Athinas Street

Athinas Street
the Central Market Street for Everything Edible

Athinas is a main street in downtown Athens, named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and protector of the city of Athens. It takes in Varvakeios (Municipal) Central Market, a rectangular building with a large covered court, including the Central Meat and the Fish Market. There are a total of 73 food stalls in both the interior and exterior sections. The market is covered with a glass and metal roof and has symmetrical windows. It is open every day but Sunday, from early in the morning till late afternoon.

Several restaurant owners come here every day to to shop rather than going to the Market of Rendi, the Wholesale Market which is at a distance from the center of Athens. Many Athenians shop here for both freshness, variety of selection and considerably lower prices than in the local neighborhood stores. The Public Market Place of Athens has been in business since 1886.

This area, including Evripidou and Sophocleous streets is where you can buy fish and meat, but also produce, fresh vegetables and fruit from all over Greece, or sample cheese from the Greek islands.

On Evripidou street you may also find the delicacy called “pastourma”, a variation of pastrami. It is dehydrated goat, beef, lamb or, and the best, camel meat, covered with a cumin paste called tsemeni, prepared with distinctive herbs, garlic, and hot paprika which gives it its distinctive taste. There are two shops renowned for their cold cuts, namely Miran and Arapian.

A 1920 photograph of Athinas Street, the Acropolis in the background.

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On 33 Athinas Street, make sure to visit Koudounia, an amazing store offering all kinds of traditional hand-made bells for animals such as goats, sheep. horses and rams, as well as church bells, bell collars, traditional Greek wooden walking sticks and canes, handles, and sticks of wood such as chestnut, linden and olive tree, as well as spares such as brass or stainless steel hand grips. at affordable prices. Visit them at koudounia.com

Athinas Street herbs, spices and teas vendor.

Also on Evripidou Street among the several stores, are the cheese shops Bitsika, Arcadia and Zafolias, known for their expansive selection of the finest local cheese varieties from all over the country. Evripidou Street is also famous for herbs and spices, seasonings, nuts and dried fruit! We strongly recommend that you visit Bahar or Elixir! You will encounter wonderful stuff you never even knew they existed!

Along Athinas Street the shopper may also buy teas of all sorts, a pair of shoes or sunglasses from a street vendor, a pair of jeans or a Panama-style hat, work clothes or excursion gear, tools for all trades, gadgets, novelties and all sort of merchandise from the numerous stores and street vendors willing to sell anything but their mother!

Public buildings include the Athens City Hall on Kotzia Square while several modern and neoclassical office and shopping buildings can be found in the area.

Koudounia, offering all kinds of traditional Greek hand-made bells for animals and all sorts of accessories.

The Athens City Hall.

Landmarks | Sightseeing

Athens City Hall

Folk Art Museum at the old Tzistaraki Mosque

Museums

Folk Art Museum

Agia Kyriaki church.

Churches

Agia Kyriaki
Panagia Pantanassa

Tools for all trades.

Shopping

Dozens of stores with tools for all trades and clothing for all purposes. On 32, Athinas St. check out the Spyros Syllas store with utensils of all sorts carved in wood.

Eperos cult restaurant.

Dine & Wine

Eperos, cult oinomageireio
Stoa Athanaton a true landmark
Stou Meidani seafood restaurant

In the area around the Central Market you will also find small restaurants with fresh -from the market- food, attracting Athenians especially after midnight.

Koulouri Greek pretzel.

Coffee | Pastry | Snacks

Try the traditional Greek koulouri from a street vendor.

There is a small grove on the Varvakeios Square across the street which is now landscaped, with several cafes, and offers an opportunity to take a break from the frenzy of the market.

Slideshow

Noteworthy

Miran deli.

Miran: A tradition of 90 years
It started with the craving and passion of Miran Kourounlian, from Caesarea in Cappadocia, who started in 1915 in Constantinople and from there to the island of Chios, and then to Palea Kokkinia. Today, the store is at 45 Evripidou St., off Athinas Street, selling pastourma (seasoned beef/camel meat), soujouk (seasoned beef meat in sausage form) and all sorts of meat and cheese varieties. Visit them at the store or at www.miran.gr.

Athinas Streetthe Central Market Street for Everything Edible