The Telegraph’s guide to the best places to eat in Athens, including where to find delicious seafood, Michelin starred dining and views of the Acropolis.

Widely acknowledged as the finest seafood restaurant in Athens, Lefteris Lazarou’s Michelin-starred Varoulko has long been a magnet for foodies. In summer 2014 it relocated to Piraeus, Mr Lazarou’s home ground, and is now named Varoulko Seaside. The emphasis remains on seafood, so you can look forward to delights such as Grilled squid with black eyed beans and marjoram, flavoured with cumin, followed by Red mullet fillets with a light lemon sauce.

In up-and-coming Metaxourgio, Aleria occupies a neoclassical building with an old tile floor and a romantic leafy courtyard out back. The menu includes delights such as crayfish with sorrel and pink grapefruit, or duck with wild berries, celeriac puree, caramelized shallots and roast turnip.

Address: Megalou Alexandrou 57, Metaxourgio

Telephone: 30 210 522 2633
Website

To read this article in full, please visit: The Telegraph

Greek Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou recently signed the ministerial decision that includes the areas in the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia that shops can voluntarily operate on 32 Sundays a year from May to October.

Shops located in the following areas in Attica and Central Macedonia are allowed to operate on Sundays:

1. The section of Poseidonos Avenue, which is included in the municipalities of Kallithea, Palaio Faliro, Alimou, Argyroupoli-Elliniko and Glyfada.

2. The area of ​​the Municipality of Piraeus that is surrounded by the streets: Gr. Lambraki, Akti Moutsopoulou, 2as Merarchias, Akti Miaouli, Akti Poseidonos, Akti Kallimasioti, Alipedou, Kekropos and Karaoli and Demetriou.

3. The area of ​​the Municipality of Kallithea, which is surrounded by the streets of Egeos, Euripidou, Zervou, Agias Lavras, Kremou, Harokopou, Dimosthenous, Skra, Aristidou, Olympias, Iatridou, Platonos, Spartis, Eleftherios Venizelos Avenue, Pericleous, Metamorfosis, Praxitelouss, Isminis, Thali, Peisistratou and from Heron Polytechniou Square to Poseidonos Avenue.

4. The area of ​​the Municipality of Paleo Faliro, which extends from Amphitheas Avenue to Poseidonos Avenue.

To read this article in full and for more areas where shops will be open, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Meet Ahmad Alssaleh from Palmyra, Syria. Although he is only 31 and the youngest of ten children, he is not only unstoppable, he is about to celebrate the first anniversary of one of the most imaginative and best restaurants Culinary Backstreets has ever been to anywhere – not just Athens. His restaurant is called A Little Taste Of Home.

It all started back in 2009 when Alssaleh met Magda, a Greek girl who’d gone to Syria as a tourist. In those days he had been working in tourism himself, organizing “camping safaris” into the desert around the ruins of Palmyra on camelback and horseback and cooking traditional food for his groups. He was extremely successful and is even mentioned in foreign blogs about those happier days.

But happy as they were to be together, finding a job proved impossible in those early years of the “crisis,” and it took 18 months to get a residence permit.

“By now I had a little money, and I went to Poland, where a friend had a hostel for sale, but that didn’t work out. So instead I bought a five-room apartment near Omonia and rented it to refugees. This was when the border with Macedonia closed, and there was a housing shortage. All this time I wanted to open a café with Syrian snacks. Monastiraki was too expensive, but this place [in Gazi] was empty and affordable. Again it took many months to get the permit, and I needed more money to fix it up. My brother had an idea. He was among the refugees stuck at Idomeni, and he said, ‘Why don’t you bring up some bread from Athens? We can’t eat what they give us.’

To read the rest of Alssaleh’s inspiring story, please visit: Culinary Backstreets

Photo Credit: Manteau Stam for Culinary Backstreets

The gastronomy of Pelion and Volos will be featured on “The Cooking Odyssey”, an American TV culinary series that showcases the wondrous sights, sounds and tastes of Greece! Broadcast on PBS and Create TV, “The Cooking Odyssey” reaches millions of viewers across the U.S.

Filming for the episode dedicated to Pelion and Volos took place this past April 2017 at various locations throughout the area. The TV show also focused on the various cultural and religious monuments in the areas, including old churches and contemporary museums and the numerous outdoor activities available, such as hiking and horse riding.

The episode of “The Cooking Odyssey” highlighting Pelion and Volos will be broadcast in 2017 and repeated many times in the next three years on PBS and Create TV.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

For Greeks, any form of alcohol is meant to be enjoyed with friends and family and to not be overdone. As Greece Is says, ‘an enviable hallmark of Mediterranean culture is the civilized role of alcohol.’

