NEW AND NICE

VERY NEW AND VERY NICE As soon as we emerge from self isolation, exciting new establishments await.

BY NENA DIMITRIOU AND MARIA COVEOU

SEALED EARTH

GET DIRTY WITH CLAY

In February, talented potter Loukia Thomopoulou launched an open ceramics workshop space aimed at professionals and amateurs alike. Established artists can use the venue as their own workshop – it has all the equipment, tools and amenities they need – while learners can attend classes over a period of 3 to 4 months. At these classes, artists from Greece and abroad share their knowhow, offering masterclasses in design, sculpture, 3D design and 3D painting. Currently, Thomopoulou collaborates with others who teach their own pottery wheel and handbuilding techniques, including Stavros Perakis, Nikos Sklavenitis, Vangelis Magopoulos and the artist known as Hope. At Christmas, the objects created here are put up for sale at a bazaar/exhibition. Thomopoulou, who supports the valuable work of the Elpida Association of Friends of Children with cancer, is working on setting up an e-shop to sell functional and decorative works by various artists. • 22 Erechtheiou, Koukaki, Tel. (+30) 210.965.5596

MINU

DESIGN AND COFFEE IN “TROPICAL” PSYRRI

Panagiotis Vaxevanakis’ small shop contains clothes, accessories and fanzines, as well as vinyl albums by artists from Athens, Thessaloniki, Manchester and Berlin. Influenced by the 1990s and the rave and party scene, the owner has collections with bright colors and patterns such as the very feminine LaunderEnter the overgrown jungle-like space of Minu and enjoy a well-brewed coffee and some cake next to a beautiful lush green Alocasia, or walk among the photogenic Instagram-friendly Monstera plants and pick one for your living room. In this tropical setting, you can grab a bite, buy a plant or discover stylish decorative and functional design items, such as small furnishings, lamps and tableware, all hand-picked by the • 50 Sarri, Psyrri, Tel. (+30) 210.323.2022

PITCH

FASHION MIXED WITH MUSIC

owner for his discerning customers. ettes bodysuits, or artist Marializa Kampi’s kaftans from her Digital Tribe series, with digitally printed psychedelic motifs. Vaxevanakis supports creative artists, ordering works that he himself likes, meaning many of the items on sale are truly unique products of single moments of inspiration. This is the place to find T-shirts, hoodies and balaclava caps and hats from different brands that you won’t find anywhere else in Athens. • 10 Melanthiou, Psyrri, Tel. (+30) 694.609.2594

KORKODILOS FREE EXPRESSION

Alexandros Douras is a young graduate of the Athens School of Fine Arts. Aged 25, he creates ceramic lighting installations using clay, light bulbs and candles. In August, he renovated Korkodilos, a space that originally housed a workshop he shared with two other artists and which now functions as a training workshop. Each lesson is a new challenge for the trainees as Douras explores ceramic art in an entertaining way. Creating a Mycenaean Phi-figurine, for instance, is a great way to learn how to build a tall and large object with different shapes. His fresh approach to teaching and the way he runs his classes, which are more like meetings between friends, makes Korkodilos a lively and popular place. Each month, a new course starts for all levels. On social media (@korkodilosathens), Douras announces pop-up thematic courses open to everyone and well worth attending! • 56 Plateon, Metaxourgeio, Tel. (+30) 698.796.4159

THE LOUVRON

A NEW OLD CAFÉ

It’s said that the café in the tiny park opposite the Goulandris Foundation on Eratosthenous Street first opened in 1937. The new owners, who took it over last June, 83 years later, found cuttings from the Daily Mail dating from 1938, framed them and hung them on the wall. They spruced up the ceiling, which was was decorated by an icon painter in 1960, repaired the old refrigerator, and kept the overall old-time atmosphere and style. The Louvron, which was once a neighborhood haunt for intellectuals who enjoyed “tea with brandy,” today serves cocktails with Greek spirits (such as a Bloody Mary made with tsipouro), retro Hionati (Snow-white) brand soft drinks from the northern town of Drama, coffee and sweets, as well as a daily menu with meze such as meatballs, sausage with vinegar and other delicacies. Its courtyard is a green oasis among the street’s many gray apartment buildings. • 6 Eratosthenous, Pangrati, Tel. (+30) 210.701.6594

Matsuhisa Athens New opportunities for upgraded culinary experiences

Matsuhisa restaurants around the world are nearly as well known as sushi itself. When a city has a restaurant by the award-winning Japanese chef Nobu, it automatically becomes a gastronomic metropolis, and Athens is one such city. In the most beautiful spot on the Athenian Riviera, the Astir penisula overlooking the quiet Saronic Gulf, Matsuhisa Athens is the ideal choice for magical sunsets and unforgettable cosmopolitan nights all year round.

