Kolonaki guide Archives - Insights Greece

Discover the best places to eat, drink and shop in Kolonaki, the chicest neighbourhood of Athens.

Tucked into the graceful slopes of Lycabettus Hill, Kolonaki is where high fashion, café culture, and old-world glamour effortlessly converge. Once the exclusive domain of Athens’ social elite- this polished neighbourhood now draws art lovers, coffee aficionados, and discerning locals alike. Neoclassical mansions stand shoulder to shoulder with designer boutiques from Dior to Prada, while the city’s creative crowd lingers over espresso in open-air cafés and curated bookstores.

But to truly savour Kolonaki beyond its polished surface, take your time. Dine in chic bistros, sip espresso at sidewalk cafés, and unwind in intimate wine bars as the city transitions from day to night. This is where politicians rub shoulders with fashion insiders, the pace softens, and people-watching becomes an art form. Consider this your definitive guide to eating and drinking your way through one of Athens’ most exclusive neighbourhoods.

Insights Greece - Complete Guide to Kolonaki Neighbourhood

Eat + Drink

Brunch time…

Philos Athens: Housed in a beautiful neoclassical building, this all-day spot serves an excellent breakfast– perfectly cooked eggs, top-notch coffee, and a relaxed atmosphere that invites you to linger.

Queen Bee: An all-day bakehouse in a chic 1940s Art Deco setting, serving freshly made croissants, cinnamon buns, and crispy pies.

Me: Light, airy, and filled with lush greenery, this spot offers fresh juices, delicious smoothies, and excellent coffee.

Zinglee: A sophisticated Parisian bistro vibe with highlights like Tsoureki French Toast, eggs benedict, and melted chocolate pancakes topped with seasonal berries.

Zurbaran: Sleek all-day bar and restaurant featuring mini tacos and grilled avocado with marinated salmon, plus a fabulous outdoor dining area.

Best Coffee…

Filion Café: A hub for artists and thinkers, serving excellent coffee alongside homemade Greek and French-inspired desserts.

Da Capo: Kolonaki’s iconic Italian-style café, perfect for people-watching over a specially blended coffee amid locals, celebrities, and politicians.

Cultivos: Relaxed atmosphere with great coffee and a tasty selection of sweets, sandwiches, and light bites.

Long, lazy lunch…

Mpirmpilo: Charming old-world tavern known for authentic Greek classics like arakas stew, gemista, and soutzoukakia meatballs.

Nikkei Florestra: Innovative Peruvian-Japanese fusion in a bright, aromatic setting that transports you straight to Peru.

Brutus Tavern: Upscale underground steakhouse famous for olive-fed Wagyu Tomahawk and dry-aged burgers, paired with a premium wine list. (Closed for the season, reopens in autumn.)

Brunello: Modern Italian eatery celebrated for creative, artful dishes and an impressive wine selection.

Frankie: Casual Italian bistro and bar offering fresh handmade pasta and authentic Sicilian-inspired fare.

Standout Dining…

Simul: Modern Greek bistro spotlighting seasonal, organic ingredients and creative dishes like deconstructed moussaka and lamb tataki- paired with boutique Greek wines in a sleek setting.

Iodio: Seafood-focused gem from talented chef Georgianna Hiliadaki, blending Mediterranean tradition with modern technique; expect dishes like Sea Urchin Risotto in an elegant, minimalist space.

Oikeio: One Michelin star with a rustic-chic vibe, serving reimagined Greek classics like moussaka and octopus, this is perfect for cozy evenings or sidewalk dining in summer.

Papadakis: Fine dining by renowned chef Argiro Barbarigou, combining signature Greek recipes with stunning city views.

Treat Yourself…

Désiré: Classic pastry shop offering timeless treats from syrupy chestnuts to delicate millefeuille.

The Dark Side of Chocolate: A French vintage-inspired chocolate lab where chocolatier Aristotelis Panagiotaros crafts inventive chocolates infused with cardamom, pink pepper, Greek herbs, and more.

Sweet Alchemy: Stelios Paralios’ boutique patisserie on Irodotou Street, famed for exquisite truffles, handmade biscuits, and signature cakes that are hard to resist.

Kora Bakery: Artisan bakery specialising in long-fermented sourdough and viennoiserie, using premium ingredients for a creative range of breads, pastries, and cakes.

Drinks…

Mantzarou: Exceptional cocktails and a buzzing vibe, with locals lounging on the cozy upstairs terrace or spilling onto the street below.

Mai Tai: Stylish hotspot known for inventive cocktails like Tsipouro infused with Florina peppers and elderflower tonic.