People drink in joy in Greece. They drink, not to escape but, as they chime their glasses together, to engage more fully in the moment with one another. Even the occasional excess is usually a product of happy exuberance; drunken fighting and regrettable behavior are virtually non-existent.

(Consider also that as famously rich as the Greek language is, there is no specific word for hangover.)

• Whatever the drink, you never just start drinking. After everyone’s glass has been filled, there will be a general “ya-mas!” (“our health!”)to start things off. Thereafter, sip from your glass as you like.
  
  
• When glasses are refilled, it’s not uncommon to toast with the fresh drink. This happens a lot – glasses are generally small (perhaps this very purpose). You can fill your own glass, but fill the glasses of your neighbors first. (Who fills whose glass? Just as you wish, but it much follows the pattern of society in general – men often fill women’s glasses, and you fill the glass of your great aunt.)
  
  
• Whenever anyone new joins the party, all will toast afresh when their glass is filled for the first time.
  
  
• Nicest of all, from time to time someone will simply be seized with the impulse to toast. This is particularly the case at a large table – spontaneous toasts periodically reunite the group. People will sometimes even rise from their chairs to chime glasses with friends at a distance.
  
  
• Is there a happy event coming up? Look forward to even more toasting (“kala stefana!” = “happy wreaths!”= happy wedding).
  
  
• Do join in each toast – if all these sips are going to your head, just barely wet your lips, and drink lots of water in between.
  

You may find that Greek drinking practices, for all their complexity, are adopted with such ease that the art of drinking with style and grace is one of the best souvenirs you’ll bring home.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greece Is

The expansion and modernization project of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum (EPMAS) in Athens is expected to be completed in early 2019, with a grant by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), totaling 13 million euros.

The new grant will lead to the completion of the gallery’s building B, which will be named “Stavros Niarchos Foundation Wing of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum” and will host permanent painting collections.

“We are happy to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, EPMAS and the Region of Attica to complete the expansion of the National Gallery, a project which is expected to place it on a prominent position, on the map of international cultural organizations,” said the co-president of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Andreas Dracopoulos.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Photo Credit: Greek Travel Pages

Read about the story of two brothers, how they found sucess and their love for Greece. A Greek word that can't be translated into any other language and discover unique events taking place in the city of Athens!

Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!

Greeks love going out till late, even on weekdays, so it’s no surprise that Athens is legendary for its nightlife. There are bars to suit every taste: bars with a great view, bars by the sea, mainstream bars, bars with great cocktails or music, etc.

For Culinary Backstreets, they prefer the bars no tourist knows, hidden from sight, and ultra low-key. Here are some of the best under-the-radar bars in downtown Athens!

Speakeasy opened in a basement in downtown Athens in December 2013. Walking down Lekka Street near the Parliament, you won’t find any markers for Speakeasy. You have to estimate where number 12 is or ask someone, because there is no actual number near the door. There’s nothing written on the doorbell; take a deep breath and press it.

Metamatic: TAF (The Art Foundation) is located down a narrow alley in the Monastiraki flea market area. The place is endowed with a great deal of lore: people say it was built around 1870, during King Otto’s reign, for stables, and then it became a women’s prison. The new owners cleaned the junk-filled space – while still respecting the building’s architecture and history – and created a venue that supports young artists and opened a unique all-day-bar experience that takes you back (and forth) in time.

Low Profile is one of the best whiskey bars in town. It originally opened in 1996 in nearby Kolonaki but moved to its current larger space in December 2013. The bar, populated mainly by regulars, is not a place to go for cocktails, but is instead what we call a potadiko, a place for good old straight drinks, served in the proper glasses and treated with respect.

To read this article in full, please visit: Culinary Backstreets

From Thursday, July 6th 2017, Athens will have 4 new Pedestrian Areas in the center of Athens!

The Municipality of Athens, in connection to the restoration of the Athens Commercial Triangle will give the following four roads to pedestrians on Thursday morning: Chrysospiliotissis, Nikiou, Polykleitos & Vlachava. 

These four roads were typically already pedestrian areas on papers even though they are now being handed to the public. Athens's Mayor, George Kaminis stated that the Municipality of Athens, aims to transform the Commercial Triangle into a triangle that will effectively handle parking isses ,traffic, waste management, posters and graffiti.

The Restoration of the Athens' Commercial Triangle is an exclusive donation by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation! 

We remind  you that vehicles going from Syntagma and Stadiou to Athena Street can only go from Mitropoleos, Karagiorgis Serbia and Sophocleous streets. 

The sports tourism event “Patmos Revelation”, was completed with absolute success in the sacred island of the Dodecanese, between June 30th and July 2nd 2017. Patmos Municipality, Region of South Aegean and Active Media cooperated with an excellent result which was evident from the participations and the positive comments of both participants and residents of the island.

