Acropolis / Koukaki / Makriyanni a popular athenian neighborhood
The back of the Acropolis Museum among local buildings.
Probably the most historic, certainly most picturesque, but also very aristocratic neighborhood in Athens, the quarter of Acropolis takes in Makriyianni and Koukaki, and borders with Thesseion, Petralona, Kallithea, Neos Kosmos and Plaka. Neoclassical buildings line the streets, and other than used for housing, they host several cultural and archaeological institutions, galleries and embassies. The area is home to the New Acropolis Museum a jewel of Athens. It comes as no surprise to us who live here, that this is the most desired Athenian neighborhood for users of AirBnB and other accommodation booking websites. As a result, rent prices in rental properties have skyrocketed, pushing locals away from their neighborhood. Makriyianni and the first part of Areopagitou pedestrian streets are lined with jewelry, artifact and gift shops, some small art galleries, and several coffee and pastry shops, frozen yogurt and ice-cream parlors, restaurants and sandwich outlets can also be found here. Serviced by the Acropolis Metro station, it is a popular spot for meeting friends or starting a pleasant walk that may take you to the lower perimeter of the Acropolis and most sites of historic significance of Athens.
For a cup of coffee, a refreshment and some respite in the quality cultural atmosphere a local would prefer, we recommend Little Tree on 2 Kavalloti Street, right behind the Acropolis Museum. For a fine meal, or a drink with a spectacular view of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, you may try Balcony, on 1 Veikou Street. Modern Greek cuisine of high standards, superb service, wonderful atmosphere, for a special night out. For a quaint cafe-bistro in Koukaki which also offers a small number of rooms upstairs, visit Neratzia and enjoy your stay like a local! For the best street food in the neighborhood, try Dirty Manh, at 5 Dimitrakopoulou Street, pick-up or delivery, tel.: 210 924 1534. For the most world-famous sandals of Athens, visit Melissinos -The Poet- Sandal Maker, at 16 Tzireon & Diakou Sts., a few steps away from the Acropolis Museum.Should you wish to try a traditional Greek dessert, try The Alchemist, a small corner store on Hatzichristou and Metromara Sts. A recent addition to the neighborhood, it offers a delicious selection of quality desserts and fine coffee to go!
Instead of a light lunch, and in order to refill on vitamins and enjoy fresh fruit, we suggest a visit to Fruitopia, on 8 Hatzichristou Street, the back street of the Acropolis Museum. A small greengrocer store filled with the best fresh fruit, local and exotic vegetables and greens, nuts and natural snacks, fruit and/or vegetable juice freshly squeezed, or canned juice, even Greek local wines and spirits, will keep you light and fresh and recharge you with energy. Ask for my friend Yannis, the owner, fill up a couple of paper bags and just enjoy!
Yannis at Fruitopia on Hatzichristou Street.
You may want to try our neighborhood favorite tavern/restaurant called "Opos Palia" (like in the old days) offering a wide variety of local dishes, cooked like a Greek grandma would do, in generous portions and modest prices. Our whole family went there for Mothers' Day and my Mom enjoyed it thoroughly, along with the rest of us, who were already familiar with the place. "Opos Palia" is located at 2, Veikou Street, very close to the intersection with Makriyanni pedestrian street, close to the Acropolis Museum. Highly recommended! tel.: 210 923 9718
We recommend Herodionhotel, just a few hundred yards from the Acropolis and Herodeon, offering modern, elegantly decorated A/C rooms, with a satellite TV, safe and soundproof windows. Most of the rooms have private balconies and some have a view of the Acropolis. A beautiful roof garden with lounge chairs and 2 hot bathtubs with spectacular views of Athens. The rooftop restaurant with a decked terrace, serves Mediterranean cuisine with Greek influences, and cocktails. Guests can enjoy snacks and homemade desserts in the semi-outdoor area in the hotel's back garden. An indoor restaurant is also included, where breakfast is served.
The statue of General Ioannis Makriyiannis (1797–1864), hero of the Greek War of Independence, stands guard, on the crossroads of Areopagitou, Makriyianni and Vyronos streets. Following Greek independence, Makriyiannis had a tumultuous public career, playing a prominent part in the granting of the first Constitution of the then Kingdom of Greece to be sentenced to death and later pardoned. The neighborhood close to Acropolis is named in his honor.
