

Tell us more about the Kickstarter project and what one can do to help.

Kickstarter is a form of Social Media crowd funding to donate money towards a project. Various people connected to the project have all decided to assist with fundraising through simple download of the film online or through acting workshops with the cast. The money to complete the film is far more likely to come from lots of people giving a tiny amount of money. Follow us on www.facebook.com/GreeceTheMovie or on www.leavingcairo.com for an update on what’s going on.

insider athens | March & April 2014 35

Paradise lost?

John Zervos offers a glimpse of life in Maroussi behind the high-rises, in a former potters’ village where Spyros Louis used to load up his water-cart and Henry Miller’s Katsimbalis discoursed with Seferis and Ghikas

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here is no magic this morning in Maroussi, just endless lines of traffic and talaiporia (hassle) for commuters on their way to their computers. This is the financial and leisure hub of greater Athens, home to the Olympic Stadium with its Calatrava graces, to banks and multinational companies, shopping malls, Antenna TV station, car showrooms including Ferrari, exhibition halls, and the Athens Riding Club. It is also the seat of my family home since 1940 when we were displaced from Piraeus by errant bombs.

It was then a 200-stremata wild garden in an area aptly called Paradisos, in which a modest neoclassical villa stood replete with stables, a vineyard, olive trees, a well and walkways. Located halfway between Maroussi and Halandri, it stood ‘alone and palely loitering’. Travelling from the house to Maroussi in the 1950s one passed numerous pottery workshops (the ground was clay-based), the IVI soft drink factory and the Berkshire Stocking Company, owned by the Moraitis family (founders of the school of that name in Psychico).

Maroussi’s ancient name was Athmonon, and it represented one of the ten Athenian sub-cities. The area held a main temple, where Amarysia Artemis (Diana), the goddess of hunting, was adored, and the city’s

36 insider athens | March & April 2014

Cityscope

modern name - Amaroussion - derives from that of the goddess.

Water, clay, and Katsimbalis, the Colossus of Maroussi in Henry Miller’s book, shaped the reality and ideology of this Attica village that supplied water to Athens, ceramic pots to visitors from afar and a mental image of Greece that predated Zorba in the cultural awareness among the English-reading world.

In 1896 Spyros Louis, a water-carrier from Maroussi who trekked to Athens daily with his precious cargo, became immortalized by winning the first Olympic Marathon race. Reportedly, the King offered Louis any gift he would care to ask of him, and all Louis could think of was a donkey-drawn carriage to help him in his water-carrying business.

In his book Spirit of Place, Lawrence Durrell describes Katsimbalis’ residence in Maroussi as a house out of Wuthering Heights, where in

the 1930s George Seferis, Miller, Ghikas the painter and Constantine Tsatsos would meet on Sundays to talk about Greece, poetry and people. Aliki Vouyouklaki, the celebrated Greek film actress, was born and brought up in Maroussi.

Less well-known is Manos Danos, the finest ceramicist in Maroussi between 1950 and 1960. There is a charming picture of him in a koutouki called Asvestolakkos (The Lime Pit). Serving delicious food since 1948, this reasonably priced eatery on Amarousiou Square features entertainment by Nikos from Epirus, who strums his guitar with personality, passion and persuasion on Thursday and Friday evenings.

There are numerous mezedes to choose from, local wine, and a colourful, rustic Greek décor.

The new Maroussi is epitomized by The Mall, an immense shopping and entertainment emporium, with underground parking for 2,500 cars, which has a host of restaurants for every taste. My favourite is Small Italy, located above the main restaurant floor, with an affordable menu of pizza and pasta. The Mall overlooks the Olympic Stadium, an impressive complex of architectural unity now used for major concerts and football games. In front of the stadium, Maroussi’s second shop-

insider athens | March & April 2014 37

Cityscope ping behemoth, the high-end Golden Hall, opened in a building that used to house the Olympic press centre.

The Riding Club in Paradisos was built in the early 1950s on a piece of land from our garden. I used to ride there and once received a bronze medal for jumping. Unfortunately I was disgraced and banned from the club because I forgot to remove my riding hat during the award presentation by Queen Frederica.

Inside track

In those days we were able to hack out from the club into the woods and fields of Maroussi, home to small farms, herds of goats and sheep, and foxes.

Many of the club members were with the mounted police or army units.

There were also scions of famous families like the Baltazis and Razelos. The club is still operation today under the presidency of Lena Levidou, but no rider would dare leave the premises in the current cacophony of traffic and confusion.

Of special interest in Maroussi is the Spatharis Museum of Shadow Theatre, dedicated to Karagiozis, a shadow figure who lampooned the Greek state and politics in general and was ubiquitous in Greece for the last 150 years.

Meanwhile, on Ploutarch Street near the railway station is a house where the Greek painter Yannis Tsarouchis lived and worked, which is worth visiting to see his works (open Wednesday to Sunday 9am-2pm).

Our family home remains, a small haven of greenery amid the high-rises and shopping centres, enjoyed by tortoises, hedgehogs and hundreds of birds.

The stables became a makeshift soap factory during and after the war, but in 1980 I restored the buildings (dating from the Turkish period) and turned the factory into an industrial museum and exhibition hall. In the late 1970s we built a tennis club on the grounds with six courts and a pool, which was eventually sold to a Japanese concern who built a cement office block in its stead. The soap factory was expropriated by the Greek state in 1999. They abandoned the protected buildings and built a public school, destroying over 500 trees in the process. Today the house and gardens, all restored, provide olive oil and pistachios. We have over different 300 trees and bushes, mostly Leylands, Goldcrests, Rosemary bushes and pine trees, as well as extensive lawns and a stone pergola where musical events are held during the summer months.

There is little to recommend Maroussi to a visitor today, baring the Olympic stadium. It is an example of city sprawl and eco-cide that characterizes most of Attica. Nevertheless, I love living here, enjoying the oasis of my garden, the Cretan wine at Asvestolakos and the occasional pasta at The Mall.

See • Spatharis Museum of Shadow Theatre Vas Sofias and Dimitriou Ralli, Kastalias Square, Tel 210.612.7245 email info@karagiozismuseum.gr. Free entry • The Yannis Tsarouchis Foundation Ploutarchou 28 (near KAT station), Tel 210.806.2636-7 email info@tsarouchis-museum.org.gr Entry 3 euros; free on Thursdays Eat • Small Italy The Mall, Andrea Papandreou, Tel 210.630.0466 • Asvestolakos Vas Sofias 4, Amaroussiou Square, Tel 210.802.5298

38 insider athens | March & April 2014

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WATCH AGAIN

TWISTED

Programming Highlights March & April

PREMERE: Monday 24/3 @ 21.50

©HBO

NEW SERIES

GIRLS

PREMIERE: Saturday 15/3 @ 23.00 From writer/director/actor Lena Dunham and comedy veterans Judd Apatow and Jenni Konner, this scripted half-hour series focuses on a group of 20-something women in New York and their adventures in post-collegiate floundering. Two years out of liberal arts school, Hannah (Dunham) believes she has the talent to be a successful writer, and though she has yet to complete her memoir, her parents cut her off financially without warning. Further complicating things for Hannah is her unrequited passion for eccentric actor Adam. As the harsh reality of rent and bills looms, Hannah leans on her roommate Marnie (Allison Williams), who has a real job at an art gallery and an even realer boyfriend. Meanwhile, their gorgeous British friend Jessa (Jemima Kirke), who has travelled to as many different countries as she’s had boyfriends, appears in the city and moves in with Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet), her naïve younger cousin with Sex and the City lifestyle aspirations. Over the course of Season 1’s ten episodes, the four girls try to figure out what they want – from life, from boys, from themselves and each other. The answers aren’t always clear or easy, but the search is profoundly relatable and infinitely amusing.

‘Twisted’ is a one-hour mystery full of twists and turns that follows Danny Desai (Avan Jogia), a charismatic 16-year-old with a troubled past who returns to his hometown after spending five years in juvenile detention. Immediately branded an outcast, Danny attempts to reconnect with his two childhood best friends, Jo and Lacey, and to smooth over tensions with his mother, Karen (Denise Richards), whose socialite status plummeted after her son’s imprisonment and the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Danny’s father.

NEW SEASON

MODERN FAMILY 5

PREMIERE: Tuesday 8/4 @ 21.00 FOX Life’s signature mockumentary style comedy, MODERN FAMILY, awarded four Prime Time Emmy Awards for ‘Outstanding Comedy Series’ for four consecutive years in a row, follows the families of Jay Pritchett, his daughter Claire Dunphy and his son Mitchell Pritchett. In the Season 5 premiere titled ‘Suddenly, Last Summer’, Manny is preparing to leave for Colombia and Gloria is a wreck.

Meanwhile, Cam and Mitchell celebrate the Supreme Court’s landmark decision legalizing gay marriage in California and get everyone wondering whether it will mean wedding bells for the happy couple.

Claire and Phil try to synchronize their kid’s summer activities with the hope of having the house to themselves for an entire week. ©TCFTD

NEW SERIES

MAN UP

PREMIERE: Friday 28/3 @ 20.10 ‘Man Up’ is a brand new factual entertainment series, getting under the skin of modern masculinity. From 30-year-old virgins to games shop geeks, ‘mummy’s boys’ and Star Trek fanatics, ‘Man Up’ sees Britain’s hopeless blokes transformed into brilliant men. Presenter Olivia Lee takes each hopeful by the hand and tries to find the untapped potential as she plunges him into the unknown – whether he’s being forced to get up close and personal with a group of sexy, gorgeous women or taken out of his comfort zone by being immersed in a highly charged testosterone-driven ‘man’s world’. ©FOX INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS

NEW SEASON

LAST MAN STANDING 3

PREMIERE: Friday 4/4 @ 21.50 LAST MAN STANDING tells the story of the Baxter family, father Mike Baxter (Tim Allen), a senior executive and director of marketing at an outdoor sporting goods store in Denver, Colorado. His geologist wife Vanessa (Nancy Travis), and their three daughters, Kristin (Amanda Fuller), Mandy (Molly Ephraim), and Eve (Kaitlyn Dever). Mike finds himself in various situations throughout his everyday life as he seems to have everything under control at work, but when at home, he is constantly outnumbered by a dominant entourage of powerful and demanding females. As a result of Vanessa’s increased workload, Mike is pulled into more hand-on parenting than he has ever had to deal with before.

NEW SEASON

THE NEIGHBORS 2

PREMIERE: Friday 4/4 @ 22.15 Marty Weaver (Lenny Venito) just wants the best for his wife, Debbie (Jami Gertz), and their three kids. That’s why he’s moving them to Hidden Hills, New Jersey, a gated community complete with its own golf course. Marty is certain that their new home will be a dream come true. And then, they meet the neighbors. The residents of Hidden Hills are a little… different. The Weavers have barely unpacked when 20 of their new neighbors show up in the driveway, standing in a triangle formation, each holding an identical cherry pie.

NEW SEASON

DA VINCI’S DEMONS 2

PREMIERE: Sunday 23/3 @ 23.30 Created and written by David S. Goyer, Da Vinci’s Demon’s’ presents a fictional account of Leonardo da Vinci’s early adult life as an artist, idealist, and intellectual genius. In season 2, Florence is thrown into chaos in the wake of the Pazzi conspiracy and Leonardo Da Vinci (Tom Riley) must push the limits of his mind and body to defend the city against the forces of Rome. When the dust settles, friends are buried and rivalries enflamed.

While the Medicis go to unthinkable lengths to deal with new threats, da Vinci continues on his quest to find the fabled Book of Leaves and uncover the secret history of his mother. He’ll come to realize that he has lethal competition in his quest – new enemies who may be even worse than the forces of Pope Sixtus. Season 1 won two out of its three nominations for Outstanding Main Title Design, Outstanding Main Title Theme Music, and Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role at the 65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

NEW SEASON

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 2

PREMIERE: Friday 7/3 @ 22.20 Catherine “Cat” Chandler is a smart, no-nonsense homicide detective, who is haunted by her own tragic past. When she was a teenager, Cat witnessed the murder of her mother at the hands of two gunmen. While investigating a new case Cat and her partner, Tess discover fingerprints that lead to a handsome doctor named Vincent Keller, who was reportedly killed by enemy fire while serving in Afghanistan in 2002. Digging deeper, Cat learns that Vincent has been in hiding for the past 10 years and has been guarding a terrible secret – when he is enraged, he becomes a terrifying beast!

WATCH AGAIN

THE BRIDGE

PREMIERE: Monday 24/3 @ 21.30 ‘The Bridge’ premieres on FOX only a few days after the official US premiere on FX network! Set on the border between El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, the story kicks off when a body is discovered in two parts along the border between the US and Mexico. The bottom half of the body belongs to a Mexican prostitute, while the upper part to a US anti-immigration reform judge. The storyline follows Mexican Detective Marco Ruiz (Demian Bichir) and his American counterpart, Detective Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger) as they are forced to tackle the case together. The two detectives must work in unison to hunt down a serial killer operating on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

NEW SEASON

SONS OF ANARCHY 5

PREMIERE: Monday 7/4 @ 22.20 An adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones about a notorious outlaw motorcycle club intent on protecting their sheltered small town against encroaching drug dealers, corporate developers

©TCFTD

NEW SERIES

BURN NOTICE

PREMIERE: Tuesday 1/4 @ 19.00 and every Monday through Friday at 19.00 Written and created by Matt Nix, BURN NOTICE is a sexy, actionpacked series starring Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Weston, a blacklisted spy. When spies get fired, they don’t get a letter from “human resources” – they get burned. While Michael holes up in Miami, trying to get to the bottom of his situation, he uses ©TCFTD his special training to help people in trouble who, for various reasons, can’t seek the assistance of local authorities. Westen is also reunited with his ex-girlfriend Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), a former IRA operative who finds herself caught up in Michael’s life yet again, following his “extradition” to Florida. The title of the show refers to the “burn notices” issued by the US intelligence agencies to dismiss operatives who have been deemed unreliable. BURN NOTICE has received significant critical acclaim and award nominations. Season 2 will premiere on FOX on April 18, 2014.

WATCH AGAIN

THE WALKING DEAD 4

PREMIERE: Monday 14/4 @ 23.10 and every day at 23.10 Shortly after the season 4 finale on March 31, 2014, FOX gives you yet another unique opportunity to get yourself caught up with all the drama. Tune in every Monday through Friday as of April 14, and relive the 4th season of THE WALKING DEAD. ©AMC

Programming Highlights March & April

©2014 Tonto Films and Television Limited

and overzealous law officers, SONS OF ANARCHY tells the story of the Teller-Morrow family of Charming, California, as well as other members of the local motorcycle club. Created and directed by Kurt Sutter,the series has received universal critical acclaim for its authentic and modern portrayal of biker culture, igniting a fanatic cult following. Already renewed for Seasons 6 and 7, SONS OF ANARCHY is here to stay, and as with seasons 1-4, remains a staple in the FOX Spring schedule. In the Season 5 premiere titled “Sovereign”, Jax’s sovereignty is tested after the Niners attack one of the SAMCRO gun shipments. The drama will escalate quickly as the season progresses, relationships are tested, love is lost and found, and only the strongest will survive in this battle of power and control.

Beauty

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All shades of orange!

Undoubtedly vivid, almost loud, a colour for the in-between time as winter qoes and spring arrives... A declaration of love for such a unique colour! The color of creativity and no wonder the colour of the iconic fashion house YSL who defined it as ‘the emblematic colour of a look without taboos or concessions; the colour confirming the presence of a woman.’

