15 Best Cafes in Athens

While in Athens it is immediately noticeable that the local cafe culture thriving. Through this directory you will get a chance to visit very different establishments, ranging from "kafenia", to hip, modern coffee shops and get first hand experience of the diversity of contemporary Greek culture.

Food and coffee are favorite local pass-times, and there is no better way in the "real" Athenian life. Cafes in Greece are divided into two basic categories: Cafe-Bars and Cafe-Ouzeris. Cafe Bars, as the name suggests, function as cafes during the day and bars during the night. Cafe-Bars’ popularity climaxed in the 90s, as they offered a more “western” model of entertainment. When first introduced to the Greek culture, the idea of standing and drinking was considered a progressive alternative to the more traditional “sit-down” style which involved eating, drinking and only occasionally getting up to dance.

Cafe-Ouzeris are direct descendants of the traditional Kafenia (pl.).Historically a kafenio is a neighborhood or village cafe usually only frequented by the local men. Kafenia offered Greek coffee, traditionally served with a loukoumi (Turkish delight) and local spirits (ouzo, raki, tsipouro, depending on the location) and wines always accompanied by meze platters. The food was vital to the drinking process as it helped to drag out each session and made the whole social experience one of sharing. Modern Cafe-Ouzeris will normally offer a few meze dishes and a small range of spirits and wines, the quality and variety of which will depend on the place.

During the last 10 years, with Greece’s economy taking a well publicized downturn, there has been a shift in entertainment culture. Bars and nightclubs are still popular, but there has been a rediscovery of the kafenio drinking experience. Neo-Kafenia have popped up (and are still popping up as we speak) all around the center, gathering hordes of young people, disillusioned by the overpriced, loud and alienating experience of a club. Neo-Kafenia are created to resemble old-school kafenia, but in reality offer a cleaner, more "refined", customer-conscious service and of course slightly higher prices than a local kafenio (while still remaining a cheap alternative to a taverna or a bar).

(To visit the venues mentioned in this article, check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Athens)