Kate Lillian Muir, Founder of Lillian Muir 1. Odeon of Herodes AtticusThis ancient outdoor theater is simply extraordinary! Located under the wondrous Acropolis, go and see any concert or performance that is playing here - regardless of the language or the genre! 2. AcropolisSteeped in history and something to truly marvel at, it is clear why the Acropolis is one of the seven wonders of the world! My tip: go as early as you can in the morning and book a personal tour guide! 3. Outdoor CinemasSo many neighborhoods of Athens house gorgeous, low-key outdoor cinemas. Cine Aegli in the Zappeion Megaron Garden and Cinema Dexameni in Kolonaki are my favorites. The Grand Bretagne Hotel also hosts cinema nights in the summer around their rooftop pool - a dip and a flick! 4. Explore the Central MarketsVarvakios Agora is a foodie wonderland! This is more than a market, it’s practically a neighborhood in its own right with winding streets of specialty vendors selling everything from fresh fish to more types of olives than you ever thought existed. Take a cooking class and sample your way around with renowned chef, cookbook author, and food writer Carolina Doriti. Slip into her DM to book, and… tell her I sent you! 5. Pour Latholemono on Everything!Translated exactly, it's lemon and extra virgin olive oil mixed together until it doesn’t split; in action, it is delicious and needs to be drizzled in copious amounts over grilled seafood, salads, toasted bread… or like me… on just about anything!! This really feels like the magic trick of that glowy, fresh-faced Mediterranean skin! 6. Eat EverythingThe food scene in Athens has got to be one of the most exciting in the world right now! Whether you are eating souvlaki and drinking house wine on the steps of Kolonaki at Kalamaki, in a neighborhood taverna like Leonidas To Diko Mas, or sitting street side at a place owned by a fishmonger like The Mauragio, you are in for an absolute treat! Incredible chefs and restaurateurs dot the city! If you are looking for something more polished, then head to Birdman (or its big brother Vezene), Marvo Provato, Akra, and Argoura. If you are looking for WOW, then head for Michelin-starred Soil or CTC Resto - head chef Alex Tsionis created the menu for Lillian Muir’s launch event in Athens. 7. Coffee Culture"έvа εσπρέσo freddo παρακαλώ!” A Freddo Espresso, please! Coffee culture in Athens is an art form served cold. Sipping a freddo espresso - one or two shots of coffee, stacked with ice, then shaken martini style or blitzed with a milkshake wand and adjusted to preferred sweetness with sugar syrup or honey - is an essential part of daily life in Greece. This is not a moment for rushing, take your time to savor every sip. My favorite cafes in the city include: Da Capo (Kolonaki), Blends (Glyfada), Roasting Warehouse (Neos Kosmos), Moorings (Vouliagmeni), and Ark (Glyfada). 8. Culture CultureOne of the things I love the most about Athens is the collision between antiquity and contemporary! You see it on the streets, in the theaters, in the architecture; it feels like just around the corner there is a glimpse of the Acropolis waiting for you, or you are at a friend’s contemporary apartment, and out the window is a view of the Temple of Zeus. So while you are in town, definitely check out the Acropolis Museum, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, and Benaki Museum. If the art and culture gods align, then you might even be lucky enough to be in town during the extraordinary Athens Biennale. 9. Support Local Makers and CreatorsMuch like the incredible chef and creative movement in Athens right now, the design scene in Athens is wildly good! Make sure you pick up a memento or a makti from jewelry designer Hermina and shop the collections of Sea You Soon, Evi Grintela, Mi-ro, Costarellos, Zeus + Dione, and Ancient Greek Sandals. 