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1. Nail polish by YSL brought to you by L’Oreal Hellas, available at all cosmetic stores 2. Juicy Couture Malibu, a new brighter version of it’s classic counterpart. Available at Notos Galleries 3. Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Makeup SPF 15 by Elizabeth Arden and Flawless Finish Correcting and Highlighting Perfector by Elizabeth Arden. Available at Notos Galleries 4. Αqua Amara by Bulgari, available at Notos Galleries 5. Glittermania Gloss In Love by Lancome, available at all cosmetic stores 6. Sun Care Oil Spray SPF 30 by Clarins. For beautiful body and hair. Available at Notos Galleries 7. Fan Di Fendi Pour Homme Assoluto, the new fragrance for men by Fendi at Notos Galleries 8. Perfecteur de teint multi-équilibrant “Big Easy” and Bumble and Bumble “Prêt-à-powder”, the brand new dry shampoo available from March at all Sephora stores. Addresses: Notos Galleries: Stadiou & Aiolou, Tel.: 210.324.5811, Sephora: Ermou 24, Syntagma, Tel.: 210.331.3167, www.sephora.gr

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Polo Ralph Lauren, La Martina, Luca D’Altieri, Barbour, Gant, Nautica, Lacoste, Kookai, Franklin & Marshall, Trussardi, Gerard Darel, Sarah Lawrence, Stefanel, North Face, Dkny, Columbia, Mexx, Diesel, Replay, OVS kids, Superdry, Henry Cotton’s, Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren, Levi’s, Camel Active, Paul Frank, Lee, Wrangler, Esprit, Mango, Le Coq Sportif and many more

Nike, Feng Shoe, Longchamp, Havaianas, Sebago, Coccinelle, Dkny, Love Moschino, Roccobarocco, Benetton Hunter, Tous, Steve Madden, Braccialini, Υ Not, Guess, Jessica Simpson and many more

Chanel, Bvlgari, Dior, Clinique, Lancome, Estee Lauder, Guerlain, Lancaster, Shiseido, Yves Saint Laurent, Azzaro, Vera Wang, Mac, Marc Jacobs, Sisley, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Clarins, Max Factor, Kenzo, Elizabeth Arden, CK one, Narciso Rodriquez, Sensai by Kanebo, Yves Rocher, L’Occitane and many more

Athens: Stadiou st & Aiolou st, tel. +30 210 3245811 | Piraeus: 35 Iroon Politechniou st & Tsamadou st, tel. +30 210 4119811 Egaleo: Shopping Center River West: 96-98 Kifissou Avenue, tel. +30 2105626140 | Thessaloniki: Hirch Arcade, 24 Tsimiski & 31 Mitropoleos, tel. +30 2310 366600 | Kalamata: Central Square, tel. +30 2721090077 | Larissa: 25 Kouma st, tel +30 2410555647

CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉ CAKE INGREDIENTS For the base • 110g. butter • 85g. brown sugar • 110g. flour type 45 • 110g. hazelnut powder • 75g. slightly crushed hazelnuts For the chocolate soufflÉ • 375g. eggs • 160g. sugar • 250g. dark chocolate NESTLÉ DESSERT • 230g. butter • 100g. flour

PREPARATION For the base 1. Beat all ingredients together in a mixer 2. Spread the dough in the baking tray 3. Bake at 170 ° C for 12-15 minutes 4. Once removed from the oven, allow to cool Chocolate soufflÉ 1. Beat eggs in mixer with sugar 2. Melt butter with chocolate in a saucepan 3. Add the mixture to the eggs, sugar and flour to make it fluffy 4. Fill the soufflé base with the mixture 5. Bake at 180 ° C for 8-10 minutes

44 insider athens | March & April 2014

Chocolate indulgences Chef Fragiskos Sozos of the Astir Palace Resort suggests two mouth-watering recipes using Nestlé Dessert’s dark chocolate

WARM CHOCOLATE TART

Recipes

INGREDIENTS For the shortbread base • 250g. flour • 200g. butter • 100g. castor sugar • 1 pinch salt • 2 egg yolks • 1 vanilla stick For the chocolate filling • 250g. cream (35% ) • 50g. butter • 2 eggs • 1 egg yolk • 170g. dark chocolate NESTLÉ DESSERT • 40g. chocolate milk • 40g. castor sugar

PREPARATION For the shortbread base 1. Blend the flour and butter with a mixer 2. Add the icing sugar and salt and then add the egg yolks and vanilla 3. Leave the dough in the fridge for 2 hours 4. Spread the dough (thick approx 3.5 to 4 mm) in a pan and pre-bake Chocolate filling 1. Boil the cream and butter in a saucepan 2. Remove off the heat and add the chocolate and eggs 3. Mix well (with beater) for better emulsification 4. Pour the mixture on the shortbread base 5. Bake at 170 ° C

TIPS • Allow the shortbread tart to rest • You can extend the shortbread base to the sides to create a side wall • When you bake the shortbread base, try and avoid creating bubbles. If this happens, remove earlier from oven

insider athens | March & April 2014 45

Chequered black and white floors, bistro chairs, lounge music, juicy burgers, rich salads and tempting desserts -what more could one ask for? Open from noon till late at night, 310 Street is perfect for an after-work drink, (the choice of cocktails here is impressive) and has recreated the ambiance of a Parisian bistro. Better known for their grilled meats and burgers, 310 Street does have an alternative menu for vegetarians and Lent observers.

Leof. Kifissias 310, 154 51 Neo Psychiko

310 Street Dadas Unabashedly recommended by locals, Dadas is a cafÊ bar restaurant in Nea Pendeli with oodles of attitude. An animated bar, interesting dÊcor (its neon pink-mauve lights catch your eye even before you’ve parked and the vertical garden on the bar-side is very cool indeed), great cellar and very adventurous cuisine with flavours from Brazil, Japan and the Mediterranean all fused in, make Dadas a popular choice for a night out with the young and trendy. Reasonably priced, a three-course meal with a glass of wine adds up to just under 35 euros. A little tip: Arrive early as the music picks up as the evening wears on.

Iroon Polytechneiou 19, Nea Penteli

Restaurant review

A beautiful eautiful setting high on aesthetics designed to cater to all the senses, Vinarte is a wine bar and an Italian restaurant. With a cellar that stocks some of the finest Italian labels, Vinarte also doubles up as an exhibition space featuring young talent. Hand-picked pieces of exquisite furniture share floor space with a beautiful indoor garden while black and white Fellini movies screened on the walls lend the restaurant an air of timeless, understated sophistication. The seduction begins with a welcome drink, infused with rose petals. A new and very refined addition to Glyfada’s bustling gastronomic scene.

Vinarte Agani

Maragkou 18, 16675, Glyfada

Chef Stathis Kouteris, is a hidden Michelin star waiting to be discovered. I remember enjoying a sumptuous risotto almost four years ago, the taste of which is burned in my memory. Since then, Kouteris has moved to a more sophisticated, light-filled setting at Agani. Expect delectable, inspired dishes such as lentils with bream tartare and risotto with cuttlefish and ink, elevated to such refined levels that once you’ve tasted it, you’ll be back for more. Reserve ahead as Agani tends to fill up early on in the week.

Kifisias 22, 151 25, Marousi

Raw emotion

Special Promotion

Fresh, unprocessed, uncooked ingredients, rich in flavour and imagination, is Executive Chef Sotiris Evangelou’s promise this season at The Tudor Hall restaurant

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he Tudor Hall ups the ante to come up with a Lenten proposition of the purest ingredients to make fasting an exciting experience with refreshingly light dishes such as oysters on ice with lemon and Aegean sea bass carpaccio with tomato, olives and marjoram. Lest you believe that these delectable treats are for observers only, Chef Evangelou indulges the not-so-faithful with succulent ‘beef’ carpaccio drizzled with truffle vinaigrette and a sinful steak tartare with French fries.

Nutritionists and health food specialists have long touted the ‘raw advantage’ of unprocessed, uncooked natural foods on energy levels, waistlines, wrinkles and even sharpness of the mind. What Chef Evangelou does is that he draws on his years of experience to season his raw foods with the most flavourful dressings – each mouthful banishing the flawed association of raw food with being bland and insipid.

48 insider athens | March & April 2014

Quite clearly, The Tudor Hall restaurant, perched on the seventh floor of the King George, hopes to attract the adventurous, health-conscious foodie as well as those looking for a filling though not carb-laden meal.

What’s more – raw food fantasies are not just restricted to savoury dishes.

Indulge in your sweet whimsies without a twinge of guilt. End your meal on a high note that perfectly balances nutrition with imagination. Get swayed by the delicate flavours of a pineapple carpaccio with white chocolate cream or settle for the tangy tartiness of a lime and mango sorbet with mint or opt for the please-all alternative of marinated strawberries in vanilla syrup, Xeres vinegar with almond streusel and yoghurt sorbet.

The Tudor Hall Restaurant, King George, www.tudorhall.gr

the hottest place in the city! www.hammam.gr

Agion Asomaton 17 & Melidoni 1 Thissio Athens Tel: (+30) 210 3231073 e-mail: info@hammam.gr

: Hammam baths (Greece)

hammam baths

Insider guide refer to corresponding area for more information and contact details

restaurant index by type AMERICAN JACKSON HALL Kolonaki TGI FRIDAY’S Kolonaki

ASIAN Golden Phoenix Kifissia Keep Woking Glyfada Noodle Bar Syntagma NUI Kifissia Wagamama Maroussi

BAR - RESTAURANTS Apsendi Halandri BACARO Omonia BALTHAZAR Mavili Sq BARAONDA Mavili Sq Café Zoe Syngrou CASH Kifissia CINCO Kolonaki Dirty Ginger Gazi En Plo Vouliagmeni Bar Explorer’s Lounge Syntagma Gazarte Gazi GINGER Mavili Sq ISLAND Vouliagmeni KITCHEN BAR Faliro & Halandri MAMACAS Gazi NIXON Kerameikos OSTERMAN Syntagma PARKO ELEFTHERIAS Mavili Sq SEMIRAMIS RESTAURANT Kifissia SHOWROOM Kolonaki Sofa Bar Vouliagmeni Step by step Halandri

CHINESE China’s Fantasy Psychico Saipan Halandri

FISH RESTAURANTS Ai Nikolas Syngrou CAPTAIN JOHN’S Piraeus ITHAKI Vouliagmeni JIMMY AND THE FISH Piraeus KASTELORIZO Kifissia MILOS Hilton MYTHOS OF THE SEA Vouliagmeni PAPADAKIS Kolonaki Psaroma Halandri THALATTA Gazi TO 25ARAKI Glyfada ZEFYROS Piraeus

FISH TAVERNAS Almyra Halandri DOURAMBEIS Piraeus Fish Co. Platters Psychico Ichthyes Kifissia KOLLIAS Piraeus RAFALE Vouliagmeni Piperia Psychico PSARAKI Vouliagmeni Sardelaki Glyfada Trata Omonia TRATA O STELIOS Pangrati VASSILENAS Piraeus

FRENCH Gaspar Food and Mood Psychico L’ABREUVOIR Kolonaki LE PETIT SOMMELIER Faliro MONO WINE RESTAURANT Plaka SPONDI Pangrati

GOURMET ALERIA Kerameikos AVENUE Syngrou Bo Botrini’s Halandri KUZINA Thissio Fuga Mavili Sq Funky Gourmet Kerameikos F+W Kolonaki GALAZIA HYTRA Vouliagmeni HYTRA Syngrou KOOL LIFE Kifissia Orizontes Lycavyttou Kolonaki P-Box Kolonaki Polly Magoo Metaxurgeio PremiEre Syngrou VAROULKO Kerameikos

GREEK 2 MAZI Plaka 310 Street Psychico Archeon Gefsis Metaxurgeio ATHIRI Kerameikos Berdema Kifissia Bluefield Burger Psychico CUCINA POVERA Pangrati Dioskouroi Psychico DIPORTO Psyrri ELAIS GI Kifissia ELIAS KOUKOUTSI Voula IDEAL Omonia KAVOURAS Exarhia Krithamos Psychico MANI MANI Acropolis MELILOTOS Monastiraki PSOMI & ALATI Halandri RAKOKAZANO Halandri Rena tis Ftelias Psychico Peacock Syngrou PROSOPA Gazi TO KOUTI Monastiraki YANTES Exarhia YDRIA Plaka

GRILL 1920 Halandri Meat Square Glyfada & Halandri Meatropoleos 3 Syntagma Telemachos Barbeque Club Kifissia

INDIAN BOLLYWOOD Gazi Indian Kitchen Syntagma Indian Masala Thissio ISKANDAR Alimos JAIPUR PALACE Kifissia KOHENOOR Gazi

INTERNATIONAL Ache Glyfada Food Mafia Glyfada Gefsis Me Onomasia Proelefsis Kifissia

ITALIAN 30 SOMETHING Halandri AGLIO OLIO Acropolis AL BACIO Vouliagmeni Albion Psychico Al Dente Glyfada AL FRESCO Vouliagmeni Aperitivo Glyfada

50 insider athens | March & April 2014

BOSCHETTO Kolonaki CANTUCCIO Psyrri CAPANNA Psyrri DA BRUNO Faliro DA VINCI Ag. Paraskevi di Antonio Halandri DULCIS IN FUNDO Voula GENOVESE Voula Il Salotto Glyfada Il Salumaio Kifissia Il Tinello Faliro IL TRAMONTO Vouliagmeni LA CASA DI GIORGINO Gyfada MANGIAMO BY MEAT SQUARE Kifissia Matilde Pizza Bar Gazi Matilde Pizza Bar Psychico Nanninela Ag. Paraskevi Ombra Psychico Pausa Maroussi Sale Bianco da Salvotoro Glyfada SALE E PEPE Kolonaki SCALA VINOTECA Kolonaki SILVER Casa Vouliagmeni TONY BONANO Piraeus VEZENE Hilton VINCENZO Glyfada

JAPANESE FURIN KAZAN Syntagma Hama Glyfada INBI Kolonaki KIKU Kolonaki MATSUHISA ATHENS Vouliagmeni

KOREAN Dosirak Syntagma

Kosher Gostijo Psyrri

LEBANESE BEIRUT Glyfada NARA NARA Psyrri NARGILE Kifissia

MEDITERRANEAN Alatsi Hilton BAKU Vouliagmeni BYZANTINO Hilton CAFE AVYSSINIAS Monastiraki Common Secret Kifissia DAPHNE’S RESTAURANT Plaka FATSIO Pangrati GB CORNER Syntagma HYTRA Plaka IDEAL RESTAURANT Omonia KOUZINA CINE-PSIRRI Psyrri MALABAR Vouliagmeni Mimaya Glyfada Mushroom Glyfada OCHRE & BROWN Psyrri PARLIAMENT Syntagma PRYTANEION Kolonaki RATKA Kolonaki Route Nationale 7 Glyfada STOU MEIDANI Monastiraki TO KOUTI Monastiraki ZORBAS Piraeus

MEXICAN AMIGOS Glyfada DOS HERMANOS Kifissia EL TACO BUENO Maroussi

Santa Fe Halandri

MEZEDES AND OUZO Antaios Psychico ATHINAIKON Omonia KIRKI Thissio OUZADIKO Kolonaki SCHOLARHEIO Plaka

MULTI ETHNIC Altamira Kolonaki

PERSIAN ANAHITA Halandri

PUB RESTAURANTS MOLLY MALONE’S Glyfada

RETRO Aneton Maroussi

ROOFTOP DINING ELECTRA Plaka IOANNIS Syntagma LE GRAND BALCON Kolonaki ORIZONTES LYKAVYTTOU Kolonaki ST’ASTRA Mavili Sq

RUSSIAN Barin Glyfada

SOUVLAKIA AND KEBAB BAIRAKTARIS Monastiraki BUTCHER’S SHOP Gazi DREAM GRILL Voula Gourounakia Kifissias Kifissia KALAMAKI KOLONAKI Kolonaki NAIADES Voula SAVVAS Monastiraki SCHARA Vouliagmeni Souvlaki Bar Thissio THANASSIS Monastiraki

SCANDINAVIAN SAFKA Kerameikos

SPANISH JAMON PINTXOS BAR Glyfada SALERO Exarhia

TAVERNAS FILIPOU Kolonaki LOUIZIDIS Vouliagmeni O Tzitzikas Ki O Mermigas Kifissia, Syntagma VLASSIS Hilton

THAI ROYAL THAI Kifissia TAMARIND Metaxurgeio

TURKISH Mutfak Glyfada

VEGETARIAN Avocado Syntagma Giouvetsakia Glyfada NICE N EASY Kolonaki Rosebud Kolonaki

WINE BARS FABRICA DE VINO Exarhia HETEROCLITO Syntagma L’Enoteca Halandri OINOSCENT Syntagma Vinifera Kifissia Whispers of wine Maroussi

Acropolis Gifts Greece is for Lovers Karyatidon 13A Tel: 210.924.5064 www.greeceisforlovers.com Tongue-in-cheek souvenirs for the discerning traveller

To advertise, contact ads@insider-magazine.gr

Marie Chantal Boutique

Ermenegildo Zegna

Rere Papa

Spefsippou 11, Tel: 210.722.2029 Old-fashioned chic for little princes and princesses

Skoufa 18, Tel: 210.361.3700 Home of fine fabrics and handsome tailor-finished suits

Skoufa 62, Tel: 210.364.4300 Distinctive creations by two young Greek women and other international imports

Mouyer

Voukourestiou 50 Tel: 210.364.1308 A haven of hip, carrying labels from Balenciaga to Martin Margiela to Marlene Birger

Kanari 8, Tel: 210.361.7714 Good-quality orthopaedic shoes as well as funkier styles

Free Shop

Anagnostopoulou 19, Tel: 210.361.6167 Elegant fashion with a contemporary twist

Syllektiko Paleopolio Asklipiou 41, Tel: 210.364.1718 Antiques of all sorts and restoration services

Flowers Fleria Patriarchou Ioakim 35, Tel: 210.722.9697

Vinyl Microstore

Yesterday's Bread

Kallidromiou 87-89, Tel: 210.881.1233 Imported second-hand clothes; individuality guaranteed

Kolonaki Antiques Kilim Hali Valaoritou 9, Tel: 210.363.7056 www.kilimhali.gr Antique carpets from around the world

Beauty &Cosmetics Apivita Solonos 6, Tel: 210.364.0560 Shop natural Greek cosmetics, get a prescription cream made up and have a quick massage

Harnn Shop Irakleitou 15, Tel: 210.364.5428 Beautifully packaged skincare and homespa products

Food & Wine Bespoke Athens

Cava Anthidis

Fashion

Kalogirou

Atelier Loukia

Patriarchou Ioakim 4, Tel: 210.335.6401 Fetish footwear from Prada, Tod's & Casadei

Kanari 24, Tel: 210.362.7334 Fairytale dresses in lace and embroidery from Greece's doyenne designer

Lacoste

Bespoke Athens

Solonos 5, Tel: 210.361.8030 French take on American sportswear

Anagnostopoulou 15-17 Tel: 210.364.5518, Made-to-measure suits and shirts from top international tailors