Designed by New York’s famous Rockwell Group, the restaurant provides guests with comfort and luxury, as well as outstanding dinners. As of November 1st, there’s an additional reason to visit, the weekly brunch, which will be served every Sunday from 14:00 onwards. New creations, as well as the well-known signature dishes of Matsuhisa Athens, offer gourmet vibes and an upgrade on the culinary experience of the leisurely meal we all love on Sundays. As you’re enjoying your food, don’t forget to try a new take on the classic brunch cocktail: the deconstructed Bloody Mary.

As for those who wish to dine at home, Matsuhisa Athens brings the fine dining options of Japanese fusion to your door in the southern suburbs. Keeping up with the needs of the season and wanting to continue offering their high-end menu items to everyone safely, they’ll bring their most famous dishes, hot and cold, right to your house. Matsuhisa Athens HOME FINE DINING, in exclusive cooperation with Spanos S.A., guarantees the provision of a premium transport service that suits the high quality standards of Matsuhisa Athens. For all of us who’ve dreamed of savoring Matsuhisa’s signature Black Cod dish and their unique sushi in the comfort of our own living room, it’s great to know that miracles still happen.

ATHENS 1890

BELLE EPOQUE BEAUTY

This three-story mansion at 10 Athinaidas Street, next to the historic Church of Aghia Irini in the square of the same name, stood derelict for decades. A wonderful example of Athenian Belle Epoque architecture, built by a silk merchant and designed to house a shop on the ground floor and residence above, the building is indicative of the economic prosperity of the area at the time of its construction. Recently, a Greek from abroad decided to give it a new life. Fully renovated, but retaining all its original architectural elements, the building is now home to the boutique hotel Athens 1890, featuring 14 modern rooms, a restaurant, a wellness/spa area and modern amenities. Its impressive facade with its ornate balconies is eye-catching, while the preserved original metal sign bearing the name “K. Symeonidis S.A.” of the textile business that once operated on the ground floor, stands as a reminder of the neighborhood’s vibrant commercial past. • 10 Aghia Irinis Square (Athinaidas), Tel. (+30) 210.324.0603, athens1890.gr

EPIC ICE CREAM

GREAT GREEK FLAVORS

Nestled between two popular hangouts on Mavili Square, Flower Pizzeria and the bar-restaurant Kyrios, the new takeout gelateria Epik Gelato adds a deliciously sweet note to nights out on the town (and not only). Focused on Greek flavors and using quality, low-fat and low-sugar ingredients from small producers, it aspires to awaken memories of childhood and vacations all around Greece. We liked the rose flavor with Denaxa brand loukoumi (Turkish delight) from Syros, the rose and coconut spoon sweet flavor and the amygdaloto (almond cookie) flavor made with caramelized almonds from Thessaly and orange blossom water. Epik Gelato’s extensive menu also includes classic flavors, including fior di latte and pistachio; sundaes such as the Chicago; seasonal fruit sorbets; pastries such as kormos (a mosaic cake) and coffee. • 2 Doryleou, Mavili Square, from 11:00 daily

Beefbar Athens A destination restaurant on the Athenian Riviera

The new Beefbar Athens, up and running just a few months now in the luxurious surroundings of the Four Seasons Astir Palace, boasts a global restaurant concept, created by the ingenious entrepreneur Riccardo Giraudi. From locations including Monaco, Paris, Rome, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and now Athens, Beefbar unites lovers of good food, bon viveurs and the fashionable crowd looking for hot spots in order to spend unforgettable evenings.

In its Athenian version, managers have invested both in modern architecture and in the sense of luxury that embraces visitors, a feeling that begins at the first level of the lounge. Here, at the bar, you can enjoy one of the special cocktails as your table is prepared on the second level. Riccardo Giraudi’s collaboration with the French porcelain company BERNARDAUD has resulted in an unparalleled art de la table aesthetic, specially designed for the Athens restaurant, which impresses by bringing together the traditional and the modern. Even more impressive, of course, is the open kitchen, a true theater of creation drawing on excellent raw materials and dauntless combinations of ingredients and techniques. Enjoy unique Asian gyoza, Mexican tacos with Kobe beef, and ceviche, all filled with flavors inspired by the world’s most interesting cuisine, dynamic street food, served with the refined touches of top cooks. Giraudi’s most important legacy, however, is his family’s half-century of experience in importing fine meat. Get ready to taste the amazing differences between an Australian Wagyu, a Japanese Kobe and a Black Angus, all always cut and cooked to perfection. For those for whom meat is not an option, leafBar offers wonderful salad-meals bursting with the freshest seasonal ingredients.