Minnie the Moocher: Glamorous bistro offering deluxe spirits, signature cocktails, and an extensive wine list, served with chic glassware and flair.

Mayor: American-style brasserie with classy décor, ambient lighting, and a brunch-to-dinner menu that hits all the right notes.

Nido: Gastro-bar perfect for after-work unwinding, serving funky bites, good wines, and a lively soundtrack.

Local tip: Ratka is Kolonaki’s best-kept secret with attentive service, enchanting atmosphere, and delectable food. No website, no Instagram- just timeless cool!

See + Do

Ethnikos Kipos Gardens: A lush, peaceful retreat tucked just a short stroll from Kolonaki’s busy streets- perfect for a quiet breath of fresh air.

Kolonaki Square: By day, locals sip freddo cappuccinos at cozy cafes; by night, the square pulses with chic crowds enjoying fine wine and carpaccio at the coolest bars.

Patriarchou Ioakeim: Kolonaki’s luxe shopping street, where high-end boutiques mingle with artisan stores selling everything from designer shoes to gourmet treats.

Dexameni Square: Historic and unpolished, this is a longtime haunt for poets and friends, buzzing with open-air cinema nights, icy tsipouro, and laid-back vibes.

Lycabettus Hill: The steep climb or cable car ride rewards with breathtaking panoramic views from Athens’ highest point- ideal for and anyone chasing the city’s best sunsets.

Culture Fix

Museums

Don’t miss the Benaki Museum for everything from Byzantine relics to modernist art. The Museum of Cycladic Art showcases iconic minimalist marble figurines, while the Museum of the History of Greek Costume offers a rich look at Greece’s sartorial heritage.

Galleries

Gallery Skoufa champions modern Greek art from the 1930s to today. Zoumboulakis Gallery is a 50-year institution known for diverse shows and a chic design store. Athens Art Gallery and Eleftheria Tseliou’s intimate space spotlight emerging and established Greek contemporary artists.

Where to Shop

Kolonaki is a top destination for luxury shopping, where chic boutiques showcase both Greek talent and international designers. Whether you’re after high-end fashion or unique gifts, this stylish neighbourhood invites endless browsing. Some of our favourites include-

Carpo: Beautifully packaged local roasted nuts, premium coffee, and handmade chocolates -perfect edible gifts.

Phaon: A refined boutique offering curated fragrances, scent products, and elegant flower arrangements.

dtales: Concept store featuring carefully selected brands like Sabina Musayev and Alberto Audenino.

ID Fine Jewellery: Designer fine jewellery with limited editions and bespoke pieces crafted in Greece for discerning travellers.

Shoe Box: Eclectic, unique shoes and bags that stand out.

Bespoke Athens: Founder Vassilis Bourtsalas welcomes clients to his “tailoring lab” in Kolonaki, where craftsmanship meets timeless, custom-made style.

Meant to be Mint: Luxe second-hand shop packed with top designer labels from Chanel to Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.

How to get there?

Take Metro Line 3 (Blue Line) from the Airport Station to Evangelismos Station, journey time is approximately 40 minutes. You can also board the X95 Express Bus from the airport to Rygillis Station, otherwise, catch a cab from the airport (also around 40 minutes depending on traffic) at a flat rate of €40 during the day.

Discovering Daily Feel-Good and Wonderful Places in a Neighbourhood I Once Disliked with a Passion

I was never a big fan of the Kolonaki that’s usually written about and seen. The busier part, where the main square and all its surrounding streets thrive with costly liveliness. Essentially, I have always somewhat avoided the super-trendy areas with their hyper-expensive boutiques, glossy cafes and wine bars, delis and galleries.

Insights Greece - The Other Side of Kolonaki — Views over the neighbourhood

For just over a year, I’ve been fortunate enough to have made my nest in the neighbourhood that overlooks the heart-opening, lush greenery of Lycabettus. The forested hill across my home resounds daily with the sound of birds, church bells and mainly spirited chit-chatter in all languages. On windy days, I listen out for the rustling leaves and the flag from the church of St George, which I feel privileged to watch flapping at the top of the hill through a tiny gap in the trees.

On cold winter mornings, I relish opening my balcony window to inhale the mulchy, crisp forest air, feeling like I’m living in the countryside; on summer nights I say “mmm” from the intoxicating wafts of jasmine, orange blossoms and night flowers. My part of Kolonaki was unbeknownst to me before I moved. It is quiet, quaint, and green, with joggers, tourists, families and dog walkers as its protagonists. Here I will share with you the favourite places I enjoy on an average day, places I reach around the area without ever entering the central part.