Iraklitou 9, Tel: 210.360.8315 Alber Elbaz's gloriously chic take on the classic French couture house

Boss Store

Lanvin

Linea Piu

Carouzos

Sekeri 6, Tel: 210 360.6125 Collections from exclusive fashion houses including Chanel, Galliano, Lagerfeld and Sonia Rykiel

Kanari 12, Tel: 210.362.7123 Designer items from Prada, Brioni, Donna Karan, Fendi and other top-flight brands

Skoufa 15, Tel: 210.363.5600 Designer emporium stocked with Chloe, Roberto Cavalli, Ralph Lauren, Missoni & more

Amerikis 19, Tel: 210.338.9080 Smart separates for a work wardrobe

Luisa

Deux Hommes

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Kanari 18, Tel: 210.361.4155 Greece's design ambassadors create structural separates and heavenly bridal gowns. www.deuxhommes.gr

Observatory Attitudes

Dior Boutique Voukourestiou 18-20, Tel: 210 361.3014 High-end designer fashion

Xanthou 3, Tel: 210.363.6030 Budget knick-knacks and must-have casuals from America's fashion hero

Paul & Shark

Jack in the Box

Anagnostopoulou 6, Tel: 210.339.2334 Casual yachting styles

Haritos 13, Tel: 210.725.8735 Beautiful wooden toys and more

Elina Lebessi

Preview

Iraklitou 13, Tel: 210.363.1731 Ethereal frocks, pretty tea-dresses and accessories from around the world

Patriarchou Ioakim 19, Tel: 210.722.4731 High fashion designer shoes

DKNY

Ypsilantou 13-15, Tel: 210.725.1050 Comprehensive wine and liquor wholesalers

Kylix Karneadou 20, Tel: 210.724.5143 Quality picks from the world’s best vineyards; including Greek labels

Wine Garage Xenokratous 25, Tel: 210.721.3175 Browser-friendly cava with helpful service

Gadgets Octopus Solonos 15, Tel: 210.363 6677 Quirky designs with a sense of humour

Gifts Benaki Museum Gift Shop Vas. Sofias & Koumbari Tel: 210.367.1045 Artefacts and jewellery inspired by the museum’s exhibits

Solonos 9, Tel: 210.364.6910 The ultimate fashion store www.attitudes.gr

Solonos 8, Tel: 210.360.3775 Classic American sportswear

Children

Patriarchou Ioakim 30-32 Tel: 210.725.8525 Original silk designs for scarves, ties, shawls & blouses

Vlassis Holevas

Exarhia

Didotou 34, Tel: 210.361.4544 New vinyls & cds; also reissues from the 60s & more

Thalassa Collection

Ilias Lalaounis museum

Central Athens

Insider guide Shop

insider athens | March & April 2014 51

Insider guide Shop

Liana Vourakis

Oxette

Anagnostopoulou 26-28, Tel. 2103617705

Skoufa 37, Tel: 210.339.0547 Trendy, affordable jewellery

Home

Ozzi Skoufa 30, Tel: 210.364.2139 Greek silver fashion jewellery

Christofle

Van Cleef & Arpels

Koumbari 5, Tel: 210.362.0483 Classis silver and crystal ideal for wedding gifts

Voukourestiou 1, Tel: 210.331.0319 The jeweller of the international jetset

La Fenetre Irodotou 21, Tel: 210.723.5029 Elegant objects and sophisticated gifts for the house, mostly from France

Parousiasi Patriarchou Ioakim 33, Tel: 210.723.7656, A range of international brands in crystal, china and other eye-catching homeware accessories

Jewellery Apriati Pindarou 29, Tel: 210.360.7878 Smartly designed necklaces, bracelets and rings

Elena Votsi Xanthou 7, Tel: 210.360.0936 Conversation-starting pieces in gold and stone

Fanourakis Patriarchou Ioakim 23 Tel: 210.721.1762, Unique collection of animal and insect pins & earrings

Monastiraki Antiques Darousos Normanou 7, Tel: 210.331.1638 Small antique shop in the heart of the flea market

Paleovivliopolio Hiotakis Normanou 7, Tel: 210.324.7835 Historic bookshop houses rare & old books

Food & Wine DELICATESSEN Arapian Evripidou 41, Tel: 210.321.7238 Old-style butcher shop offers interesting sausages, pasturma & smoked meats

Bahar Evripidou 31, Tel: 210.321.7225 Well-known herb haven

Miran Evripidou 45, Tel: 210.321.7187 Sausages, pastrami & cured meats

Folli Follie Tsakalof 6 & Solonos 25 Tel: 210.323.0739 Greece's high-street export stocks affordable watches and everyday bijoux

Pangrati

Liana Vourakis

Korres

Anagnostopoulou 26-8 Tel: 210.362.2564 For unique baptism and wedding gifts, start here

Ivikou 8 & Eratosthenous Tel: 210.722.2774 Natural Greek products made using Mediterranean herbs

BEAUTY & COSMETICS

52 insider athens | March & April 2014

Plaka

Syntagma

Antique stores

Accessories

Martinos Pandrosou 50, Tel: 210.321.2414 Specializes in 19th Century folk art, embroidery & furniture

Food & wine

Bag Stories Panepistimiou 41, Tel: 210.323.7405 Luggage & travel bags by Tumi, Porsche Design, Rimowa & Delsey

Antiques Antiqua

Mesogaia Nikis 52, Tel: 210.322.9146 Packaged & fresh speciality foods

Vassilis Amalias 2-4, Tel: 210.323.2220 One of the oldest antique stores in Athens

Gifts

Beauty & Cosmetics

Amorgos Kodrou 3, Tel: 210.324.3836 Hand-carved & painted furniture

Psyrri Fashion Christoforos Kotentos Sachtouri 3, Tel: 210.325.5434 Glamorous & unique designs

Home Notoshome Kratinou 5, Tel: 210.374.3000 Home dĂŠcor superstore

Fresh Line Ermou 30, Tel: 210.324.6500 Fresh organic cosmetics from Greece

MAC Ermou 44, Tel: 210.325.8260 International cosmetic brand for women who like to play with colour

Books Eleftheroudakis Panepistimiou 17, Tel: 210.325.8440 The largest foreign language bookstore in Greece

Department Stores attica Panepistimiou 9, Tel: 211.180.2600 Home to an array of luxury goods

Fokas Stadiou 41, Tel: 210.325.7770 Clothes, shoes and accessories for men, women & children

Fashion - Men’s Pagoni Akadimias 61, Tel: 210.363.9277 Selling ties and cufflinks since 1933

Shop Flowers

Jewellery

Dromoloulouda

Apriati

Voulis 15, Tel: 210.323.2321 Specializing in arrangements with wild flowers, many indigenous to Greece

Pentelis 9 & Mitropoleos, Tel: 210.322.9020 Smartly designed necklaces, bracelets and rings

Bulgari

Food & Wine

Voukourestiou 8, Tel: 210.324.7118 Opulent designs in jewellery, watches & accessories

Aristokratikon

Cartier

Cellier

Voukourestiou 7, Tel: 210.331.3600 Two floors of designs & timepieces by the prestigious Cartier maison

Chopard

Kriezotou 1, Tel: 210.361.0040 Speciality wine shop

Stadiou 2 & Vas. Georgiou 210.325.0555Legendary time pieces and jewellery.

Gadgets

Folli Follie

Public Syntagma Square, Tel: 210.324.6210, Five floors of gaming, gadgets & books

Gifts Graf Von Faber-Castell Boutique Panepistimiou 41, Tel: 210.321.8564 Traditional hand-held writing utensils

Kori Mitropoleos 13, Tel: 210.323.3534 Traditional & contemporary jewellery

Psarros 1917 Stadiou 3, Tel: 210.322.0908 Executive gifts and smoking accessories

Home Baccarat

Ermou 18, Tel: 210.323.0739 Trendy & affordable jewellery & accessories

Shoes

Gofas

Ermou 63, Tel: 210.322.7590 Pick up a pair of Manolo’s at half price!

Stadiou 3, Tel: 210.331.7540 High-end timepieces

Ilias Lalaounis Panepistimiou 6, Tel: 210.361.1371 Fabulous gold designs by famous Greek jeweller

Kessaris Panepistimiou 7, Tel: 210.323.2919 Wide range of luxury brand timepieces

Marathianakis Voukourestiou 21, Tel: 210.362.7118 Old-world shop known for its original & elegant designs

Omega Omega, the brand of James Bond and Nicole Kidman, has its own elegant boutique on Voukourestiou showcasing the brand’s collections Voukourestiou 2, Tel: 210.322.7682

Pentheroudakis Voukourestiou 19, Tel: 210.361.3187 Timeless pieces inspired by classical Greek design

Voukourestiou 21, Tel: 210.362.2863 Fine crystal from the venerable French luxury house

Zolotas Panepistimiou 10, Tel: 210.360.1272 Designs inspired by the antique & classical periods as well as contemporary collections by designers like Paloma Picasso www.zolotas.gr

Spiliopoulos

Vassilis Zoulias Old Athens Akadimias 4, Tel: 210.361.4762 Handmade shoes and handbags inspired by films of the 50s & 60s

Southern Athens

Karageorgi Servas 9, Tel: 210.322.0546 Handmade chocolates

Glyfada Fashion Enny di Monaco Laodikis 41, Tel: 210.894.0153 Carefully selected designs by various international designers

Obervatory Attitudes A. Panagouli 17, Tel: 210.894.2113 The ultimate fashion store www.attitudes.gr

Jewellery

Northern Athens

To advertise, contact ads@insider-magazine.gr Kifissia Fashion 21 Kifissia Kifissias 265, Tel: 210.801.3594 Extreme sport paraphernelia

Vassilis Zoulias Argyropoulou 1-3, Tel: 210.801.7023 Unique designs reminiscent of times past

Food & Wine Aristokratikon Argyropoulou 8, Tel: 210.801.6533 Decadent handmade chocolates

Bakaliko Ola Ta Kala Kifissias 238-240, Mela Shopping Centre, Tel: 210.808.9908 Quality Greek delicacies

Sorpresa Italiana Kiriazi 6-8, Tel: 210.801.7886, Authentic fresh Italian pasta, sauces, truffles & more

Stefanidis Finest Foods Dimitrios Square 13, Tel: 210.808.2191 Excellent European delicatessen

Varsos Kassaveti 5, Tel: 210.801.2472 Milk products & patisserie

Maroussi Golden Hall Kifissias 37A, Tel: 210.680.3450 131 high-end (and high-street) stores for anyone with a passion for fashion

The Mall Athens Andrea Papandreou 35 Tel: 210.630.0000 Shops, cinemas and food

ZerTeo Metaxa 24-26, Tel: 210.894.6682 Unique jewellery designs

Food & Wine Provence Posidonos 80, Tel: 210.898.1435 Gourmet French delicatessen

20%

Off!

Cut this coupon & avail of 20% off on all exclusive brands at Sephora’s stores in Greece.

Central Athens

Insider guide Eat & Drink Acropolis EAT Aglio Olio & Peperonicino Porinou 13, Tel: 210.921.1801 Authentic Italian pasta in a cozy setting, accompanied by luscious salads and homemade dolci

Mani Mani Falirou 10 Tel: 210.921.8180 Peloponnesian specialities with Mediterranean touches

Exarhia EAT

Fabrica de Vino Em. Benaki 3, Tel: 210.321.4148 85 wine etiquettes and mini mezzes in an industrial environment

Kavouras Themistokleous 64, Tel: 210.381.0202 Dine while enjoying live Rebetika music

Salero Valtetsiou 51, Tel: 210.381.3358 Spanish and mediterranean cuisine in the heart of Exarhia

Yantes Valtetsiou 44, Tel: 210.330.1369 Modern Greek cuisine prepared with organic ingredients.

DRINK Circus Bar Navarinou 11, Tel: 210.361.5255 Attracts a hip and happening crowd in a cozy space

Ginger Ale

DRINK

Themistokleous 74, Tel: 210.330.1246 Enjoy a cocktail or a coffee in a retro pop atmosphere

Bars, Clubs & Lounges

Vox

Almaz

Arahovas 56 & Themistokleous Tel: 210.383.5811 One of the oldest summer cinemas in Athens is a picturesque place for a retro-tinged drink

Triptolemou 12, Tel: 210.347.4763 Lounge in a modern atmosphere while listening to music from around the world

Gazi EAT Bollywood Gazi Elasidon 29 & Konstantinoupoleos 44, Tel: 210.345.0041 Indian cuisine in an industrial setting

Butcher’s Shop Persefonis 19, Tel: 210.341.3440 Traditional psistaria serving grilled meat dishes

Kohenoor Triptolemou 41, Tel: 210.345.5762 Indian authentic specialties in a neat setting

Mamacas Persefonis 41, Tel: 210.346.4984 Modern taverna located in an old barrel warehouse offering traditional Greek fare

Matilde Pizza Bar Konstantinoupoleos 44, Tel: 210 3411878 Authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy setting

Prosopa Meg. Vasiliou 52 & Konstantinoupoleos 4 Tel: 210.341.3433, Delicious dishes in a warm atmosphere right beside the train tracks. A popular gay haunt.

Thalatta Vitonos 5, Tel: 210.346.4204 Fresh seafood creations

Dirty Ginger Triptolemou 46, Tel: 210.342.3809 Excellent cocktails, meat dishes and “hot” finger food

Gazarte Boutadon 32-34, Tel: 210.346.0347 Lounge bar with excellent views of the Acropolis, ethnic music and live events

Gasoline

Plastiko Sofroniou 12A, Tel: 210.341.0308 Excellent cocktails, reasonable prices, summer mood

Tapas Bar Triptolemou 44, Tel: 210.347.1844 Cocktails and tapas at the bar, just like in Spain

Villa Mercedes Andronikou & Tzaferi 11 Tel: 210.342.2380 Mega club ideal for all-night dancing

Hilton EAT Alatsi Vrassida 13, Tel: 210.721.0501 Exquisite Cretan specialties

Byzantino Athens Hilton Vas. Sofias 46, Tel: 210.728.1400 Traditional Greek recipes with a Mediterranean twist

DRINK Galaxy Bar Athens Hilton, Vas. Sofias 46, Tel: 210.728.1402 Rooftop cocktails in a chic atmosphere

Kerameikos EAT Aleria

Awarded Toque d’Or in

2013 Meg. Alexandrou 57, Tel: 210.522.2633 Adventurous Greek cuisine in a cosy setting

Milos

Athiri

Athens Hilton Vas. Sofias 46, Tel: 210.724.4400 Simply prepared local flavours.

Guaranteed value for money

Plataion 15, Tel: 210.346.2983 Greek & Mediterranean cuisine in beautiful surroundings

Vezene

Funky Gourmet Voted on e of top 10 Paramythias 13

restaurant

Vrasida 11, Tel: 210723002 Modern bistrot serving seafood & cured beef

s in and Salaminos, Tel: 210 524 2727 Haute cuisine in art deco interior

Vlassis

Safka

Meandrou 15, Tel: 210.646.3060 & 210.725.6335, Family-run taverna serving traditional Greek food

54 insider athens | March & April 2014

Mani Mani

Gargittion 23Α, Tel: 210.346.9396 All day bar with freestyle music and interesting guest-nights

Regular

Europe

win

e Megalou Alexandrou 80-82, degusta t io Tel: 210 524 3340S ns Scandinavian cuisine

Eat & Drink Varoulko

Degustation menu at just 40 €

Filipou

To advertise, contact ads@insider-magazine.gr

Pireos 80, Tel: 210.522.8400 Seafood prepared by Michelin star-winning chef Lefteris Lazarou

Xenokratous 19, Tel: 210.721.6390 Home-cooked Greek taverna dishes

Simple ingredients, special flavours in a setting designed by Theodore Zoumboulakis

Inbi

Prytaneion

Kolonaki

Iraklitou 21, Tel: 210.339.2090 Sushi fusion

Milioni 7, Tel: 210.364.3353 Generous portions of Mediterranean fare

Jackson Hall

EAT Bakeries & Patisseries Cake Irodotou 15, Tel: 210.721.2253 For real American homemade cheesecake, brownies and more

Fresh Kriezotou 12, Tel: 210.364.2948/ Loukianou 21, Tel: 210.729.3453 Desserts and cakes

Restaurants Altamira Tsakalof 36A, Tel: 210.361.4695 Flavours of multiethnic cuisine

Boschetto Evangelismos Park, Tel: 210.721.0893 Italian food in a lush central setting

Milioni 4, Tel: 210.361.6098 Gourmet burgers with all the fixings

Kalamaki Kolonaki Ploutarhou 32, Tel: 210.721.8800 Souvlakia on the sidewalk have never been so trendy

Kiku Dimokritou 12, Tel: 210.364.7033 Fresh, beautifully presented sushi

L'Abreuvoir Xenokratous 51, Tel: 210.722.9106 Fine French cuisine

Le Grand Balcon St George Lycabettus Hotel, Kleomenous 2, Tel: 210.729.0711 Gourmet Greek cuisine

Nice n Easy Omirou 60 & Skoufa, Tel.: 210.361.7201 Gourmet cafe-restaurant with organic products and jazz music

Cafe Boheme

Orizontes Lycavyttou

Omirou 36, Tel: 210.360.8018 Welcoming nook with Greek cooking and more-ish cocktails

Lycabettus Hill, Tel: 210.722.7065 Gourmet dining with a spectacular view

Capanna

Ouzadiko

Ploutarchou 38 & Charitos, Kolonaki Tel: 210.724.1777 People-watching and authentic Italian fare

Karneadou 25-26, Tel: 210.729.5484 Traditional Greek appetizers & ouzo

Cinco Skoufa 52, Tel: 210.364.360 Stylish, lively tapas bar with great cocktails

Fokilidou 15 & Voukourestiou 47A Tel: 210.360.8621 Paros' legendary gourmet restaurant serving seafood in the heart of Athens

F+W

P-BOX

new

Xenokratous 49, Tel: 210.721.1146 Gourmet food by Oliver Campanha

Papadakis

Haritos 24, Periscope hotel Tel: 210.729.8556

Ratka

For Creative Cuisine

Haritos 32, Tel: 210.729.0746 Popular haunt of the rich and almost famous, with cosmopolitan cuisine

www.lachocolatiere.gr

Sale e Pepe Aristipou 34, Tel: 210.723.4102 Authentic Italian trattoria

Rosebud

Scala Vinoteca

Omirou 60 & Skoufa 40, Tel: 210.339.2370 All day hang-out with music ranging from jazz to famous soundtracks

Sina 50, Tel: 210.361.0041 Mediterranean restaurant ideal for wining & dining

Showroom

Skoufaki

Milioni 12, Tel: 210.364.6460 Missoni-designed interiors, serving unique Mediterranean flavours

Ten

Skoufa 47-49, Tel: 210.364.5888 All time classic café bar Ploutarhou 10, Tel: 210.721.0161 One of the most popular hot spots in town

TGI Friday’s Kolokotroni 35, Kefalari sq.