From November 1st, Beefbar Athens is dedicating a whole day every week to our brunch favorites, offering recipes you haven’t come across elsewhere. Special options with eggs, such as chili avocado toast with a poached egg, as well as truffle croissant and many vegetarian options will keep you at the table for hours. Two things you shouldn’t skip: the rich sauce of “Relais de Paris”, which suits meat as no other, and “the corner,” dedicated to the most suitable brunch drinks, such as a smoothie, a very chic Bellini, a glass of champagne or a spicy yet refreshing Bloody Mary.

THE MODERNIST ATHENS

FOR THE CONTEMPORARY TRAVELER

Located in a privileged spot, the brand new Modernist Athens is a four-star boutique design hotel. The architecture, by the firm FormRelated, comprises minimal lines and solid materials, such as black marble, wood paneling and bronze details. A basic concept at play for the Modernist hotels in both Athens and Thessaloniki is the idea of linking the hotel with the city so the former becomes part of the fabric of the latter. In Athens, the hotel has joined with local artists and creators to come up with unique pieces. Potter Haris Panousopoulos has created a series of dishes and utensils; 2WO + 1NE have designed the wonderful staff uniforms; the famed bartender of The Clumsies, Nikos Bakoulis, has taken care of the cocktails; Spilios Palov has chosen vinyl records for guests to play in the suites; and the team at Ergon has taken care of the food. Elegant aesthetics, custom-made amenities, perfect nights of sleep and a modern sense of luxury make the Modernist Athens a model of hospitality. From its terrace, with guest-only access, Athens appears a green haven and the Acropolis seems just a few steps away. • 4 Ioannou Gennadiou, Kolonaki, Tel. (+30) 216.000.2130

MATERIA PRIMA

GOODNESS IN A GLASS

Materia Prima has opened a second location, in Messolongi Square, the most beautiful area in Pangrati that has so far remained under the radar. The wine bar, whose original branch is in Koukaki, serves some excellent wines from important terroirs and creative producers who wish to highlight old wine-producing areas and the characters of entire regions. Many of the selections on offer are natural wines. The basement has a walk-in cellar with a gravel floor, which you can visit and, with the help of a sommelier, choose a special bottle. The bar offers tasty bistro-style snacks, with interesting combinations of seasonal ingredients presented with refreshing simplicity. It opens at 10:00 for specialty coffee and breakfast, except on Mondays and Tuesdays, when it opens at 17:00. It also functions as a wine shop and sells online as well, at materiaprima.gr. • 3 Messolongi Square, Pangrati, Tel. (+30) 210.725.5171

The “Ark” of pleasure

Haute cuisine, fine cocktails, perfect coffee by the sea: Ark is the ultimate all-day proposal on the Athenian Riviera

Ark, located in the most beautiful part of the Athenian Riviera, the well-known Asteria area, has it all: simple, unpretentious aesthetics; magnificent views; an abundance of wonderful flavors, a famous Greek chef, affordable prices; and a fine list of imaginative cocktails and rare coffee blends.

Ark’s menu bears the signature of renowned chef Yannis Baxevanis, one of the most celebrated Greek chefs and winner of multiple national awards (Golden Cap and “Chef of the Year”) as well as the title “Chef of the Future,” bestowed by the World Academy of Gastronomy. What’s more, Ark has been awarded the Best Greek Cuisine Award for five consecutive years, and the Best Bar Award from Athinorama magazine.

The imaginative dishes of Baxevanis, such as the fresh mackerel salad prepared in front of the customer; the fresh wild sea bass from Messolongi stuffed with aromatic greens and cooked in the wood-buring oven; the grilled beef skirt fillet with oriental aromas, spinach salad and baked potato; the kataifi phyllo nest with white chocolate cream; the lemon jelly; and the kaimaki ice cream (vanilla ice cream with mastiha), pistachio and blueberries, all accompanied with selected wine, beer and spirit labels from leading producers and distinguished small organic firms from all over Greece.

As for coffee, special blends created by Ark’s barista team in collaboration with the coffee company TAF offer you the chance to get to know unique coffees of superior single- estate quality, that is, from individual farms.

In the bar, our bartenders create unexpected variations on classic cocktails using traditional Greek spirits, as well as classic favorite drinks, all to make your evening unforgettable.