10. Athenian Riviera Day TripThe sparkling coastline of the Athenian Riviera is truly paradise! There are some incredible new hotels that have opened here recently, including The Four Seasons and One & Only. If you have just one day to explore this beautiful part of Athens, here’s my recommended itinerary: Coffee: Ark Glyfada Swim: Kavouri Beach Late lunch: Bluefish Vouliagmeni - this is one of the most incredible seaside restaurants I’ve ever been to!KATE'S LIST An ever evolving list of places to stay, see, shop, eat, sip and explore! Accomodation: Athens has had a surge of boutique hotel opens over the last year or so, some super cool places in great locations! If you want to be in the centre of Athens, I recommend the following: Sir Athens (https://sirathens.com/) - like a serviced apartment The Modernist (https://www.themodernisthotels.com/athens/) Coco Mat (https://www.athensbc.com/) - very chic The Dolli (https://www.thedolli.com/) - amazing roof top swimming pool with incredible view of the acropolis Perinath (https://perianthhotel.com) - designed by K2 Mona (https://mona-athens.com/) - very central, cool styling Elliot (https://www.staywithelliot.com/) - kind of like a serviced apartment/air bnb and owned by The Modernist Dining: Athenee Athens (https://www.atheneeathens.gr/en/) - old school glamour, the haunt of politicians and super models. The outdoor dining area is surrounded by luxury stores and a theatre - a very chic way to spend an afternoon Birdman (https://www.birdman.gr/) Varoulko (https://varoulko.gr/) Bluefish (https://www.instagram.com/bluefish.restaurant/?hl=en) - Vouligameni. Not in the centre, it’s seaside - an absolute MUST for lunch or dinner. Definitely tell them we sent you! Barbounaki Kolonaki (https://www.barbounaki.gr/el/) Nikkei (https://nikkeirestobars.com/en/home/) Mavro Provato (https://tomauroprovato.gr/mezedopoleio/el/home.html) Soil (https://soilrestaurant.gr/) - Michelin Star CTC Resto (https://ctc-restaurant.com/) - Michelin Star, the chef Alex did the amazing dinner for the launch of Lillian Muir in Athens Pharoah (https://www.instagram.com/pharaohathens?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=) - probably one of the coolest spots at the moment Akra (https://www.instagram.com/akra_ath) - open kitchen style, super cool! Argoura (https://www.gastromondiale.com/2017-12-13-argoura-athens/) - unexpected location, incredible food Drakoulis (https://www.drakoulis.gr/) - not in the centre, it’s in Voula. A butcher that transforms into a restaurant after 9pm (there is also one in Kolonaki… not as good) Warehouse (https://warehouse.gr/) - in a bit of a rock & roll area of Athens, great for a drinks or dinner - lots of other great little spots around Malconis (https://www.malconis.gr/) - Kolonaki, great vibes very local Kalamaki Kolonaki - sit on the stairs of Kolonaki for souvas and house warm The Mouragio (https://www.instagram.com/the_mouragio/) - wow! This is super special, sit on the street, very ‘old school greek vibes’ but it is new and owned by a young fish monger Leonidas To Diko Mas (https://www.e-table.gr/en/restaurant/leonidastodikomasargyroypoli) - neighbourhood taverna, simply but stunning food Bars: Noel (https://noelbar.gr/) - there are lots of great bars around this area, the styling on Noel is a real vibe The Clumsies (https://www.theclumsies.gr/) - constantly named one of the best bars in the world Rooftop at the Hotel Brand Bretagne (https://www.gbroofgarden.gr/) - extraordinary view The Dolli Rooftop (https://www.thedolli.com/) Me Kolonaki (https://meathens.com/) - neighbourhood bar, great people watching Things to do: Acropolis - definitely go first thing in the morning, grab a personal tour guide (pay extra to go on your own) Acropolis Museum - definitely worth a wander Go and see ANY concert or performance that is on at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus Theatre (https://whyathens.com/odeon-of-herodes-atticus/) - outdoor ancient theatre next to the acropolis Food tour with Culinary Backstreets (https://culinarybackstreets.com/category/cities-category/athens/) - sounds horrifically touristy, but it is AMAZING! I have been several times! Make sure your guide is Carolina Doriti - tell her you know me! Spas: Polis Hammam (https://polis-hammam.gr/product-category/xamam/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwdrc39aI-QIV5JNmAh3-xgRoEAAYASAAEgI6_vD_BwE) GB Spa (https://www.gbspa.gr/) Vougliameni Lake (https://www.limnivouliagmenis.gr/en/about/) - this is truly a marvel, the water has special mineral properties for healing etc, organise ahead and book a cabana Shopping: The streets of Kolonaki are literally covered in designer workshops Ermou is the central 'high street' shopping strip Designers to check out: Hermina, Zeus + Dione, Ancient Greek Sandals, Costarellos, Nikos Koulis, Evi Grintela, Sea You Soon… so so many! The design scene in Athens is wildly good!