Tel: 210.623.3945 American restaurant with real steak and barbecuesauce for casual dining!

Cafés Da Capo Tsakalof 1, Tel: 210.360.2497 Long-established people-watching hangout

DRINK Bars, Clubs & Lounges

Peros

City

Kolonaki Square, Tel: 210.364.5068 Enjoy a cup of java if you can find a spot

Charitos 43, Tel: 210.722.8910 Modern aesthetics, mutli-culti crowd and soulful music

London str 72

Tea

new

To Tsai

Solonos 72, Tel: 693.951.1760, 690.607.3362 Union jacks and red telephone booths in an all day bar-restaurant

Soutsou & Likavitou, Tel: 210.338.8941 Tea & tea paraphernalia from around the world

Mai Tai Ploutarhou 18, Tel: 210.725.8306 Early evening cocktails in a laid-back atmosphere

To Tsai

Mavili Sq DRINK Balthazar Aleria

Milos Garden

Tsoha 27, Tel: 210.644.1215 Lovely garden and chic interior attracts a cool crowd

insider athens | March & April 2014 55

Insider guide Eat & Drink Baraonda Tsoha 43, Tel: 210.644.4308 Gourmet cuisine and funky beats

Briki Dorileou 6, Tel: 210.654.2380 Trendy hole-in-the-wall hangout

EAT Fuga Vas.Sofias & Kokkali 1, Tel: 210 724 2979 Italian inspired menu by chef Andrea Berton at the Athens Concert Hall

Ginger Dorileou 10-12, Tel: 210.645.1169 Original dishes and innovative combinations in an elegant atmosphere

St’Astra Alexadras 10, Tel: 210.889.4500 For an unforgettable roof-top dining experience

To Parko Eleftherias Next to Megaron Mousikis, Tel: 210.722.3784 Classic recipes and nice atmopshere in a lush green park

Metaxurgeio

Baraonda

Fuga

Savvas

Loukoumi Bar

Mitropoleos 86, Tel: 210.321.9919 Gyros & Middle Eastern dishes like pastourmali

Plateia Avissinias 3, Tel: 210.323.4814 An all day hang-out with good music, cool atmosphere and great views

Sigalas-Bairaktaris

Six Dogs

Monastiraki Sq. 2, Tel: 210.321.3036 Century-old restaurant serving a variety of fresh dishes

Avramiotou 6-8, Tel: 210.321.0510 A day&night cultural entertainment center and bar with a vivid 600m2 back-garden.

Souvlaki Bar Adrianou 7 & Thisiou 15, Tel: 210.515.0550

Stou Meïdani

Taf Normanou 5, Tel: 210.323.8757 Outdoor bar in a neoclassical building with arty atmosphere and great exhibitions

Archeon Gefsis

Sokratous 3 & Evripidou Tel: 210.324.9073, A menu that is sure to please with speciality oven dishes

Kodratou 22, Tel: 210.523.9661 Ancient Greek cuisine makes a unique comeback after 25 centuries

Thanassis

Omonia

Mitropoleos 69, Tel: 210.324.4705 A souvlaki lover’s paradise

EAT

Polly Maggoo

To Kouti

Leonidou 80 & Salaminos, Tel: 210 524 1120 Gourmet cuisine in a post-modern and industrial setting.

New hot spot for the trendy

Adrianou 23, Tel: 210.321.3229 Mediterranean fare right next to the ancient agora

Tamarind

DRINK

Thai Kitchen, Kerameikou 51, Tel: 210.522.5945

360 Cocktail Bar

Monastiraki

A for Athens

EAT

EAT

Athinaikon Themistokleous 2, Tel: 210.383.8485 A traditional Greek ouzeri

Spondi

2 Michelin star Pyrronos 5, s Tel: 210.756.4021 A mix of European & more exotic flavours. Voted one of the best in Athens Trata o Stelios Anagenniseos Sq. 7-9, Tel: 210.729.1533 The best grilled fish in town

DRINK - LIVE BARS Half Note Jazz Club Trivonianou 17, Tel: 210.921.3310 A jazz club with great history, hostingimportant names from the international music scene.

Superfly Empedokleous 28-30, Tel: 211.404.6076 The new hot spot for retro gamers

Ideal Restaurant

Ifestou 2, Tel: 210.321.0006 Miaouli 2-4, Tel: 210.324.4244 An urban terrace with the most stunning view of the Acropolis

Bairaktaris

Panepistimiou 46, Tel: 210.330.3000 Greek classics in old-world decor

Trata Themistokleous 8 and Nikitara 9, Tel: 210.383.8531 Excellent fish taverna in the centre of Athens

Pangrati

Monastiraki Square 2 Tel: 210.321.3036 Old-world taverna serving traditional Greek fare

Melilotos Kalamiotou 19, Tel: 210.322.2458 Greek-Mediterranean cuisine with fresh local ingredients

56 insider athens | March & April 2014

360 Cocktail Bar

EAT 2 Mazi Nikis 48, Tel: 210.322.2839 Creative gourmet dishes that change monthly

Daphne’s Restaurant

EAT

Lysikratous 4, Tel: 210.322.7971 Refined classic Greek dishes in a resplendent atmosphere

Cucina Povera

Electra

Evforionos 13 & Eratosthenous Tel: 210.756.6008, Greek cuisine with a menu that changes daily

Nikodimou 18-20, Tel: 210.337.0000 Roof-top dining with Greek cuisine

Fatsio

Venizelou Paleologou 4, Tel: 210.322.6711 Unpretentious gourmet cuisine

Café Avyssinias Kynetou 7, Tel: 210.321.7407 Spcializing in regional dishes & live music on weekends

Plaka

Efroniou 5, Tel: 210.721.7421 Greek food & political gossip

Mono Wine Restaurant

Eat & Drink Scholarheio Tripodon 14, Tel: 210.324.1605 A traditional tray taverna with old fashioned decor & prices

Ydria Adrianou 68 & Eolou, Tel: 210.325.1619 Taditional Greek cuisine

Psyrri EAT

To advertise, contact ads@insider-magazine.gr

DRINK Bars, Clubs & Lounges

Try the

Kalua

Apollonos 6, Tel: 210.323.7720

Amerikis 6, Tel: 210.360.8304 Dance the night away in a chic environment

Ioannis

Leokoriou 8, Polish beers Tel: 210.325.1668 Tiny standing bar, ideal for socializing.

Royal Olympic Hotel, Ath. Diakou 28-34, Tel: 210.928.8400 Greek & Mediterranean cuisine with breathtaking views from the rooftop

Dude

Meatropoleos 3

Kalamiotou 14, Tel: 210.322.7130 Uptempo bar inspired by “Big Lebowski”

Mitropoleos 3, Tel: 210.324.1805 Modern greek grill restaurant

Syngrou

Noodle Bar

EAT

Cantina Social

Syntagma EAT

Diporto

Indian Kitchen

Oinoscent

Apollonos 11, Tel: 210.331.8585 A congenial place to drop in for a quick noodle fix

AiNikolas

Theatrou & Sokratous Tel: 210.321.1463 Old-world tavern offers bargain basics like salads, sardines & fava

Avocado

O Tzitzikas ki o Mermigas

Nikis 30, Tel: 210.323.7878 Vegetarian restaurant

Gostijo

Voulis 31-33, Tel: 210.323.3330 Japanese & Korean cuisine in the heart of Athens

Mitropoleos 12-14, Tel: 210.324.7607 Savoury Greek cuisine, perfectly combining modern & traditional elements

Aisopou 10 street, Tel: 210.323.3825 Kosher menu and mediterranean “repertoire”

Kouzina Cine-Psirri Sari 44, Tel: 210.321.5534 Mediterranean fare & eclectic music

Ochre & Brown Leokoriou 7, Tel: 210.331.2950 Mediterranean/French cuisine

Dosirak

Furin Kazan Apollonos 2, Tel: 210.322.9170 A Japanese favourite of expats & Athenians alike

GB Corner Hotel Grand Bretagne, Syntagma Square, Tel: 210.333.0750 Luxurious surroundings, Mediterranean cuisine

Osterman Agias Eirinis Sq, Tel: 210.324.3331 Mediterranean dishes, promising cocktail list in a setting where minimalism meets retro

Parliament Vas. Georgiou A & Stadiou Tel: 210.335.2400 International cuisine with Mediterranean accents

Paul Panepistiomiou 10, Tel: 210.722.4824 A true French patisserie

DRINK Bars, Clubs & Lounges Boutique Filellinon 15, Tel: 210.323.1315 Popular Athenian night spot

Eat

New: Tudor Hall Restaurant & Lounge, King George, Athens

Club

The concierge of the Grande Bretagne Hotel in Syntagma Square recommends:

New: Rakkan, Kifissia, Athens

Explorer’s Lounge NJV Athens Plaza, Syntagma Square, Tel: 210.335.2400, Magnificent cocktails and live jazz in an intimate atmosphere

Heteroclito Fokionos 2, Tel: 210.323.9406 A true wine destination with focus on Greek vineyards

Classic: Vlassis Restaurant, Ilissia, Athens

Frequent wine

Voulis 44A Syntagma. tastings Tel: 210.322.9374 Trendy winebar

Syngrou Ave. 156, Tel: 210.923.2918 Original seafood dishes, fresh ingredients and simple elegant interior

Avenue Metropolitan Hotel, Syngrou Ave 385, Tel: 210.947.100 French bistrot inspired by Michel Roux

Café Zoe Athenaeum InterContinental, Syngrou Ave 89-93 Tel: 210.920.6655 Casual dining and terrific buffets for lunch and on Sundays

Hytra

Michelin star chef

Onassis Cultural Center Syngrou Ave 107-109, Tel: 217.707.1118, 210.331.6767 Creative gourmet Greek cuisine by Nikos Karathanos with stunning views

Kollias Syngrou Ave. 303, Tel: 210.940.8620 Excellent seafood in a pleasant Mediterranean atmosphere

Peacock Hotel Hera, Falirou 9, Tel: 210.923.6682 Traditional food with breathtaking Acropolis views

Première Athenaeum InterContinental, Syngrou Ave 89-93, Tel: 210.920.6981 Gourmet cuisine with splendid views

Thissio

Alternative: Funky Gourmet, Kerameikos, Athens

EAT Indian Masala

Classic: By the Glass, Athens Alternative: Cinco, Kolonaki, Athens Explorer’s Lounge

Ermou 129, Tel: 210.321.9412 Amazing Indian food at affordable price in a pleasant environment

insider athens | March & April 2014 57

Insider guide Eat & Drink Kirki

DRINK

Apostoplou Pavlou 31 Tel: 210.346.6960 Ideal for a lunch break

Istioploikos

Kuzina

Southern Athens

Adrianou 9, Tel: 210.324.0133 Inspired traditional recipes in a cozy arty environment

Piraeus EAT

Zannitsopoulou 8, Tel: 210.894.4247 Irish pub serving probably the best Irish Stew in Athens

Ak. Microlimanou, Tel: 210.413.4084 One of the hip places to see and be seen with a rooftop bar overlooking the yachting marina

Mushroom new

Labraki & Ag. Nikolaou 48, Tel: 210.960.3943 Menu with emphasis on mushrooms with cosy, wood decor. Try the cocktail with mushrooms

Katafigio Ak. Koumoundourou 4, Tel: 210.413.1612 Club, cafe & beer house

Faliro

Captain John's

Molly Malone's

Barin

Mutfak Amigos Kyprou 65A, Tel: 210.898.3167 Mexican flavours in a friendly setting

Ak. Koumoundourou 16A, Tel: 210.417.7589 Traditional seafood

EAT

Aperitivo

Da Bruno

Dourambeis

Ag. Alexandrou 46, Tel: 210.981.8959 Rich list with Italian flavours and fresh pasta

Kyprou 70, Tel: 210.894.0377 Authentic Italian cuisine in a cosy setting

Ak. Protopsalti 29, Tel: 210.412.2092 Classic fish taverna

Jimmy and The Fish Ak. Mikrolimanou, Tel: 210.413.4084.

Excellent seafood; try the astakomakaronada

Kollias Plastira 3, Tel: 210.462.9620 Excellent seafood but difficult to find; reserve on weekends

Tony Bonano Papanastasiou 63, Tel: 210.411.1901 Italian cuisine with a view of the harbour

Vassilenas Etolikou 72 & Vitolion, Tel: 210.461.2457 Friendly food and atmosphere

Zefyros Ak. Koumoundourou 48, Tel: 210.417.5152 Fresh seafood on the quay

Zorbas Ak. Koumoundourou 14, Tel: 210.411.1163 Unique flavours of the Mediterranean

Il Tinello Knossou 54, Tel: 210.982.8462 Real Italian home cooking

Iskandar Amphitheas 6 & Poseidonos, Tel: 210.988.6474 Authentic Indian cuisine

Kitchen Bar

new

Russian

cuisin

e 33rd Street Elliniko 13, Tel: 210.963.5416 The fist dedicated Russian restaurant in Athens Beirut Panagouli 52 & Faidras Tel: 210.894.3169 Lebanese cuisine & entertainment

Domates

Poseidonos 3, Tel: 210.981.2004 Comfort food overlooking the sea

Xenofontos 20, Tel: 210.960.6801 Fresh, unpretentious cuisine in a quiet Glyfada street.

Le Petit Sommelier

Food Mafia

Zaimi 6, Tel: 210.984.2344 French cuisine & excellent wine list

Laodikis & Filikis Etairias10, Tel: 210.894.2177 International fare with attitude

DRINK Big Apple South Posidonos 1, Tel: 210.948.5190 Casual cocktails in a modern atmosphere

Zinc

Giouvetsakia Ithomis 20 and Moreos, Tel: 210.964.8081 Organic mageirefta food

Hama

“Flisvos” Marina, Tel: 210.985.3183 Cocktails whith music

Grigoriou Lambraki 34, Tel: 210.960.0595 Sophisticated Japanese cuisine in a cosy setting

Zythos

Il Salotto

Eleftherias 45, Tel: 210.985.0478 Reminiscent of an Irish pub with several beers to choose from

Markou Botsari 13, Tel: 210.894.8397 Minimal décor, elegant Italian fare

Jamon Pintxos Bar

Glyfada

Laodikis 33-35, Tel: 210.894.6089 Basque “pinchos” in a cozy, cheerful atmosphere

EAT

Keep Woking

Bakeries & Patisseries Paul Esperidon Square and Kyprou 70, Tel: 210.894.7169 A real French boulangerie that serves meals too.

Restaurants Al Dente Matsuhisa

Barin

Lazaraki 63 & Pandoras 10, Tel: 210.968.0280 Italian food with no fanfare

58 insider athens | March & April 2014

Dimitriou Gounari 70, Tel:211.012.2801 Create-your-own Asian cuisine, fast and funky

La Casa Di Giorgino Lefkosias 42A, Tel: 210.963.8770 Authentic Italian pizza made in a traditional wood-burning oven

Laodikis 38, Tel: 210.894.9060 Authentic flavours from the Bosphorous

Route Nationale 7 A. Lazaraki 61, Tel: 210.894.0711 Mediterranean cuisine with a French approach and wine bar

Sardelaki Foivis 15, Tel: 211.402.1195 Sardines and seafood in a casual setting.

