Karavani Rebetadiko

Karabani is a gem of a rembetika club that few people know about in a basement in the neighborhood of Kypseli, right off Fokionos Negri, a pedestrianized avenue that is like a long narrow park that starts down by Patission street about a half mile beyond the National Museum. Karabani features Giannis Lempesis and his excellent group, with two female vocalists, bouzouki, guitar, accordion and baglama. Lempesis is an old style rembetika singer and bouzouki player, of the same generation as Babis Tsertos, Babis Golas and Agathonas(in fact they used to play together), with a dozen or so albums to his credit. He has also played with many of the old stars including Poli Panou and Ioanna Georgakopoulou. The club is open on Friday and Saturday nights with the music beginning around 11pm. Prices for food are at normal taverna levels so you don't have to go broke eating, drinking and listening to good old rembetika music.

 

Best of all they have a Sunday Matinee starting at about 1pm with a special all inclusive price of 20 euros for food, wine and entertainment. Its easy to find if you walk up Fokionos Negri from Patission, its the street after the old market on the right. Or if you take the 2, 4 or 9 trolley and get off at Platia Kypseli you can walk down and it is on the left on the corner of Zakynthou Street.