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Cafe in ThissionThere are cafes all over Athens. Anywhere there is a square or a space on the street to fit a few tables you will find a cafe, cafe-bar or cafeneon. Some other places to hang out and enjoy a coffee or a drink and watch life are Thission, the cafe in the national Gardens, Zappion, the path to the Acropolis, and any of the major public squares with the exception of Monastiraki and Omonia which for the time being are construction sites. Half the major avenues downtown are being converted into pedestrian streets and that means even more cafes. In a country like Greece where the climate is prefectly suited for hanging out and drinking coffee there can never be enough cafes. I almost forgot to mention. There are now a couple Starbucks in Athens and I am sure there will be more. It's like bringing coals to Newcastle but if you are one of those people who refuse to visit a country that does not have a Starbucks then you are in luck. To be honest with you I LOVE Starbucks Frappuccino. It's like a milkshake with a buzz and is tough to beat on a hot day in Athens.
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Tristrato Traditional Coffee Shop.Just down the street is a wonderful breakfast place on the corner of Geronda and Daedelou, just a block from the square. It is called Tristrato and it is run by a middle aged gentleman and his daughter, or maybe it's his wife, or his sister, or just someone who works there. Or maybe he works for her since her name is on the card. I don't really know or care and neither should you. But it is a lovely traditional galatadiko which is a milk and pastry shop. Great yogurt which you can get with fruit, nuts, honey or all of the above. Lots of different coffees and pastries and the whole place is furnished in antiques.
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Cafe on Lycavettus overlooks all of AthensWhen you climb to the top of a mountain and there is a coffee shop there that overlooks all of Athens, does it really matter how good the coffee is? I would have loved to have sampled an espresso but after climbing Lykavettos I did not want to risk having a heart attack so I will let you be the judge as to whether the cafe belongs on the same page as these others. From the cafe you can see the Acropolis and all of Athens and even the ships leaving Pireaus for the islands. You don't have to climb the mountain if you don't want to. The Funicular is a train that goes up and down the mountain and you can catch it at the top of Ploutarchou Street. Walk down. It is easy and good exercise.
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One of a hundred cafes at Fokoinos Negri in Kepseli there are dozens of cafes, one after the other and in the afternoon they are crowded with people. Some of the cafes are for old people and some for young. The most popular cafes can have a couple hundred tables and are always packed at any time of the day. Though most people sit outdoors some of the interiors of these cafes are spectacular and it seems like they try to out-do each other to have the cleanest and most interesting restrooms. It also seems that they change the furniture and decor every year which gives you an idea of how much money is to be made in the cafe business. The street itself is a big pedestrian mall, like a park that goes on for several blocks. You can walk there from the Archaeological Museum up Patission street and make a right on Agia Melitiou. I love Fokinos Negri. There are some good restaurants here too.
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Klepsydra Cafe in the PlakaYou will have to wander around the Plaka a bit if you want to find the Cafe-Milkshop Klepsydra and I can't even say for sure if they make good espresso. But the cafe was owned by Andrea's friend Tstisinos who died and it is a favorite of locals. I included it because of the way it looks in this picture and out of respect for Andrea's friend. If you find it let me know about the coffee. I think it is on Trassivolou street at the corner of either Klepsidras or Alimberti right under the Acropolis.
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Cafe Dioscouri in MonastirakiThe Cafe Dioscouri is at 39 Andrianou right in the flea market. If you are going to the Sunday market come here early because it fills up. They make excellent coffee and it is a good spot to watch the people go by. If you are coming from the Plaka you will have to go around Hadrian's Library to get there since Andrianou comes to an end and begins on the other side. This is a great place to watch people on Sunday. It gets crowded so you have to come early.
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The Kydatheneon is in the Plaka at Farmaki #1 in the little square called Platia Filomouson on the corner perpendicular to the Byzantino Restaurant and next to the pizza place. A beautiful old taverna-ouzerie, most of the tables and chairs are under the trees in the little park and it is a cool place to relax and get away from the sun. Great coffee! Also yogurt with fruit, or ice-cream to keep the kids busy while you get your coffee fix. They also have beer, wine, drinks and food too. Good spot for a frapouzo .
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Diorofo Cafe in the Central marketThe Diorofo is in the City Market on the corner of Aiolou and Evripidou streets. It is in an old neo-classic mansion of which the downstairs is a cafe and upstairs is a restaurant. They even have a big screen that shows the ever-falling Greek stock market and probably for that reason they have a bar too. But I sit outside and watch the people walk by on Aiolou which is one of the main pedestrian streets of Athens. This is one of my primary hangouts because it is the closest good coffee to the Hotel Attalos. Andrea's favorite cafes is Eliasporo in Psiri on the corner of Maoulis and Palados at Iroon Square. Convenient because it is also an ouzerie with great mezedes so you can spend the whole day there.
Terina in Plaka Square on Adrianou StreetAnother great place is the Terina where Adrianou street meets Kapni Karea at the small Platia by Hadrian's wall. Also the cafe called Kapni Karea Hristopoulou street (alley actually) between Ermou and Metropolis street right by the small Church of Kapni Karea. Lots of different kinds of coffee and a huge international menu and the interior is beautifully decorated. You can sit in the square outside when it is sunny and warm. The owner also has the traditional fish tavern Psaras. Like Psaras Terina is high quality and very professional.
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Mandarino is not exactly a cafe just as McDonalds is not exactly a restaurant. But they make great espresso and they are inexpensive. They are across the street from both the Attalos and the Cecil hotels so if you are in that part of Athens it is pretty convenient. The seats are right on the street so you get a real feel for Athinas street whch is one of the most lively and interesting streets in Athens. They bake their own cakes, tiropitas, pizzas and have really good spanakopitas. Get there early and get them hot from the oven. Mandarino despite its Coney-Island appearance just might have the best espresso in Athens.
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