Sale Bianco da Salvotoro Markou Botsari 10A, Tel: 210.898.6301 Authentic Italian food in an inviting atmosphere

To 25araki M. Botsari 8, Tel: 210.894.4112 Fresh seafood at reasonable prices

Vincenzo Giannitsopoulou 1, Tel: 210.894.1310 Value for money Italian specialities with a Southern Italian touch

CreperieS To Paramythi Kyprou 9, Tel: 210.894.1361 Creperie in a fairy-tale se

DRINK Bars, Clubs & Lounges Balux Posidonos 58, Tel: 210.898.3577 Waterfront lounging

Bourbon Daskaroli 67, Tel: 210.964.7600 American style bar with rock, blues, soul music and live events

Capri Bay Grigoriou Lambraki 2, Tel: 210.894.9995 Excellent cocktails in a Moroccan style garden

Mikro Laodikis 33-35, Tel: 210.894.1031 Minimal decor with well-known Greek DJs

Cafes

Mimaya

Chocolat

Markou Botsari 8, Tel: 210.894.4850 Black and white setting with creative Mediterranean cuisine.

Zisimopoulou 9, Tel: 210.894.3442 Satisfies even the most discerning coffee connoisseur

Bo Botrini’s

Voula

Malabar The Margi, Litous 11, Tel: 210.892.9160 Multinational tastes in a chic Mediterranean ambience

EAT

Rafale

Dream Grill V. Pavlou 78, Tel: 210.895.5110 Traditional recipes & authentic taste

Dulcis in Fundo Prinkipos Petrou 33, Tel: 210.894.2136 Top-quality authentic Italian

Elias Koukoutsi

Live music

Vasileos Pavlou 99, Thursday-Sat urday Tel: 210.899.5480 A modern “rakadiko” serving Greek dishes.

Naiades Vas. Pavlou 74, Tel: 210.965.7706 Popular family grill joint

Vouliagmeni EAT Baku Margi Hotel, Litous 11, Tel: 210.967.0924 Delicious variations of Mediterranean food

Al Bacio Posidonos 17, Tel: 210.896.0400 Trattoria serving traditional Italian dishes & pizza

Apollonos 28, Tel: 210.967.1184 Traditionally prepared seafood dishes presented exquisitely

Matsuhisa Athens Astir Palace, Apollonos 40, Tel: 210.896.0510 Celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa serves up sushi favourites with a LatinAmerican flair

Mythos of the Sea Ag. Nikolaou 10 & Iliou, Tel: 210.891.1100 Gourmet Mediterranean cuisine that blends local produce with fresh seafood

Psaraki Posidonos 15, Tel: 210.896.2215 Seafood served in an informal setting

Schara Posidonos 15, Tel: 210.896.2432 Grills with frills in a friendly setting at reasonable prices

Silver Casa Litous 2 & Apollonos 18, Tel: 210.967.1164, 210.896.4112 Italian restaurant across the water

Waffle House Posidonos 17, Tel: 210.896.1227 Sure to satisfy your sweet tooth

To advertise, contact ads@insider-magazine.gr

Northern Athens

Eat & Drink

Ag. Paraskevi

Rakokazano

EAT

Santa Fe

Irakliou 1, Tel: 210.689.5501 Quality Greek mezzes in a cosy simple environment Ag. Georgiou 30’B, Tel: 210.685.9690 Mexican food in traditional setting

Da Vinci

Step by step new

Ag. Ioannou 23, Tel: 210.600.0102 Delightful dishes in fantastic ambience

Socratous 4, Tel: 213.027.6376 Refined tastes in cool, quirky aesthetics

Wine Not

new

Kalogrezis 12, Tel: 210.689.0007 Industrial setting with eclectic wine list

Nanninela Peloponnissou 13 Tel: 210.600.5622 Authentic Italian cuisine in traditional decor

Psychico EAT

Halandri

310 Street

EAT

Kifissias Av. 310, Tel: 210.671.0688 Juicy burgers and rich salads with retro look

30 something Iroon Sq 8, Tel: 210.689.9227 Pizza and cocktail bar in a San Franscisco atmosphere

Albion Omirou 6, Tel: 210.674.0710 Mediterranean flavours in a cosy atmosphere

Almyra

Antaios

Filikis Eterias 39, Tel: 210.681.9109 Refined seafood and magical summer garden

Anahita

G. Drosini 7, Tel: 210.675.5493 Relaxed atmosphere with delicious mezedes

Chr. Smirnis 3, Tel: 210.689.1222 The only place in Athens to try authentic Persian dishes

Aggelopoulou 3, Tel: 210.677.7739 For real American burgers

Bluefield Burger

Apsendi

China’s Fantasy

Kifissias 250-254 & Serres Tel: 210.671.7890 Refined cuisine and cocktails in stylish urban atmosphere

Kambouroglou 32, Tel: 210.674.9889 Chinese cuisine

Dioskouroi

Bo Botrini’s

Dim. Vasiliou 16, Tel: 210.671.3997 All day café-restaurant

Vasileos Georgiou B 24b, Halandri, Tel: 210.685.7323 Athens' best table by far

Kitchen Bar K. Varnali 6, Tel: 210.689.2015 Delightful gastronomic tour in a relaxing atmosphere

Meat Square

Fish Co. Platters Perikleous 11, Tel: 210.671.1976 A modern take on a traditional psarotaverna

Gaspar Food and Mood Dim. Vasiliou Av. & Lykourgou, Tel: 210.677.5011 Creative bistro cuisine ideal fro business lunches

DRINK

Astir Palace, Apollonos 40, Tel: 210.8901794 Creative Italian cuisine with mindblowing views of the Saronic Gulf

Ethnikis Antistaseos 9-11, Tel: 210.683.1300, Juicy steaks in pleasant family environment

En Plo

Saipan

Posidonos 4, Tel: 210.967.1770 Cocktails overlooking Vouliagmeni Bay

Ithaki

K. Varnali 9, Tel: 210.685.0644 Exquisite dishes from China, Japan and Indonesia

Mpoumpoulinas & N. Paritsi, Tel: 210.672.8790 Traditional flavours in an informal atmosphere

27th klm Athinon-Souniou Tel: 210.965.3563-4 Award-winning cuisine & an unmatched location with views of the Saronic Gulf

1920

Apollonos 28, Tel: 210.896.3747 Beautiful sea view, fresh seafood & great service

Matilde Pizza Bar

Ag. Paraskevi 110, Tel: 210.681.3029 Accent on meat in an elegant setting

Perikleous 7, Tel: 210.671.6803 Italian fare with accent on high quality ingredients

Louizidis

Sofa Bar

Ermou 2, Tel: 210.896.0591 Traditional Greek taverna popular with the locals

The Westin Hotel, Apollonos 40, Tel: 210.890.1709 Modern lounge bar serving up delectable cocktails

Eleftherioton Sq 8, Tel.: 210.684.8178 Gastronomic paradise serving Greek dishes with a modern twist

Il Tramonto

Island

Psomi & Alati

Krithamos

Ombra Olimpionikon 220 & Lykourgou, Tel: 210.671.1320 Italian food with attitude

insider athens | March & April 2014 59

5

Insider guide Eat & Drink Piperia

Jaipur Palace

Dyo 48

Agg. Sikelianou 8 & Andrianiou, Tel: 210.672.9114 Terrific fusion food with piquant flavours

Kifissias 222, Tel: 210.808.8318 Indian cuisine and fine wines

Kifisias 248, Tel: 210.623.0870 New hang out oasis with retro ambience

Rena tis Ftelias

Kastelorizo

Mento Café

25th Martiou 28, Tel: 210.674.3874 Highly recommended Greek taverna

Platanon 2, Tel: 210.807.5408 Part of a chain of upscale seafood restaurants that is sure to please

Ag. Theodorou 10, Tel: 210.808.0193 Traditional home turned stylish cafe

EAT Berdema Vas Amalias 20, Tel: 210.801.3853 Traditional dishes from Greece & Asia Minor

Cash Diligianni 54, Tel: 212.100.4772 Cosmopolitan hang-out with upscale Mediterranean cuisine

Common Secret Kifissias 324, Tel: 210.623.3810 Coffee and light Mediterranean meals in a pleasant setting

Dos Hermanos Kyriazi 24, Tel: 210.808.7906 Excellent Mexican food & super margaritas

Elaias Gi Dexamenis & Olimpionikon 4, Tel: 210.62.00.005 The authenticity of Greek cuisine with stunning views of the city

Gefsis Me Onomasia Proelefsis Kifissias 317, Tel: 210.800.1402 Divine food from all over the world

Golden Phoenix Harilaou Trikoupi & Gortinias Tel: 210.801.3588, Chinese classic popular for the brunch buffet

Gourounakia Kifissias Kifissias 289, Tel: 210.801.1093 Delicious salads, appetizers, souvlakia & grilled platters

Il Salumaio Panagitsas 3, Tel: 210.623.3934 Specially-prepared Italian meals

Kokkino Psaraki

Kifissias 317, Tel: 210.807.7709 Selection of wines from all over the world

Evagelistrias 36, Tel: 210.620.1572 Seafood taverna

Food & Wine

Kool Life

Cellier

Life Gallery, Thiseos 103, Tel: 211.106.7400 Lefteris Lazarou's cuisine in a cool restaurant cum deli

Mangiamo by Meat Square Stamata Ave. 5, Drossia.

Tel: 210.800.4700 Open from Mondays to Friday from 3 pm to midnight and on weekends from 1pm to midnight

Nargile Harilaou Trikoupi 50, Tel: 210.808.3333 Lebanese cuisine in a cosmopolitan ambience

Nui Gortinias 11, Tel: 210.801.3553 Gourmet mutli-Asian restaurant

O Tzitzikas Ki O Mermigas Drosini 12-14, Tel: 210.623.0080 A modern taverna serving traditional dishes at reasonable prices

Prytaneion Kolokotroni 37, Tel: 210.808.9160 Generous portions of Mediterranean fare

Royal Thai Zirini 12, Tel: 210.623.2322 Thai cuisine in an opulent setting

Salumaio di Atene Panagitsas 3, Tel: 210.623.3934 Authentic Italian food & fabulous desserts

Semiramis Restaurant Semiramis Hotel, Harilaou Trikoupi 48, Tel: 210.628.4500 Mediterranean cuisine in a hip atmosphere

Telemachos Barbeque Club Fragkopoulou 22, Tel: 210.807.6680 Rare meats char-grilled to perfection

DRINK Chateau Kool Life

Ag. Dimitriou 9, Tel: 210.801.5830 The cool sets preferred bar with baroque décor and refined cuisine

60 insider athens | March & April 2014

Kifissias 369, Tel: 210.801.8756 By far, one of the best cellars stocking the finest labels in town

Maroussi EAT Altamira Perikleous 28, Tel: 210.612.8841 Multiethnic cuisine in funky environment

Aneton

Hilton Hiltonia Health & Wellness Club Hilton, Vas. Sofias 46, Tel: 210.728.1801 Indoor and outdoor pools

Olive Tree Spa Chatzigiani Mexi 4, Tel: 210.724.4425

Syntagma GB Spa Syntagma Square, Tel: 210.333.0799 Award-winning spa featuring treatments

by E’SPA, Valmont & Algoane

Holmes Place Stadiou 4 & Voukourestiou Tel: 210.325.9400, Fully equipped health club with excellent array of classes

Stratigou Lekka 19, Tel: 210.806.6700 Traditional cuisine in a comfy-chic setting reminiscent of the 50s & 60s

Thissio

El Taco Bueno

Ag. Asomaton 17 & Melidoni 1 Tel: 210.323.1073

Hammam baths

Ethnikis Antistaseos & Psaron 1 Tel: 210.684.0460 Mexican flavours in a traditional setting

Mauzac Alamanas 1, Tel: 210.619.9902 Clean lines and a beautiful garden make this café, bar, restaurant a must

Pausa Ag. Konstantinou 46 & Ifestou 3 Tel: 210.617.9290 Italian cuisine accompanied by a selection of Greek & Italian wines

Wagamama Kifissias 37A, Tel: 210.683.6844 Fresh, nutritious Asian fusion food in a sleek yet simple setting

Whispers of wine Ag. Konstantinou 48, Tel: 210.617.9051 Gourmet food with rich wine list and vintage decor Urban Yoga Center

Southern Athens

Kifissia

Vinifera

Central Athens

Chill

Glyfada Holmes Place Gr. Lambraki 83 Tel: 210.969.0096

Touch & Go Dousmani 15, Tel: 210.894.4734 Quick relief by expert masseurs

Voula Urban Yoga Center Leukados 10 Tel: 213.025.3946, 697.704.0841 Release from urban stress

Vouliagmeni Arion Spa Astir Complex, Apollonos 40 Tel: 210.890.2000

Divani Apollon Palace & Spa Ag. Nikolaou 10 & Iliou, Tel: 210.891.1100

see & do

Athinais Cultural Centre formerly a silk factory, this space has been converted into a large cultural centre. astorias 34-36, Votanikos. Tel: 210.348.0000.

B&M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts & Music Vas. Sofias 9 & Merlin 1, Athens Tel: 210.361.1206 Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Centre 48 Armatolon-Klephton st.

Athens, Tel: 210.643.9466 The National Art Gallery and Alexander Soutzos Museum Michalakopoulou 1 - Vas. Constantinou 1, Athens, Tel: 210-7235857 Badminton Theatre Olympiaka Akinita, Goudi 157 73, Athens, Tel: 211 101 0020 Gialino Music Theatre Sygrou 143, N. Smirni, Athens Tel: 210.9316.101-4 Pallas Theatre Voukourestiou 5, Athens, Tel: 210.321.3100

Acropolis is open daily and entrance, includes archaeological sites. Tel: 201.321.0219 Ancient Agora was the heart of ancient Athens - the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social life for centuries.

Byzantine Churches many churches dating from the 11th and 12th centuries are found around the city. Noteworthy examples include: Agios Eleftherios, next to the cathedral on Mitropoleos Street; Kapnikarea, halfway down Ermou Street from Syntagma; Agi Apostoli, Agora area south of Stoa of Attalos; and Agia Triada (Russian Orthodox church) on Filellinon Street.

Churches are open to the public on Sundays and holidays, also usually for daily prayers 7am-1pm and 4-6:30pm. Dress soberly when visiting. Technopolis (Gazi) a 19th century gas factory turned major cultural centre for performing arts and installation works.

Agora Museum Located in the Stoa of Attalos, Athens. Tel: 210.321.0185.

Atelier Spyros Vassiliou Webster 5A, Athens.

Tel: 210.923.1502 www.spyrosvassiliou.org Athens University History Museum Tholou 5, Plaka, Tel: 210.368.9502 www.history-museum.uoa.gr Benaki Museum Koumbari 1 & Vas. Sofias Avenue, Athens Tel: 210.367.1000, www.benaki.gr Benaki Museum of Islamic Arts Dipylou 12, Kerameikos. Tel: 210.325.1311 www.benaki.gr

Benaki Museum, Pireos Pireos 138 & Andronikou, Gazi Tel: 210.345.3111, www.benaki.gr Byzantine Museum Vas. Sofias 22, Kolonaki. Tel: 210.721.1027 Hellenic Cosmos Foundation of the Hellenic world Pireos 254, Tavros. Tel: 212.254.0000. www.hellenic-cosmos.gr Frissiras Vlassis Museum of Contemporary European Art Monis Asteriou 3-7, Plaka, Tel: 210.323.4678 www.frissirasmuseum.com Goulandris Foundation Museum of Cycladic Art Neofytou Douka 4, Athens .Tel: 210.722.8321 www.cycladic.gr Herakleidon Herakleidon 16, Thissio.

Tel: 210-346.1981. www.herakleidon-art.gr Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum Karyatidon & Kallisperi 12, Makrygianni, Acropolis. Tel: 210.922.7260. www.lalaounis.com Jewish Museum Nikis 39, Plaka. Tel: 210.322.5582. www.jewishmuseum.gr Kerameikos Museum Ermou 148, Monastiraki, Tel: 210.346.3552.

National Archaeological Museum Patission 44, Athens, Tel: 210.821.7724 National Gallery and Alexandros Soutsos Museum Vas. Konstantinou 50, Athens.

Tel: 210.723.5857, 210.723.5937 Numismatic Museum Panepistimiou 12, Athens.

Tel: 210.363.5953. www.nma.gr The Acropolis Museum Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, Acropolis.

Tel: 210.924.1043, www.theacropolismuseum.gr

Just for kids

Art galleries

A. Antonopoulou Art Aristofanous 20, Psyrri Tel: 210.321.4994 Artzone 42 42 Vas. Konstantinou, Agalma Troyman, 11635 Athens, Tel: 210 725 9549 Astrolavos Dexameni Xanthippou 11, Kolonaki Tel: 210.729.4342 Astrolavos ArtLife Irodotou 11, Kolonaki Tel: 210.722.1200 Athens Art Gallery Glykonos 4, Dexameni Sq., 106 75 Athens, Tel: 210 721 3938 Bernier/Eliades Gallery Eptachalkou 11, Thissio, Tel: 210.341.3935 (The) Breeder Gallery Iasonas 45, Metaxurgeio, Tel: 210.331.7527 Ekfrasi Gallery Valaoritou 9a, 10671 Athens, Tel: 210 360 7598 El.marneri galerie Lebessi 5-7& Porinou 16, Acropolis Tel: 210.8619.488 EMST National Museum of Contemporary Art Vas. Georgiou B 17 - 19 & Rigilis Str. Athens, Tel: 210 9242 111-3 Fizz Gallery Valaoritou 9c, Athens, Tel: 210 360 7598 Gagosian Gallery Merlin 3, Athens 10671, Tel: 210 364 0215 Gallery 7 Zalokosta 7, Syntagma, Tel: 210.361.2050 Jill Yakas Spartis 16, Kifissia.