Morning to Midday

One of my favourite ways to indulge myself in the morning is to buy a Pain au Chocolat with Gianduja chocolate, or a perfectly flaky and buttery croissant with Cretan apaki ham, Greek graviera and a mustard bechamel from Kora Bakery on Anagnostopoulou St. What an Italian neighbour/friend of mine aptly described as a place that looks more like a hairdresser’s or bathroom – because of its yellow tiles on a stark white wall – rather than a bakery, Kora also sells artfully stacked loaves of freshly baked bread, including a very special one with hints of dark chocolate. The quality is high, the service is professional and there’s no hanging around.

For food shopping, I love visiting Kostarelos on Patriarchou Ioakeim St, originally a cheese manufacturer (since 1937) and now also a deli with top-quality products sold at very reasonable prices. One can get a takeout coffee and savoury or sweet pie or sit here and eat a yummy cheese (or chocolate!) fondue as well as other easy meals. Or, like me, just head straight for the counters deeper into the store, where I buy chocolate or vanilla cream (kremoula) puddings for my son, great ice cream (the pistachio flavour is made with Aegina pistachios) as well as wonderful fresh cuts of hams and cheeses, organic sliced bread with olive oil and even homemade style jams from small producers around the country.

Afternoon to Evening

Xenokratous Street is my go-to shopping zone. During lockdown, it was, happily, the only place I circulated in. I say happily because it’s one of those streets that has everything you may ordinarily need: two butcher shops, two kiosks of the type that sell ‘everything’, a neighbourhood café (The Daily, where mainly locals hang out) two small supermarkets, a florist, a cava, two pharmacies, a key shop and two jewellery shops, my favourite of which is Amaya, where I spend a good while gazing through the window to admire the beautifully handmade earrings, pendants and rings. It’s also the street where the ‘laiki’ open-air market takes place every Friday from 8 am-4 pm. The vendors definitely pinch up their prices for what they presume are richer locals, but the variety and product quality is good.

It’s also pleasing, especially during summer and springtime but also in cooler months, to spend afternoons and evenings at Dexameni, where you’ll find an ancient Roman aqueduct, an open-air (summer only) cinema, a playground and a café-restaurant with tiny tables lining the steep hill that leads down to it. This is where I often meet friends either for playdates with our kids or for drinks or a combination of both, a few meze dishes or a movie. On summer nights Dexameni Café gets very crowded with everyone from millennials from around the city to elderly regulars who queue to sit at the tables.

Night

Since I moved to Kolonaki I must have walked by Bar 56 a gazillion times without even noticing it. Shrouded by a giant black umbrella and hidden in an enclosed, leafy corner along the Ploutarchou Street stairway, once I did notice the warm, reddish light coming from inside it I thought it may be an underground haunt frequented by mafia, and/or ladies of the night. Much to my surprise, when I finally plucked up the courage to pop my head inside upon returning from the St George’s Kick Boxing Club just two minutes down the stairs, I was somewhat awestruck in discovering a vintage-style bar with a jazzy soundtrack that was dreamily lit by fairy lights, with old photos covering the walls, a layout designed for lovers of clandestine corners and a piano. It turns out it has been around for some 30 years and is a “known secret” among serious whiskey and rum connoisseurs. It’s now what I call “my new neighbourhood steki” or hangout, although with Covid madness I’ve only made it there twice thus far.

Nice N Easy

This place, where Skoufa Street meets Omirou Street, reminds me of the TV show ‘Taxi’, “where everybody knows your name” as the theme song goes, and I’ve had some of the best nights of my life there. Why? Chiefly, the owners, Eirini Andersen, Dimitris Christoforidis and Executive Chef Chris Athanasiadis, individuals who know everything right about running a successful, ‘I’ll-Be-Back’ vibe restaurant that offers an idyllic combination of warm hospitality, delicious farm-to-table healthy food, feel-good décor and a happily buzzy ambience. Located near the beautiful Agios Dionyssios church and classically intellectual-friendly Filion Café, this place has always felt like a perfect place to get away while also feeling like home.

Prasini Tenda
Oh…Those Summer Nights! When, after a short (but sharp, let’s face it!) walk up the steps towards St George church on Lycabettus you arrive at a stunning, and at night, sparkly, panoramic view of Athens, the Parthenon, the sea…Enough said. From morning to night, but especially seductive at night, this café-restaurant is the perfect place to fall in love with the city you’re in, and if you’re with the right company, perhaps with whoever happens to be sitting across you. The main dish is the view, but the service and menu are appealing as well.

Main image by harrypapaioannou

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Discover the best places to eat, drink and shop in Kolonaki, the chicest neighbourhood of Athens.

Discovering Daily Feel-Good and Wonderful Places in a Neighbourhood I Once Disliked with a Passion

The Athens Guide