More than 200 professional and amateur athletes of all ages from 9 countries (Australia, England, France, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey and Greece) visited Patmos to live the experience of the event by swimming with absolute safety in the Aegean waters and by running in the unique routes, that passed through two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (historic center of Chora, Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian and Sacred Cave of the Apocalypse).

The program of “Patmos Revelation” started with Kids’ Athletics (30/06) by the Olympic and World Champion, Periklis Iakovakis at the football stadium of Patmos with the participation of children who learned many of the secrets of track and field sports. The activity has been developed and established by a special panel of scientists from IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) and is officially implemented in Greece by the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

On the second day of the event, on Saturday (1/7), the open water swimming race was held at Grikos bay (distance of the 1 mile/1.6km). The route was designed by the Federal Technical Coach of Swimming Nikos Gemelos while the safety of athletes was taken care of by Katerini’s Lifeguard School, Lifeguard Patrol. The swimming race was held under the auspices of the Hellenic Swimming Federation with the presence of the Greek national open water swimming team, headed by the European champion, Antonis Fokaidis.

Right before the start of the race a warm-up was held by the pilates instructor, Mandy Persaki.

During the 3rd day, on Sunday (2/7), running races of 15km, 5km and 1km (for children) were held having Skala as the starting point. All routes were designed and edited by the top director of All About Running, Nikos Polias. The 15km running route was characterized with similar difficulty level to a marathon race by experts and experienced participant runners. Michalis Chatziioannou was the winner of the 15km route with a 01:01:34 time (who was also the winner of the Rhodes marathon race).

You may see the total results of the 15km and 5km running routes here!

Participant athletes and escorts travelled in the “sacred” island of the Dodecanese with the safety and comfort of the top Greek shipping company Blue Star Ferries, that facilitated the audience with additional ferry routes and discounts.

Vikos company supported as a sponsor all children activities and quenched the thirst of both participants and the audience with the natural mineral water “Vikos” that contributes to the good functioning of the body during sports.

Official supporter of Patmos Revelation, was the 5-star hotel Patmos Aktis Suites & Spa, of the Divine Hotels group, in which an event was held with the presence of media, ambassadors and representatives from the Holy Monastery and Patmos Municipality.

Commemorative gifts were offered by Archimandrite Father Vartholomaios to the Federal Technical Director in Swimming, Nikos Gemelos, by the Mayor of Patmos, Grigoris Stoikos, to the World Champion Periklis Iakovakis and by Patmos Municipality Head of Tourism & Sports Giannis Skebes to the European Swimming Champion of open water swimming, Antonis Fokaidis.

AB Vassilopoulos supermarket chain supported “Patmos Revelation” by offering products to participants and volunteers.

Another great shipping company, Dodekanisos Seaways, standed next to the event. With routes from and to Leros, Kalymnos and Samos, the company enhanced the tourist traffic of the island of Patmos with special discounts.

At the same time, the event was supported by Sixt rent a car, which covered the event and all visitors’ car rental needs with its fleet, while throughout the whole event vehicles moved with the excellent quality of ELIN fuel!

The event was supported by the following hospitality sponsors: Patmos Aktis Suites & Spa, Allotina Houses, Skala Hotel Patmos, Onar, Chris Hotel, Archontariki, Alykes Studios, Porto Scoutari, Stefanos Katsaros Studios, Hotel Athina, Hotel Rodon, Villa Zacharo, Grikos Hotel, Hotel Effie, while the audience was served by the official travel agent VitaNTravel.

Patmos Police Station, Patmos Port Authority, Patmos Health Center as well as the Volunteers, Rescuers and Lifeguards Corps of Hellenic Red Cross Kos helped in the smooth implementation of the races.

The event was held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Hashtag: #patmosrevelation 

Official Sponsors: Blue Star Ferries, “Vikos” natural mineral water

Official Supporters: Patmos Aktis Suites & Spa, Sixt rent a car, AB Vassilopoulos, Elin, Dodekanisos Seaways, 1001 flights

Assisted by: SEGAS, IAAF Kids Athletics, GoPro, T & G auto moto rentals, A1 yacht trade consortium, Lifeguard Patrol, Giannaros Theologos

Hospitality Sponsors: Patmos Aktis Suites & Spa, Allotina Houses, Skala Hotel Patmos, Onar, Chris Hotel, Archontariki, Alykes Studios, Porto Scoutari, Stefanos Katsaros Studios, Hotel Athina, Hotel Rodon, Villa Zacharo, Grikos Hotel, Hotel Effie

Official Travel Agent: VitaNTravel

Strategic TV Partner: National Geographic

Photo Credit: From the beginning of the 15km running route of Patmos Revelation, by Mike Tsolis

Information for the editors:
Press Office Contact:
Tel.: +30 210 9343020, fax: +30 210 9316505 e-mail: pr@activemedia.com.gr