Tel: 210.801.2773 K-Art Gallery Sina 54, 106 72, Athens, Greece Tel: 211.401.3877 Kalfayan Gallery Haritos 11, Kolonaki, Tel: 210.721.7679 Kourd Gallery Kassiani 2-4, Athens, Tel: 210.642.6573 Skoufa Gallery Skoufa 4, Kolonaki, Tel: 210.360.3541 Stavros Mihaliaras Art 260 Kifissias & Diligianni, Kifissia Tel: 210.623.0928 Thanassis Frisssiras Gallery Kriezotou 7, Athens, Tel: 210. 364.0288 The Art Foundation (TAF) Normanou 5, Monastiraki, Tel: 210.323.8757 The Eynard Mansion Aghiou Konstantinou 20 & Menandrou, Athens, Tel: 210 322 1335 Titanium Yiayiannos Vas. Konstantinou 44, Pangrati, Tel: 210.729.7644

Pireos 100 & Ermou, Gazi. Tel: 210.346.1589.

Hadrian’s Arch a Roman arch that marked the boundary of ancient Athens and the new city. Located at the corner of Vas. Olgas and Amalias Avenues. Lykavittos Hill is the highest point in Athens. Take the teleferique from the top of Ploutarchou St. Megaron Mousikis (The Athens Concert Hall) live concerts, operas and other performances. Vas. Sofias Ave. & Kokkali. Tel: 210.728.2333 Odeon of Herod Atticus built in 161 AD, this is where the Athens Festival takes place. Accessible for €1.50 and open daily from 8:30am.Panathenian Stadium “Kalimarmaro”was the site of the first modern Olympics in 1896. Located at Vassileos Konstantinou and Agras, across from the National Garden. Pnyx Hill here, for the first time in history, every citizen could vote, giving Pnyx the name the “birthplace of democracy”. Close by is the beautiful Old Observatory. Presidential Palace formerly the Royal Palace, this building is used by the President of Greece to host dignitaries. Irodou Attikou Street. Stoa of Attalos shopping arcade built in the 2nd century BC and totally reconstructed in the 1950s. Tues-Sun 8:30am-3pm. Admission to the Agora and museum €3.50. Adrianou 24. Tel: 210.321.0185 Syntagma (Constitution Square) is the heart of the city and the best spot for new visitors to orient themselves. The Evzones, dressed in traditional uniforms, guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament. The changing-of-the-guard ceremony takes place every hour. Temple of Olympian Zeus once the largest temple in ancient Greece, its ruins lie just behind Hadrian's Arch. Mon-Sun 8am-7:30pm. €2.00. Vas. Olgas and Amalias Avenues, Tel: 210.922.6330. Theatre of Dionysus built in the 5th century BC is where the plays of Aristophanes, Euripides, Aeschylus and Sophocles were first performed.

Tower of Winds the octagonal tower, representing the eight directions of the wind, was built in the 1st century BC by the Syrian astronomer Andronicus. Mon-Sun 8am-7pm. Just east of the Ancient Agora.

Tel: 10.324.5220.

Museums

Tel: 210.322.9705

Museums & cultural centres

ASSOCIATION OF GUIDES

Tsatsis Project / Artforum 12 Mitropoleos st. & Venizelou PC 54624 Thessaloniki, Tel: 231 025 7552 Xippas Gallery Sofokleous 53D, Athens, Tel: 210 331 9333 Zoumboulakis Gallery Kolonaki Square 20, Kolonaki Tel: 210.360.8278 Zoumboulakis Gallery Graphics & Editions Kriezotou 6, Syntagma, Tel: 210.363.4454

Sites Theatres

ORGANISED TOURS

Allou Fun Park Kifissou & Petrou Ralli, Ag. Ioannis Rentis, Tel: 210.425.6999, www.allou.gr Children’s Museum Kydathinaeon 14, Plaka, Tel: 210.331.2995.

Goulandris Museum of Natural History Levidou 13, Kifissia.

Tel: 210.801.5870, www.gnhm.gr Greek Folk Art Museum Daily Karaghiozis puppet shows!

Kydathinaeon 17, Plaka, Tel: 210.322.9031 Museum of Children’s Art Kodrou 9, Plaka, Tel: 210.331.2621 www.childrensartmuseum.gr

Summit The Wall Sport Climbing Center Ag. Athanasiou 12, Pallini, Tel: 210.603.0093, www.summit.gr Westin Kids Club Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni, Tel: 210.890.2000 http://www.westinathens.com/en/westin_kids_club/

insider athens | March & April 2014 61

partner hotels ARION RESORT & SPA

ATHENS HILTON

COCO-MAT HOTEL NAFSIKA

DIVANI PALACE ACROPOLIS

The legendary beauty resort is part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

Breathtaking views of the Saronic Gulf, elegant and sophisticated décor in all 123 rooms and suites, private swimming pools and beaches, spa and gourmet restaurants.

Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni.

Tel: 210.890.2000

508 renovated rooms, two pools, banquet rooms restaurants, convention facilities, business centre & spa. The rooftop Galaxy bar has gorgeous city views.

Vas. Sofias 46, Kesariani.

Tel: 210.728.1000

Located in Kifissia, the hotel offers an unforgettable experience thanks to COCO-MAT‘s unique sleep systems in its 22 guest rooms, power breakfast, bike rids and herb garden.

Pellis 6, Kifissia. Tel: 210.801.8027

Located at the base of the Acropolis and close to Plaka. Pool with bar, roof garden restaurant with Acropolis view.

Parthenonos 19-25 Makrigianni, Acropolis.

Tel: 210.928.0100

ATHENAEUM INTERCONTINENTAL ATHENS

ATHENS LEDRA HOTEL

Crowne plaza

GRANDE BRETAGNE

543 rooms with renovated Deluxe rooms and suites. Dedicated business centre facilities and 3.500 m2 of extensive & flexible meeting space. New I-Spa and renovated gym. Award winning restaurants.

Syngrou 89-93, Neos Kosmos.

Tel: 210.920.6000

314 deluxe guest rooms, 18 suites.

Rooftop swimming pool and bar, health club, Polynesian - Tepanyiaki Restaurant and sports bar.

Syngrou 115, Neos Kosmos.

Tel: 210.930.0000

Newly renovated, at a very convenient location attracts both business and leisure travellers. Amenities include restaurant, bar, rooftop swimming pool, conference and business facilities, garage parking.

Michalakopoulou 50, Athens.

Tel: 210.727.8000

This city landmark is part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts. All 265 rooms and 56 suites are decorated with original artwork and antiques. Reception areas, ballrooms, roof garden with Acropolis view. Luxury spa, indoor and outdoor pools.

Syntagma Sq. Tel: 210.333.0000

ATHENIAN CALLIRHOE HOTEL

CIVITEL ATTIK

DIVANI APOLLON PALACE & SPA

Holiday Inn Attica Avenue

66 state-of the-art rooms, 15 executive rooms and 3 suites. The acclaimed Etrusco Restaurant serves top quality Mediterranean cuisine.

Kallirois 32 & Petmeza, Neos Kosmos.

Tel: 210.921.5353

A tranquil first-class business, sports and family hotel set in the leafy green suburb of Maroussi, with a swimming pool, conference facilities and spacious restaurant with terrace.

Eptalofou 13 – 15, Maroussi. Τel: 210.610.1000

Located seaside with a magnificent view of the Saronic Gulf. All rooms with balconies and sea views. Indoor and outdoor pools, boutiques, beauty parlor, business centre and spa.

Ag. Nikolaou 10 & Iliou, KavouriVouliagmeni. Tel: 210.891.1100

New five-star property on Attica Avenue linking Athens with the international airport. State-of-the art conference facilities, restaurant, two bars, pool and fitness center.

40.2 km Attica Road, between exits 17 & 18, Spata. Tel: 210.668.9000

ATHENS ELECTRA PALACE HOTEL

CIVITEL OLYMPIC

DIVANI CARAVEL

Holiday Suites

Located in historic Plaka beneath the Acropolis. Facilities include bar, restaurant, spa area with indoor swimming pool, business centre, garden and underground parking.

N. Nikodimou 18-20, Plaka.

Tel: 210.337.0000

Right across the Olympic Stadium, its Superior Rooms and Junior Suites are fitted with modern amenities, from free minibar to free wifi internet access and interactive tv.

Kifissias 2A & Pantanassis, Maroussi.

Tel: 210.680.1900

Situated close to major tourist attractions with, rooftop restaurant and swimming pool.

Vas. Alexandrou 2, Kesariani.

Tel: 210.720.7000

Elegant, all-suite hotel offering high standard accommodation. Each suite provides guests with a separate living room and kitchenette.

Arnis 4, Ilissia.

Tel: 210.727.8000

62 insider athens | March & April 2014

partner hotels KEFALARI SUITES

METROPOLITAN

Royal Olympic

THEOXENIA PALACE HOTEL

Turn-of-the-century hotel in Kifissia, part of YES! Hotels.Themed suites with modern facilities.

Pentelis 1, Kifissia.

Tel: 210.623.3333

Beautifully renovated property with views of the sea and the Acropolis. Ten minutes from central Athens, the port of Piraeus and main exhibition centers.

Syngrou Av. 385, P. Faliro.

Tel: 210.947.1000

Near the Acropolis Museum. 265 rooms and 45 unique Panorama Suites, overlooking the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis. Pool, business center, convention and banquet facilities. Roof Garden Restaurant/Bar “Ioannis”. 28-34, Ath. Diakou Str., Acropolis Tel: 210.928.8400

In an elegant neoclassical building, this hotel has a restaurant, gym, sauna and outdoor pool. Business centre, internet & conference facilities.

Filadelfeos 2, Kifissia.

Tel: 210.623.3622

KING GEORGE

NEW

SEMIRAMIS

THE MARGI

Situated in the heart of the city, it’s 102 guest rooms and suites are elegantly furnished and natural wood floors. Meeting & Conference spaces, restaurants with panoramic views. Vas. Georgiou A’ 3.

Syntagma Sq. Tel: 210.322.2210

Designed by the Campana brothers, NEW, the latest venture of YES! Hotels has 79 luxury rooms, including 18 Studios and 6 Junior Suites. NEW Taste, is the Hotel’s innovative restaurant concept.

Filellinon 16, Syntagma.

Tel: 210.3273000

YES! Hotel designed by Karim Rashid.

51 luxury rooms, 4 suites and 6 poolside bungalows. Ultra-trendy bar-restaurant.

Harilaou Trikoupi 48, Kefalari-Kifissia.

Tel: 210.628.4400

Boutique hotel with 90 spacious rooms and suites and great views to the sea and pine forests. Baku Restaurant offers a unique dining experience while Malabar and the Lobby lounge are perfect for a glass of champagne.

Close to the lake, beach and tennis courts.

Litous 11, Vouliagmeni. Tel: 210.892.9000

LIFE GALLERY

NJV athens plaza

SOFITEL ATHENS AIRPORT

THE WESTIN ATHENS

Modern architecture finds its expression in a minimalist designed building with discreet swimming pools, Zen gardens and ethnic elements. The hotel offers 29 spacious, luxury rooms, including 3 art studios and 2 suites and a spa and fitness centre.

Thiseos Avenue 103, Ekali. Tel: 211.106.7400

Boutique-style hotel with 182 rooms including 23 suites with breathtaking views of the Acropolis, ideally located in the heart of the business and shopping district within walking distance of Plaka. 2, Vas.Georgiou A’ St, Syntagma Sq. Tel: 210 3352400

Airport hotel. Executive floor, business center and conference facilities. Two bars and two restaurants. Health club and covered swimming pool.

Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, Spata. Tel: 210.354.4000

Part of the Astir Palace Complex with 162 guest rooms and suites and views of the Saronic Gulf. Sea view lounges, trendy bars, fusion and Mediterranean cuisine restaurants and private gazebos by an Olympic-sized pool.

Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni. Tel: 210.890.2000

MELIÁ ATHENS

NOVOTEL

ST. GEORGE LYCABETTUS HOTEL

TITANIA HOTEL

Located in the heart of Athens with 136 luxury rooms, spacious dining areas, a modern health club and views of historic monuments.

Chalkokondili 14 & 28th Octovriou, Acropolis.

Tel: 210.332.0100

Located in the center of Athens. Two Bars/Restaurants at outdoor Rooftop Pool & lobby area, play area, gym, free indoor parking, free Wi-Fi and panoramic view from the Roof Garden.

4-6 Michail Voda Street, Vathis Square.

Tel: 210.820.0700

Located in the upper part of Kolonaki, not far from the Lycabettus (Lykavittos) funicular railway. Excellent restaurant, Le Grand Balcon. Rooftop swimming pool.

Kleomenous 2, Dexamenis Square, Kolonaki. Tel: 210.741.6000

Located in the heart of the historical and commercial center. The recently refurbished suites and rooms combine style with comfort. Awarded Gourmet Restaurant “Olive Garden”, underground garage, fitness center. Panepistimiou 52, Omonoia, Tel: 210.332600

insider athens | March & April 2014 63

partner hotels TwentyOne

Herodion

COSTA NAVARINO

VEDEMA

The Westin Resort Costa Navarino

A member of YES! Hotels. Modern design and simple architectural charm.

16 ergonomically designed rooms and 5 loft suites. “21” Bar Restaurant for indoor and outdoor dining.

Kolokotroni 21, Kifissia Tel: 210.623.3521

A five minute walk to Plaka. 90 guest rooms, meeting facilities and a lovely atrium bar-coffee shop.

Rovertou Galli 4, Makrigianni.

Tel: 210.923.6832

A CATEGORY

Inspired by old Messinian mansions, its 445 deluxe rooms, suites, 123 with private infinity pools, offer access to an extensive common pool areas, and reflect Westin’s soothing aesthetic.

Navarino Dunes Costa Navarino, Pilos Messinia, Tel: 27230.95000

Vedema has 45 rooms converted from a 100 year old neo-classical captain’s house and a private swiming pool for all the suites.

Vedema, Megalohori.

Tel: 22860.81796

PATMOS

AVA HOTEL & SUITES

HOTEL ELECTRA

The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort

Patmos Aktis Suites & Spa

Luxurious apartments and suites in Plaka. Magnificent views of the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Arch and Zeus Temple. Short walk to Syntagma.

Lysikratous 9-11, Plaka.

Tel: 210.325.9000

Within walking distance from all archaeological sites, business and commercial districts. Includes bar, restaurant, lobby and meeting areas.

Ermou 5, Syntagma Sq. Tel: 210.337.8000

289 exquisitely appointed rooms and 32 suites with individual infinity pools.

Traditional Greek design with contemporary touches.

Navarino Dunes Costa Navarino, Pilos Messinia, Tel: 27230.96000

A 5-star luxury hotel situated only a few steps from Grikos beach. Considered possibly the best located hotel in Patmos.

Patmos, Grikos Bay, Tel: 22470.32800

amarilia hotel

PERISCOPE HOTEL

Santorini

SYROS VILLA SELENA

MYSTIQUE

An excellent choice for business and leisure travellers. 100 renovated rooms and suites with great sea views, meeting and banqueting facilities, outdoor swimming pool.

Ag. Nikolaou 13 Vouliagmeni.

Tel. 210 8990391

17 rooms, 4 junior suites and a super-lux penthouse suite. Part of YES! Hotels.

Haritos 22, Kolonaki.

Tel: 210.729.7200

Fresh Hotel

Philippos

Mystique is an 18 villa hotel, designed by Frank Le Fevbre.

Mystique, Oia. Tel. 22860.71114

The Tsitouras Collection Hotel

A luxurious five-star boutique hotel with suitably equipped rooms and suites to ensure a comfortable stay. The spacious terrace with a panoramic view is ideal for breakfast or drinks Tel. 22810 86007, www.villaselena.eu

@ Would you like TO see your

Situated in the heart of old Athens within walking distance of the Plaka. Enjoy the Orange Bar, rooftop restaurant and pool.

Sophocleous 26 & Klisthenous, Omonoia.

Tel: 210.524.8511

Recently refurbished, all 50 rooms are well-appointed and comfortable. Good value for money.

Mitseon 3, Acropolis.

Tel: 210.922.3611-4

64 insider athens | March & April 2014

Art and hospitality are graciously combined in the unique backdrop of a dramatic landscape.

Firostefani, Santorini Tel: 22860.23747

hotel LISTED here?

CONTACT US at: info@insider-magazine.gr

AUDIOVISUAL OTE video conference service 7.30am-10pm. Patission 85.

