Athens, Psyrri

The Psyrri District in Athens

The Psyrri neighborhood is in the center of Athens and in the heart of Athenian night life.
Located in down town Athens near the historical monuments of the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora (market), it connects several of the city’s hotspots. Its numerous renovated neoclassical mansions work not only towards entertaining the eye but also as great locations for the several fashionable bars that can be easily found in the neighborhood’s narrow streets. Many of the city’s art galleries and especially artist’s spaces can be found in Psirri. Its vast majority of restaurants will please even the most demanding costumer with great food and affordable prices. A number of these restaurants feature live music, with bands playing mostly traditional Greek rebetiko music, the so called “Rebetadika”. With its origins in modern Turkey, rebetiko music travelled to Greece through the immigrants that the Asia Minor destruction brought to the country in the 1920’s. Ever since, this peculiar type of music has survived and flourished and is now considered to be a major player in defining the Modern Greek musical scene.

Even though Psyrri is regarded as a traditional tourist attraction you will find most of its cafes and bars filled with locals even during the summer months. Wine and ouzo are the mainly consumed beverages, but you could also find some more peculiar drinks such as “rakomello”. Made with raki (the Greek grappa) and honey, both are boiled and served warm in a small jug with a few cinnamon sticks. It is definitely a drink worth enjoying even during the heat of the summer along with some of the peculiar “mezedakia” (tapas) that the different bars serve. In Psyrri and in its neighboring suburbs such as Thissio and Monastiraki you will find an assortment of interesting outdoor festive activities, such as live concerts and theatrical acts sponsored by the municipality of Athens. These activities occur more frequently during the summer months when tourist activities are heightened. If you are planing to visit Athens, and the Psyrri district have in mind that the night will always be young. Make sure you nap in the afternoon and prepare for a night out on the Psyrri which starts at midnight.