KOBRA

A DINING BAR

With a quirky interior design that features a confessional booth, a 3D-printed depiction of Michelangelo’s David and some white plastic chairs, Kobra is no ordinary bar, and it also boasts an extremely talented Athenian chef. Adam Kontovas, who’s had a remarkable career with many important restaurants in Greece and abroad, brings to Kobra a fresh culinary approach that mixes haute cuisine with references to street food from Asia and the Americas. His dishes require hours of preparation and specialized techniques that befit fine dining. The service is simple and very friendly. Sit at the bar, order one of the classic cocktails or another drink and enjoy it with some dry-aged duck, or a dish of potato Napoleon with tofu and eel. • 11 Navarinou, Tel. (+30) 210.363.8134

FIG

WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST?

You’ll find tableware for the day’s most important meal in this tiny shop on the first floor of the apartment building above the arcade at 33 Praxitelous. The first shop in Athens to sell breakfast items exclusively, it stocks a variety of items made from Greek faience (a type of white clay), collectible enamel dishes and dishes from the 1940s, bamboo and ceramic bowls and mugs made by young contemporary artists, all in limited numbers. The collection changes regularly, but you’ll always find something to suit your kitchen. • 33 Praxitelous, Tel. (+30) 698.918.2515, figshop.gr

Kuzina A top spot on the city’s culinary map

In the historic center of Athens, in the shadow of the Temple of Hephaestus and with breathtaking views of the Acropolis, stands Kuzina.

Kuzina constitutes the ultimate gastronomic destination in Athens, as visitors here have the opportunity to enjoy the menu of celebrated chef Aris Tsanaklidis on the lovely roof garden of a neoclassical building, dining by candlelight under the wonderful night sky of Athens, all while facing the magnificent Parthenon.

Aris Tsanaklidis’ creations are inspired by local cuisine combined with unique cooking techniques, while the use of pure ingredients upgrades every dish to an unforgettable experience.

Kuzina invites you to try Aris Tsanaklidis’ winter menu, inspired and produced by the chef’s unique culinary mastery and promising a delightful gastronomic journey.

A Special Journey Through the History of Telecommunications

The OTE Group Telecommunications Museum in the northern Athens suburb of Kifissia is celebrating 30 years of operation and a decade of educational activities. Since 1990, the museum has presented the history of telecommunications from ancient times to the present through its constantly growing collection, with already more than 4,000 items and a wealth of archival material comprising over 33,000 documents, maps, wirephotos, and audiovisual media.

Our visitors’ journey through time begins on the first floor in the exhibition area showcasing ancient Greek systems of communication like the phryctoria (messages sent between towers using firelight) and Byzantine-era inventions, before we move on the discovery of electricity and the great inventors this enabled. The Morse telegraph, other telegraphy items, telephone booths, OTE’s historic cable-laying ship “Thales of Miletus,” wirephoto transmitters, fiber optics and satellites are all covered, too.

The experience is further enlivened at selected spots marking communications milestones, with the help of six specially designed augmented reality (AR) applications, for which the museum was honored at the Mobile Excellence Awards ’20 by Boussias Communications, taking Gold and Platinum awards in the category of “Mobile Applications in Services and Governance” and the sub-category of “Tourism & Culture.”

These applications, which were designed and implemented in cooperation with Cosmote and other partners, aspire to “connect” visitors to the collections and exhibits. As they enter the museum,

for example, visitors are greeted by a digital portrait of Alexander Graham Bell, while Samuel Morse comes to life on their mobile phones or tablets to narrate the history of telegraphy. Further along, visitors can watch the installation of submarine cables connecting mainland Greece and its islands, while in another part of the exhibition, a rare telephone booth from the 1930s comes complete with 3D holograms of people from that time using the telephone and you’ll hear interesting stories about the public telephones, too.

The journey through the museum and through time ends on the second floor with a look at the evolution of the network from analogue to digital and mobile, and the first television studio from 1967.

Shortly, visitors will be able to peruse the exhibition virtually as well. At present, the Telecommunications Museum welcomes more than 14,000 visitors a year to its physical space and its website, and conducts free programs and activities of an educational and entertaining nature from October to May, including activities in line with current health protocols for schools and small family groups. The museum also offers digital programs via videos on demand or its online platform, as well as activities at the museum itself.

As accessible as always, the institution has documented and digitized 90% of its collections to make them easily available to the general public and to researchers and academics, and is working with other institutions and cultural organizations in Greece and abroad, while keeping in touch with the public on Instagram and through the #StayConnected #StayCurious section of its website.

INFO: 25 Proteos, Nea Kifissia l Tel. (+30) 210.611.0299 l www.otegroupmuseum.gr l instagram: @otegroupmuseum