Tel: 210.883.8578, 210.822.0399

Commercial Office spaces Regus Tel: 210 727 9000 Global Business Services Tel: 210.876.4876 Kifissias Ave. 90, Maroussi

COURIER SERVICES

ACS Asklipiou 25, Kryoneri Tel: 210.819.0000 DHL Tel: 210.989.0000 Express City S. Trikoupi 71, Athens, Tel: 210.821.9959 Geniki Taxydromiki Kifissou 14, Renti, Tel: 210.485.1100 Speedex Seneka 24, 15klm Athinon-Lamias, Kifissia Tel: 801.110.0011 UPS 4klm Peanias-Markopoulou Av., Koropi Tel: 210.998.4000

Driving Schools in English Trochokinisi Driving School 28th Oktovriou 126, Ambelokipi, Thessaloniki Tel: 231 072 9092 Driving School Highway Amfitheas and Ag. Triados 30, 175 64 P. Faliro, Tel: 210.988.8098, 699.772.2777 Vlachos Bros 25th Martiou 20, Peristeri; Xenofodos 17, Peristeri; Afroditis 39, Ilion Tel: 210.574.4895, 210.576.9190

Relocation Agencies Allied Pickfords Mourouzi 7, Athens Tel: 210.610.4494 Athens Relocation Centre Zakynthou 10, Glyfada Tel: 210.965.0697 Attica Movers Syngrou Ave. 19, Neos Kosmos, Tel: 210 922 7221 Celebrity International Movers Kapodistriou Ave. 102, Nea Ionia Tel: 210 272 0106 Corporate Relocations Athens Ag. Saranta 32, Nea Erithrea Tel: 210.800.3510 Orphee Beinoglou 27th km Old National Road AthensKorinth Location Elefsinia, Elefsina Tel: 210.946.6100 Octopus Relocation Services Ygeias 7, Marina Zeas, Tel: 210.459.9530

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66 insider athens | March & April 2014

TRANSLATIONS / INTERPRETING Global Business Services Kifisias 90, Maroussi, Tel: 210.876.4876 IBS - International Business Services Michalakopoulou 29, Kaissariani Tel: 210.724.5541

Travel Agencies Travel Plan Xristou Lada 3, Athens Tel: 210.333.300, www.travelplan.gr Amphitrion Kyprou 46 & Ploutarhou, Dafni Tel: 210.900.6000, www.amphitrionholidays.gr TravelPlanet24 Karagiorgi Servias 4, Syntagma Tel: 211 107 9684, www.travelplanet24.com Mid-east Travel Vas Sofias 105-107, Ampelokipoi Tel: Tel: 211.211.8888, www.mideast.gr

Embassies Cultural Institutes

Business services

useful information

French Institute Sina 31, 10680 Athens Tel: 210.339.8600 Hellenic American Union Massalias 22, 10680 Athens, Tel: 210.368.0900 British Council Kolonaki Square 17 106 73 Athens Tel: 210.369.2333 Instituto Cervantes Mitropoleos 23, 105 57 Athens Tel: 210.363.4117 Goethe Institut Omirou 14-16, 100 33 Athens Tel: 210.366.1000 Onassis Cultural Centre Syngrou Ave. 107-109, 117 45 Athens, Tel: 213.017.8000 Instituto Italiano di Cultura Patission (28 Oktovriou) 47 Tel: 210.369.2333, 210.524.2646 ALBANIA Vekiareli 7, Filothei, Tel: 210.687.6200 ALGERIA Vas. Constantinou 14, Athens Tel: 210.756.4191-2 ARGENTINA Vas. Sophias 59, Athens Tel: 210.724.4158 ARMENIA K. Palaiologou 95, Athens, Tel: 210.683.1130, 210.683.1145 AUSTRALIA Kifisias & Alexandras, Ampelokipoi Tel: 210.870.4000 AUSTRIA Vas. Sofias Av. 4, Athens, Tel: 210.725.7270

AZERBAiJAN Skoufa 10, Athens, Tel: 210.363.2721 BELGIUM Sekeri 3, Kolonaki, Tel: 210.360.0314 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Hatzikosta 3, Athens, Tel: 210.641.0788 BRAZIL Vassilis Sofias 23, Athens Tel: 210.721.3039 BULGARIA Stratigou Kallari 33A, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.674.8105 CANADA Ioanni Gennadiou 4, Athens, Tel: 210.729.2647 CHILE Rigilis 12, Athens, Tel: 210.807.1020 CHINA Krinon 2A, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.672.3282 CROATIA Tzavella 4, N. Psychico, Tel: 210.677.7033 CUBA Sofokleous 5, Filothei, Tel: 210.685.5550 CYPRUS Xenofontos 2A, Athens, Tel: 210.373.4800 CZECH REPUBLIC G. Seferi 6, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.671.9701 DENMARK Mourouzi 10, Athens, Tel: 210.725.6440 EGYPT Vas. Sofias 3, Syntagma, Tel: 210.361.8612 ESTONIA Messoghion 2-4, Ampelokipoi, Tel: 210.747.5660 FINLAND Hatziyianni Mexi 5, Athens, Tel: 210.725.5860 FRANCE Vas. Sofias 7, Syntagma, Tel: 210.339.1000 FYROM Papadiamanti 4, P. Psychico.

Tel: 210.674.9585 GEORGIA Ag. Dimitriou 24, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.674.2186 GERMANY Karaoli & Dimitriou 3, Athens, Tel: 210.728.5111 HUNGARY Karneadou 25, Kolonaki Tel: 210.725.6800 INDIA Kleanthous 3, Mets, Tel: 210.721.6481 INDONESIA Marathonodromon 99, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.674.2345 IRAN Stratigou Kallari 16, Patisia, Tel: 210.674.1436 IRELAND Vas. Konstantinou 7, Mets, Tel: 210.723.2405 ISRAEL Marathonodromon 1, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.670.5500 ITALY Sekeri 2, Kolonaki, Tel: 210.361.7260 JAPAN Ethnikis Antistaseos 46, Halandri.

Tel: 210.670.9900 JORDAN Papadiamanti 21. P. Psychico.

Tel: 210.674.4161 Kazakhstan Imittou 122, Papagou Tel: 210.654.7765 KOREA Messoghion 2-4, Athens.

Tel: 210.698.4080 KUWAIT Marathonodromon 27, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.674.3593

Ambulance Tel: 166 Doctors SOS Tel: 1016.

They will issue an invoice to claim reimbursement from your insurer.

Ipirou 1, Athens.

Duty Pharmacies Call 1434, Also check newspapers for listings.

Emergency Hospitals Tel: 1434 Fire Brigade Tel: 199 Forest Fire Tel: 191 Poison Hotline Tel: 210.779.3777 Police Tel: 100 Tourist Police Tel: 171 Coast Guard Tel:108 Air Police Tel: 210.964.2000

ROAD ASSISTANCE ELPA Tel: 10400 Emergency Service Tel: 104 Express Service Tel: 154 Hellas Service Tel: 1057 Interamerican Tel: 1158

TZANNEIO Afentouli & Tzani, Pireaus, Tel: 210.451.9411-9

EUROCLINIC PAEDON Lemessou 39-41 & Aharnon 209, Kato Patissia, Tel: 210.869.1900 PAEDON AGIA SOFIA HOSPITAL Mikras Asias and Thivon, Goudi. Tel: 210.746.7000 PAEDON AGLAIA KYRIAKOU HOSPITAL Livadias 3 and Thivon, Goudi. Tel: 210.772.6000 & 1535

PHYSICIANS (ENGLISH SPEAKING)

Private Hospitals Advanced Medical Services, Symmetria Building Ethnikis Antistaseos 66, Halandri.

Tel: 210.677.3573 www.symmetria.gr CENTRAL CLINIC OF ATHENS Asklipiou St. 31, Athens, Emergency number 1169 or Tel: 210.367.4000 www.centralclinic.gr EUROCLINIC Diagnostic, surgical and treatment centre.

Athanasiadou 9, Athens, (near Mavili Sq.), Tel: 210.641.6600 EURODENTICA Specialized dental care Patision 150, Athens, Tel: 210.866.3367-8 Alamanas 3, Maroussi, Athens, Tel: 210.619.5760-1, El. Venizelou 162, Kallithea, Athens, Tel: 210.956.5365 YGEIA Kifissias & E. Stavrou 4, Maroussi, Tel: 210.686.7000, www.ygeia.gr IATRIKO KENTRO (ATHENS MEDICAL CENTER) Areos 36, P. Faliro.

Tel: 210.989.2100-20. Distomou 5-7, Maroussi. Tel: 210.619.8100 METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL Ethnarou Makariou 9 & El. Venizelou, N. Faliro. Tel: 210.480.9000 www.metropolitan-hospital.gr IASO Kifissias 37-39, Maroussi.

Tel: 210.618.4000 MITERA Kifissias & E. Stavrou 6, Maroussi.

Tel: 210.686.9000

public Hospitals ASKLEPIEION HOSPITAL Vas. Pavlou 1, Voula. Tel: 210.895.8301-4 EVANGELISMOS Ypsilantou 45-47, Kolonaki, Tel: 210.720.1000 KAT HOSPITAL Nikis 2, Kifissia, Tel: 210.628.0000 Specialized trauma unit.

Ioannis Bitzos, MD Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Harilaou Trikoupi 62, Kifissia, Tel: 210.808.0682 A.J. Kanellopoulos, MD Eye Surgeon, Tsoha 17, Athens, Tel: 210.747.2777 Dimitris Linos, MD FACS General Surgeon, Kifissias 227, Kifissia, Tel: 210.612.5001-2 heart & vascular centrE E.N. Deliargyris, MD FACC FSCAI Interventional cardiologist. Southern Athens. Vakchou 2 & Vas. Kostantinou, Tel: 210.897.6276, www.heartline.gr

English media

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Paediatric Hospitals

Newspapers The International New York Times carries the English version of Kathimerini Athens Insider, the bi-monthly magazine for Greece

Radio Athens International Radio 104,4 Good Morning Athens at 10am, english programs at 11am, music programs on weekdays at 9pm, weekends at 1pm. Peiraios 100, Athens, Tel: 210.341.1610

Schools

Greek Language

SWITZERLAND Iasiou 2, Evaggelismos, Tel: 210.723.0364-6 TAIWAN Marathonodromon 57, Psychico, Tel: 210.677.5122 Representative office THAILAND Marathorodromon 25 & Kyprou, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.674.9065 TUNISIA Antheon 2, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.671.7590 TURKEY Vas. Georgiou B’ 8, Athens, Tel: 210.726.3000 UKRAINE Stephanou Delta 4, Filothei, Tel: 210.680.0230 UNITED KINGDOM Ploutarchou 1, Athens, Tel: 210.727.2600 UNITED STATES Vas. Sofias 91, Athens, Tel: 210.721.2951 URUGUAY Menandrou 1, Kifissia, Tel: 210.361.3549 VATICAN Mavili 2, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.674.3598 VENEZUELA Marathonodromon 19, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.672.9169 VIETNAM Yakinthon 50, Psychico, Tel. 210.612.8733, 210.675.3080.

Emergencies

LEBANON 6, 25th Martiou, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.675.5873 LIBYA Vyronos 13, P. Psychico, Tel: 210.674.2120 LITHUANIA Vas. Sophias 49, Kolonaki Tel: 210.729.4356 LATVIA Vas. Konstantinou 38, Athens Tel. 210.729.4483 LUXEMBOURG Vas. Sofias 23A & Neofitou Vamva 2, Syntagma Tel: 210.725.6400 MALTA V. Sofias 96, Athens, Tel: 210.778.5138 MEXICO Filikis Etaireias Sq. 14, Kolonaki, Tel: 210.729.4780 MOLDAVIA Georgiou Bacu 20, Filothei.

Tel: 210.699.0660 MOROCCO Marathonodromon 5, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.674.4210 NETHERLANDS Vas Konstantinou 5-7, Mets, Tel: 210.725.4900 NIGERIA Dolianis 65, Maroussi, Tel: 210.802.1188 NORWAY Vas. Sofias 23, Kolonaki, Tel: 210.724.6173 PAKISTAN Loukianou 6, Evaggelismos, Tel: 210.729.0122 PALESTINE Giassemion 13, P. Psychico. Tel.: 210.672.6061-3 PANAMA Praxitelous 192 & II Merarchias, Piraeus, Tel: 210.428.6441 PERU Semitelou 2, Athens, Tel: 210.779.2761 PHILIPPINES Antheon 26, P. Psychico.

Tel: 210.672.1837 POLAND Chrysanthemon 22, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.679.7700 PORTUGAL Vas. Sofias 23, Kolonaki Tel: 210.729.0096 / 210.723.6784 QATAR Perikleous 2 & Kifissias Av. 212, N. Psychico, Tel: 210.725.5031 ROMANIA Emm. Benaki 7, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.672.8875 RUSSIA Nikiforos Lytra 28, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.672.5235 SAUDIA ARABIA Palaiologhou 2 & Agias Annis, Halandri, Tel: 210.671.6911 SERBIA Vas. Sophias 106, Athens, Tel: 210.777.4344 SINGAPORE Aigialias 17, Paradissos Amaroussiou. Tel: 210.684.5072 SLOVAK REPUBLIC G. Seferi 4, P. Psychico. Tel: 210.677.1980 SLOVENIA Kifissias Av. 280 & Dimokratias 1, N. Psychico, Tel: 210.672.0090-091 SOUTH AFRICA Kifissias 60, Maroussi.

Tel: 210.610.6645 SPAIN Dionysiou Areopagitou 21, Plaka, Tel: 210.921.3123 SWEDEN Vas. Konstantinou 7, Athens, Tel: 210.726.6100

Health

useful information

The Athens Center 48 Archimidous Street, Mets, Athens 11636, Greece Tel: 210.701.5242 CELT Athens 77 Academias Street, 106 78 Athens, Greece, Tel: 210.330.1455 Greek House Dragoumi 7, 145 61 Kifissia, Tel: 210.808.5186 Hellenic American Union 22 Massalias str., 106 80 Athens, Tel: 210.368.0900 Omilo Greek Language And Culture Panagi Tsaldari 13 (4th floor), 15122 Maroussi, Tel: 210.612.2706

insider athens | March & April 2014 67

useful information

Public Power Corporation (DEI) In case of power failure: Tel: 210, 523 9939 www.dei.gr

Weather Attica, Tel: 148, www.hnms.gr

Water Supply & Sewage (EYDAP) In case of water cut: Tel: 1202, www.eydap.gr

Citizen’s Rights Ombudsman: 5 Hatziyiannis Mexis (near the Hilton Hotel), Tel: 210 72 89 640

Universities University of Indianapolis Ipitou 9, Athens, Tel: 210.323.6647 DEREE Gravias 6, Aghia Paraskevi, Tel: 210.600.9800

ALBA Graduate Business School Athinas Ave. & Areos 2A, Vouliagmeni Tel: 210.896.4531 American University of Athens Kifisias & Sochou 4, Neo Psichiko, Tel: 210.725.9301 Business College of Athens Tatoiou 2 & Othonos 77, Kifissia Tel: 210.808.8008

International Kindergartens

International Schools

St Catherine's British Embassy School Sofoklis Venizelou 77, Lykovrissi Tel: 210.282.9750 St. Lawrence College Anemon St, Koropi Tel: 210.891.7000 American Community Schools of Athens Aghias Paraskevis Ave. 129, Halandri, Tel: 210.639.3200 Campion School Aghias Ioulianis, Pallini Tel: 210.607.1700 Byron College Filolaou 7, Gerakas Tel: 210.604.7722 International School of Athens Xenias and Artemidos, Kifissia, Tel: 210.623.3888 Lycée Franco-Hellénique Eugène Delacroix Chlois & Trikalon, Ag. Paraskevi Tel: 211.300.9121 Scuola Statale Italiana Odos Mitsaki 18, Ano Patissia Tel: 210.228.2720 German School in Athens Homatianou & Ziridi, Maroussi Tel: 210.619.9261 Greek German School 25 Martiou & Vernardou, Vrylissia Tel: 210.682.0566

68 insider athens | March & April 2014

English kindergartens The Cottage Kindergarten Psaron 74, Halandri Tel: 210.682.7629 Early Learning Rizountos 53, Elliniko Tel: 210.961.8763 Hopscotch International Kindergarten Ag. Triandos 93, Vari Tel: 210.965.3985 Learning Steps Ath. Diakou 81 & Ydras 5, Kifissia, Tel: 210.620.5818 Melina’s Kindergarten Harilaou Trikoupi 16, Kifissia Tel: 210.801.2719 Peek-a-boo PreSchool Vougliameni Tel: 210.967.1970 Peter Pan Lakonias 4-6, Voula Tel: 210.895.9654 Prince Allen The English Nursery School Lysimahou 8, Vari Tel: 210.965.6800

German kindergartens

Money

Public Services Administration Information Center (paperwork assistance) on weekdays 8am-3pm (KEP): Tel: 177, ww.kep.gov.gr

Italian Institut Library Patision 47, Omonia National Library Tzavella 25, Syntagma, Tel: 210.382.0657 Nordic Library 7 Kavalotti St, Makrigianni Tel: 210.924.9210, 210.924.9211

LOST OR STOLEN CREDIT CARDS

Post offices operate weekdays 8am-2pm. The main post offices in Athens are located at SYNTAGMA SQUARE and OMONIA SQUARE at Aeolou 100 and open weekdays 7:30am-8pm, Sat 7:30am-2pm, and Sun 9am-1:30pm.

