Don’t just visit Athens; experience it! These 5 shopping spots offer a true taste of the city’s spirit.
Kedima shops
It all started with a pair of funky socks. I like to have small, colourful accessories from my holidays to cheer me up, especially when the weather at home is not holiday-like at all. Scarves, scrunchies, and bracelets from Greece can seriously lift my mood, so I keep collecting them.
I was wandering around the Plaka district in Athens, on Vyronos Street, when a board of vibrant socks caught my eye. Brilliant. This is what I need for the winter. After choosing a blue-white one with the evil-eye pattern and one with cute red and green watermelons, I found the interior of the shop so colourful that I decided to look around a bit. The staff was very helpful, and it was a great opportunity to practise my Greek a little. My language knowledge earned me a free blue and white scrunchie, too. It made my day.
KEDIMA is a souvenir shop, but compared to similar boutiques, its products are well-designed and of great quality. Their designs are arranged according to various Greek themes: Cycladic Islands, evil-eye motifs, sea motifs, cats, Kri-kri goats, olives, and ancient Greek culture. Have a look at their website, www.kedima.gr. They also sell summer clothes from the Greek brand Salty Blue. Confession time! I couldn’t resist their Cycladic pattern shorts, my go-to piece for a lazy afternoon on my next Greek holiday.
Athens Protasis
“Protasis” in modern Greek means “proposal or suggestion”, and I certainly recommend visiting this shop in Athens. I discovered the first Athens Protasis boutique in Crete while wandering around Rethymno in the evening. There are plenty of jewellery shops in Greece, but this one stands out without a doubt.
What did I find here? Unique, handmade jewellery at an affordable price.
They use gemstones, glass, metal, and leather – all natural materials – and every piece is carefully hand-crafted. What is great about this shop is that all my family members, with very different tastes and styles, were able to find something for themselves. A contemporary minimal-style necklace for my bestie, a simple Greek blue leather bracelet for my husband, red for my son, timeless pearl bracelets for me and a colourful, modern design for my classy-trendy daughter.
Check it out at www.athensprotasis.com!
Or even better, pop into one of their shops and browse around a bit. Unlike other souvenir shops, where they are desperately trying to make you buy something, in Athens Protasis you are welcome just to browse around. When in Athens, I often pop in for a little chat and browse, and I always feel appreciated. Still, I avoid peak times, when the shop can be extremely busy.
Different strokes for different folks; it might not be for everyone, but I recommend a visit if you see their shop in Athens or on the Greek islands. They have 16 shops in the capital, in Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and Corfu.
Ergon house
A dear friend of mine recommended Ergon House for a nice Greek meal with a contemporary twist.
What an amazing discovery! It is a whole experience, not just a restaurant. A modern-day agora offering fresh, local, high-quality food in the 25-metre glass atrium. I couldn’t stop wandering around. I know Greek cuisine quite well, as I have been buying and using Greek products for decades, but this beautifully displayed market was full of surprises! I wish I had another large piece of luggage on me, as I could fill it up easily with all these Greek delicacies.
The marketplace provides such a welcoming, cosy atmosphere that I completely forgot that I was alone. Solo travellers! I highly recommend this place.
I immersed myself, enjoying the freshly baked, crunchy bread with my tangy tirokefteri salad, washed down with a gulp of crispy Assyrtiko wine from Santorini, not to mention the lamb that melted in my mouth tenderly, satisfying every taste bud in seconds. It was not just a meal but a culinary experience for all the senses. Highly recommended.
Ergon House also provides accommodation on the floors above the marketplace. Five different-sized rooms with contemporary design, a gym, and a rooftop terrace – sounds like something I will put on my bucket list.
Street market between Thission and Monastiraki
Walking in Athens comes naturally. It was Melina Mercouri’s idea to provide pedestrian streets between the significant monuments in Athens. In 2004, when Greece held the Olympic Games in Athens, the vision came to life: one can easily walk from the Acropolis to the Kerameikos, from Thission to Syntagma Square, where the King’s palace, today’s Parliament, stands. I personally can wander around and lose myself in the vibrant pageant of sights, sounds and smells for hours.
Alongside the pedestrian street, Apostolou Pavlou, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars. The park of the Temple of Hephaistos adds a lush green frame to this atmospheric street. Just a turn towards Pnyx Hill, and one can see the Acropolis overlooking the city with undeniable dignity…
Getting closer to the Thissio metro station, the number of colourful stalls gradually grows. Handmade jewellery, leather goods, toys, sweets, and books give a vivid backdrop for my stroll. I like to shop here for small souvenirs and have a little chat with the sellers. In February, I bought “martaki” bracelets for the whole family. This little handmade, red and white wristlet symbolises purity and passion for life and is usually worn in March to bring luck, health, abundance and protection from the burning sun.
After reaching the metro station, I usually turn onto Adrianou Street and wander around the flea market: traditional tavernas, souvlaki places, cafes and myriad shops. This bustling part of the city enhances the senses and always cheers me up. There is a smaller Kedima shop on Adrianou Street that I couldn’t resist. The small Greek company, “Love Your Socks”, comes out with new designs every season, and I started to collect their fabulous, colourful socks from the Kedima shops. This time, I went for the green, black, and white olive design.
Matsouka on Ermou Street
I love to try local food and buy some to take home. If the space is limited in my suitcase, I buy some spices. I don’t always have time to go to Athens’ market, so I opt for the family-run shop, Matsouka, instead. They have shops in Kolonaki, on Ermou Street (close to Syntagma Square), in Kifissia in the north, in Glyfada and on Mykonos Island.
I discovered this company when I desperately needed a strong coffee before setting off on my journey to the language school, where I am learning Greek. The coffee was brilliant, but the beautifully arranged shop attracted my eyes, and I had to look around a bit before I set off. Tradition, quality, and taste in perfect harmony, combined with an elegant atmosphere and great customer care. I knew I had to come back here.
I did buy my oregano and Greek cumin, but I needed real willpower to resist the beautifully displayed chocolates, masses of authentic Greek sweets, nuts, and dried fruits, not to mention the carefully selected wine collection. If you want to stock up on Greek goods before you travel home, this is the place to visit.