O mikros Antonis Barbayiannis, Pallini, Tel: 210.603.2527

Italian kindergartens Scuola maternal italiana de Atene Mitsaki 18, Ano Patissia, Tel: 210.202.0274 Il Mulino magico Troados 23, Ag Paraskevi, Tel: 210.600.3148 American School of Classical Studies Blegen Souedias 54, Athens Tel: 210.723.6313 Athens College Library Stephanou Delta, P. Psychico Tel: 210.679.8100 Benakeios Library Anthimou Gazi 2, Athens Tel: 210.367.1027 British Council Library Kolonaki Sq. 17, Kolonaki Tel: 210.363.3211/5 French Institute Library 31 Sina St, Athens Tel: 210.362.4301 German Archaeological Institute Library Pheidiou 1, Athens Tel: 210.362.0270 Goethe Institute Library Omirou 14-16, Athens Tel: 210.360.8111 Hellenic American Union Greek Library 22 Masalias St (7th floor), Athens, Tel: 210.362.9886

AMERICAN EXPRESS Tel: 210.324.4975 DINERS CLUB Tel: 210.929.0200 MASTERCARD Tel: 00.800.1188.703.03 VISA Tel: 00.800.1163.803.04

Country Code: 30 City Code: 210 international calls first dial 00, then the country code.

To call from a Public pay- phone buy a phone card at the kiosks.

Prepaid mobile phone cards (SIM cards) are available for €5 at kiosks, post offices, mini markets and mobile phone company stores.

Phone

Greek Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) www.oaed.gr, Tel: 210 99 89 000

Au petit bonheur 50 Iraklitou, Glyfada, Tel: 210 9658 207 Les Alouettes Spartis 36 & Harilaou Trikoupi, Kifissia Tel: 210 80 11 570 Mary Poppins 4, Kodrou, Filothei, Tel: 210.677.3803 Paramythia Cycladon 11, Glyka Nera, Tel: 210.600.3196 Play and Learn Kassaveti 22, Kifissia, Tel: 210.801.1428

Libraires

Road Assistance ELPA: 104

Social Security & Health insurance (IKA) www.ika.gr

Post

French kindergartens Telephone & Internet Services (OTE) New tel: 138, Tel. (defective): 129 OTE customer service: 134 International call information (English, French & German): 169 www.ote.gr

!

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Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, Spata.

Tel: 210.353.0000, 210.353.1000. www.aia.gr.

24 HOUR VIP TRANSPORT SERVICE

Car rental

WSW Skycap Services at Athens Airport provides Meet & Greet, Baggage Hauling and Transport Service.

Tel: 210.353.0100 www.skycap.gr For info about the public bus lines please check our section Getting Around Ada Rent-a-Car Tel: 210.322.0087 Arena Tel: 210.894.6883, 210.614.7400 Auto Union Tel: 210.602.0162 Avis Tel: 210.322.4951 Budget Tel: 210.921.4771-3 Europcar Tel: 210.924.8810-8 Hertz Tel: 210.998.2000 Michael Stamou Luxury Rentals Tel: 210.922.2442/43 Sixt Rent-a-Car Tel: 210.570.6895, 210.922.0171

LIMOUSINES AAA Royal Prestige Tel: 210.988.3221 Astra Limousine Service Tel: 210.922.0333/807.9996 Convecta Travel Agency & Limousine Services Tel: 210.322.5090 Limousines Kacaya Tel: 210.323.4120

Public transport

Airport

Airlines

Aegean Tel: 801.11.20000 Air France KLM Tel: 210.998.0222 Air Malta Tel: 210.965.2300-22 Alitalia Tel: 210.998.8888 American Tel: 210.361.3373 Air Taxis (Helicopter and plane charters) Tel: 210.938.4149 British Airways Tel: 210.353.0453 Continental Tel: 210.353.4312 Cyprus Airways Tel: 210.353.4100 Easy Jet Tel: 211.198.0013 El Al Tel: 210.934.1500-1 Emirates Tel: 210.933.3400 Etihad Tel: 210.324.1010 Iberia www.iberia.com/gr Lufthansa Tel: 210.617.5200 Olympic Airways Tel: 801.801.0101 Qatar Airways Tel: 210.950.8700 Singapore Tel: 210.994.2567 Swiss / Crossair Tel: 210.617.5320 Tunisair Tel: 210.969.6496 Turkish Tel: 210.988.5700

Combined tickets for metro, buses and trolleys (€1,40) are available from metro stations and central ticket booths, valid within 90 mins of validation for all public transport - except the airport service, which costs 8€.

EXPRESS BUS from/to airport

X93 Kifisos Intercity Bus Station - Athens Airport Express.

Direct Connection to the intercity bus (KTEL) terminals KIFISOS and LIOSION X95 Syntagma – Athens Airport Express.

Direct Connection to Syntagma Square at Athens city center.

X96 Peiraias – Athens Airport Express.

Direct Connection to Piraeus central passenger port terminals.

X97 Dafni Metro Station – Athens Airport Express.

Direct Connection to DAFNI metro station. Tickets available at the Arrivals Hall; validate on board. Fare is €5 One-way travel time estimates**: X93 (65’ min), X95 (70’ min), X96 (90’ min), X97 (70’ min).

For further information dial 185 or visit www.oasa.gr, www.ametro.gr. For info on trains visit www.proastiakos.gr

HELLENIC RAILWAYS ORGANIsATION Karolou 1. Tel: 210.529.7002, www.ose.gr

ATHENS METRO Line 1 (Piraeus-Kifissia) 5am-midnight, Line 2 (Agios Antonios-Agios Dimitrios) 5.30am-midnight, Line 3 (Egaleo-

Doukissis Plakentias) 5.30am-midnight Line 3 (Egaleo-Airport) 5.30am-22.52pm and 06.30am-23.30pm.

The last itinerary is 2 hours later on Friday and Saturday night than it is during the week. www.ametro.gr

tram Tram itineraries are only from Syntagma to S.E.F (in Neo Faliro) and from Syntagma to Asklipio Voulas. From Monday to Thursday, trams operate from 5.am until midnight and non-stop from Friday morning to Sunday midnight. www.tramsa.gr

TAXIS from the airport cost about €20 to Syntagma Square, €25 to Piraeus, depending on traffic. Between midnight and 5am double tariff applies.

Note: If you suspect that you have been overcharged, you can call the tourist police 0n 171

INTERCITY BUSES Terminal 1: Buses for Igoumenitsa, Ioannina, Kavala, Loutraki, Patra, the Peloponese, and Thessaloniki. Kifissou 100Tel: 210.512.4910-1, www.ktel.org Terminal 2: Buses for Delphi, Evia, Galaxidi, Karpenisi, Katerini, Lamia, Livadia, Thiva and Volos. Liosion 260.

For KTEL itineraries all over Greece call 14505

RADIO TAXI Enotita Tel: 210.645.9000 Ermis Tel: 210.411.5200 Ikarus Tel: 210.515.2800 Kifissia Tel: 210.801.4000 Piraeus Tel: 210.418.2333 Radio Taxi Glyfada Tel: 210.960.5600 There is a booking fee of €2 added to the meter, and a €3,40 + VAT for a pre-arranged meeting. For PET taxis there is an extra charge of €5.

Sea ports Lavrio Tel: 22920.27711, 22920.22089 Piraeus Tel: 210.422.6000-4 Rafina Tel: 22940.22300, 22940.28888

Sea ports & Ferries

getting around Ferries Ferries run year-round. For information on seasonal schedules contact a travel agent or call the Port Police on 210.422.6000 From the Port of Piraeus Northern and Eastern Aegean Islands: Gates A & B Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos, Samos, Dodecanese Islands: Gate E Kalymnos, Kos Leros, Patmos, Rhodes, Saronic Gulf Islands:

Gates G & E

Aegina, Hydra, Poros, Spetses, Crete: Gate A Aghios Nikolaos, Chania, Iraklio, Kastelli (Kissamos), Rethymno, Cycladic Islands:

Gates B, G & D

Astipalea, Folegandros, Kimolos, Kithnos, Milos, Serifos, Sifnos: Gate B Amorgos, Donoussa, Ios, Iraklia, Koufonissi, Mykonos, Santorini, Schinoussa, Syros, Tinos: Gates G&D Naxos, Paros: Gate G

Superfast Ferries Daily departures, Greece - Italy: from Patras and Igoumenitsa to Ancona and Bari Head office: 23-125 Syngrou Avenue & 3 Torva Street 11745 Athens.

Tel:210.891.9000 Reservations: Athens: 210.891.9130 Thessaloniki: 2310.560.700, www.superfast.com Hellenic Seaways 210 41 99 000 www.hellenicseaways.gr, Anek Lines www.anek.gr Domestic lines: 210 41 97 420 International lines: 210 41 97 430 Minoan Lines www.minoan.gr Tel: 801 11 75 000

YACHT CHARTERS A1 Yacht Trade Consortium Akti Themistokleous 8, Marina Zeas, Piraeus. Tel: 210.458.7100 Ghiolman Yachts Filellinon 7, Syntagma. Tel: 210.323.3696 Northstar Poseidonos 9 & Achilleos, P. Faliro. Tel: 210.988.4000 PGA Shipping Posidonos 61, P. Faliro.

Tel: 210.985.9400 Seahorse Alkyonidon 83 (Marina), Voula.

Tel: 210.895.2212 Seascape Poseidonos Ave. 29, Alimos.

Tel/Fax: 210.985.8301 Valef Yachts Pl. Chatzikonstanti 2, Piraeus. Tel:210.451.2010 Vernicos Yachts Posidonos 11, Kalamaki.

Tel: 210.985.0122-8

insider athens | March & April 2014 69

sales points For central Athens points, see i on map EASTERN SUBURBS Gerakas: Mini Market Milionis: 131, Marathonos Avenue Pallini: Bookshop Bouzas: 63, Marathonos Street Peania: Bookshop Tangopoulos: Agias Triados Street

NORTHERN SUBURBS AG.PARASKEVI: Mini Market Avarakis: 3, Themistokleous Street, Kiosk Theodoropoulos: 8, Polytechniou Street DIONYSSOS: Kiosk Michail: 4, Mitropolitou Kydonion Street EKALI: Kiosk Kyrpoglou: Vassileos Pavlou Square FILOTHEI: Kiosk Roupa: Drossopoulou Square, Super Market Kyriakopoulos: 11, M.Renieri Street, Mini Market Plati: 27, V.Georgiou Street HALANDRI: Mini Market Kyriakou: 3, Lykourgou Street, Kiosk Drizos: V. Konstantinou & V.Georgiou Street, Bookshop Evripidis: 11, V.Konstantinou Street, Mini Market Bakatsia: 46, Pendelis Avenue, Bookshop Vivliostyl: 34, Olympou Street, Mini Market Tsakiri: 76, Ag.Antoniou Street HOLARGOS: Kiosk Bekiaris: 212, Messogion Aveue, Kiosk Tambouridis: 256, Messogion Avenue KEFALARI: Kiosk Glentzis: Patr.Maximou & Apergi Square KIFISSIA: Kiosk Karadouman: 36-38, Kyriazi Street, Bookshop Gioggaras: 34, Elaion Street, Kiosk Koutsodimou: 308, Kifissias Avenue MAROUSSI: Tobacco & Gifts Tsitsilonis: 41-43, Kifissias Avenue, Tobacco & Gifts Raptis: 64, Kifissias Street, Kiosk Stefanopoulos: 46, Kifissias Street, Mini Market Kitsios: 43, Grammoou & Dionyssou Street MELISSIA: Kiosk Manikas: 75, Dimokratias Avenue, Mini Market Koufopandelis: 28, Pigis Street NEA ERYTHREA: Kiosk Anastassopoulos: 142, Harilaou Trikoupi Street, Bookshop Giannaki: 169, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street, Newsstand: 20 klm National Road Athens-Lamia, Kiosk Konidakis: Thisseos Avenue & Papadaki, Kiosk Kallergis: 130, Tatoiou Street NEO Psychico: Kiosk Katichidis: E.Makariou & Michalakopoulou Street, Kiosk Doukas: 44, Diamantidou Street, Kiosk Gionis: 25, Chr.Smyrnis & Ag.Georgiou Street PAPAGOU: Mini Market Papavassiliou: 16, Ellispontou Street

PALEO Psychico: Kiosk Kyriakou: Solomou Square, Kiosk Gialama: Efkalypton Square, Kiosk Polydoros: Kifissias & Ag.Dimitriou Street, Kiosk Kalogeropoulos: V. GeorgiouSquare, Kiosk Kontabasis: 2, Amaryllidos & V. Pavlou Street, Kiosk Kalfagian: V. Georgiou B’ 11 POLITIA: Kiosk Vovlas: Politia Square VRILISSIA: Kiosk Theodoropoulou: 5, Analypsi Square, Kiosk Aggelopoulos: Pendelis Avenue & Omirou, Bookshop Karystinaiou: 69, Alefiou Street

SOUTHERN SUBURBS GLYFADA: Kiosk Tamourantzis: 3, Metaxa & Maragou Street, Kiosk Tsakanikas: 3, Lambraki Street, Kiosk Mavraki: Pandoras & Ioanni Metaxa, Kiosk Adamopoulos: 20, Ioanni Metaxa Street, Kiosk Papadakou: 7, Ioanni Metaxa Street, Kiosk Haikal: 1, Ioanni Metaxa & Fivis Street, Kiosk Bolota: Gounari & Iraklitou Street, Kiosk Bellou: 5, Saki Karagiorga Street, Mini Market Agiokatsikos: 24, Ilias Street HELLINIKO: NewsStand: 43-47, Vouliagmenis Avenue ILIOUPOLIS: Super Market Kokossis: 5, Glastonos Street LAGONISI: Kiosk Vassiliadis: 37,5 klm Athinon-Souniou Avenue NEA SMYRNI: Kiosk Manoussos: 28, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street VARKIZA: Kiosk Paraskevopoulou: Varkiza Square VOULA: Kiosk Leontopoulos: 12, Sokratous Street, Mini Market Pournara: 33, Pringipos Petrou Street, Kiosk Christopoulou: V. Pavlou & Ag. Ioanni Street VOULIAGMENI: Kiosk Andrioti: Armonias Square, Kiosk Chryssikos: 1, Ermou Street, Kiosk Kylitis: 14, Thisseos Street PALEO FALIRO: Kiosk Kombogianni: 1, Ag. Alexandrou Street, Kiosk Kapetanou: 24, Achilleos Street, Mini Market Nikouli: 9, Pliadon Street, Tobacco & Gifts Berekos: 1, Possidnos Avenue & Moraitini Street PIRAEUS: Hand Delivery Telstar: 57, Akti Miaouli, Tourist Chop Siatras: 46, Akti Koumoundourou Street, Kiosk Samarogiannis: 7, Merarhias B’Street, Kiosk Siaho: Akti Moutsopoulou (Kanari Square), Kiosk Kentros: 73, Iroon Polytechniou Street, Kiosk Fotis: 1, Loudovikou Street, Kiosk Spalas: 111, Karaiskou Street, Newsstand: Railway Station Loudovikou Square

www.mysephora.gr

For central Athens stores, see on map ASPROPIRGOS Filis 100 & Bouboulinas, Tel: 210.558.0989 ERMOU Ermou 24 Tel: 210. 331.3167 & 325.7744 KALLITHEA Thisseos & Davaki, Tel: 210.956.5959 - 956.5446 KIFISSIA Kassaveti 6, Tel: 210.623.1741 & 623.1742 KORYDALLOS Taxiarhon 110A, Tel: 210.569.5270 569.5998 THE MALL, Notios Paradromos Attikis Odou, Tel: 210.630.0125 & 630.0126 AVENUE Kifissias 41-45, Tel: 210.610.9739 & 610.9740

70 insider athens | March & April 2014

GOLDEN HALL Kifissias Av. 37A & Sp. Louis, Tel: 210.683.7343 PANGRATI Ymittou 110 & Hremonidou, Tel: 210.751.8005 GLYFADA A. Metaxa 33-35, Tel: 210. 894.3378 & 894.5884 KOLONAKI Milioni 2, Tel: 210. 361.2666 & 362.9925 NEA MAKRI Marathonos Av. 117, Tel: 229.409.9661 PERISTERI Ethnikis Antistaseos 12, Tel: 210. 571.0755 PETROU RALLI Petrou Ralli 97, Tel: 210. 569.6596 & 569.7316 PIKERMI 21oklm. Marathonos Av., Tel: 210. 603.9987 Psychico Kifissias 210, Tel: 210. 677.5527 & 674.0178 VRILISSIA Pentelis Av. 72, Tel: 210. 810.1971 & 810.1972

city map

Map courtesy of Emvelia Publications

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Rolls of Sweet Memories: Caprice, Papadopoulos Biscuits’ praline-filled cigar rolls are coveted and consumed in several countries around the world but it remains an intrinsic part of Greek childhood memories. Forty artists get together at the M-art Gallery to express their relationship to this iconic product at the I Heart Caprice exhibition. Metal sculptures, ceramic reproductions, mixed-media compositions and paintings bring to life precious “Caprice” moments experienced by the artists. Athens Insider picks nine works from the exhibition.

1. Annie Sofianopoulou 2. Antonis Triadafillou 3. Stefanos Alafouzos 4. George Vorres 5. Katerina Xadoulou 6. Andrianna Roussou 7. Thanasis Tsiousis 8. Stefania Filiogianni and 9. Stamatis Papadimos

72 insider athens | March & April 2014

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ATHENS